This week in the Assembly 1-5 June 2009

Monday 1 June 2009

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

West Belfast MLA Sue Ramsey will ask the Office for an update on any work ongoing on a North/South basis in relation to child protection, and for an update on work with the NIO in relation to harmonising arrangements for the supervision of registered sex offenders.

Thomas Burns (South Antrim) will ask how many pieces of draft legislation from its Department are currently awaiting Executive approval.

Newry and Armagh MLA Mickey Brady will ask for an update on the progress with legislation to create an older person's commissioner.

Dolores Kelly (Upper Bann) will ask the Office when it will present its strategy on Cohesion, Sharing and Integration.

East Londonderry MLA John Dallat will ask for an update on recent funding applications granted by the Special European Union Programmes Body.

Barry McElduff (West Tyrone) will ask the Office to report on the Executive sub group meeting on 28 May, which dealt with departmental responsibility for childcare provision, including support for after school clubs.

South Belfast MLA Carmel Hanna will ask the Office to outline the discussions it has had with the Secretary of State in relation to a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.

David Ford (South Antrim) will ask the Minister to provide a timetable for the publication of the Cohesion, Sharing and Integration strategy.

East Belfast MLA Robin Newton will ask what steps the Executive is taking to deal with the economic downturn.

Anna Lo (South Belfast) will ask the Office to detail the impact the delay in the publication of the Cohesion, Sharing and Integration strategy has had on racial equality.

North Belfast MLA Alban Maginness will ask the Office to outline its role in the process of allocating Special European Union Programmes Body funding.

Michelle O'Neill (Mid-Ulster) will ask the Office for its assessment of an Executive Programme Fund to help ensure that the Executive meets its targets in relation to child poverty.

North Antrim MLA Daithi McKay will ask for an update on the transfer of Policing and Justice.

Questions to the Minister for the Environment

Mid-Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone will ask what plans the Minister has to review the performance and structure of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.

Strangford MLA Kieran McCarthy will ask the Minister to outline which of his papers are awaiting approval from the Executive.

David Ford (South Antrim) will ask the Minister what discussions he has had with Ministers in other parts of the United Kingdom and in the Republic of Ireland on climate change.

East Antrim MLA Ken Robinson will ask when the Minister expects to introduce Local Government Bills.

Questions to the Minister for Finance and Personnel

North Down MLA Stephen Farry will ask the Minister to report on the Barnett consequentials arising from the UK Budget announcement on 22 April 2009.

Fred Cobain (North Belfast) will ask the Minister, following his announcement in May 2008 of assistance for lone pensioners through rate relief and housing benefits, how he will ensure maximum uptake of the £3 million.

Strangford MLA Kieran McCarthy will ask the Minister to report on his Department's response to the economic downturn.

Jimmy Spratt (South Belfast) will ask the Minister for his assessment of the effectiveness of NI Direct Online.

East Antrim MLA Ken Robinson will ask the Minister, following the Chancellor's Budget announcement of £14 billion in efficiency savings, when he will bring proposals before the Executive to address the cuts to the block grant from 2011/12.

Naomi Long (East Belfast) will ask the Minister to outline how anti-poverty considerations are taken into account in the monitoring rounds.

South Antrim MLA David Ford will ask for a report on the implications for Northern Ireland of the UK Budget, delivered in April 2009.

Dawn Purvis (East Belfast) will ask the Minister to detail the cost of setting up the Performance and Efficiency Delivery Unit; and to give an assessment of the amount of efficiencies it has delivered.

Tuesday 2 June 2009

Executive Committee Business

Child Support and Social Security
The Minister for Social Development has proposed a motion that "the Child Support and Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 be approved."

Committee Business

Tuesday 2 June 2009
2.00pm Committee on Procedures Room 144

Wednesday 3 June 2009
10.15am Committee for Education St Paul's High School, Bessbrook, Newry