QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER
ON MONDAY 12 MAY 2008
Questions to the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister
Questions to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
Questions to the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment
Questions to the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister
1. Ms Ní Chuilín ( North Belfast):
To ask the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail its plans for a Taskforce to tackle interface and conflict resolution work in the North Belfast constituency.
(AQO 3435/08)
2. Mr Hilditch ( East Antrim):
To ask the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail the new role of the New York person associated with the Northern Ireland Bureau in Washington.
(AQO 3383/08)
3. Mr Shannon (Strangford):
To ask the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail the number of its staff who have a disability.
(AQO 3360/08)
4. Mr Hamilton (Strangford):
To ask the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline at what level the European taskforce will continue to operate.
(AQO 3378/08)
5. Mr Cree (North Down):
To ask the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister for its assessment of the impact of the recent rise in fuel and food costs on child poverty, and to detail any actions it is intending to take to help those families who are living in worsening situations of poverty.
(AQO 3374/08)
6. Ms J McCann ( West Belfast):
To ask the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail the recommendations it will be making to the Executive to ensure that the necessary measures are put in place to alleviate the impact that rising fuel prices will have on (i) families; and (ii) child poverty.
(AQO 3443/08)
7. Ms Lo ( South Belfast):
To ask the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail the role it envisages the Department of Social Development playing in achieving Public Service Agreement 7, Objective 2.
(AQO 3446/08)
8. Mr Ford ( South Antrim):
To ask the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister for its assessment of the effectiveness of its machinery of government arrangements since devolution.
(AQO 3448/08)
9. Mr McKay ( North Antrim):
To ask the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister for its assessment of the recently released Good Relations Indicators.
(AQO 3441/08)
10. WITHDRAWN
11. Miss McIlveen (Strangford):
To ask the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline the agreed priorities of the Ministerial Sub-committee on Children and Young People.
(AQO 3384/08)
12. Mr Kennedy (Newry and Armagh):
To ask the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to confirm that any legislation governong the Victims Commissioners should include a definition of the term 'victim'; and a procedure for managing differences of opinion between the four commissioners.
(AQO 3369/08)
13. Mr McCartney (Foyle):
To ask the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to confirm if it supports the Disability Action proposal to develop a North West Centre of Excellence at Ebrington Centre.
(AQO 3462/08)
14. Mr Butler ( Lagan Valley):
To ask the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister for its assessment of the impact the lack of development at the former Maze/Long Kesh site will have on the transfer of other former military bases to the Executive.
(AQO 3440/08)
15. Mr A Maskey ( South Belfast):
To ask the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline the steps it has taken (i) to tackle hate crime; and (ii) to enhance community safety.
(AQO 3442/08)
16. Mr Simpson ( Upper Bann):
To ask the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline any work it has undertaken to help establish a dialogue process to obtain a long-term resolution to the parading dispute at Drumcree/Garvaghy Road.
(AQO 3344/08)
17. Mr O'Dowd ( Upper Bann):
To ask the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail the action it is taking to tackle poverty.
(AQO 3438/08)
18. Mr Gardiner ( Upper Bann):
To ask the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail its plans for the development of the Joint Ministerial Committee.
(AQO 3364/08)
19. Mrs McGill (West Tyrone):
To ask the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline the steps it is taking to promote joint working with the Government of the Republic of Ireland on anti poverty and social inclusion.
(AQO 3450/08)
20. Mrs O'Neill (Mid Ulster):
To ask the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail the work of its disability unit.
(AQO 3437/08)
Questions to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
1. Mr McCarthy (Strangford):
To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline the procedures she will put in place to prevent future cases of Bluetongue disease.
(AQO 3427/08)
2. Mr Hamilton (Strangford):
To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development how she proposes to improve her Department's communication with the fishing industry.
(AQO 3379/08)
3. Mr McNarry (Strangford):
To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the action she is taking to guarantee adherence to the regulations on the welfare of farmed animals.
(AQO 3376/08)
4. Mr P Maskey ( West Belfast):
To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to confirm the number of Northern Ireland companies that attended the opening of the all-Ireland Food Exhibition in Belfast.
(AQO 3411/08)
5. Mr Bresland (West Tyrone):
To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline the percentage of funding, awarded to Local Action Groups to deliver Axis 3 of the Rural Development programme, that will be set aside for administration and technical support.
(AQO 3351/08)
6. Mr McElduff (West Tyrone):
To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what action her Department is taking, in conjunction with other Departments, to address the barriers to accessing rural childcare provision in West Tyrone.
(AQO 3403/08)
7. Mrs O'Neill (Mid Ulster):
To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline the recommendations in the rural childcare report; and the action she is taking to implement these recommendations.
(AQO 3405/08)
8. Mr McKay ( North Antrim):
To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail her priorities for the forest service; and the action she is taking to ensure that forests could be better utilised.
