This Week in the Assembly - 03 March

Monday 3 March 2008

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

Foyle MLA Raymond McCartney will ask the Minister to detail when a decision will be made in relation to the Lifetime Opportunities strategy.

DUP MLA Simon Hamilton will ask the Minister to detail the progress made in ensuring that Northern Ireland is effectively engaged in relevant European bodies and committees, in order to maximise available financial benefits.

Sean Neeson (Alliance) will ask the Minister to detail the discussions his Office has had with the Northern Ireland Office in relation to ending the automatic 50% remission for prisoners.

Sinn Féin’s Michelle O'Neill will ask the Minister to detail the recent changes made to PSA targets for children, as a result of the funding allocation for children and young people's priorities.

East Antrim MLA David Hilditch will ask the Minister to detail the planned working relationship between the department and the Commissioner for Victims and Survivors. Later the SDLP ‘s Alban Maginness will ask the Minister to detail the legal advice it received in relation to the appointment of four Victims' Commissioners.

Gregory Campbell (DUP) will ask the Minister to detail the steps being taken to ensure that all sections of the community are sufficiently resourced and informed to avail of future European funding.

South Antrim MLA Trevor Clarke will ask the Minister to detail the steps that are being taken to address the pressures on the Planning Appeals Commission.

Alliance MLA Kieran McCarthy will ask the Minister to detail the progress made on the appointment of a Commissioner for Older Persons.

Lagan Valley MLA Trevor Lunn will ask the Minister to provide an update on the targets his Office will set in order to reduce child poverty.

Alex Maskey (Sinn Féin) will ask the Minister to provide an update on the anti-racism strategy.

Allan Bresland (DUP) will ask the Minister to confirm that funding for a programme of social cohesion will be significantly increased over the next three years.

South Down MLA John McCallister will ask the Minister whether or not consideration is being given to extending the operation of the Freedom of Information Act to include bodies not presently covered by the Act.

Alliance leader David Ford will ask the Minister to detail the representations his Office plans to make to the Eames/Bradley consultative group on the past.

The DUP’s Stephen Moutray will ask the Minister to outline the analysis his Office has made of the replies it has received from former members of the Civic Forum to the department's consultation exercise.

Foyle MLA Mary Bradley will ask the Minister what action his Office is taking to support the work of the Bill of Rights Forum; and to confirm that it is committed to delivering an extensive and inclusive Bill of Rights.

North Antrim MLA Mervyn Storey will ask the Minister to detail plans to assess the impact of equality legislation on the different communities in Northern Ireland.

Questions to the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development

Alliance MLA Anna Lo will ask the Minister what her assessment is of the current policy of the Northern Ireland Forest Service in relation to recreation at sites under its management.

Sinn Féin’s Francie Brolly will ask the Minister to detail the improvements that have been made in relation to rural childcare.

West Tyrone MLA Claire McGill will ask the Minister to give a timescale within which the group, established by her department and the Department of the Environment, to reduce bureaucracy, will report; and to detail any progress to date.

Gerry Adams (West Belfast) will ask the Minister to detail the work undertaken by the Rivers Agency in the Bog Meadows nature reserve.

The UUP’s Ken Robinson will ask the Minister to detail the organisations that will be responsible for the delivery of the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme 2007-2013.

Questions to the Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure

Ian McCrea (Mid Ulster) will ask the Minister whether or not consideration is being given to establishing a navigational authority on Lough Neagh.

The DUP’s Stephen Moutray will ask the Minister to detail the discussions he has had with local councils regarding the future delivery of the Community Festivals Fund. Later Caral Ní Chuilín (North Belfast) will ask the Minister to outline the nature of responses his department received from local councils in relation to the funding of festivals.

Sue Ramsey (Sinn Féin) will ask the Minister to indicate the measures he has put in place to avert cuts in community library provision in Belfast. Later Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey will ask the Minister to outline the revenue and capital monies available to library services.

South Down MLA Willie Clarke will ask the Minister to confirm whether or not he will meet directly with the Lough Neagh fishermen's co-operative in order to discuss the needs of the eel fishing industry.

Executive Committee Business

Rates

The Executive will discuss a motion proposed by the Minister for Finance and Personnel ‘That this Assembly approves the Rates (Regional Rates) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008’.

Adjournment

‘Traffic pollution in Dungiven’ proposed by John Dallat MLA

Tuesday 4 March 2008

Executive Committee Business

Public Health

The Executive will discuss the Consideration Stage of the Public Health (Amendment) Bill as proposed by the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

Committee Business

Standing Committee Membership

SDLP MLA PJ Bradley has proposed a motion: “That Mr Thomas Burns replace Mr Patsy McGlone as a member of the Public Accounts Committee.”

Hospital Acquired Infections

The Chairperson of the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety has proposed a motion: “That this Assembly, following the number of deaths associated with hospital acquired infections from 2001 to date, calls on the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety to initiate, as a matter of urgency, a full, independent and time-bound public inquiry.”

Motions For Debate

Youth Services Budget

DUP MLAs Sammy Wilson and Michelle McIlveen have proposed a motion:

“ That this Assembly expresses its concern at the eight per cent reduction of the Youth Services budget for the year 2008/09; calls on the Minister for Education to redirect resources from within her budget to make good the cuts; and believes that Youth Services would have greater long-term security with local councils, after the Review of Public Administration.”

Adjournment

‘Plans for an educational campus at the Lisanelly site, Omagh’ proposed by Barry McElduff MLA.

Committee Meetings

Click here to see in full the Assembly Committee Business Diary including times and venues.

Tuesday 4 March 2008

1.30pm - Agriculture and Rural Development Committee

Wednesday 5 March 2008

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

Thursday 6 March 2008

10.30am - Environment Committee
10.30am - Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee
10.30am - Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee
11.00am - Social Development Committee
2.30pm - Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee

Friday 7 March 2008

10.30am - Education Committee