Northern Ireland Assembly, 9 December 2024

407 contributions from 65 members. The official report.

Assembly Business

Edwin Poots (DUP, Belfast South)

The Assembly is due to debate a motion on a democratic consent resolution tomorrow. I want to draw to Members' attention a challenge to the democratic consent process, which is to be heard at the High Court this afternoon. Therefore, questions about that process and the vote are sub judice, and I ask Members not to raise the matter before the hearing. Any attempts to do so will be ruled out of order.

Members' Statements

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

I will make a short statement in relation to some of the comments that Mr Phillip Brett made last week about boxing. On the back of that, I took it upon myself to meet some of the boxing clubs from right across the community, and then I received the statement on Friday morning. It is clear that a resolution was reached. It was clear last week when his comments were made, and rather than having verbal fisticuffs in this place, I have invited a delegation of boxing clubs, which are cross-community — they go from Bangor right up to our constituency and into south Antrim and other areas — to come up here, probably in the second week of January.

I put on the record that a resolution was reached, and, since then, some people have spoken outside that agreed resolution, which is a matter of regret. However, it is well known and well accepted that any lessons that need to be learned will be learned from this. I am quite confident about that. I am also quite confident that, when it comes to competitions, we are all very inclusive about getting behind our boxers, and rightly so, given the medals that they have yielded for whatever jurisdiction they choose to represent. Our boxers are no different, and any political commentary around that should be done and dusted and then left, because it has caused a lot of concern in a lot of the boxing clubs. They have all said that it is not in keeping with the spirit that they have operated in for decades. They ask us all to get together to give them our support. They are more than willing to talk to us all, and they are happy to hear any challenges, feedback or concerns.

I put on record my support for all the boxing clubs and all the boxers. Hopefully, we can learn lessons from them that, once agreements have been made or matches have happened in rings, once you get out of it, that is it done. I invite every party to meet that delegation, hopefully on Monday 16 January, all being well.

Joanne Bunting (DUP, Belfast East)

I rise to commend and congratulate the governor and prison officers of Hydebank Wood, following an unannounced inspection by the Criminal Justice Inspection in June, the reports on which have just been released. The great news is that Hydebank Wood has attained the highest achievable level for prisoner outcomes against the healthy prison tests, and that is a first for any prison in Northern Ireland. It is a tremendous result, given how the prison has transformed itself in a mere 10 years. Such success should be lauded far and wide, and it is right that we in the House should recognise and praise such a significant achievement after such considerable efforts and work.

Indeed, the Criminal Justice Inspection, in its inspection reports into both the secure college and the women's prison, stated that Hydebank:

"was operating far more successfully than most similar prisons"

that His Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons has "inspected in England and Wales."

It is immensely difficult for prisons to achieve that standard, especially given the extent of issues that they face, including the high levels of remand prisoners, for whom there is little incentive to engage in rehabilitation, not to mention the extent of the complex needs of the prisoners with whom they work. Those outstanding reports are therefore a testament to the dedication and commitment of officers as well as to their ethos and attitude of getting to know the prisoners whom they are looking after and encouraging them to engage and change, including through offering a wide range of activities and learning opportunities. That approach is crucial if we are to reduce reoffending rates and ensure a justice system that is effective in delivering positive outcomes for prisoners and for the good of wider society when they are released.

I have no doubt that the officers will not rest on their laurels but will build upon those excellent foundations. In the interim, all that remains is to wish them hearty congratulations and continued success.

Stewart Dickson (Alliance, East Antrim)

Today, I celebrate a very personal milestone: I am five years cancer free.

Some Members

Hear, hear.

[Applause.]

Stewart Dickson (Alliance, East Antrim)

I was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer on 11 July 2019, and five years ago today, at 7.30 am on Monday 9 December 2019, the day after my birthday, I was in an operating theatre in Belfast City Hospital. Nine hours later, I was recovering in intensive care, following an oesophagectomy, one of the longest and most complex elective surgeries, and I returned to the theatre 24 hours later due to complications and had a 12-week stay in hospital.

Oesophageal cancer is one of the six least survivable cancers in the world, one for which there is currently no widespread screening for early detection. Approximately 220 cases are diagnosed in Northern Ireland each year, from which only 17·3% of people are alive five years after diagnosis. The poorly developed cancer strategy coupled with the worst waiting times anywhere in the United Kingdom make for bleak reading in Northern Ireland. As chair of the all-party group on cancer, I call on the Department of Health and the Minister of Health to redouble their efforts to deliver a strategy and improve outcomes for all cancer patients. We need to support the work of the Northern Ireland Cancer Centre and the wider network of clinicians, researchers and others, including the internationally acclaimed research work done at the Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research. Cancer patients cannot wait. Cancer cannot wait.

I am a trustee of the cancer charity, OGCancerNI. We support, communicate with and advocate for patients, families and health professionals. We fundraise for research, and we support families and carers. Our volunteers work tirelessly not only to fundraise but to get our message out: catch it early. We provide emotional and practical support to patients and a weekly information point at Belfast City Hospital.

On a personal note, I want to place on record my thanks to all those who supported me in my cancer journey, including my GP, Dr Ian Kernohan; the team at Antrim Area Hospital that did my diagnostic scope and gave me the devastating news that I had oesophageal cancer; the Macmillan nurse specialists who took time to talk to me in Antrim; the team in the Cancer Centre, who gave me hope and support; my oncologist, Dr Richard Turkington; the cancer nurse specialists who guided me through gruelling chemotherapy; my surgeon, Mr Andrew Kennedy, who, a number of days after surgery, gave me the good news that my surgery had cured the cancer; the theatre staff and intensive care staff; the staff in ward 2 north; and the family and friends who journeyed with me through all of that. Thank you. The radical re-plumbing of my body brings me daily challenges, but I am a survivor and grateful to all who have helped me.

Oesophageal cancer, like many other cancers, does not differentiate between age or sex, and knowing and recognising the signs and symptoms are crucial to early diagnosis. If anyone suffers from any of the following symptoms for longer than three weeks, consult your doctor: persistent indigestion; difficulty swallowing food or food sticking; heartburn and acid reflux; hiccups that will not go away; and unexplained weight loss.

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for allowing me to share my personal story today and to encourage others.

Some Members

Hear, hear.

Robbie Butler (UUP, Lagan Valley)

I commend the Member. His ears would have been burning last week as Kellie Armstrong and I talked about him. I say, "Well done" in his battle against cancer. We are much better off for having him in the Chamber.

Before I move on to my statement, I pay tribute to Seán Fitzsimons, as, I know, the leader of the Opposition will do. Sadly, Seán, who was known to all of us, passed away at the end of last week. I put on record my appreciation to Seán and his family. He was an amazing disability advocate. We will miss him greatly, and I look forward to the Member for South Belfast's tribute.

It is a real honour to be able to stand up in the Chamber during Members' statements and talk about a wide range of issues, and we will get a lot of that today. I welcome the change wrought in the last 24 hours in Syria with the end of the Assad regime. Bashar al-Assad has held an iron grip since 2000, as did his father before him. It was a regime that thought that gassing its citizens was fit for purpose. They used chemical weapons and imprisoned women and children in horrendous conditions. From 2011 to 2023, over 600,000 lives were lost — people murdered — and 6·7 million Syrians were displaced across the globe. Lagan Valley is better off for some of those Syrians who share our space. If you were listening to the radio and the stories from Syrians, you will have heard and sensed the sense of relief, jubilation and excitement that they now have.

Regrettably, that moment comes with some caution, and some Syrians have been talking about that caution, because we have been there before. When we celebrated the end of the fighting in Afghanistan a number of years ago, sadly, the Taliban then took control in 2021. Just seven months after taking control, the nefarious gender-controlling hand of the Taliban started its systemic gender oppression. The first thing that they did was to ban post-primary education. Then there was the full covering of bodies and faces with a ban on intercity travelling for unaccompanied females of any age. They banned women and girls from parks and gyms and deployed armed guards to stop girls entering universities. Meryl Streep, the famous actress and singer, stated — she meant no humour in this — that:

"A squirrel has more rights than a girl in Afghanistan today".

Squirrels can sit in a park in the sun and travel without restriction in relative peace, which is not something that girls and women can do in Afghanistan.

As we rightly celebrate the moment of liberation with our Syrian friends, we need to be vigilant about what comes next and not to be slow in supporting open and democratic government and demanding human rights for all, so that Syria becomes the place that it once was — a wonderful, thriving place in the Middle East — and somewhere that can set an example.

Edwin Poots (DUP, Belfast South)

The Member's time is up.

Robbie Butler (UUP, Lagan Valley)

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Matthew O'Toole (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Belfast South)

As Mr Butler said, I want to pay tribute on the passing of our friend, a disability rights activist known to many Members across the Chamber, who passed away suddenly and tragically a couple of days ago: Seán Fitzsimons. To say that Seán was an extraordinary human being would be the most remarkable understatement. Like others, when I found out about Seán's passing, I was not just shocked but heartbroken and genuinely devastated.

I first knew Seán at school. He was a year or two behind me at St Patrick's Grammar School in Downpatrick many decades ago. He made an enormous contribution not just to the lives of people with disabilities in Northern Ireland and further afield but to campaigning and activism in this place. His passing is an immense tragedy for all of us — for people in the disability rights sector and for people who care about positive campaigning and public discourse in this place — but, particularly, for his wife, Nicole, and their baby, Ollie, who just recently turned one, his parents Seán and Sally and his wider family circle.

Seán was an extraordinary human being. In a career focused on disability rights, he made his mark in the Civil Service. Most recently, he led the project that delivered the Harkin International Disability Employment Summit, which was an extraordinary success.

It showcased not just disability employment issues but the city of Belfast around the world, and it held events here at Stormont. Seán was one of the leaders of that and was, rightly, given an award for his extraordinary work. Before that, he worked in several campaign groups and sector bodies, including Disability Action.

Much more than that, however, Seán was a person of immense courage, resilience and generosity of spirit. Seán was a member of our party, and he chaired our disabled group for a number of years. He was one of those people who was so generous in what he gave to others. He was not just a campaigner on issues that he cared about: he endowed others with his kindness and his passion for the world and for doing things better. Many a time, Seán dropped me a message to be encouraging. He would, perhaps, critique something that I had said but offer his ideas and gentle words of kindness and encouragement. That kind of person is not commonplace.

Seán Fitzsimons was not commonplace. He was an extraordinary human being. We are all reduced by his tragic passing, but, although his life was tragically short, his legacy will be long. His impact was immense, and his memory will be treasured by his family and all who knew him.

Pat Sheehan (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

Inniu, tugann na Náisiúin Aontaithe chun ár gcuimhne an cinedhíothú agus na daoine uilig go léir a maraíodh dá dheasca. I mí Aibreán na bliana seo, bhí sé 30 bliain ó bhí an cinedhíothú ann i Ruanda. I mí Iúil na bliana seo chugainn, beidh sé 30 bliain ó bhí an cinedhíothú ann in Srebrenica. Agus inniu, beidh sé ocht mí ó d’fhógair Francesca Albanese, rapporteur speisialta de chuid na Náisiún Aontaithe, go bhfuil cinedhíothú á imirt ag Iosrael ar mhuintir na Palaistíne. Go díreach an tseachtain seo caite, dúirt Amnesty International an rud céanna: go bhfuil cinedhíothú ar bun sa Phalaistín agus gurb é Iosrael atá ina bhun. Cá mhéad foras idirnáisiúnta, cá mhéad eagraíocht um chearta an duine agus cá mhéad cúirt a chaithfidh a rá gur cinedhíothú é sula gcreide lucht tacaíochta Iosrael é agus sula n-éirí siad as dul ar leithscéal Iosrael?

In áit dearcadh orthu féin agus ar an choir atá Iosrael a dhéanamh sa Mheánoirthear, is é rud atá tacadóirí Iosrael ag ionsaí na Náisiún Aontaithe, ag ionsaí na Cúirte Coiriúla Idirnáisiúnta agus ag ionsaí Francesca Albanese ag iarraidh a clú a bhriseadh. Más iontach le rá é, tá tíortha atá ina mballstáit de na Náisiúin Aontaithe agus a shínigh an Coinbhinsiún ar Chosc agus Pionósú Choir an Chinedhíothaithe, tá sin páirteach sna hionsaithe sin. Ach, le linn do na Stáit Aontaithe agus don Ghearmáin a bheith ag tabhairt na cluaise bodhaire do na heagraíochtaí idirnáisiúnta cionn is nach binn leo a mbriathra, agus le linn daofa páirt a ghlacadh sa bholscaireacht in éadan na Náisiún Aontaithe nó na Cúirte Coiriúla Idirnáisiúnta, ní hamhlaidh do chuid mhór grúpaí Giúdach ar fud an domhain. Shínigh 30 grúpa Giúdach ón Eoraip, ó Mheiriceá Thuaidh agus ó Iosrael, shínigh sin ráiteas ar na mallaibh ina dtugtar tacaíocht do Francesca Albanese agus don dlí idirnáisiúnta.

Inniu, táimid ag machnamh ar an chinedhíothú agus ar na daoine uile go léir a fuair bás dá dheasca. Tá fir, mná agus páistí ag fáil bháis dá dheasca anois láithreach. Ná bímis caoch ar an chinedhíothú sin toisc gur Arabaigh atá á marú.

Pat Sheehan (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

[Translation: Today, the United Nations commemorates all those who have died as a result of genocide. In April this year, we marked 30 years since the genocide in Rwanda. In July next year, it will be 30 years since the genocide in Srebrenica. Today, it is eight months since Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur, declared that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people. Just last week, Amnesty International said the same thing: genocide is taking place in Palestine and Israel is behind it. How many international bodies, how many human rights organisations and how many courts must say that it is genocide before Israel’s supporters believe it and stop making excuses for Israel? Instead of looking at themselves and the crimes that Israel is committing in the Middle East, Israel’s supporters attack the United Nations, they attack the International Criminal Court and they attack Francesca Albanese in an attempt to tarnish her reputation. Believe it or not, countries that are member states of the United Nations and have signed the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide are complicit in those attacks. However, while the United States and Germany turn a deaf ear to international organisations because they do not like their words, and while they participate in propaganda against the UN or the International Criminal Court, that is certainly not the case for many Jewish groups around the world. Some 30 Jewish groups from Europe, North America and Israel recently signed a statement supporting Francesca Albanese and international law. Today, we reflect on genocide and all those who have died as a result of it. Men, women and children are dying because of it right now. Let us not turn a blind eye to that genocide just because those being killed are Arabs.]

