Contributions
1,452 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill (First sitting)Q Are you concerned that the scope of powers is not clearly defined, allowing for an Executive, for example, to limp on without broad cross-community support but still be able to…29 Jun 2021HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill (First sitting)Q A final question, Professor Tonge. At the moment, the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister must be drawn from the two traditions: Unionist and nationalist. Do you…29 Jun 2021HANSARDCourt CapacityWhat steps his Department is taking to increase court capacity.29 Jun 2021HANSARDCourt CapacityThe Minister’s total failure to improve court waiting times is having a very real-world cost, no more so than for my 100-year-old constituent whose fraud case against a former…29 Jun 2021HANSARDInternational TravelUK airlines, excluding the wider aviation sector, have announced over 30,000 job cuts so far, and that is before we even consider the wider supply chain in the aviation sector.…29 Jun 2021HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill (First sitting)Q It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Stringer. Mr Holder, I will come to you first, as the representative of the Committee on the Administration of Justice. The…29 Jun 2021HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill (First sitting)Q You mentioned the Bill of Rights, which is a reserved measure for Westminster. Why is it so important for the stability of the Assembly and the integrity of the Good Friday…29 Jun 2021HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill (First sitting)Q Thank you. This is my final question to you. NDNA is just the latest agreement that is easier to achieve than it is to implement. Should Ministers be accountable for…29 Jun 2021HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill (Second sitting)Q In the Bill, it is not clear how the ministerial code will be enforceable. Do you think that will make it hard for Members of the Legislative Assembly to hold Ministers to…29 Jun 2021HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill (Second sitting)Q I thank the witnesses for joining us. Mr Speaker, are you concerned that the limits of the power of Ministers during the caretaker period are not set out? Alex Maskey: What we…29 Jun 2021HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill (Second sitting)Q Do you think it would be wiser for the definition of “cross-community confidence” to be outlined in clause 213 in relation to a caretaker Executive? Alex Maskey: For me, as…29 Jun 2021HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill (Second sitting)Q Finally, what key measures do you believe need to be implemented that are currently absent from the Bill? Mark Durkan: I think we need progress in relation to the Bill of…29 Jun 2021HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill (Second sitting)Q The Good Friday agreement established a Civic Forum to give communities a voice and a proper consultative say in the democratic process. How important do you believe that was…29 Jun 2021HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill (Second sitting)Q Thank you, Sir David, and thank you, Mark, for joining us this afternoon. As you mentioned, so much of the Good Friday agreement, which you helped to negotiate, is still not…29 Jun 2021HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill (Second sitting)Q Finally, what statutory provisions exist that you are aware of to prevent the misuse of the powers available to caretaker Ministers? Sir Jonathan Stephens: The fundamental…29 Jun 2021HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill (Second sitting)Q On that point, Sir Jonathan, the Bill provides for up to 24 weeks for the appointment of new Ministers before the obligation to call an Assembly election is triggered. What…29 Jun 2021HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill (Second sitting)Q It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir David. Sir Jonathan, thank you for joining us this afternoon. Given your experience from the negotiations, are you…29 Jun 2021HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill (First sitting)Q Finally, as I also want to give other Members the opportunity to ask questions, what statutory provisions currently exist to prevent the misuse of powers available to caretaker…29 Jun 2021HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill (First sitting)Q Is there anything, from your experience, that did not make the cut in NDNA that you think would have been valuable in terms of the sustainability of the Executive? Howson- Smith…29 Jun 2021HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) BillI place on record my congratulations to the right hon. Member for Lagan Valley (Sir Jeffrey M. Donaldson) on his appointment as the leader of his party. I also thank the Members…22 Jun 2021