This week in the Assembly - 15 June 2009

Monday 15 June 2009

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

East Antrim MLA David Hilditch will ask the Office when it will report to the Assembly on progress against targets set in the Programme for Government.

Fred Cobain (North Belfast) will ask the Office what its position is on climate change in relation to its Sustainable Development Strategy.

South Belfast MLA Anna Lo will ask the Office, in the absence of the Cohesion, Sharing and Integration Strategy, if it would consider reviving the Racial Equality Strategy to require departments to produce annual action plans to tackle racism and racial discrimination.

Peter Weir (North Down) will ask what steps the Executive is taking to deal with the economic downturn.

North Antrim MLA Ian Paisley Junior will ask the Office what arrangements are in place to monitor the delivery of the Programme for Government.

William Irwin (Newry and Armagh) will ask the Office when the Efficiency Review Panel will begin its work.

West Tyrone MLA Barry McElduff will ask the Office to report on the work of the Executive sub-group dealing with departmental responsibility for childcare provision, including support for after school clubs.

Naomi Long (East Belfast) will ask the Office for an update on the Cohesion, Sharing and Integration Strategy.

Questions to the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development

East Antrim MLA Sean Neeson will ask the Minister when the Rural White Paper will be completed.

Sue Ramsey (West Belfast) will ask the Minister what progress has been made on the Rural Childcare Strategy and what impact it will have.

North Belfast MLA Fred Cobain will ask the Minister for her assessment of the delay involving her Department and the Axis 3 council clusters in agreeing a scoring mechanism.

Claire McGill (West Tyrone) will ask the Minister to outline her proposals for developing a 'Rural Champion' concept and improving the rural proofing process.

South Down MLA John McCallister will ask the Minister for her assessment of the current status of the Rural Development Strategies within each of the seven council clusters.

Barry McElduff (West Tyrone) will ask the Minister to report on the Rural Childcare Programme launch at Eskra Childcare Centre on Tuesday 9 June 2009.

Strangford MLA Kieran McCarthy will ask the Minister for an update on the Rural White Paper.

Executive Committee Business

Budget (No.2) Bill (First stage)

The Minister for Finance and Personnel has proposed a Bill "to authorise the issue out of the Consolidated Fund of certain sums for the service of the year ending 31st March 2010; to appropriate those sums for specified purposes; to authorise the Department of Finance and Personnel to borrow on the credit of the appropriated sums; to authorise the use for the public service of certain resources (including accruing resources) for the year ending 31st March 2010; and to repeal certain spent provisions."

Tuesday 16 June 2009

Questions to the Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure
West Belfast MLA Sue Ramsey will ask the Minister what steps his Department has taken to secure additional funding for voluntary and community arts.

Stephen Farry (North Down) will ask the Minister for his assessment of the potential of arts organisations to contribute to economic recovery.

North Belfast MLA Fred Cobain will ask the Minister to outline the efficiency savings his Department has made since the restoration of devolution.

Tom Elliott (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) will ask the Minister to provide an update on the development of the 'Sports Matters' strategy.
 
Executive Committee Business
Budget (No.2) Bill (Second stage) (Minister for Finance and Personnel)

Private Members' Business
Increased income for ex-service pensioners DUP MLAs Jim Shannon, Wallace Browne and Simon Hamilton have proposed a motion that "this Assembly supports the campaign by the Royal British Legion and Age Concern to increase the income of ex-service pensioners who are living on an income below the minimum required for healthy living; and calls on the Minister for Veterans, to implement the reforms proposed in the campaign."

Committee meetings
Tuesday 16 June
12.30pm Committee for Employment and Learning Senate Chamber
12.30pm Business Committee Room 106
1.30pm Committee for Agriculture and Rural Room 21
Development
 
Assembly and Executive Review Committee
Visit to London - Meetings with Jack Straw, Justice Secretary; Justice Committee, Westminster

Wednesday 17 June
10.00am Committee for Finance and Personnel -Room 152
10.00am Committee for Employment and Learning -Room 135
10.00am Committee for Education -Room 144
10.30am Committee for Regional Development - Room 21
12.45pm Committee for Finance and Personnel -Senate Chamber
2.00pm Committee on Standards and Privileges - Room 135
2.00pm Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister -Room 144

Committee for the Environment
Visit to London as part of the Committee's inquiry into Climate Change

Assembly and Executive Review Committee
Visit to Edinburgh - Meetings with Justice Committee, Scotland; Frank Mulholland Solicitor General; Kenny MacAskill, Justice Minister

Thursday 18 June
10.30am Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure
Sports Institute, University of Ulster, Jordanstown
 
1.00pm Assembly Commission
Slieve Donard Hotel, Newcastle, Co Down

2.00 pm Committee for Health, Social Services and Room 135
Public Safety

Click here to view the Committee agendas.