Alan Robinson (DUP, East Londonderry)

Yesterday afternoon, I joined the families and friends of the deceased and injured to mark the 42nd anniversary of the Droppin' Well terrorist massacre. On the evening of 6 December 1982, a neighbour arrived at our house, three miles from Ballykelly. I was 10 years old. Our neighbour said that there were reports of a bomb explosion in Ballykelly at the Droppin' Well bar. In the background, we began to hear the wail of sirens. My father went into panic mode, as his brother worked in the bar as a DJ. He frantically made calls, only to learn that his brother, my uncle, had been taken unwell and was in bed, sick.

Luck was on our family's side that night, but, for many others, a horror was unfolding that would change their lives forever.

That night, cowards had walked into the Ballykelly bar and left a deadly device that brought the ceiling down on young people out having a dance and a drink at Christmastime. As a result, 17 were killed, and many more were injured, some with terrible, lifelong injuries. The bombing was a pointless act of evil republican terrorist violence that served no purpose other than to rob families of loved ones and to remove good and decent human beings from this world. It traumatised multiple families and left an indelible mark on the brave members of the emergency services who had to attend to the dead and the injured. Rather than divide the Ballykelly people, however, it brought them together, and today the community lives cheek by jowl, united in condemnation of terrorism.

I express my sincere thanks to the Cheshire Regiment Association, which facilitates that solemn annual event at Tamlaghtfinlagan in Ballykelly. Every year, we stand shoulder to shoulder with families and those brave former soldiers to comfort them, thank them and show them that we still care after the passing of all those years.

I say this to young people who romanticise terrorism: they were no defenders who carried out that atrocity; they were no heroes; and they were no soldiers of war. They were and are evil cowards who achieved nothing but to dish up hurt, pain and death. Terrorism cannot win. It has not won, and it must not win.

Emma Sheerin (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

I congratulate the Workspace Group in my constituency after its amazing accomplishment of winning the social enterprise of the year award. It received the award in Belfast a few weeks ago. The award is a marker of its success locally and of the amount of work that the group does, to which I can attest, given that it is based in Ballinascreen. I see the fantastic work that it does at a local level and how invaluable that work is to our community, to the groups that it funds and to all of us who benefit from it.

I will mention Patsy McShane especially. He won a lifetime achievement award a number of weeks ago. He is a founding member of the Workspace Group board and is known locally for his work with the credit union and various community groups. A lot of talent has come from Carnamoney, and Patsy's recognition is a testament to that.

Phillip Brett (DUP, Belfast North)

"Amateur hour", "Mickey Mouse", "a disgrace" and "unacceptable" are just some examples of the more acceptable parliamentary language that was used to describe the handling of the cancellation of Irish Premiership fixtures at the weekend. This must be pantomime season, because, when fans enquired, as they began travelling to matches, whether the games were going ahead, they were told, "Oh, yes, they are", but, when they arrived at the stadiums, they were told, "Oh, no, they aren't".

Across Northern Ireland, our football clubs have a devoted base of loyal and dedicated followers who, every Saturday, spend their hard-earned money booking buses and making transport arrangements to follow their Irish Premiership club. At the weekend, in my constituency and across Northern Ireland, those hard-working families once again spent hundreds of pounds to purchase tickets and make travel arrangements only to arrive at stadiums and have the matches cancelled at the very last minute.

It did not take Mystic Meg or, indeed, Barra Best to look out the window and see the gale-force winds. It was clear that those football matches would never be able to be played. Between 10.45 am and 3.45 pm, however, one by one, each game was cancelled. No decision was taken by the Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL) to prewarn fans in any way that the games would not be taking place. Clubs made travel arrangements, because, if they had not done so, they would have been liable to have points deducted or, indeed, be fined. The situation put players and fans in major danger. The authorities were clear that travel should be undertaken at the weekend only in the most exceptional and necessary circumstances. Had an early decision been made on Saturday that all games were to be cancelled, we could have avoided the disruption and, indeed, avoided people putting themselves in harm's way.

The debacle at the weekend should never be repeated. I call on the Northern Ireland Football League to reflect on how it handled the situation.

Ciara Ferguson (Sinn Féin, Foyle)

I rise to welcome the announcement by the Minister for Communities that he has secured Executive agreement to extend welfare mitigations until March 2028. As Members know, the welfare mitigations were initially secured in 2016 to protect the most vulnerable in our society against Tory austerity. The welfare supplementary payments were automatically paid to anyone who would otherwise have been impacted by cruel welfare changes such as the bedroom tax, the benefit cap and the roll-out of the personal independence payment (PIP).

The Welfare Supplementary Payments (Amendment) Act 2022, which was brought forward by previous Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey, extended most of the mitigations until March 2025. It also extended the bedroom tax mitigation indefinitely, which ensured that over 37,000 social housing tenants were permanently protected. Those mitigations are vital for so many people. In many cases, they are the difference between having enough food to eat and going to bed hungry. In many cases, they are the difference between being able to afford the rent and falling into housing stress or homelessness. The cost-of-living crisis has had a devastating impact on households across the North, with many people being plunged into poverty by rising costs.

Letting the mitigations collapse at a time when so many people are struggling to make ends meet would be unconscionable. The Communities Committee discussed the issue at length, and there was broad agreement that the mitigations should be extended and a creeping concern that time was running out to have the extension in place before the 31 March deadline. It was in that context that the Committee for Communities agreed to table a motion calling on the Minister to extend the mitigations. The announcement last Thursday that the Executive had agreed to extend the mitigations at their current levels will have come as a huge relief to the individuals and families who rely on them. I call on the Minister to work at pace to ensure that all the required steps are completed as quickly as possible and the 31 March cliff edge is averted.

In addition to extending the existing mitigations, the Minister must outline the long-term plans for the existing welfare mitigations and consider what new mitigations might be needed. It is simply unsustainable to continue moving the deadline into the future without any plan on how to protect people permanently. That way, we will all be back here in 2028, trying to avert the next scheduled cliff edge.

Last week, the Committee received a briefing from the Cliff Edge Coalition, which presented its three key asks: removal of the five-week wait for universal credit; removal of the two-child limit; and support for private renters affected by the local housing allowance. The Scottish Government recently took a positive step by announcing their intention to remove the two-child limit. That is the sort of radical action that we need here. The British Government need to follow suit and abolish the two-child limit.

Stephen Dunne (DUP, North Down)

I rise to celebrate a special anniversary in Northern Ireland's sporting history, as this season marks 25 years of the Belfast Giants ice hockey team. In their debut season in 2000, the Giants became the first professional ice hockey team in either the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland. Since then, the team has steadily grown its average attendance and its trophy cabinet as well interest in it across our country. The Giants have amassed an impressive array of titles, including multiple league championships, cup victories and prestigious play-off titles; indeed, they won the treble in 2023. Those triumphs have been a source of immense pride for Northern Ireland and have elevated the profile of ice hockey across the UK and, indeed, our world.

Based at their home in the SSE Arena, the Giants have introduced people from every corner of Northern Ireland and beyond to this exciting and entertaining sport. The Giants' influence extends far beyond their victories on the ice. They have been a pillar of community spirit and engagement, and they regularly give back through charitable initiatives and youth development and educational outreach programmes; indeed, they take great pride in dealing with and supporting families who have been affected by cancer. I know from personal experience just how valuable that outreach work by the Belfast Giants has been to constituents who have benefited from it.

I also acknowledge the role that the Belfast Giants have played in putting Belfast and Northern Ireland on the global map. Their presence in international tournaments has showcased our city and our country, while their success has attracted visitors, players, media attention and opportunities that have benefited our economy and shown the very best of Northern Ireland. That is something of which we can all be proud. The Giants' contribution to the cultural and sporting fabric of Belfast and Northern Ireland cannot be overstated.

It is also worth recognising and celebrating the role that the Giants have played in developing the rich historical and cultural links between Northern Ireland and the United States and, indeed, Canada. Since 2015, the Friendship Four tournament has brought players and fans from the University of Notre Dame, Boston University, Harvard University and Merrimack College to our shores. I firmly believe that there is an exciting future ahead for the Giants. We look forward to the redevelopment of Dundonald International Ice Bowl, which will improve the club's training facilities and give many aspiring young players an opportunity to have a career in the sport — something that was not on the agenda over 25 years ago.

This is an opportunity to reflect on the hard work of everybody who has been part of the journey. I commend and pay tribute to the management team, including current coach, Adam Keefe, and head of hockey, Steve Thornton, and all those who had the vision to bring ice hockey to our shores. I wish the Belfast Giants every continued success —

Edwin Poots (DUP, Belfast South)

The Member's time is up.

Stephen Dunne (DUP, North Down)

— for the next 25 years, and more.

Timothy Gaston (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

I pay tribute to the many food banks across Northern Ireland and highlight the vital work that those organisations do to ensure that those in need do not go hungry. Over the past number of years, I have worked closely with my local food bank to support multiple families in the Ballymena area who have found themselves in difficulty. During this season of goodwill, there can be an increased focus on such causes, but the reality is that this is a matter that needs to be supported 12 months of the year. I have witnessed first-hand the incredible work that the food bank volunteers do all year round to ensure that those who find themselves struggling have somewhere to reach out to for support and advice.

My constituency office, as well as being registered to issue food bank vouchers, is now a registered food bank drop-off point, which not only promotes the charity but enables people who can donate to do so during opening hours. With the current cost-of-living pressures, many people find themselves choosing between heating their home and eating. I urge anyone who has the resources to support those struggling to do so through buying an extra item when out shopping or by donating directly to the food bank to allow it to source the critical items on which it is running low. As the author of 'The Pilgrim's Progress' observed:

"You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you."

There will be many this season with nothing under the Christmas tree and little in the cupboards. I trust that those who are blessed with extra provision will support their local food bank to ensure that no one goes hungry this Christmas.

Mr Speaker, while I am on my feet, I pay tribute to those who braved the elements of Storm Darragh over the weekend to keep the country moving. I pay particular tribute and give particular thanks to the staff of Northern Ireland Electricity who worked hard day and night to restore power to thousands of households throughout the weekend and to keep people such as me updated when we sought updates for those placed on the critical connection list. I also highlight the work of the farming community and pay tribute to it. The farming community has also braved the elements to clear the roads of fallen trees and debris. Many roads would still be blocked were it not for those people and their help. At a time when the Labour Government have treated farmers so badly and when, once again, the local community was in need, farmers answered the call.

Edwin Poots (DUP, Belfast South)

That brings Members' statements to a conclusion.

Assembly Business

Edwin Poots (DUP, Belfast South)

Connie Egan has sought leave to present a public petition in accordance with Standing Order 22. You have up to three minutes, Ms Egan.

Connie Egan (Alliance, North Down)

Thank you, Mr Speaker. It is an honour to be here today to present this petition on the diagnosis and management of Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) in Northern Ireland on behalf of members of Ehlers-Danlos Support UK, particularly its campaigners in Northern Ireland. Currently, the number of signatures on the petition exceeds 1,600. It is extremely heartening to see representatives of the Ehlers-Danlos Support UK community, some of whom have travelled from other nations in the UK for this moment, in the Public Gallery. I had the opportunity to meet them earlier.

The material ask of the petition is to end the neglect of the diagnosis and management of people with most types of Ehlers-Danlos syndromes and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) in Northern Ireland, which cause the utmost anxiety, distress and unnecessary pain. Ehlers-Danlos syndromes are genetic connective tissue disorders with body-wide symptoms that can be disabling, affecting all aspects of life. The most common type — hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome — is difficult to diagnose because there is no single test. That often leads to those who have EDS feeling ignored and unrecognised. I hope that this petition's being presented today in the Chamber gives you the recognition that you deserve.

Mr Speaker, I ask that the petition be passed to the Minister of Health to draw his attention to the substantial gaps in knowledge on this condition in Northern Ireland that lead to common misdiagnosis and harmful consequences for those seeking medical care. We ask him to create a new care pathway, which falls within his remit and is happening elsewhere in the United Kingdom. Work has begun in England, for example, to create a primary care pathway for those presenting with symptoms. Early diagnosis is essential to give someone with EDS the best chance of having a good quality of life. The petition is part of the #EnoughIsEnough campaign. It aims to give a voice to those who have, for so long, been ignored. Ehlers-Danlos Support UK, which initiated the petition, has the vision of ensuring that, across the UK, people with EDS or HSD are connected, heard and supported and have equitable access to care. That is the core of the petition.

Finally, I thank and pay tribute to my constituent Mandy McCreight. Mandy is a tireless advocate for those with EDS and disabilities. She volunteers her time to ensure that those living with the condition have support and access to the services that they need and know that they are not alone. There is little awareness or understanding in our society of EDS. I would have included myself in that until Mandy brought the issue to my attention. I thank her, the team at Ehlers-Danlos Support UK and everyone living with the condition for their advocacy and campaigning and for enabling me to bring the petition to the Assembly today.

Edwin Poots (DUP, Belfast South)

I now invite you to approach the Table to present your petition.

Ms Egan moved forward and laid the petition on the Table.

Edwin Poots (DUP, Belfast South)

Thank you. I will ensure that the petition is presented to the Minister of Health, and I will send a copy to the Health Committee.

(Madam Principal Deputy Speaker in the Chair)

Sinéad Ennis (Sinn Féin, South Down)

I beg to move

That this Assembly notes the contents of the Assembly Commission’s budget for 2025-26, as presented to the Audit Committee on 13 November 2024 and set out in the document presented to the Assembly on 20 November 2024; further notes the contents of the letter from the Audit Committee to the Minister of Finance [NIA 58/22-27] on the scrutiny of the Assembly Commission’s budget for 2025-26, presented to the Assembly on 18 November 2024: and agrees the Assembly Commission’s budget for 2025-26.

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

The Business Committee has agreed to allocate one hour for the debate. The proposer will have up to 10 minutes to move the motion and 10 minutes to make a winding-up speech. All other Members will have five minutes. Please open the debate on the motion.

Sinéad Ennis (Sinn Féin, South Down)

Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. The Assembly Commission has a duty under section 40 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 to provide the Assembly, or ensure that the Assembly is provided, with the property, staff and services required for the Assembly's purposes. Before I go into the detail of the budget, I take this opportunity to formally record, on behalf of the Assembly Commission, my sincere thanks to Assembly Commission staff, who continue to professionally support the work of the Assembly with enduring energy, commitment, resilience and dedication.

The Assembly Commission develops a draft budget for each year to ensure that it can deliver all the services that are required by the Assembly. The draft budget is scrutinised by the Audit Committee, with input from the Department of Finance to help inform the Committee's scrutiny. The 2025-26 draft budget was presented to the Audit Committee on 13 November. Following its scrutiny of the budget, the Committee wrote to the Finance Minister on 15 November, and the draft budget 2025-26 document was subsequently presented to the Assembly on 20 November 2024. Those documents inform today's debate. This motion, and the subsequent vote, enable the Assembly to determine the resources that the Commission will be given to enable the Assembly to carry out its legislative functions. Once agreed, the budget will be notified to the Department of Finance for inclusion in any Budget presented by the Minister of Finance. For many years, the Commission's investment in areas such as staffing, ICT and building maintenance has been limited due to the stop/start nature of Assembly business and the associated reputational risk of investing in that context. As a result, this budget reflects the need for investment in those key areas.

I will now give an overview of the main figures in the Assembly Commission's draft budget for 2025-26. The total budget for 2025-26 is £64·2 million for resource departmental expenditure limit (DEL), which is an increase of £5·7 million on the 2024-25 budget position, and £3·1 million for capital DEL, which is an increase of £0·1 million on the 2024-25 budget position. The budget excludes costs that are associated with the operation of the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee, as those are separately funded directly by HM Treasury and are therefore ring-fenced.

The first category that is included in the Assembly Commission's budget is income. Next year, the Commission expects to receive income of £0·6 million, all of which relates to the recovery of the costs of ministerial salaries from Departments. The second category is salaries and expenses that are paid to Members. That covers a range of areas, including Members' salaries, constituency office running costs, support staff costs, travel, and all other costs that are associated with Members.

The total budget for Member-related costs for 2025-26 is £20·9 million. Member-associated expenditure is currently payable under the provisions of the Assembly Members (Salaries and Expenses Determination (Northern Ireland) 2026, as amended by the Assembly Members (Salaries and Expenses) (Amendment) Determination (Northern Ireland) 2020, which is referred to as "the determination". An updated determination was approved by the Assembly Commission on 1 October 2024. The Assembly Commission intends to decide the publication date in January 2025. The 2025-26 draft budget is based on the provisions of the 2024 determination.

The budget for salaries that are payable to Members and Assembly officeholders is £7·2 million. The Assembly Commission is considering the introduction of legislation to form a new remuneration board to independently determine Members' salaries and pensions. Therefore, the Commission has not made any attempt to predict how Members' salaries or pensions may be impacted on by any such legislation. The budget is therefore based on the rates that are set out in the current determination, assuming the prescribed inflationary increase.

The amount that Members may recover in order to meet the costs of running a constituency office, including rents, rates and the cost of support staff, is expected to be £13·1 million. The budget provides for an increase in the maximum recoverable allowance for constituency office operating costs, as that allowance has not increased since 2020, and to enable Members to procure printers that were previously provided centrally by the Assembly Commission. The budget also provides for an increase in the maximum recoverable rental for constituency offices, as that allowance has not increased since 2016. Provision has also been made for increases in Members' and staff travel allowances, as those have not increased since 2016. Payments to Members in respect of travel costs are budgeted at £0·3 million.

Other costs for Members include winding-up, resettlement and any ill-health retirement expenses that may occur, and those have been budgeted at £0·1 million. The 2024 determination introduces additional funding that is specifically for security-related costs for the provision of security measures at constituency offices and/or at a Member's private dwelling. It also introduces additional support to Members who take a period of maternity, adoptive or shared parental leave. A further new provision will enable additional funding to be provided for making reasonable adjustments to constituency offices that are not covered under the terms of their lease in order to accommodate a disabled member of staff or to facilitate access for disabled members of the public. Together, those have been budgeted at £0·2 million.

The third major category in the Assembly Commission's budget covers salary payments for Commission staff and the administrative costs that are incurred in delivering the full range of services that are needed by the Assembly. Commission staff salary costs are budgeted at £26·2 million, which includes a net increase of 16 staff. The additional staff will perform increased support and scrutiny from a legal and parliamentary services perspective, as a proportionate response to recommendations from the renewable heat incentive (RHI) inquiry; to address issues that were identified in the Mediahuis judgement; to ensure better organisational resilience in the Bill Office and Business Office and Committee teams; to expand in-house communications and broadcast-production capabilities; and to provide additional administrative support. An increase in employers' National Insurance contributions for Assembly Commission staff, Members and Members' support staff, as was notified in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Westminster Budget on 30 October 2024, has been incorporated in the Assembly Commission's budget at a cost of £0·6 million.

Administration costs are budgeted at £12·1 million. Administration costs cover a wide range of expenditure items including supporting Committees, costs of drafting private Members' Bills, building rates, utility costs, repairs and maintenance costs, and third-party support for the business-critical IT systems such as broadcasting, catering and research. Historically, there has been a significant underinvestment in IT infrastructure in the Assembly Commission. Projects are therefore ongoing to modernise the Commission's IT infrastructure to make it fit for purpose and to ensure that the Assembly is supported appropriately and that the network is secure from the increasing risk of cyberthreat.

As Members will be aware, there are a number of issues with water ingress in Parliament Buildings, related to the roof replacement project, which was completed in 2015. The Assembly Commission issued legal proceedings against those contracted to undertake that work and is seeking recovery of the full cost of repairs. Central Procurement Directorate (CPD), which is managing the works on the Commission's behalf, has informed the Commission that only limited, remedial works will be undertaken in the current financial year. Those will initially seek to address any remaining health and safety concerns. In addition to that work, there are a number of other planned maintenance projects.

The next category is payments to parties under the financial assistance for political parties (FAPP) scheme 2024. The 2025-26 budget for the FAPP scheme is £1·1 million, which incorporates an inflationary increase.

The penultimate category relates to depreciation charges, which are budgeted at £4·6 million. That is mostly due to the estimated depreciation charge on the value of Parliament Buildings.

Turning to capital expenditure, the Assembly Commission has identified the need for capital investment of £3·1 million. Some of the expenditure relates to projects that were originally budgeted for in earlier years but, for a number of business reasons, have been deferred. The capital plan includes a project to deliver partial electronic access control, which will enhance security controls within Parliament Buildings, and a project to replace the existing legislative Bill-drafting software, which is coming to the end of its useful life. That software is critical to supporting and delivering the legislative programme of the Assembly. Also included is expenditure to update the IT network and IT applications, the creation of a new Assembly website, the upgrading of a lift to accommodate larger wheelchairs and the replacement of the automatic fire detection system within Parliament Buildings.

Members, I am sure that you will be glad to know that that is the end of my speech. I commend the Assembly Commission's budget proposals for 2025-26 to the House.

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

Thank you, Sinéad. I call Diane Forsythe, Deputy Chair of the Audit Committee.

Diane Forsythe (DUP, South Down)

Normally, the Audit Committee would produce a full report outlining its deliberations on the draft budgets for the Assembly Commission, the Audit Office and the Public Services Ombudsman. However, because of the tight time frame for the 2025-26 Budget process, the Committee reported by way of a letter that was sent to the Minister of Finance. That is the letter that is referenced in the motion.

Before I give some detail on the Committee's scrutiny of the Commission's budget, I will outline the background to the Committee's approach. The Committee followed the approach set out in its arrangement with the Assembly Commission, which reflects the approach used by previous Audit Committees. To reflect the constitutional independence of the Assembly from the Executive, a methodology was introduced in 2016 similar to that adopted by the Audit Committee in agreeing the Main Estimates for the Audit Office and the Public Services Ombudsman. Incidentally, the Committee has recently started a piece of work in which it will re-examine its more formal arrangements for agreeing the Commission's budget. The intention is that that review will be concluded and an updated agreement between the Committee and the Commission will be codified before the end of the current mandate.

The Committee commenced its scrutiny of the Commission's indicative budget at its meeting on 18 November 2024. As Members will be aware, the Commission has a legal requirement to meet all costs associated with Members, including salaries, allowances, expenses, Members' staffing costs and pension contributions.

Those budget elements are determination-driven and are not under the control of the Commission. Officials advised the Committee that the Commission intends to bring forward new legislation to establish an independent remuneration board to determine Members' salaries and replace the former independent financial review panel (IFRP). Members should note that the budget for 2025-26 does not estimate the impact of future determinations once the board is established. However, the Commission recently agreed an updated determination for 2024, and officials confirmed that that will be published sooner rather than later. The Committee welcomes that update.

During the recent evidence session with Commission officials, members covered all aspects of the indicative budget for 2025-26. However, certain issues were explored in more detail.

They included the cost of enhanced scrutiny, including a significant strengthening of the secretariat; members' personal security and that of their constituency offices; the Commission information systems (IS) strategy; and the ongoing potential financial impact of roof repairs to Parliament Buildings. The increase in resource DEL is primarily due to the planned recruitment of 16 new members of secretariat staff. That is a necessary and welcome increase in resource to assist us all in our scrutiny of the Executive. Other cost increases included MLA constituency costs and party allowances and a modest increase for secretariat staff salaries to reflect pay progression.

The amount of capital DEL has been reduced since last year's Budget. Members heard that other planned capital works are needed to address underinvestment in the fabric of the Building in previous years and viewed them as necessary to face the challenge of a fully functioning Assembly. The works included the continuing enhancements to the Long Gallery, the Blue Flax and the visitors' restaurant. The Commission also intends to commence a project to make the non-public areas of the Building more secure via a partial secure access project. The Committee welcomes those projects and looks forward to seeing the works being progressed as quickly as possible.

The Committee was given further information from the Commission on the ongoing issues in relation to the remedial work that was required for Parliament Buildings' roof. Members will be aware that the issue remains in litigation, and the Committee will seek updates on the potential impacts on future budgets in due course.

Before closing, I again record the Committee's appreciation of all the Assembly staff who work in the Building, often behind the scenes but, at times, very much in the public glare. They make a significant contribution to the democratic process, and I am sure that all Members will agree that we value their commitment and support.

The Committee, in coming to its conclusion, was mindful not only of the wider public expenditure position but of the need for a well-resourced and fully functioning Assembly, now more than ever. As the Committee set out in its letter to the Minister of Finance, it agreed that the Executive's draft Budget document for 2025-26 should make provision for the Assembly Commission to have a resource DEL budget of £64·197 million —

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

Time is up.

Diane Forsythe (DUP, South Down)

— and a capital DEL budget of £3·061 million. The Committee looks —

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

Sorry, Diane. Your time is up.

Diane Forsythe (DUP, South Down)

Sorry. Thank you.

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

You are OK. That is much appreciated.

Timothy Gaston (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

When I read the Commission's briefing to assist the Audit Committee in its scrutiny of the Commission's budget, I noticed that the first paragraph quoted section 40(4) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998:

"The Commission shall provide the Assembly, or ensure that the Assembly is provided, with the property, staff and services required for the Assembly’s purposes."

I also draw Members' attention to paragraph 75 of the briefing paper, which says that, "The 2025-26 budget for FAPP" now sits at £1·048 million and:

"has assumed a 3% uplift on the 2024-25 rates".

I remind the House that the 3% uplift did not apply equally to all parties. No, the Commission decided that, when it came to the Assembly, apparently, some staff were more equal than others. Sinn Féin got an additional £90,000 in public money; the DUP got an additional £45,000; and the Alliance Party, too, obtained additional moneys. It seemed that other parties, like mine, could just do with what they have had for the past eight years.

It is worse than that, however. Since the 3% uplift in the budget for the FAPP scheme was agreed, we have had the Michael McMonagle scandal. He was universally acknowledged inside and outside the House to have been a Sinn Féin press officer. He was employed as a constituency officer worker by a succession of MLAs, including our First Minister and the Sinn Féin Member for North Antrim, Philip McGuigan. On 23 October, when the First Minister was before the Executive Office Committee, I asked her how many days a week Michael McMonagle was in her constituency office. After all —

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

Mr Gaston, I ask you to return to the substance of the motion.

Timothy Gaston (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

I am coming back to it, Principal Deputy Speaker.

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

No. You need to return to the substance of the motion, please.

Timothy Gaston (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

After all, it is expenditure associated with the scheme that we are talking about. Mr McMonagle was employed by the First Minister from March to May 2020. As detailed in paragraph 18 of the report, the money is for "expenditure associated with Members", not political parties or press offices. At the Committee, the First Minister would not say how many days a week. It is pertinent that we talk about that today. Sadly, on that day, the Chair of the Committee, true to form, was anxious to make sure that she avoided that question.

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

Mr Gaston, this is not about TEO Committee.

Timothy Gaston (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

No, but we are talking about FAPP.

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

Excuse me. Will you take your seat, please?

Mr Gaston, I remind you that the debate is about the Assembly Commission's budget; it is not about TEO Committee, the Committee Chair or anyone else. If you have any questions about those issues, please ask them through the normal channels. I ask you to resume and address the substance of the debate. If you do not, I will move on to the next Member to speak. Thank you.

Timothy Gaston (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

Principal Deputy Speaker, it seems to me that, any time I try to raise issues in relation to this, I am shot down, whether at the Committee or in the Chamber. We are talking about the FAPP scheme, which is about financial assistance for political parties. We are talking about Members and what they can spend their money on. It seems that we do not want to talk about the thorny issues. I am mightily disappointed in that, mightily disappointed. We have an opportunity to air some of the issues, but it seems that, perhaps because you are a Member of Sinn Féin, you do not want to listen to what I have to say.

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

Mr Gaston, take your seat. You are challenging the Chair.

Timothy Gaston (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

I will bring my remarks to a close.

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

I will move on. I remind you again that, on at least three occasions, you had an opportunity to address the motion, which is on the Commission's budget, but you went outside that on at least three occasions.

Gerry Carroll (People Before Profit Alliance, Belfast West)

Some aspects of the budget are fine and are even required, but I want to raise other aspects. The first is MLAs' pay. That is a bone of contention among some in the House who believe that the £500 increase included in the budget is probably not enough and want to go further. I note that Scotland has been mentioned in some of the papers on the budget. I have consistently made the point that MLAs should be on a wage that reflects the people whom they represent: their constituents. With the increase in the budget, an MLA's wage will increase to £53,000, not to mention, of course, the scale for a Minister's salary, which goes through the roof. That adds insult to injury, when teaching unions are balloting their members on a pay deal and potential strike action; when Health and Social Care workers, who were promised pay parity and promised that money would be restored to them when Stormont was up and running, are still waiting; and when NI Water workers are still waiting for their money to be processed. It is completely unacceptable that politicians' pay is once again prioritised over that of public-sector and other workers.

There is a small improvement — 3%, to be precise — in pay for Assembly Commission staff. It is worth mentioning that, earlier this year, some senior staff in the Building received a 12%-15% pay increase. Compare that with 3%: it is totally unfair, when we are talking about workers on lower salaries further down the pay scale.

We have to ask questions about the organisations with which the Assembly Commission pays to do business. I have raised the issue before with Information Services. We should not do business with Hewlett-Packard (HP), which services the offices of Netanyahu and the Israeli war-makers. That company also provides technology for Israel's Population and Immigration Authority, which really enforces the apartheid system. There is a worldwide call for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) action towards HP, and the Assembly should heed it.

We should also point out the Assembly's involvement with other dodgy companies.

Steve Aiken (UUP, South Antrim)

[Inaudible.]

Gerry Carroll (People Before Profit Alliance, Belfast West)

Sorry?

It does not end with HP. I have raised the point about Aramark before. It has hired workers on zero-hours contracts. It is also involved in the prison industrial complex in America and the direct provision system in the South of Ireland.

Steve Aiken (UUP, South Antrim)

That is not germane to the debate.

Gerry Carroll (People Before Profit Alliance, Belfast West)

Sorry, do you want to make a point?

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

Excuse me. Gerry, do you mind taking your seat?

Timothy Gaston (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

On a point of order.

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

I will deal with this first. I will deal with you later.

I ask Members, when others are on their feet, to give them respect and not to speak from a sedentary position

[Interruption.]

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

Excuse me, I am not finished yet.

Steve Aiken (UUP, South Antrim)

All right.

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

I will take Mr Gaston's point, and then I will take your point of order.

Timothy Gaston (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

You did not want me to talk about McMonagle, but you are happy to let the Member for West Belfast go unchallenged for a long time. That is unfair and calls into question how you, as Principal Deputy Speaker, treat me. It is utterly unfair. You do not want to talk about McMonagle, but you let other Members talk without intervention.

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

OK. In response to your point, I asked for advice as to whether Gerry Carroll's comments were in keeping with the debate —

[Interruption.]

Excuse me. I was informed that they were.

Mr Gaston, I will explain this to you: you may not like me — I do not really care — but, when I am in this position, you will respect the Chair.

Timothy Gaston (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

I do respect the Chair.

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

You do not. You are speaking from a sedentary position, and I am asking you to stop.

Steve Aiken (UUP, South Antrim)

On a point of order, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker, and a point of contention. I have been in the Assembly long enough to realise when people may be pushing boundaries. It is your prerogative, as Chair, to address that, particularly in relation to Mr Gaston. We need to apply that equally, however, and I do not see how Mr Carroll's comments about Israel and Hewlett-Packard are germane to the debate. Bearing in mind your previous comments about Mr Gaston's views, on which I support you fully, how can that be equitable?

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

As a Deputy Speaker, you should know better. I point out again that I asked for advice as to whether Mr Carroll's comments were in keeping with the debate, because I am trying to be fair to everyone, and I was informed that they were. In the interests of transparency and fairness, I will make sure to get advice from the Speaker, and I will make sure that you, in particular, get a copy of that advice, since you are a Deputy Speaker.

Mr Carroll, I ask that you return to the substance of the debate.

Gerry Carroll (People Before Profit Alliance, Belfast West)

Thank you, Principal Deputy Speaker. I was bringing my remarks to a close. During the debate, somebody mentioned that my comments were not challenged, but I heard noises from my right and left when I was speaking. I am happy to hear comments, but people were offered a chance to intervene and they did not want to. That is their prerogative.

I was making the point that this is about the Commission's budget: what the Assembly spends its money on. The final point that I was making, before I was shouted at and noise was made in my direction, was that staff in the building who work for Aramark should be brought in-house. They should be employees of the Assembly.

Those were my points on the Commission budget.

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

Thank you. I call Trevor Clarke to wind on the motion. Trevor, you have up to 10 minutes.

Trevor Clarke (DUP, South Antrim)

Thank you very much, Principal Deputy Speaker. I note the Members who have contributed to the debate.

The Assembly Commission recognises the context of wider financial pressures in the public sector and has given careful consideration to those when presenting its budget requirements. However, the Commission must balance that with its responsibilities of ensuring that the required resources are available to the Commission in order for it to provide the necessary services to the Assembly and all its Members. The Assembly Commission considers that the budget for the year is a reasonable estimate of the financial requirements needed to fully support the Assembly and deliver the required services to Members. The budget proposals presented today embody the Commission's continuing commitment to ensuring that the Assembly is effectively and efficiently supported by and provided with robust, innovative and modern secure systems in a modern working environment. The budget not only meets the costs that will arise in relation to the provision of staff, running and maintaining Parliament Buildings and delivering effective constituency services for our community but seeks to invest in systems, infrastructure and support for the Assembly's scrutiny functions in order to equip the Assembly for the future.

I will respond to a few comments made by Members.

First, Diane Forsythe spoke on behalf of the Audit Committee, and I welcome her comments. The Committee plays a helpful role in scrutinising the work of the Commission, and she added further detail to the proposer of the motion's statement for the Members who were present.

The Member for North Antrim talked about proper staffing, the FAPP and the uplift for some political parties. I remind Members, through the Speaker, that the idea behind the FAPP rearrangement was to bring fairness and equity. The Member singled out the increase given to my party and Sinn Féin. I remind the House that a single-Member party — his and one other single-Member party— still receives £26,000 to support one Member and the larger parties receive £10,000 per Member. It is fair and equitable, and we were trying to bring fairness to the system.

Claire Sugden (Independent, East Londonderry)

Will the Member give way?

Trevor Clarke (DUP, South Antrim)

I will indeed.

Claire Sugden (Independent, East Londonderry)

As the only Member who does not receive financial assistance for political parties, my question is this: does the Member have a view on how we better support independents? I am the longest-serving independent Member — 10 years — and would gratefully receive that support.

Trevor Clarke (DUP, South Antrim)

I thank the Member for her intervention, which differs from that when she last intervened on the subject. All that I can say to the Member is that the current system allows support only for political parties. As the Member recognised on the previous occasion, if she were to designate as a party, she would be entitled to the financial assistance. I suggest that the Member redesignate as a political party, not an independent. That is the only option open to her at the moment.

I am not questioning your authority, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. However, a degree of latitude that was not afforded to other Members was afforded to Mr Carroll when he made heinous comments about contracts provided by the Assembly. I am sure that the staff do due diligence, and I commend them for their work on the contracts that have been awarded. Members should not get into the minutiae of which contractors are preferable to others.

Mr Carroll talked about MLAs' pay and the £500 increase. Of course, today is not the day to debate that either. That was part of the original IFRP decision in 2016. It is outwith the decision of the Assembly to set the budget. It was linked to inflation, and some Members will agree that, while the £500 every year since 2016 is welcome, it is not much compared with the salaries of some of our counterparts in other places. He went on to single out the senior staff of the Assembly, and I want to distance myself from those comments. The senior staff in the Building do a tremendous job of keeping us right, as do the staff who got the 3% increase. There was a clear rationale for the senior staff's pay increase at the time: they could go somewhere else and receive much more remuneration than they do in this Building. I distance myself from those remarks.

Members of the Assembly Commission have considered its requirements for 2025-26, recognising that a significant element of the budget is non-discretionary and relates to payments to Members. Constituency office and staffing costs are set out in the determination. The Commission is grateful to the Audit Committee for its scrutiny of the Commission's budget for 2025-26.

I will end the debate as my colleague began it, with a "Thank you" to all the staff who support every aspect of our work. Significant work has been done this year to ensure the smooth return of Assembly business, and, as we look ahead to another busy year, it is appropriate, on behalf of the Assembly Commission, to wish all our staff a merry Christmas and a happy new year.

The Commission seeks the Assembly's agreement to the budget amounts for resource DEL and capital DEL as set out in the motion. I commend the motion to the House.

Question put and agreed to.

Resolved:

That this Assembly notes the contents of the Assembly Commission’s budget for 2025-26, as presented to the Audit Committee on 13 November 2024 and set out in the document presented to the Assembly on 20 November 2024; further notes the contents of the letter from the Audit Committee to the Minister of Finance [NIA 58/22-27] on the scrutiny of the Assembly Commission’s budget for 2025-26, presented to the Assembly on 18 November 2024: and agrees the Assembly Commission’s budget for 2025-26.

Ministerial Statements

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

I have received notice that the Minister for Communities wishes to make a statement. Before I call the Minister, I remind Members that they must be concise in asking their questions. This is not an opportunity for debate or long-winded introductions.

Gordon Lyons (DUP, East Antrim)

I wish to make a statement to the Assembly about housing supply in Northern Ireland.

We are all aware of the crisis that we face in housing: a large and growing waiting list for social homes; inflation-busting rent increases in the private rented sector; low-quality and poor energy efficiency; and record numbers in temporary accommodation. There are too many barriers in matters like planning and infrastructure, and there is an increasing sense of despair for many who simply want a home to call their own. Fixing that is at the top of my agenda, because those issues impact on our ability to deal with some of the most pressing challenges that we face: poverty, education, deprivation, health and giving people the opportunity and ability to progress in life.

We need to tackle the housing crisis head-on. We need to take action that will deal with the root causes of the problem. We need a new approach. For too long, there has been no joined-up, cross-departmental approach to housing, but that changes now. I am pleased to announce that the Executive have agreed to approve a housing supply strategy for Northern Ireland. The strategy is a 15-year framework for the whole-system change that is needed. It will deliver a housing system that can provide 100,000 homes over that period. It will deliver more social homes; it will deliver better homes; and it will deliver better outcomes for our people.

The strategy is the culmination of considerable hard work, collaboration and co-design. I thank all those who have worked with my Department to develop it. Over the past few months, I have met ministerial colleagues with key remits relating to housing supply. I also thank them for their support. There is a real commitment to look at how we can address the key challenges, such as waste water capacity, skills, finance and planning. As it is an Executive strategy, all Departments now have a role to play, and I expect to see that reflected in Budget allocations and in the investment strategy.

Our vision is ambitious and rightly so. We now have a 15-year framework in place that aims to deliver at least 100,000 homes and more, if necessary. It is grounded in the principle of taking a whole-system approach to housing supply. All Ministers have agreed the strategy, and the necessary actions fall across a range of Departments. I know that they are committed to making the changes needed, and I look forward to working with them further over the next years. As an Executive, we must not let the opportunity pass us by.

As housing Minister, I have not been waiting for the document to be agreed before the work starts. I am already taking forward a range of actions and will shortly start many others. I take the opportunity today to set out some of those actions in line with each of the five supporting objectives of the strategy framework.

The first objective is about ensuring that we increase supply and affordable options across all housing tenures. I have spoken on numerous occasions about my commitment to the delivery of more social homes. In the past five years, my Department has invested over £750 million, which has started 8,341 new social homes. I will continue to press for the capital budget necessary to bring our social new build programme back to where it should be. However, I am not standing still on the issue. I will make sure that we do everything possible to innovate and maximise delivery with what we have. Housing associations, the Housing Executive, developers, the construction industry, local councils and beyond all have their part in this too.

I will continue to prioritise capital spending on delivering much-needed social homes, but I also want to deliver for people and hard-working families who cannot get or do not want a social home by offering them safe, secure and affordable alternatives. One of those alternatives is intermediate rent. That is a new housing product for Northern Ireland that I was pleased to announce a few months ago. It aims to provide good, secure and affordable rented housing to lower-income households who cannot afford to buy or rent a home. I look forward to making rapid progress on that over the next few months. That housing is badly needed, so I want to start building those affordable, high-quality homes as quickly as possible.

In recent years, we have seen rising house prices and mortgage costs, and I am committed to helping those who need a bit of extra support to own their own home. That is why my Department continues to provide significant funding to co-ownership, allocating £158 million in financial transactions capital (FTC) to assist over 4,400 people into home ownership over five years.

I have also increased the property value limit for properties that are eligible to be purchased through co-ownership to £195,000.

The second objective of the strategy is focused on preventing homelessness and ensuring that we prioritise housing options for those most in need. I have common cause with the Health Minister on this, and what we do is a vital support for our health service.

During Homelessness Awareness Week, I set out my ambition to prioritise the prevention of homelessness, working closely with the Housing Executive and the wider sector to ensure that it is rare, brief and non-recurrent. I have been able to provide another £6·7 million for the Housing Executive to prevent the risk of homelessness service closures and to ensure that its statutory obligations can continue to be met. From next year, the Housing Executive will have a specific allocation for homelessness prevention, and, last week, I announced a goodwill grant of £150,000 to homelessness charities to ensure that they can support homeless households at Christmas.

I also continue to look at innovative ways of using financial transactions capital. In line with this, I am pleased to announce the launch of the loan to acquire move-on accommodation scheme. That will make loans available to homeless organisations such as the Simon Community to buy houses for people who are currently homeless and living in hostels. Some of those people are incredibly vulnerable, and providing this wrap-around service is critical to their needs.

Helping people to sustain their tenancies is another crucial aspect of housing need. The Supporting People programme plays a key role in helping our most vulnerable people live independently in their homes, and so I provided an additional £4·8 million of funding to sustain that programme this year.

The third objective of the strategy is about ensuring that we do not focus just on the numbers of homes but that they are good-quality, safe and secure. I am taking action to protect and revitalise the Housing Executive and find a solution to place it on a sustainable financial footing so that it can continue to provide decent homes for our households and families for years to come. Doing that requires access to borrowing for the Housing Executive to enable the investment that is needed in its stock. I am actively pressing for a solution that will enable the Housing Executive to invest in its homes through a programme of retrofit to improve energy efficiency, increase routine and planned investment, and deal with maintenance backlogs. Those are all key issues that we know many of our constituents face daily.

Our private rented sector has been one of the fastest-growing tenures over the past few years and is a vital part of our housing supply. The strategy sets out actions focused on putting tenants' needs at the heart of the sector and that ensure that it is suitable for a wider range of households. Earlier this year, I introduced regulations requiring smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms, and, just a few weeks ago, I brought more regulations requiring electrical safety checks. Over the next few months, to help tenants plan for the future and sustain their tenancy, I will restrict the frequency of rent increases to once in each 12-month period, with a three-month notice period. I will also introduce much longer notice-to-quit periods, as mandated by the Assembly, to greatly improve the security of tenure for individuals and families who privately rent.

Our vision for the strategy takes a step beyond houses themselves and recognises the importance of creating thriving and inclusive communities. One key aspect of this work will be how we engage with local councils as they produce their new local development plans, which play a vital role in how places are shaped. My Department and the Housing Executive are working closely with local council planners to deliver the vision in this strategy and the new affordable housing policies through the new local development plans.

The final objectives set out how I want to make sure that people can live in warm, safe homes without worrying about the cost of their fuel bills. Cold homes can lead to poor mental and physical health, and it is vital that we resolve this issue as we transition to a lower-carbon future. A key action that I am taking forward to address this is the delivery of a fuel poverty strategy, which I will begin consultation on later this week. It will set out proposals to tackle fuel poverty and improve energy well-being in the medium to long term. It proposes a series of measures to improve the energy efficiency of homes, including an ambitious new scheme for low-income and vulnerable households, and raising energy-efficiency standards. The draft fuel poverty strategy also proposes building capacity and collaborating to ensure that people can access advice and support, as well as protecting consumers.

The publication of the housing supply strategy is a significant step forward in how the Executive act on housing. However, we do not stop here. All Departments must move to implementation, with commitment and a focus on delivery. That will be achieved through a series of detailed shorter-term action plans to set out what we need to do, who needs to do it and by when. Those will build upon the actions already outlined in the strategy, but they will not and cannot be developed in isolation by my Department. This is an important step forward, but I do not for one minute suggest that this is a silver bullet. Rather, it is a way forward; a commitment to work together to deal with this issue in a determined and collective way. We now have a strategy in place. We have a plan for the way ahead. I am focused on delivering on housing, and I hope that others will join me in that endeavour and ensure that we make a difference in the lives of the people whom we represent. I commend the statement to the House.

Mark Durkan (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Foyle)

I thank the Minister for the statement, and I look forward to studying the strategy. The strategy must be ambitious, but it must be achievable. Without detail and certainty on the funding of social housing new builds; sustained investment in our water and waste water infrastructure, which is currently stifling development; the revitalisation of empty homes; the empowerment of the Housing Executive to build again; and more resources for planning, this might as well be a letter to Santa. What decisions and commitments have the Executive made on how those vital components will be funded into the future?

Gordon Lyons (DUP, East Antrim)

Santa delivers every year, and so do I. I am looking forward to making sure that we get things done. If you look at what I have said in the statement, you will see that we are getting things done. We have brought in those plans and policies, which will start to make a difference. As I said, this is a way forward. This is our pathway. The Member has rightly outlined all the things that we need to do. That is why we brought them all together in this plan and have got cross-departmental and cross-ministerial support for this. He is right to identify all of those issues, and we are making progress on each of those so that we can make that real difference, because that is what we are here to do. We have been waiting for change for too long.

Ciara Ferguson (Sinn Féin, Foyle)

Minister, I very much welcome the statement on the approval of the much-anticipated housing supply strategy, and I thank you and your predecessor for all the work that went into its development. I look forward to seeing its publication.

Minister, can you confirm whether you will allocate additional moneys next year to give the ambitious targets teeth, to make up the gap in annual housebuilding, which we have missed this year, and to ensure that we meet the regional needs of population growth?

Gordon Lyons (DUP, East Antrim)

I welcome the fact that the Member has welcome the strategy, and it is, of course, right that we need to make sure that we have the funding in place so that we can deliver on our ambition in the strategy. We have made good progress in year to get some of the funding that we need so that we have been able to increase our social housing target. This will be and is a cross-departmental plan. I will certainly be bidding for that resource, and I hope that other Ministers will give me that support so that we can meet our targets and really deal with the waiting lists that have been there for too long and have been growing.

Joanne Bunting (DUP, Belfast East)

The Minister will be well aware that there is a dearth of social housing in East Belfast and that, indeed, we are lagging considerably behind other areas in Belfast on social housing supply. Therefore, what does this strategy mean for East Belfast and will it result in more and new social housing in my constituency?

Gordon Lyons (DUP, East Antrim)

In short, yes, it will. We are taking a coordinated and joined-up approach to make sure that we build more social homes and also more affordable homes in the Member's constituency. We need to ensure that we get the borrowing change when it comes to the Housing Executive so that it can also build more homes. It is a joined-up approach involving planning, infrastructure, land and all those issues. Delivery of the strategy will make a real difference in the lives of the people that the Member represents, because housing is one of the most pressing issues in her constituency. There has not been as much investment in east Belfast compared with other parts of the city. There is a considerable need in her constituency: I want to make sure that we deal with that, and this strategy is a way to do it.

Diana Armstrong (UUP, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

I will start by saying woo-hoo. We have actually got good news today in the Chamber: we have a housing supply strategy. Minister, I am delighted that you have brought this to the House. We have been waiting for it for a long time, given our housing crisis. Now that we have the draft Programme for Government, which outlines housing as one of the key priorities, and your housing supply strategy, have you done any work with the other Departments to ensure that they include a line for housing in their finances so that we can make sure that your strategy is a success?

Gordon Lyons (DUP, East Antrim)

I thank the Member for her welcome and for the "woo-hoo"; I think that that was the first time I have heard that in the Chamber. She is absolutely right to be excited, because this is a good news announcement and has the potential to make a significant difference. She is also right to highlight the fact that it is cross-departmental. I do not know whether there will be a line in each of the Department's plans, but, given that we have agreed that it is one of the most pressing issues, we need input from all the Departments. Justice, for example, has people moving from prisons into homes. Health has people in care who need more stable accommodation. We need the Department for the Economy to provide the skills to build more homes. Housing also has an impact on people's educational outcomes. That is why it is important that there is a joined-up approach. I hope that all Ministers will stand by the commitment that they have made and take the steps necessary to improve the situation. It is not of benefit just to the people who will, hopefully, live in the additional homes that we build; it will be of benefit to all Departments, because, if we can get housing right, we can give people a good start in life, and that impacts on everything that we do as we provide public services.

Steve Aiken (UUP, South Antrim)

Thank you very much, Minister, for your remarks so far. I will not give you a woo-hoo. Minister, it is good to see that you can utilise financial transactions capital. What sort of quantum of FTC is the Minister looking at applying for? Are the charities and associations suitably resourced to match it, within the FTC requirements?

Gordon Lyons (DUP, East Antrim)

Yes, I believe that they will be. Obviously, that will go out and go through the proper process and due diligence. The Member has rightly highlighted the use of financial transactions capital, which is special government borrowing that, every year, we seem to send back. I believe that next year will be the first year that we will not be in that position because we are using it up. We are using it for the purposes for which it was intended. We are going to make a difference here, whether it is with the loan to acquire move-on accommodation scheme, which will save us money in the long term as well as help people's lives, or the intermediate rent, which is a product that has been absent from the market in Northern Ireland for far too long and that I am delighted that we have been able to bring in.

It goes back to the point that we need to take a whole-system approach. It is not just about building more homes in the private rental sector and not just about more social homes; it is about using all the levers at our disposal, limited as some of those might be, and getting all of them to work together to deliver for people in Northern Ireland.

Pádraig Delargy (Sinn Féin, Foyle)

I thank the Minister for his statement. I very much welcome it. Minister, we all know the importance of moving away from temporary accommodation and towards ensuring that there is more sustainable housing. Will you provide more specific detail on how your Department will deliver that element?

Gordon Lyons (DUP, East Antrim)

The first thing that we need to do is to make sure we have more housing supply in Northern Ireland full stop. Everything in the strategy is moving us towards a position where we have more homes, which will help everybody.

The loan to acquire move-on accommodation scheme that I have announced today will also help, because it will allow charities to purchase properties and, by doing so, put people in them who might otherwise be dependent on temporary accommodation. We spend far too much money on temporary accommodation. That money could be better spent on homelessness prevention and on other public services. I am determined that we do something about that. We are looking at all the options. We have come up with innovative solutions that will make a difference, and I look forward to getting Executive colleagues' support so that we can implement them.

Brian Kingston (DUP, Belfast North)

As a member of the Committee for Communities, I join other Members in very much welcoming the publication of the housing supply strategy. I commend the Minister for publishing the strategy and welcome the fact that he has touched on various matters that are relevant to it. He will be aware of our manifesto commitment to help working families: will he outline some of the ways in which his strategy will provide support for them?

Gordon Lyons (DUP, East Antrim)

Absolutely. The Member is right to mention the manifesto commitments that each of us makes when seeking election to this place. It was certainly my desire to make sure that we helped those who are struggling and those who are sometimes caught out and feel that they do not get the necessary help. Ultimately, increasing housing supply and making sure that we have more affordable housing options and more social homes will help families. We are all aware that one of the biggest outgoings that people have is their housing costs, so it is absolutely right that we do everything that we can to drive those costs down. The strategy can do that by making sure that we have a greater supply of such homes. That takes me back to the point about intermediate rent. There are those who may not be eligible for social housing and find it exceptionally difficult to get into the private rented sector. Intermediate rent uses financial transactions capital to allow a discounted rate for private rentals that can be built using that resource. All those things together, including increasing supply, help working families, and I am determined to deliver that help.

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

A lot of Members, some of whom were not in the Chamber when the statement began, have put their names down to speak. If there is time, I will call those Members at the end.

Stewart Dickson (Alliance, East Antrim)

Thank you, Minister for your statement. Will you confirm that you have included a place-based approach to retrofitting in the strategy? You will be aware that a place-based approach concentrates retrofitting in geographical areas one at a time to effectively deliver changes that are needed to meet climate change targets. Such an approach would save money through investment in public and private housing and enable coordinated construction. Do you agree that a move to ensuring that all housing meets high energy-efficiency standards needs to be a long-term objective?

Gordon Lyons (DUP, East Antrim)

First, we want to make sure that we spend every pound that we have in the most cost-effective way possible. Although the details are to be ironed out, we have our fuel poverty strategy and the additional elements that I have mentioned today, from which action plans will flow. We need to use public resource in the best possible way. I am keen that we ensure not only that we have homes for people to live in but that we have the most energy-efficient homes possible. When it comes to housing need, housing costs may be a huge outgoing, but there is also the cost of heating homes, so it absolutely makes sense to invest as much as we can in improving their energy efficiency. I am committed to doing that.

Maolíosa McHugh (Sinn Féin, West Tyrone)

Cuirim fearadh na fáilte roimh ráiteas an Aire.

[Translation: I heartily welcome the Minister’s statement.]

The success of the strategy relies partly on our largest social housing provider being able to build again at scale. How soon do you envisage that we will have an update from Westminster about decisions on the revitalisation of the Housing Executive?

Gordon Lyons (DUP, East Antrim)

The Member is right to raise that issue. Since I came into office, I have probably spoken to UK Government Ministers about it more than about anything else, and I have done so at all levels, because doing that could be truly transformational. We have the stock against which we can borrow, so we need to get on and do that. I will continue to lobby and continue to push. I have been working with the Finance Minister on doing so. However, if our Government want to do something that will make a significant change for people in Northern Ireland at little to no cost to the Treasury, there should be confirmation of the borrowing power for the Housing Executive so that it can get on and build again. The Member can be assured that, for as long as I am in post, I will continue to press and press for those changes because I want more social homes in Northern Ireland, and I want the Housing Executive to have the ability to build them.

Deborah Erskine (DUP, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

I welcome the Minister's statement. I notice that the Minister got Executive approval for collaboration on the strategy. The critical issues are the delivery of planning and waste-water capacity improvements. Therefore, does the Minister recognise that there is huge frustration among housing associations that cannot get water connections for developments, including one in my constituency in Dungannon? Will the Minister continue to push for timely delivery from the Infrastructure Minister on planning and waste water capacity issues, especially given that the Infrastructure Minister does not recognise the figure of 19,000 developments that cannot be connected to the waste water infrastructure?

Gordon Lyons (DUP, East Antrim)

The Member is absolutely right to raise that in relation to social homes and to the private sector. We see significant numbers, including in my constituency, of homes being unable to be progressed because of waste-water constraints. That is, absolutely, mentioned in the strategy. There is a determination to do something about that. I will continue to press Executive colleagues on that, and, as the Member rightly says, on the issue of planning because, even where we have capacity in our waste water system — there are still many areas in Northern Ireland that do — planning can be a huge drag. We need to do everything that we can to make it as simple and straightforward as possible to build more homes in Northern Ireland. Waste water is part of that, as is planning.

Colin McGrath (Social Democratic and Labour Party, South Down)

Santa-like or not regarding the delivery of those houses, the proof of the Christmas pudding will be in the eating. At a meeting last week of the all-party group on youth participation, the issue of young people not being included in the design of homes and social housing projects was raised. Houses are built, and people are shooed into them. If houses are going to be built through this project, will the Minister undertake to earmark some of them for young people and to include those young people in the design process so that the houses will be appropriate for their needs?

Gordon Lyons (DUP, East Antrim)

It is important that all due diligence is done and that homes are appropriate for those who live in them. When it comes to social homes, considerable work will be carried out by the housing associations on that. We need to have proper analysis of the need in Northern Ireland, and that will change over the course of the strategy. The figures may well also change as we look at what is appropriate, what we need more of and where extra resource is needed. It is important that we have that flexibility in the strategy.

David Brooks (DUP, Belfast East)

I welcome the Minister's statement and his vision for housing supply through the strategy. I share the hope of my colleague Joanne Bunting that it will deliver for East Belfast. Does the Minister believe that renewed effort from the housing associations will be key to delivering the outcomes of the strategy?

Gordon Lyons (DUP, East Antrim)

Yes, housing associations will be a key partner in making sure that we deliver on the objectives in the strategy. I thank the housing associations that have been involved in the production of today's plan. There is no doubt that they are a valuable partner. They play a significant role in delivering social housing. I want to ensure that they have the right support to do that and that they look for ways in which they can innovate and drive efficiency in housebuilding. As I said in response to an earlier question, we need to do everything that we can to make sure that it is as simple, easy and straightforward as possible to build more homes. Housing associations and, hopefully soon, the Housing Executive, as well as the private rental sector, all need to be up for that challenge.

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

Timothy, I was unsure if you were standing. Did you stand to ask a question?

Timothy Gaston (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

Yes.

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

OK, go ahead. Thank you.

Timothy Gaston (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

Thank you very much. Minister, I welcome your statement. The plan to deliver 100,000 new homes by 2040 is ambitious. There are plenty of buzzwords and phrases in your announcement. I am concerned about this: you are setting out to build 7,000 new homes a year, but are you confident that Northern Ireland Water will receive the necessary funding to ensure that you can deliver on that housing supply strategy? Have you any interim targets for builds in your strategy to ensure that we are on course to deliver 100,000 homes in 15 years?

Gordon Lyons (DUP, East Antrim)

First, I hope that the Member recognises that, when it comes to my record on housing, this is not just about nice words or platitudes. If you look at what has been achieved over the last number of months, you will see that there has been significant progress in what we have been able to do in that area. Look at the loan to acquire move-on accommodation, intermediate rent, more support for social housing and increased funding for homelessness. In all of those issues, I have demonstrated my commitment.

The Member is right to acknowledge that there are ambitious targets in here. He is also right to acknowledge that there are barriers. Waste water is a barrier to achieving some of the targets that we have set for ourselves. However, the important thing is that we have identified them, we recognise them and there is a collective will to deal with those issues. There is no point ignoring it. It is in there for a reason. We recognise that it is a problem, and we need to deal with it. We need to make use of the area in which there is still capacity in the system and, at the same time, make sure that we take action to do it. We have to do it. We need homes for people in Northern Ireland. You have rightly highlighted one of the barriers, and I want us to work together to break down those barriers.

Gerry Carroll (People Before Profit Alliance, Belfast West)

Minister, you mentioned the Private Tenancies Act and the limiting of rent increases. Are you taking any further action on private rent freeze and rent caps? What wrap-around services will be provided for the loan-to-acquire scheme? How secure are those tenancies, and how long will people be allowed to stay in that accommodation? Is it, presumably, until they receive an offer of a permanent social home?

Gordon Lyons (DUP, East Antrim)

Those details are yet to be worked out. However, in developing the policy, we wanted to make sure that there was security, because six months, a year or two years is not always enough time for people to get back on their feet. We do not want to throw somebody back into another part of the system. This is about helping people to move on and to be able to get themselves to a better place. I have taken action on some of the private rented sector issues that the Member has raised. We will continue to do that. Ultimately, however, to really tackle the issues that we face, we need to increase housing supply. That is what the statement is all about.

Claire Sugden (Independent, East Londonderry)

Minister, I have consistently raised with you the impact of second home ownership, particularly in areas such as the north coast. Ultimately, the solution is to build more houses, particularly social and affordable homes, and your statement goes into that. However, as part of the strategy, will the Minister commit to looking at that particular issue to see whether there are ways in which we need to do more in those areas?

Gordon Lyons (DUP, East Antrim)

Yes. I have raised that directly with the Minister for the Economy in the conversations that we have had about that. I recognise that it is an issue. I know the area that the Member represents well. I know the concerns about and the challenges in the cost of housing. Where specific interventions may be needed in particular areas, we will always be happy to look at those. This is a broad framework of where we need to go when the action plans are developed. After that, the Member will have the ability to have her say and give her views to make sure that we address some of the issues that may be constituency-specific.

Diane Forsythe (DUP, South Down)

I thank the Minister for his statement today. Does the Minister agree that, when it comes to climate change and net zero, people should come first, before targets, and we should not limit the ability to build warm homes for people in Northern Ireland?

Gordon Lyons (DUP, East Antrim)

Absolutely, I do. In the House, we should put people first, above everything else. We have, in the Chamber, some very difficult targets that, in many cases, will be next to impossible to meet, and those targets should not be met on the backs of people who are already struggling. There are things that we can do. There are initiatives that we can put in place that can not only save people money and make them better off but contribute to our climate change goals.

However, that should never be done at the expense of people, and people should never be made poorer and colder because of the decisions that we make on the issue.

Cara Hunter (Social Democratic and Labour Party, East Londonderry)

Months ago, in the House, I brought an Adjournment debate on second home ownership and the challenges that are faced in the Causeway coast and glens area. I asked whether it would be possible for the Department to increase monitoring of the issue. Has that been done? How can the strategy help those struggling with access to the housing market in my constituency?

Gordon Lyons (DUP, East Antrim)

The Member raised that during the debate. As I said in my answer to Claire Sugden, I have raised it with the Minister for the Economy. Ultimately, however, while we can take action on that issue, what we need to see overall is more housing supply in Northern Ireland full stop. Of course, we will need the data to back up the decisions that we make and where we put our resources. Again, if there are specific areas regarding social housing that, she thinks, we need to be aware of, I will be more than happy to discuss them with her.

Sian Mulholland (Alliance, North Antrim)

I thank the Minister. I am not quite on the "woo-hoo" level of the spectrum, but I welcome the statement.

What learning will be taken from the 10 years of shared housing delivery? Will the Minister mainstream the Together: Building a United Community (T:BUC) shared housing community support model across all new public housing developments in order to achieve his objectives?

Gordon Lyons (DUP, East Antrim)

I am slightly disappointed with the lack of enthusiasm from the Member compared with that of her Alliance Party colleague, but I am glad that she has welcomed the strategy nonetheless. She will be aware of the significant sums of money that have been invested so far on the issue that she refers to. Again, we want to see housing supply increased across all tenures. We want to ensure that we have more affordable options full stop, and we will continue to make sure that we fund the commitments and the promises that have been made.

Matthew O'Toole (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Belfast South)

Not to sound like the ghost of Christmas past, but, in December 2021, a predecessor of the Minister's stood in the Chamber and also promised a housing supply strategy that would deliver 100,000 homes. We do not seem to be on that trajectory yet. May I ask what, specifically, is different about the Minister's strategy versus that one that will enable him to deliver 100,000 homes? Please be specific.

Gordon Lyons (DUP, East Antrim)

The first thing to say is that I have brought the strategy forward, and we have it here in front of us. We have a clear plan — a clear way forward on how we aim to tackle the issue. I do not pretend for a second that we have got everything in the document: we do not, That will come from the action plans that will be put in place. I look forward to the first one being in there in early 2025.

Considerable work has gone on already to ensure that we have increased housing supply in Northern Ireland. I have outlined and am happy to outline again the things that I am doing: loan-to-acquire move-on accommodation, intermediate rent, additional funding, making sure that we have homes going where they need to go, as well as reviewing allocations. Those are all things that we are doing to help people get by and to have the homes that they need. There are specific programmes and specific things already in place. More will be coming, but, overall, this is about putting us on a trajectory to make sure that we take a whole-system approach to tackling the issue and to make sure that everybody is joined up. Some of this will be on other Departments. I certainly have my views on what I would like to see in respect of the planning system, statutory consultees, waste water and all of those issues. However, today we have a plan, we have people joined up and we have people committed to this, and, when it comes to the time for budgets to be allocated and for those other issues to be addressed, I will have no problem in going back to the Executive and reminding people of what we have signed up to and of how pressing an issue it is. I will be more than happy to do that. I am determined to get on with it.

Justin McNulty (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Newry and Armagh)

I thank the Minister for his statement. I welcome any endeavours to provide more homes.

The Minister said that, in the past five years, his Department had invested £750 million, which has started 8,341 new social homes. How many of those homes have been built? How many have been occupied? Why, despite his lofty ambitions and targets, is the housing waiting list growing rather than declining?

Gordon Lyons (DUP, East Antrim)

The housing waiting list is growing because we do not have enough homes. That is why we have a strategy and a plan in place to do something about it. There have not been enough social homes built. There are restrictions and constraints elsewhere in the private sector as well. The plan aims to do something about that.

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

That concludes questions on the statement.

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

The Speaker has received notice from the Minister of Finance that she wishes to make a statement. Before I call the Minister, I remind Members that they must be concise in asking their questions and be present for the full statement, and long introductions will not be permitted.

Caoimhe Archibald (Sinn Féin, East Londonderry)

I wish to provide Members with a statement on my strategic approach to rating policy over the remainder of the mandate.

I am determined to build a progressive rates system based on the principles of fairness and equity and to ensure that it aligns with the Executive's policy objectives, stimulates our economy and supports the growth of our tax base by creating the conditions for businesses to thrive. The proposals that I set out today are the first step in that journey. The measures that I will outline are built on analysis of the most recent consultation findings, along with supplementary engagement undertaken by my Department.

The first short-term measure that I propose to consult on is elevating the current level of the maximum capital value on domestic properties from £400,000 to £485,000. I do not propose to take forward the policy consulted on by the then Secretary of State to simply remove the cap. That would have seen annually recurring bills to some ratepayers of over £25,000, which could be considered excessive. Altering the current maximum capital value will generate additional revenue at the top end of the tax base, a more progressive step than increasing the poundage element for the whole tax base to realise the same amount of revenue. I believe that that is a proportionate and measured approach.

It is important to highlight the fact that means-tested and other forms of support are in place for those on low incomes, regardless of a property's capital value. That measure and others in the rating system, such as lone pensioner allowance, would be adjusted in proportion to any change in liability.

The second short-term measure that I wish to consult on is reducing the early payment discount from 4% to 2%. An increasing number of customers now pay their bills by direct debit, which is the most efficient way for my Department to collect rates. The proposed reduction in the early payment discount serves to take account of the shift in customer preference.

I will launch a supplementary public consultation process in January seeking views on both measures. The consultation will last 10 weeks and will help determine the final shape of any policy change, with the results of the process coming back to the Executive for final decisions in that area.

I turn to my approach to rating policy for the medium and long term. The rating system is the Executive's main lever to generate revenue and is therefore critical for the funding of our public services, raising in the region of £1·5 billion annually. It is therefore important to ensure that supports are targeted towards those who need it most or who are vulnerable and that any rate reliefs meet their policy objective. The more revenue spent on rate support, the less there is for vital public services. We have committed to budget sustainability, and that remains a key deliverable that we cannot lose sight of. As the Minister responsible for rating, I am clear that I must play a leading role in generating income for the purposes of providing much-needed public services. I must be clear, however, that it is not always possible to meet the expectations and demands put on our rating system. With that in mind, the principles of fairness and equity will guide my approach to policy development, operational implementation and decision-making. Three key levers will support my approach to income generation. First, I will broaden the overall distribution of rate collection by extending the tax base. Secondly, I will ensure that rating policy aligns with and underpins Executive priorities. Finally, I will ensure that the administration of the rates system is delivered efficiently and effectively.

The focus of today's statement will be on the second lever: work to ensure that rates support aligns with Executive priorities. That will be undertaken through a comprehensive, 10-year strategic review cycle of all rates support provided by the Executive. That work will look at six key questions in the context of every rates support measure, namely who gets support; what support is provided; how the support is distributed through our councils; why the support is provided; how it is provided; and what the support's impact or intended impact is.

Every rating support measure will be reviewed over the remainder of a 10-year cycle in clusters of policies selected and grouped for each year by either theme or urgency. Critically, the review cycle schedule will be published well in advance to allow councils and stakeholders time to prepare and gather evidence to inform the process. I stress in that context that "review" does not mean "removal". After each review point, strategic decisions can be taken by the Executive to see whether the support is working well in its current form; whether any changes are necessary to the support; whether support should be redirected within the system; whether support should be adjusted and the savings used to lower or moderate the rate poundage; or whether any resource saving could be deployed elsewhere in the Executive’s spending requirements.

My Department has already commenced the strategic review cycle. Year 1 of the process, 2024-25, was focused on the tax base analysis and policy proposals underpinning the supplementary consultation on options for the maximum capital value and early payment discount. That consultation process is aimed at refining the progressivity of the tax, a key element of preparing the groundwork for a future domestic revaluation, which I will cover in more detail later.

Year 2 of the process, in 2025-26, will see a comprehensive review of small business rate relief and the scope for enhanced sectoral targeting and application. The second measure to be looked at is the policy of non-domestic vacant rating (NDVR). Both of those policy areas have an urgent strategic importance, and the results of the review will allow decisions to be brought to the Executive in time for the commencement of Reval 2026.

I have listened to the business community about the challenges posed by the autumn Budget in recent weeks. In that regard, I plan to commission research into the cost of doing business in the North, with a particular focus on the impacts on our sectors of the announcements such as the planned additional employer National Insurance contributions. The sectors most impacted will be engaged in that work, and the findings will help to inform Executive decision-making.

Although the rating system might not be the ideal vehicle for the immediate and emergency intervention being requested by some in the business sector, it is clear that there is a need to prioritise a review of the support provided through the small business rate relief scheme and to see whether that support could be adjusted to react to the challenges of the current economy, post COVID, after the cost of doing business pressures and in light of the challenges facing businesses at present. That work can also look at the plans announced in England at the end of October but will have to take account of two key matters: the fact that our tax base is distinct and our economy is heavily weighted towards small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); and the fact that we collect two taxes within one poundage multiplier here. Initial preparation for that work will start now, and I met the business community this morning to outline to it that this will be one of the priority areas of focus in the strategic review cycle for 2025-26.

The other area will be to address the second main issue raised by the business sector in my engagement with it to date. Vacant commercial units are a bigger issue than they have ever been, and that trend is unlikely to reverse any time soon. One of my key aims is to align rating policy to help tackle the blight of vacant properties in our towns and cities. Increasing liability for non-domestic vacant rating properties from 50% of the occupied liability to a higher level of liability was consulted on as part of the revenue-raising process. Some consultees expressed concerns about their ability to let older retail and office properties that have had ongoing issues due to general economic factors, including demand for high-grade energy-efficient stock.

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

May I stop you there, Minister, please? I have taken a note of where we have stopped. As Question Time begins at 2.00 pm, I ask Members to take their ease. The statement and questions on it will continue after the question for urgent oral answer. The Minister can conclude her statement then.

(Mr Speaker in the Chair)

Oral Answers to Questions — The Executive Office

Edwin Poots (DUP, Belfast South)

Questions 1, 4, 6 and 9 have been withdrawn.

Phillip Brett (DUP, Belfast North)

2. Mr Brett asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the funding for the new community centre at Westland, North Belfast. (AQO 1273/22-27)

Brian Kingston (DUP, Belfast North)

15. Mr Kingston asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on funding via the Urban Villages initiative for the new Westland Community Centre in North Belfast. (AQO 1286/22-27)

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle

[Translation: Mr Speaker]

junior Minister Reilly will answer.

Aisling Reilly (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

With your permission, Mr Speaker, I will answer questions 2 and 15 together.

We are pleased to confirm that funding of £1·6 million has been allocated for Westland Community Centre in North Belfast. That new facility will provide services that will allow the community to access adult counselling, health and well-being events, after-school clubs and special needs support, and provide a focal point for local groups and programmes. Some 58 Urban Villages capital projects are now complete, including 13 in North Belfast, which include a range of shared community facilities, parks and public realm improvements. As the project develops, TEO officials, together with Belfast City Council and the Department for Communities, will continue to work collaboratively with Westland Community Group to help develop the capacity required to operate the new facility.

Phillip Brett (DUP, Belfast North)

I thank the junior Minister for her update. The £1·6 million for the rebuild of Westland Community Centre will be very welcome. I pay tribute to my colleagues who have been to the fore in that campaign. Can the junior Minister confirm that the Executive Office will work closely with the group to ensure that the scheme is delivered as soon as possible?

Aisling Reilly (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

Yes, absolutely. Our team will work with Westland Community Group to ensure that collaborative approach, because that is really important. We engage with community groups on the ground, because they are best placed and know exactly what that community needs.

I also want to mention that the Urban Villages team will operate in North Belfast until 2030. That will allow all the capital projects to be completed. The aim of Urban Villages was to provide additionality to existing provision within the areas, and we have come some way in that regard. We continue to work with our colleagues in other Departments to understand how support can best be delivered to communities in a way that will be impactful and sustainable.

Brian Kingston (DUP, Belfast North)

This is wonderful news that has been long awaited by the Westland community. Along with my colleague Mr Brett, I pay tribute to Westland Community Group and all who have supported it. I want to mention, in particular, councillors Fred Cobain and Jordan Doran. It is an active community group that is worthy of support. I hope that the junior Minister and colleagues will ensure that the letter of offer goes out as soon as possible. I checked with the chairman: he has not yet received it, but, hopefully, it is virtually on its way and will soon arrive; I would appreciate it if that could be chased up. I wish to highlight, as the junior Minister did, the importance of ongoing inter-agency support for the community group.

Aisling Reilly (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

Absolutely. I also commend everyone whom you mentioned, because, as I said, working collaboratively and collectively with all the people on the ground is most important. We are happy to chase up for you where the letter of offer is.

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

I am delighted, as a North Belfast representative, that, at long last, the Westland community has received the resources that it is entitled to and deserves. Will the junior Minister outline what other projects have been added to update the Urban Villages capital programme, please?

Aisling Reilly (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

I thank the Member for her question and acknowledge her interest in the work of the Urban Villages programme and the promotion of good relations that she does more generally. As the Member knows, work on the ground continues, with local communities playing a vital role in shaping the projects and benefiting from their delivery. Since taking office, I, alongside junior Minister Cameron, have visited numerous sites, met organisations and witnessed the positive changes that have taken place as a result of the programme, both in Belfast and in Derry. Those projects are the building blocks for a shared, inclusive and welcoming society. I am delighted to say that four projects have been added to the Urban Villages capital plan: the School of Music in Donegall Pass; the market arches in the Markets; Westland Community Centre in North Belfast; and the Realm Project in Derry. Those projects will be great assets and great additions to those communities. They will enable the Urban Villages initiative to meet the needs that were identified in the strategic framework for Urban Villages areas.

Stephen Dunne (DUP, North Down)

3. Mr Dunne asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for a timescale on when the reform and transformation unit will become operational. (AQO 1274/22-27)

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Our public services are under severe pressure. Demand for services continues to rise, alongside growing complexity of need. Funding is constrained, and expectations for faster, digitally enabled, citizen-focused services are higher than ever. If we are to meet the needs of all people in our society, we cannot keep doing things in the same way. We must prioritise our available resources and transform how we deliver our services. The Executive's draft Programme for Government sets an ambitious change agenda and includes a specific reform and transformation priority. The Executive have recognised that we must take immediate action to stabilise and transform our services in order to meet the needs of our citizens, grow our economy and protect our environment for future generations.

A reform and transformation unit was established in the Executive Office in October 2024. The unit is in its infancy, and its work programme is being developed, but staff are already engaged in work to deliver the draft Programme for Government's reform and transformation objective and to support the work of the interim public-sector transformation board. The unit will work across Departments and with partners in other sectors to ensure that the Executive's priorities get the focus and resources that are needed. It will also play a key role in challenging the status quo, drawing in expert advice, and driving and supporting the delivery of much-needed reform. The unit is expected to be fully operational from 1 April 2025.

Stephen Dunne (DUP, North Down)

I thank the First Minister for her answer. Will she outline whether the Executive have engaged with any other jurisdictions that have such a delivery unit in place to ensure that ours can deliver efficiently and effectively?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Yes. That topic comes up frequently. It even came up just last week when we were at the British-Irish Council (BIC) meeting. All jurisdictions talked about it, because everyone is grappling with the same challenges and problems. It is important that we learn lessons from examples of good practice, where they exist. The deputy First Minister and I are keen to ensure that we work with partners, because it is important to draw in expertise from outside, particularly from the private sector, and build a network of local contacts that can help us deliver and transform our public services. I therefore assure the Member that the issue is high on the agenda and that we are very open to learning from good practice elsewhere, if we think it appropriate.

Matthew O'Toole (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Belfast South)

First Minister, in the Chamber in February, you said that the place in which to discuss Stormont reform, the removal of the veto and stopping collapse was at the Assembly and Executive Review Committee (AERC). Your counterpart, the deputy First Minister, said exactly the same thing. Why, then, did your parties join together last week to block any progress being made on those issues at said Committee?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

That is not really linked to the substantive question, a Cheann Comhairle, but I will answer it, seeing as it has been put to me, if that is OK with you.

Edwin Poots (DUP, Belfast South)

It is up to you.

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

The Committee did not reject any proposal. I am sure that the Member did not set out to be disingenuous. The Committee discussed the forward work programme, which did not have the complete information. All that members of the Committee did was to ask for a bit more time to put the programme together. Let us therefore be factual about what was discussed and decided.

Paula Bradshaw (Alliance, Belfast South)

The Alliance Party is very supportive of reform and transformation. First Minister, how can you ensure that the reform and transformation unit will have meaningful impact, given the fact that the different Departments are legally independent of one another?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Therein lies the challenge with which we have to grapple. We have to come to terms with that, but when we collectively come at the new approach of having nine identified priority areas in the draft Programme for Government and monitor our progress as we go, we will have to correct how we will do the transformation work in the delivery unit. At the moment, our officials are working their way through what that work might look like. I hope that the unit will be fully functioning, and that we all understand its function, by April next year, and we will engage with the Committee in particular on that. I know that the Committee will play its role in trying to shape that work.

Liz Kimmins (Sinn Féin, Newry and Armagh)

On the topic of public service, First Minister, one of the hardest-working public servants whom we have is currently working very hard, because there are only 16 more sleeps until Christmas Day. On behalf of all the boys and girls who are very excitedly waiting for Santa and his reindeer to arrive on 25 December, I ask whether everything is on track.

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Thank you for your question. I have no doubt that, at home, Sé and Daíthí are very keen to know whether Santa is on track. How exciting that it is only 16 days until Christmas. I want you to tell Sé and Daíthí and all the other children out there that things are on track. The deputy First Minister and I have spoken to the North Pole, and we have been assured that the elves are getting ready; the toys are being packed up; Rudolf and the other reindeer are eating their carrots; and Santa wants us to tell all the children to be good for their parents and to be ready for the run-up to Christmas.

Edwin Poots (DUP, Belfast South)

Quite a few MLAs are double-jobbing to assist Santa.

[Laughter.]

I think that that is allowed on this occasion.

Question 4 has been withdrawn.

Sian Mulholland (Alliance, North Antrim)

5. Ms Mulholland asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline any discussions with the Housing Executive in relation to including a requirement on statutory authorities to ensure that children are not moved a significant distance during the school year, in the forthcoming refugee integration strategy. (AQO 1276/22-27)

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

With your permission, Mr Speaker, junior Minister Reilly will answer that question.

Aisling Reilly (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

We welcome the fact that those seeking refuge are no longer being left waiting for lengthy periods for a decision on their asylum cases. The increasingly high number of people moving on as the Home Office deals with the backlog has, unfortunately, necessitated the Housing Executive to place some people in temporary accommodation. We understand that, although that addresses the immediate need for shelter, other needs, such as education, can also be disrupted. The unsuitability of housing and frequent house moves are difficult for people and interrupt their integration journeys. We are considering a revised draft refugee integration strategy and associated delivery framework that recognises those concerns. In parallel with that, our officials chair a move-on coordination group, through which the impact on school placement of moving to temporary accommodation has been highlighted. As a result, a data-sharing agreement is now in place between the Housing Executive and the Education Authority (EA) to help share information in order to, where possible, mitigate and manage concerns on access to education.

Sian Mulholland (Alliance, North Antrim)

Thank you, junior Minister. Will you clarify what work is being undertaken to assist schools that have to manage pupils who travel significant distances or change school at short notice?

Aisling Reilly (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

Our Department does not have statutory responsibility for providing education to refugee and asylum-seeking children, but we are aware that the Education Authority will not start school enrolment for an initial four-week period for children who are living in contingency asylum accommodation or Housing Executive temporary, non-standard accommodation. The Education Authority has advised us that that change was made because families are often in those types of accommodation for short periods and it causes unnecessary disruption for the children and their families if they secure a school place and then move to another school after a few weeks. The Education Authority has assessed that such upheaval is unnecessarily unsettling for the child and is not in their best interests.

The Department of Education and the Education Authority completed a mid-term review of the arrangement in early November and concluded that no change was required. However, the Housing Executive recently advised that the length of stay for those in temporary and non-standard accommodation has increased. The Housing Executive, along with our officials, is following up with the Department of Education and the Education Authority on the implications of that for the current arrangements.

Deirdre Hargey (Sinn Féin, Belfast South)

Given that Ministers are still considering the draft refugee integration strategy, will you outline what other work the Department is doing until it comes through?

Aisling Reilly (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

Yes. I recognise and commend the work that you have done, with other Members, over the past few months. You stood on the streets with residents to reject the hate and racism that we witnessed and to support our minority ethnic communities, as you always have done and, I am sure, will continue to do. I had the great opportunity to meet various organisations that are on the ground, day and daily, supporting those who seek refuge here. I also recognise the vital work that they do to support those who are in need. Whilst we consider the draft refugee integration strategy, officials are progressing work that is designed to strengthen support for those who seek international protection here. That work includes creating structures that ensure a more coordinated and collaborative approach across government and Departments to facilitate the allocation of funding, put in place advice services for those who require them and develop an orientation package.

Edwin Poots (DUP, Belfast South)

Question 6 has been withdrawn.

Harry Harvey (DUP, Strangford)

7. Mr Harvey asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether greater collaboration can be achieved with local government on relevant priorities within the draft Programme for Government 2024-2027. (AQO 1278/22-27)

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

'Our Plan' is an ambitious agenda for change for everyone who lives here. In order to make that happen, we know that we need to work in partnership. As an Executive, we are committed to working in collaboration across government, the private sector, the wider public sector and the community and voluntary sector. That was discussed with Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE) members during the consultation process, and we look forward to building on that work when we finalise the Programme for Government and the Assembly approves it.

Harry Harvey (DUP, Strangford)

I thank the First Minister very much for her answer. Minister, did you say that there had been direct engagement with SOLACE on the Programme for Government and on its future implementation in particular?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Yes, we had direct engagement with SOLACE as we consulted on the Programme for Government. As the Member will know, that has concluded.

We had significant engagement throughout the consultation process, for which we are grateful. We are working in earnest to agree the final Programme for Government and bring it back to the House. It is important that we recognise in the Programme for Government that, if we are to be successful in delivering the priorities that we have identified, we must have partnership working that includes our colleagues in local government.

Kellie Armstrong (Alliance, Strangford)

What role does the Executive Office have in linking with local government to implement the report of the high street task force?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

I can provide more detail to the Member. I think that the last action that we took was to write to every Department, each of which has different areas of work falling within its remit. We asked the Departments to correspond with us to let us know how they intend to take forward those actions. Perhaps there will be a raft of areas of work across the Departments.

Linda Dillon (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

First Minister, I welcome your answer in response to the question about the collaboration approach. I do not wish to be parochial, but no council is better at that than Mid Ulster District Council. Does the First Minister agree that addressing regional imbalance is a really important part of moving our economy forward?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Thanks for the question. I agree. The draft Programme for Government recognises the whole area of growing our economy as a priority and recognises regional balance as a key component of that and of growing a globally competitive and sustainable economy. Everybody needs to benefit from that. The prize is that everybody is lifted up and feels that they benefit fairly and equitably from economic growth. If we are going to be serious about that, addressing regional imbalance is crucial. I welcome the fact that the Economy Minister, Conor Murphy, has brought forward a plan for that. That will lead to a tangible difference, particularly when you add it to delivery on issues such as the A5, the commitment to the Strule campus, the Derry and Strabane city deal, the Mid Ulster growth deal and all the other growth deals that we have been able to progress. My firm commitment, which is, I know, shared by many in the House, is that, whether you live in Omagh or Enniskillen, Belfast or Belleek, there needs to be fairness across the board so that everybody gets to share in the prosperity agenda. That is what I am committed to.

Sinéad McLaughlin (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Foyle)

In relation to regional balance, £45 million has been put aside to support local economic partnerships. How much of that will fund administration in the councils, and how much will go towards capital projects or other projects?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

I do not have that detail. That is in the gift of the Department for the Economy; it makes those allocations. The breakdown of that funding does not come directly under our office.

Philip McGuigan (Sinn Féin, North Antrim)

8. Mr McGuigan asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to provide an update on the appointment of commissioners under the Identity and Language Act 2022. (AQO 1279/22-27)

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

The appointment of the commissioners and members of the Office of Identity and Cultural Expression is essential to the implementation of the provisions of the Identity and Language Act 2022 for which TEO is responsible. We are pleased to announce that panels have been established and that all three competition initiation meetings took place recently. That is a significant step in the process. The officials are working to provide us with further advice, which will include the necessary documentation to enable the competitions to be launched. The process will be run in line with the Commissioner for Public Appointment's (CPANI) guidelines.

Philip McGuigan (Sinn Féin, North Antrim)

Go raibh maith agat, a Aire.

[Translation: Thank you, Minister.]

I thank the First Minister for that statement. It is positive to hear that progress is being made. Further to her answer, can she give a timeline for the recruitment process for the three bodies and indicate when commissioners will be appointed?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

It is positive that we are making progress. I look forward to receiving the updated documentation, which will allow us to move to the next step. The Member knows that we have committed to adhering to CPANI's code of practice for the appointments. With that commitment, additional factors have to be taken into consideration in the governance and accountability surrounding the competition.

On the timeline, public appointment processes normally take a year to complete from when the initial decisions are taken. In this competition, those decisions were taken in May. In this case, three processes are happening concurrently, which is why a bit more time has been required. Our priority, however, is to make sure that the process is done properly, that due process is followed and that we get to the competition for the commissioners as quickly as possible and get them in place as quickly as possible.

Stewart Dickson (Alliance, East Antrim)

First Minister, what discussions have been held with the Communities Minister about how the commissioners' work will interact with the relevant strategies?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

They are two separate strands of work, but of course they will have to speak to each other. That will naturally happen over time, but I hope that we can see the publication of the Irish language strategy and the other strategies as quickly as possible. When that process is aligned, next year, we will start to see a real difference in the strategies being put in place, the commissioners, their responsibilities, their roles and the areas they will cover, and then we will all be clear about how that proceeds. The two things will absolutely have to talk to each other.

Timothy Gaston (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

First Minister, it is claimed that the changes on Irish will do nothing to impact on the status of English in Northern Ireland. On Wednesday, at the Executive Office Committee, I pressed your officials on the legal status of the English language in Northern Ireland: they could not answer me. Is it not the truth, First Minister, that, once your office has completed the process of setting up the bodies associated with Irish, the only language with official status in Northern Ireland will be Irish?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

The language belongs to us all. Nobody has anything to fear from any language. We should all embrace it and create a better and inclusive society. Let us create fairness across our society, and let us not look over our shoulders at the other. Let us build a better society; that is what I am here for. I encourage you to do likewise.

Edwin Poots (DUP, Belfast South)

Question 9 has been withdrawn.

Colin Crawford (UUP, North Antrim)

10. Mr Crawford asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline how their Department plans to engage and involve young people in policy development. (AQO 1281/22-27)

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

The Executive Office is committed to effective consultation and engagement with everyone across society, including children and young people. Officials use a variety of consultation methods and documents that can be made available in a range of formats to ensure that they are accessible. Recently, the Department took additional steps to engage with children and young people in its consultation on the ending of violence against women and girls strategy and its review of the Race Relations Order 1997.

Our officials follow the guidance in the Department's equality scheme and advice from the Equality Commission when preparing any policy consultation and equality assessment. Where policies are likely to have a particular impact on children and young people, officials also consider whether a child rights impact assessment is appropriate. That assessment, endorsed by the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, aims to embed children's rights considerations at the very beginning of developing legislation, strategies and policies.

Child rights impact assessments were recently undertaken on the 2024-25 Budget, the Programme for Government and, as I said, the ending violence against women and girls strategy. We will continue to use them as an appropriate consultation process where policies are likely to have a particular impact on children and young people, alongside our commitment to deliver and embed our section 75 duties.

Colin Crawford (UUP, North Antrim)

I thank the First Minister for her answer. First Minister, have any specific youth advisory roles or positions been established in your Department?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

To my knowledge, there is no specific role, but I have outlined some of the areas where we are engaging with young people on policy development. We thought it was particularly appropriate to have a child rights impact assessment for the Programme for Government and the Budget because those decisions will have an impact on young people. We hope that we have the right tools, as opposed to having people in post.

I will ask whether we have anybody in particular, but it is more of a general duty on everyone in the Department to ensure that our policies are fit to meet the needs of everybody.

Claire Sugden (Independent, East Londonderry)

First Minister, the engagement of older people is also important. Do you have an update on the appointment of the Older People's Commissioner, as the current commissioner is leaving his post today?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

I do not have the update with me, but I am happy to write to the Member. I assure her that her voice and the voices of others who represent older people have been heard as part of the Programme for Government consultation. We look forward to advancing the draft consultation.

Justin McNulty (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Newry and Armagh)

First Minister, do you agree that involving young people should include giving them the right to vote at the age of 16? What steps have you taken since coming into office to make that happen?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Unfortunately, electoral legislation is not under the remit of the Executive Office. As a party representative, I absolutely advocate voting at 16. There is no agreement across the House on the topic, but we have had a debate and a discussion. Individually, I always lobby and advocate for voting at 16, including legislative changes. Let us hope that we get there some day. Our young people should have a say and a stake in what we do here.

Matthew O'Toole (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Belfast South)

11. Mr O'Toole asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the 2024 legislative programme. (AQO 1282/22-27)

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Seven Executive Bills have begun their passage through the Assembly, and it is our expectation that, subject to the consent of the Assembly, all the Bills included in the Executive's initial legislative programme for 2024-25, which was announced back on 23 May, will be introduced during the 2024-25 session of the Assembly. Some slippage is, however, likely in the introduction of certain Bills within the timescales that were originally estimated. Further Bills will be introduced in the first quarter of 2025, but we share the Assembly's disappointment that there has not been greater progress to date. However, it is important that the underlying policy issues be resolved and finalised so that a Bill can be presented to the Assembly in as complete a form as possible.

We intend to make a statement to the Assembly on the full 2024-25 programme in the new year. That will include an update on all the Bills that have already been announced. We will continue to work with Executive colleagues to ensure that outstanding Bills are introduced in a timely manner to meet the commitments set out in the Executive's legislative programme.

Matthew O'Toole (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Belfast South)

Minister, you are keen to talk about Santa Claus's deliveries, but you have not been so keen to talk about delivery of the Executive's legislative programme. To be clear, you referred to it as the "programme for 2024-25": you did not call it that when it was published in a statement to the Assembly. It was the "Executive Legislation Programme 2024", which is the year that is about to end. To confirm, you set yourself a low bar of 18 or 19 Bills. You will fail to reach even half that number. Can you account for why the Executive have failed to reach even 50% of the modest legislative programme that they set themselves?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

I am keen to answer any of the questions that are put to me, but it is not appropriate for me to get into the ins and outs of why individual Ministers have not brought forward legislation, some of which I am aware of and some of which will take a little longer because of policy development issues. It may be the other side of Christmas before some things are advanced compared with when they were initially intended.

I hope that we can get there, because I also still want us to get to that point. We all want to get into the nitty-gritty of the legislation that is coming forward. The deputy First Minister and I have written to all Ministers again to ask for an update on the legislative programme. We intend to bring that to the Assembly for a statement early in the new year so that we can set out exactly where we are with every piece of current legislation and what else will be coming in the next year.

Sinéad Ennis (Sinn Féin, South Down)

12. Ms Ennis asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the appointment of a chair and board members to the Victims and Survivors Service. (AQO 1283/22-27)

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Following a public appointment process, we have agreed the successful candidate for the post of chair and three successful candidates for board member posts. We are considering the paperwork before we make the formal appointments, and we will announce those when letters have issued to the candidates.

Sinéad Ennis (Sinn Féin, South Down)

I thank the First Minister for her response. As the First Minister knows, the Victims and Survivors Service plays a key role in the provision of support services for victims and survivors. Does the First Minister agree that making sure that there are adequate support services for victims and survivors should be a crucial area of work for any incoming chair and board?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Yes, absolutely. The support services are vital in supporting victims and survivors across a range of areas. We want to ensure that everything that we have in place is appropriate. You will know that we have just launched our victims and survivors strategy, which sets out clearly the area of work that we are focused on as part of a holistic approach to supporting victims and survivors. I hope that we can get people into post as quickly as possible and get on with supporting victims and survivors.

Áine Murphy (Sinn Féin, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

13. Ms Á Murphy asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on their engagement with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the introduction of inheritance tax for farms worth over £1 million and its impact on the local farming community. (AQO 1284/22-27)

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

On 18 November, along with the Agriculture and Finance Ministers, we wrote to the Chancellor, urging her to reconsider the decision and ensure that agriculture and business property reliefs are retained as they currently apply and the ability to pass a family farm down from one generation to the next is protected.

Taxation must be fair and proportionate, and placing a large tax burden on farm families to the extent that a significant number of farm businesses cannot continue on the death of the owner could not be described as "fair" or "proportionate". Farming and agri-food are key sectors in our local economy, ensuring vital food security, and family farms are the backbone of our local agriculture sector and rural communities. There is no doubt that the changes will have a disproportionate impact on family farms here compared with those in other jurisdictions, given that we have some of the highest agricultural land prices.

We also attended the rally arranged by the Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) to show our strong support for the farming community. Unfortunately, the British Government have stated that they are not willing to change their position on this, but I assure you that we will continue to speak on behalf of our farming community across all areas that impact it and at all levels of government.

Indeed, we raised it at the British-Irish Council last week also.

Áine Murphy (Sinn Féin, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

I thank the First Minister for her answer. Does the First Minister agree that the decision made by the British Government totally fails to reflect the unique circumstances and challenges faced by many farm families in the North?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Yes, I agree. I do not think that it takes into account our local situation and the fact that we have the highest agricultural land prices. It disproportionately impacts on our farmers and farm families here. We have been very vocal about the issue, and we will continue to be very vocal about it. We need to have the flexibility built in around our local circumstances, and we will take every opportunity to raise that point. We know that the Finance Minister has done so. We have also done that collectively and will continue to do so.

Edwin Poots (DUP, Belfast South)

We now move to topical questions.

Matthew O'Toole (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Belfast South)

I will stick with the theme of the legislative programme for 2024, which will not be delivered or even half delivered. The Minister said a moment ago that she cannot get into the detail of why individual Bills have not yet been introduced to the Assembly, but she was the person who launched the legislative programme and listed every Bill that she said then would be introduced to the Assembly. I repeat my question.

Matthew O'Toole (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Belfast South)

T1. Mr O'Toole asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, again, why the Executive's legislative programme will not be even 50% delivered for 2024. (AQT 841/22-27)

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

As I said, seven Bills are under way, and we are working our way through those. There are others still to come. There are some that, I believe, are only weeks away from being introduced in the Chamber. We know that there are a number of policy decisions to be made, particularly around some consultations that were had, and there is a lot of detail to be digested and then turned into legislative provision. I am quite sure that Ministers will bring their legislation as quickly as they possibly can.

I can refer only to my Department, and, for example, we consulted on the issue of mother-and-baby institutions, Magdalene laundries and workhouses. We received 269 comprehensive responses. I do not want to rush that. I want to do it in a timely manner, but I also want to get it right. We will keep working our way through that, and I know that that is similar for other Ministers.

I also said to you earlier that we have already started this work. We have reached out to all the Departments. We have asked them for the reasons for delays, and we have also asked for a time frame for when things will come forward. The deputy First Minister and I will make a statement in the new year on what exactly this picture looks like for the year ahead.

Matthew O'Toole (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Belfast South)

I am afraid, First Minister, that whether it is on Assembly reform, the reform of the Stormont veto, the legislative programme, the failure to present a draft Budget before Christmas, as the Finance Minister promised, or assorted matters on the Irish language, Casement and a number of other things, too many people have heard warm words and platitudes but not seen delivery from the Executive. I ask that, as a New Year's resolution, you, as First Minister, perhaps think about fewer platitudes, fewer photo ops and more delivery.

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

It is a far cry from constructive opposition, Matthew, I will tell you that. I am very pleased. We are coming up to the one-year anniversary of this institution coming back, and, in this first year, the four parties in the Executive have made remarkable progress collectively. I am so glad that we have made progress on childcare. I am so glad that we have made progress on regional balance. I am so glad that we have been able to bring forward the Budget and that we are currently working through the next Budget. I am so glad that we have consulted on a Programme for Government. I am glad that we have made progress on the A5. I am glad that we continue to make progress that makes a real difference to people's lives daily. When we reflect on all of that, we see that we need to keep doing it. We need to keep doing more of it, and I want to do more of it. I will work constructively with everybody in the Chamber to ensure that we deliver for the people whom we collectively serve. We should reflect on what we have been able to achieve in this first year, and I look forward to the next two years of this mandate and to seeing whether we can deliver even more of what we have set out to achieve together.

Peter McReynolds (Alliance, Belfast East)

T2. Mr McReynolds asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline when the Assembly will hear about options on the establishment of an expert-led infrastructure commission. (AQT 842/22-27)