This Week in the Assembly - 3 November 2008

Monday 3 November 2008

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

• Naomi Long (East Belfast) will ask the Ministers what assessment has been given of the role of central government in delivering cohesion, sharing and integration.
• Sue Ramsey (West Belfast) will ask the Ministers how they will ensure Departments deliver against targets set out in the Strategy for Children and Young People.
• Caral Ni Chuilin (North Belfast) will ask how the Office intends to build on the work of the Integrated Development Fund to redress poverty and inequality.
• Kieran McCarthy (Strangford) will ask when it is expected that an appointment will be made to the post of Sustainable Development Commissioner.
• John Dallat (East Londonderry) will ask what role the junior Ministers have in relation to children and young people.
• Danny Kennedy (Newry and Armagh) will ask what emergency procedures exist to cope with the situation that has arisen because of the inability of the Executive to meet since June.
• Francie Molloy (Mid Ulster) will ask the Ministers to outline the steps being taken to coordinate responses to fuel poverty.
• Tommy Burns (South Antrim) will ask for an update on the contribution made by the Office to alleviate the impact of the credit crunch.

Questions to the Minister of the Environment

• Danny Kennedy (Newry and Armagh) will ask the Minister for his assessment of the recommendations made by the Local Government Boundaries Commissioner in his Provisional Recommendations Report.
• John Dallat (East Londonderry) will ask the Minister to outline his Department's position in relation to the Climate Change Bill.
• Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster) will ask the Minister for an update on the revised Planning Policy Statement 14.
• Ken Robinson (East Antrim) will ask the Minister for his assessment of the consideration given by the Local Government Boundary Commissioner to the identity of local communities in his Review of Northern Ireland Government Boundaries Provisional Recommendations Report.

Questions to the Minister of Finance and Personnel

• Stephen Moutray (Upper Bann) will ask the Minister for an update on (i) the Northern Ireland Direct; and (ii) emergency flooding, single telephone number.
• Danny Kennedy (Newry and Armagh) will ask the Minister what proportion of the budget is derived from European Union sources.

Committee Business

• Extension of Committee Stage: Health and Social Care (Reform) Bill

Iris Robinson, Chairperson of the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety has proposed a motion that: "in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 5 December 2008, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Health and Social Care (Reform) Bill (NIA Bill 21/07)."

Tuesday 4 November 2008

Private Members' Business

• Levy on Plastic Carrier Bags

Sinn Fein MLAs Daithi McKay and Cathal Boylan have proposed a joint motion that: "this Assembly supports, in principle, a levy on plastic carrier bags and notes the French Government's decision to ban non-biodegradable plastic bags by 2010; and calls on the Minister of the Environment to bring forward legislation, as a matter of priority, to introduce a levy on plastic carrier bags and to develop a plan to phase out their use."

Committee Business

Click here to see full Assembly Committee Business Diary.

Tuesday 4 November 2008

12.30pm Business Committee
1.30pm Agriculture & Rural Development Committee

Wednesday 5 November 2008

10.00am Finance and Personnel Committee
10.30am Regional Development Committee
10.30am Employment and Learning Committee
10.30am Education Committee
2.00pm OFMDFM Committee

Thursday 6 November 2008

10.00am Enterprise, Trade and Industry Committee
10.30am Environment Committee
10.30am Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee
11.00am Social Development Committee
2.00pm Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee