Clare Bailey: On the back of that response — thank you for it — and given that quotas in the Patten report worked very well for the Police Service, could we not reconsider the implementation of gender quotas for the Assembly?
Clare Bailey: I support the motion and commend Paula Bradley for bringing it forward. I am pleased that the House is talking today about people living with HIV. On Thursday all over the world, we will mark World AIDS Day. We must think of all those who have gone too early because of an illness that is preventable. HIV is an almost unique health condition, in that it carries with it a significant amount...
Clare Bailey: I commend the fantastic work of Positive Life, the Rainbow Project and specialist HIV services in the genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinics and other statutory sectors. We support the motion.
Clare Bailey: I beg to move amendment No 1: Leave out all after the third "rights;" and insert "calls on the Executive to move immediately to ensure compliance with all minimum human rights standards; and further calls on all Government Departments and public bodies to introduce human rights action plans.". We in the Green Party are really glad to see the debate brought to the House and are supportive of...
Clare Bailey: Will the Minister acknowledge that four major cities have committed to banning diesel cars by 2025 due to air pollution levels? Will she let the House know whether she has any intention of doing the same?
Clare Bailey: T6. Ms Bailey asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to state her plans to raise public awareness on the serious and immediate danger to life from the alarming issue of air pollution, with approximately 500 deaths per year in Northern Ireland directly due to air quality, albeit that she stated that she is content for Northern Ireland to be the lowest performing...
Clare Bailey: I thank the Minister for that answer. That all sounds like good work being done, but I am still not sure as to how it raises public awareness. Can the Minister perhaps commit to not driving a diesel car throughout that as well, and encourage others to do the same?
Clare Bailey: Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. When I picked this date to deliver my maiden speech, I could not have predicted the circumstances under which it is being made and the political fiasco that is happening. I was elected by the people of South Belfast to represent them. South Belfast should be held up as a model for the rest of Northern Ireland, because it is the most diverse community that we...
Clare Bailey: Will the Minister give way?
Clare Bailey: Does the Minister have any evidence of a spike, or certainly an increase, in drug-related crimes, particularly in the south Belfast area over the past lot of years?
Clare Bailey: I am speaking for all members of the Green Party today. I join the calls to condemn the attack that took place last night. I was very shocked, for many reasons, as the news broke last night. I was not long home from my local garage forecourt when I saw the breaking news. That forecourt is not simply a garage; it is also a corner shop for my area. It is where I went for a pint of milk on...
Clare Bailey: As someone who has worked for Nexus, an organisation that works with the victims of sexual abuse and rape, I know fine well that this type of abuse has long-lasting and horrific consequences for victims and survivors. More often than not, it takes decades for them to find the space to speak their voice and reach out for some help. We need to ensure that these types of organisations are...
Clare Bailey: Can the Minister confirm whether the inquiry will, if necessary, have access to and be able to investigate any potential links, if they are found, between party donors and the RHI scheme? Furthermore, will the inquiry be able to compel documents from the Electoral Commission if need be?
Clare Bailey: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I also congratulate you and your team on your new role and our First Minister and deputy First Minister on their reappointment. This is a positive development for Northern Ireland today and one in which we can hopefully begin to move forward. After three years of stagnation, I think we can all agree that people have suffered enough. While there is much in the draft...
Clare Bailey: I also welcome the Minister into office. I commend you for producing the statement in your very short three days in office so far. Very well done. I go back to the funding numbers that you gave for the in-year easements. I noted that you could not give any particular detail on where they might come from and said that you would speak to the Finance Minister. Will the Minister let us know...
Clare Bailey: We in the Green Party also extend our condolences to our SDLP colleagues in the Chamber and the wider SDLP family and, of course, to Séamus's daughter, Orla, and to his wider family. The death of a husband, father and brother is a painful event, and I wish them the strength needed for the times ahead. Séamus was a giant in the political arena. He was a giant figure, but he came from a...
Clare Bailey: Principal Deputy Speaker, I welcome you in your new role. I also welcome Minister Poots in his new role. As a member of the AERA Committee, I genuinely look forward to working with him over the few years that are left in this mandate, and I have no doubt that he feels the same about me.
Clare Bailey: I also want to condemn — commend him, sorry. [Laughter.] Freudian, Freudian. I commend the Minister for wasting absolutely no time in tackling the very weighty backlog that is in his departmental portfolio as a result of the last three years. It has been very encouraging to see him hit the ground running. The pros and cons of the common agricultural policy and the arguments around them are...
Clare Bailey: In a moment. We do that because it is not just our farmers and agri-food businesses who need that security, but all of us — everyone. We are in no doubt that the urgency and the chaotic process is not of their making; it is the result of the Brexit shambles, which does not have the consent of our people. That Brexit shambles has been compounded by the lack of political leadership here in...
Clare Bailey: On Friday morning, I listened to the weather forecast. The weather reporter told us that it was going to be a dark, dank day, and that is exactly how I felt, as, I imagine, many across Northern Ireland — the majority of whom voted to remain — felt. We cannot sit back and say that this was the democratic will because we know that there is confusion and chaos right across the population in...