This week in the Assembly - 13 October 2008

Monday 13 October 2008

Questions to the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister

South Down MLA John McCallister will ask the Ministers if they have met with the Minister for Finance and Personnel to discuss the implications for the economy of the economic downturn and the credit crunch.

Strangford MLA Simon Hamilton will ask what steps the Executive is taking to deal with the present economic difficulties.

North Antrim MLA Rev Dr Robert Coulter will ask what measures junior Minister Kelly proposed to adopt following his attendance at the Men's Health Seminar on 10 September 2008.

Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey will ask the Minister to demonstrate the priority status that has been given to children and young people's issues in their work programme.

MLA Dolores Kelly (Upper Bann) will ask the Ministers to detail their office's (i) objectives in relation to violence against women; and (ii) measuring of its progress against these objectives.

Questions to the Minister for Regional Development

Mid-Ulster MLA Francie Molloy will ask the Minister for his assessment of the impact the rise in fuel prices will have on public transport.

Questions to the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure

North Down MLA Peter Weir will ask the Minister what plans he has to engage with local communities in relation to priorities for library services to rural areas.

Foyle MLA Mary Bradley will ask the Minister to detail the funding available for community sports infrastructure in the financial year 2008/09.

Private Members' Business

First Stage - Community Use of Schools Premises Bill (NIA 1/08)
(Strangford MLA David McNarry)

Regulation of Private Landlords
Sinn Fein MLAs Caral Ni Chuilin, Fra McCann and Mickey Brady have proposed a joint motion that "this Assembly calls on the Minister for Social Development to bring forward a proposal for legislation on the regulation of private landlords."

The Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults
DUP MLAs Jim Shannon, Simon Hamilton and George Robinson have proposed a joint motion that "this Assembly notes the waiting time for POCVA checks to be processed; further notes that this is adversely affecting child care centres, amongst other employers; and asks the Secretary of State to investigate the situation and ensure that applications are processed as a matter of urgency."

Tuesday 14 October 2008

Private Members' Business

Financial Pressures Impacting on Public Spending
Ulster Unionist MLAs David McNarry and Roy Beggs have proposed a joint motion that "this Assembly calls on the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail any existing and anticipated financial pressures impacting on public spending allocations in the current budgetary period, in light of the global economic downturn and credit crunch."

Climate Change
SDLP MLA Tommy Gallagher has proposed a motion that "this Assembly expresses concern that the Minister of the Environment continues to ignore the mounting evidence that climate change is a significant issue, and -
(i)calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to ensure that the Department of the Environment recognises recent scientific evidence and sets challenging targets for carbon reductions and sustainable development across all departments; and
(ii)calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to ensure that the principles and priorities for the Department of the Environment contained in the Programme for Government, and approved by the Assembly, are reflected accurately by both the Minister of the Environment and departmental officials, for example, when attending North-South and East-West ministerial meetings."

Committee Business

Click here to see full Assembly Committee Business Diary

Tuesday 14 October 2008

12.30pm - Business Committee
1.30pm - Agriculture & Rural Development Committee

Wednesday 15 October 2008

10.00am - Education Committee
10.00am - Finance and Personnel Committee
10.30am - Regional Development Committee
10.30am - Employment and Learning Committee
2.00pm - OFMDFM Committee

Thursday 16 October 2008

10.00am - Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee
10.30am - Environment Committee
10.30am - Enterprise, Trade and Industry Committee
2.00pm - Public Accounts Committee
2.00pm - Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee