This week at the Assembly - 21 May

Published on 05 Jun 2007

An overview of what happened at the Assembly from 21 May 2007 to 25 May 2007.

Monday 21 May 2007

Processing of Planning Applications

Proposed: That this Assembly regards as unacceptable the length of time taken for both the processing of planning applications and the determination of planning appeals, and calls upon the Minister of the Environment to take immediate steps to clear the backlog and also to introduce more efficiency and transparency within the planning process.

Mr T Gallagher

Read the official report of this debate here.

Affordable Housing Crisis

Proposed: That this Assembly expresses serious concerns about the affordable housing crisis, and calls upon the Minister for Social Development to co-ordinate urgently with the Housing Executive, Housing Associations, and all other relevant bodies, to release and set aside land for new build projects and to report back to this Assembly with the strategy and timescale that is finalised.

Mr J Shannon

Read the official report of this debate here.

Vacant Properties

Proposed: That this Assembly notes that some 36,000 homes lie empty across Northern Ireland; calls upon the Minister for Social Development to take immediate steps to tackle the scandal of vacant properties; and recognises that this could go a long way to deal with the serious crisis which exists in the provision of social and affordable housing, highlighted by the Semple recommendations.

Mr F McCann
Mr M Brady

Read the official report of this debate here.

Tuesday 22 May 2007

Single Equality Bill

Proposed: That this Assembly recognises that discrimination operates in many different ways and on many different levels and encourages the Executive to bring forward harmonising legislation, in a Single Equality Bill, for discussion and consultation at the earliest opportunity.

Ms M Anderson

Read the official report of this debate here.

Training for Junior Doctors

Proposed: That this Assembly calls for assurance from the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety that junior doctors will be offered appropriate training to ensure that their careers, and patients’ care, are protected.

Mr D Ford & Dr K Deeny

Read the official report of this debate here.

Assaults on Emergency Workers

Proposed: That this Assembly calls on the Government to introduce legislation in Northern Ireland to make it an offence punishable by imprisonment for a period not exceeding 9 months, or by a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or both, for all persons assaulting emergency workers engaged in the pursuit of their duty or impeding persons assisting such emergency workers. These emergency workers are to include all registered nurses, registered midwives, registered medical practitioners, ambulance crew, fire fighters, prison officers, social workers and mental health officers when they are in pursuit of their duties, either on or off hospital premises, or such place where they normally might pursue their professional activity.

Rev Dr R Coulter & Mr S Gardiner

Read the official report of this debate here.

Fishing Industry

Proposed: That this Assembly notes the struggle that the fishing industry is subjected to and calls upon the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to urgently appoint a committee to oversee the fishing industry and ensure that their best interests are catered for at the highest level.

Mr J Shannon & Mr S Hamilton

Read the official report of this debate here.