Naomi Long: I thank the Members who are responsible for tabling both the motion and the amendment. They have created the opportunity to debate this important matter. In common with many other Members, I became involved in politics not least because I wanted a fairer and more equal society, but I wanted governance whereby principles of social justice guide and underpin our decisions and priorities. Any...
Naomi Long: 7. asked the Minister for Social Development what progress has been made in respect of her Department’s procurement strategy on new developments by groups of housing associations. (AQO 263/08)
Naomi Long: The Minister expects housing associations to form new procurement groups by 1 April 2008. However, the Department has yet to produce much in the way of guidance for housing associations on the subject. Given the tight time frame, and the experience in Scotland and Wales, where the creation of procurement groups cost a significant amount of time and money, is the Minister confident that she...
Naomi Long: Like Members who have already spoken in the debate, most of us would recognise brownfield sites as meaning ex-industrial and ex-commercial sites. In redevelopment areas, that would also include the demolition of existing housing. I am concerned that brownfield development has been extended to include a lot of other development — particularly gardens. I support the motion as one way of...
Naomi Long: No one is questioning that, and I thank the Member for his intervention. However, the question is where the houses will be built. Many areas in east Belfast have not been redeveloped, but in other areas houses are under incredible pressure and gardens are being gobbled up by greedy developers. There must be a balance. As regards the character and local heritage of an area, Members have...
Naomi Long: Does the Member accept that, even in the circumstances in which planners find common cause with Members on an issue, their decisions are often overruled by the Planning Appeals Commission, which takes a more liberal view?
Naomi Long: 8. asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to outline the process his Department will use to consider proposals for an Ulster-Scots academy. (AQO 391/08)
Naomi Long: Can the Minister provide an assurance that, as a minimum, the Department would require a full business proposal, including a budget and clarification of auditing, accounting and recruitment processes, before embarking on the academy?
Naomi Long: I thank the Minister for providing such a comprehensive answer to what was a different question about the general progress of the dispute. More specifically, I am concerned about those who need paramedical therapies, which are normally provided through the school. Therefore, will the Minister explain what, if any, liaison there has been between her and the Minister of Health, Social Services...
Naomi Long: Will the Member give way?
Naomi Long: Will the Member give way?
Naomi Long: Will the Member give way?
Naomi Long: I beg to move amendment No 2: Leave out “an early North-South Ministerial Council cross-departmental sectoral meeting,” and insert “early sectoral meetings of the North-South Ministerial Council and the British-Irish Council” I have no doubt that Paul Butler and Carál Ní Chuilín’s motion will command support across the Chamber, and I thank them for bringing it to the House. Our...
Naomi Long: I declare an interest as a member of the board of governors of Sydenham Infants’ Primary School. Given that the Minister recognises the importance of engaging parents directly in the school and creating a welcoming environment, what plans has she to accommodate that within the school buildings handbook? Schools which are currently engaged in involving parents use spare classrooms. However,...
Naomi Long: I thank the Minister for Social Development for her statement. I am pleased that she has shown a degree of integrity that was lacking in that area under direct rule. Given that the programme was brought in under direct rule, has the Minister received any assurance from the Northern Ireland Office that those who have, for so long, lectured local representatives to get on with the job for which...
Naomi Long: I am speaking as a representative of East Belfast, where the school is located. What Mr Spratt has said about Castlereagh Borough Council’s activity must be recognised, as quite a number of demands and requests have been made to Roads Service. I will outline the history of the situation. The school is located — as other Members have said — on a relatively rural stretch of road. However,...
Naomi Long: Does the Member agree that, although the concerns that were expressed by the proposer of the motion are shared by many in this Chamber, if we wish to have a formal debate on the specific matter of the Abortion Act 1967, it would be better to have it under that title, rather than debating around the guidelines for the current situation?
Naomi Long: I thank the Minister for his answer. Last week, departmental officials briefed the Committee about the proposed good relations priority in the Department. They said that no assurance could be given that that priority would be based on the shared future policy, but that the emphasis would be on tolerance. In light of this, will the Minister take the opportunity to reassure Members that the...
Naomi Long: 3. asked the Minister of the Environment what plans she has to prevent mature garden trees being destroyed at weekends, particularly by property developers. (AQO 555/08)
Naomi Long: I thank the Minister for her answer and for correspondence that I have received recently from her. Given that tree felling is now literally clearing the way for the submission of planning applications, as opposed to construction, is it not worth looking at new legislation to allow intervention in order to make a timely assessment of the value of the trees before any further felling is...