Monday 12 May 2008

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

North Belfast MLA Caral Ní Chuilín will ask the Minister to detail plans for a Taskforce to tackle interface and conflict resolution work in the North Belfast constituency.

The DUP’s Simon Hamilton will ask the Minister to outline at what level the European taskforce will continue to operate.

Leslie Cree (UUP) will ask the Minister for an assessment of the impact of the recent rise in fuel and food costs on child poverty, and to detail any actions it is intending to take to help those families who are living in worsening situations of poverty. Later Sinn Féin’s Jennifer McCann will ask the Minister to detail the recommendations his Office will be making to the Executive to ensure that the necessary measures are put in place to alleviate the impact that rising fuel prices will have on (i) families; and (ii) child poverty.

Daithí McKay (North Antrim) will ask the Minister for an assessment of the recently released Good Relations Indicators.

Michelle McIlveen (DUP) will ask the Minister to outline the agreed priorities of the Ministerial Sub-committee on Children and Young People.

The UUP’s Danny Kennedy will ask the Minister to confirm that any legislation governing the Victims’ Commissioners should include a definition of the term 'victim'; and a procedure for managing differences of opinion between the four commissioners.

Foyle MLA Raymond McCartney will ask the Minister to confirm if his Office supports the Disability Action proposal to develop a North West Centre of Excellence at Ebrington Centre.

Sinn Féin’s AlexMaskey will ask the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline the steps it has taken (i) to tackle hate crime; and (ii) to enhance community safety.

John O'Dowd (Upper Bann) will ask the Minister to detail the action his Office is taking to tackle poverty.

Sam Gardiner (UUP) will ask the Minister to detail its plans for the development of the Joint Ministerial Committee.

Claire McGill (West Tyrone) will ask the Minister to outline the steps his Office is taking to promote joint working with the government of the Republic of Ireland on anti-poverty and social inclusion.

Sinn Féin’s MichelleO'Neill will ask the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail the work of its disability unit.

Questions to the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development

The UUP’s David McNarry will ask the Minister to detail the action she is taking to guarantee adherence to the regulations on the welfare of farmed animals.

Allan Bresland (West Tyrone) will ask the Minister to outline the percentage of funding, awarded to Local Action Groups to deliver Axis 3 of the Rural Development programme, that will be set aside for administration and technical support.

Barry McElduff (Sinn Féin) willask the Minister what action her department is taking, in conjunction with other departments, to address the barriers to accessing rural childcare provision in West Tyrone. Later party colleagues Michelle O’Neill and Claire McGill will ask the Minister further questions on rural childcare provision.

North Antrim MLA Daithí McKay will ask the Minister to detail her priorities for the forest service; and the action she is taking to ensure that forests could be better utilised.

Lord Morrow (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) will ask the Minister to detail the new measures she plans to introduce to regulate the marketing of organic and free range products to ensure they are accurately labelled.

South Down MLA Willie Clarke will ask the Minister what action she is taking to offset the proposed closure of many rural post offices.

Sinn Féin’s Francie Molloy will ask the Minister to provide details on the new agri-environment programme in the Rural Development Plan; and to confirm when this programme will commence.

Questions to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment

West Tyrone MLA Allan Bresland will ask the Minister to outline the impact of the Action Renewables Programme upon householders, business and the community sector.

Mary Bradley (SDLP) will ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment for his assessment of the impact of the 28% increase in Phoenix gas prices on low income families.

Simon Hamilton (Strangford) will ask the Minister to detail his plans to encourage the use of bio-fuels as alternative sources of energy. Later the UUP’s David Burnside will ask the Minister to detail the number of public buildings with alternative energy supplies.

Trevor Lunn (Alliance) will ask the Minister to detail his plans to increase the amount of electricity that is generated from renewable sources. A similar question on electricity from renewable sources will later follow from party colleague David Ford.

Executive Committee Business

Further Consideration Stage - Commission for Victims and Survivors Bill (NIA 12/07)
(First Minister and deputy First Minister)

Final Stage - Local Government (Boundaries) Bill (NIA 14/07)
(Minister of the Environment)

Tuesday 13 May 2008

Executive Committee Business

Final Stage - Commission for Victims and Survivors Bill (NIA 12/07)
(First Minister and deputy First Minister)

Private Members’ Business

Post-Primary Transfer

Ulster Unionist MLAs Basil McCrea, Ken Robinson, Roy Beggs and Danny Kennedy have tabled a joint motion:

“That this Assembly, given high levels of public concern, calls on the Executive to create a Ministerial Sub-Committee to recommend appropriate regulations to govern post-primary transfer from 2010.”

Sustainable Energy

Sinn Féin MLAs Jennifer McCann and Paul Maskey have tabled a joint motion:

“That this Assembly notes the recommendations in the review of the Sustainable Energy Market; and calls on the Executive to ensure that there is closer co-operation between different departments to ensure that sustainable energy, including renewable energy, is developed in such a way that benefits the environment, and tackles the socio-economic problems that face families due to fuel poverty.”

Committee Meetings

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

Tuesday 13 May 2008

1.30pm - Agriculture and Rural Development Committee
4.00pm - Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee

Wednesday 14 May 2008

10.00am - Finance and Personnel Committee
10.30am - Employment and Learning Committee
2.00pm - Committee for the OFMDFM
Regional Development Committee (visit to Dublin)

Thursday 15 May 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 (visit to Balmoral Show)

Friday 16 May 2008

10.00am Education Committee