(AQO 3420/08)
9. Mr Irwin (Newry and Armagh):
To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what plans she has to extend the Farm Nutrient Management Scheme beyond 31 December 2008 to enable farmers to complete the works.
(AQO 3424/08)
10. Lord Morrow (Fermanagh and South Tyrone):
To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the new measures she plans to introduce to regulate the marketing of organic and free range products to ensure they are accurately labelled.
(AQO 3372/08)
11. Mrs McGill (West Tyrone):
To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the level of childcare provision in rural areas; and the action she is taking to improve accessibility to high-quality childcare in rural areas.
(AQO 3404/08)
12. Mr W Clarke (South Down):
To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what action she is taking to offset the proposed closure of many rural post offices.
(AQO 3419/08)
13. Mr P Ramsey (Foyle):
To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail any special promotions she is undertaking in relation to the potato industry given that the United Nations has designated 2008 as the international year of the potato.
(AQO 3430/08)
14. Mr Burns ( South Antrim):
To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if she has sought derogation from the European Union in relation to the burial of farm animals if flocks or herds are required to be put down due to Bluetongue disease.
(AQO 3392/08)
15. Mr Molloy (Mid Ulster):
To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to provide details on the new agri-environment programme in the Rural Development Plan; and to confirm when this programme will commence.
(AQO 3417/08)
16. Mr Dallat ( East Londonderry):
To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to give an assurance that the acreage of trees currently being planted is on course to meet long-term plans for forestation over the next 25 years.
(AQO 3354/08)
17. Mr P J Bradley (South Down):
To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if her Department has placed a ban on fallen animals being delivered to the kennels of local harriers and hunts.
(AQO 3394/08)
18. Mr McFarland (North Down):
To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what consultation she has had with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment in relation to the development of eco-tourist attractions in forest parks.
(AQO 3385/08)
19. Mr Kennedy (Newry and Armagh):
To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for her assessment of the heightened risk of Bluetongue disease facing the farming industry in the summer.
(AQO 3381/08)
20. Mr Burnside ( South Antrim):
To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what steps her Department has taken to promote the Balmoral Show, as a showcase for the farming industry, on an international stage.
(AQO 3388/08)
Questions to the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment
1. Mr McCausland ( North Belfast):
To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the steps he has taken to assist and encourage the small business sector since May 2007.
(AQO 3358/08)
2. Mr Bresland (West Tyrone):
To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to outline the impact of the Action Renewables Programme upon householders, business and the community sector.
(AQO 3352/08)
3. Mrs M Bradley (Foyle):
To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment for his assessment of the impact of the 28% increase in Phoenix gas prices on low income families.
(AQO 3458/08)
4. Mr Hamilton (Strangford):
To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail his plans to encourage the use of bio-fuels as alternative sources of energy.
(AQO 3380/08)
5. Mr Weir (North Down):
To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail any plans he has to visit the People's Republic of China; and to outline the outcomes he hopes to achieve from such a visit.
(AQO 3350/08)
6. Mr O'Loan ( North Antrim):
To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment for his assessment of the implications of the recent credit problems and general global economic slow down for the economic targets and growth strategy set out in the Programme for Government; if there will be any change in the economic-development aims and strategy resulting from the changed economic environment.
(AQO 3461/08)
7. Mr Dallat ( East Londonderry):
To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to outline the steps he is taking to ensure that high energy costs, in comparison to neighbouring countries, are not an obstacle to competitiveness.
(AQO 3357/08)
8. Mr Beggs ( East Antrim):
To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the number of people employed in eco-tourist activities.
(AQO 3393/08)
9. WITHDRAWN
10. Mr Lunn ( Lagan Valley):
To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail his plans to increase the amount of electricity that is generated from renewable sources.
(AQO 3439/08)
11. Mr P Maskey ( West Belfast):
To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the number of jobs that have been created in West Belfast and the greater Shankill since 8 May 2007.
(AQO 3406/08)
12. Mr Ross ( East Antrim):
To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment for his assessment of the current, and potential, impact of sporting events on tourism.
(AQO 3349/08)
13. WITHDRAWN
14. Mrs Long ( East Belfast):
To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail his plans to support pre-enterprise initiatives.
(AQO 3431/08)
15. Mr Ford ( South Antrim):
To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the amount of electricity being generated from renewable sources.
(AQO 3469/08)
16. Mrs O'Neill (Mid Ulster):
To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to outline the support that the Northern Ireland Tourist Board is providing to the regional tourism partnerships.
(AQO 3421/08)
17. Mr Burns ( South Antrim):
To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to give a commitment that local entrepreneurs will receive the same economic incentives to grow their businesses that will be afforded to potential foreign investors who attend the forthcoming Economic Investment conference.
(AQO 3466/08)
18. Dr Farry (North Down):
To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what contingency plans he has to promote indigenous business growth, given that the Varney Review has not allowed for lower corporation tax in Northern Ireland.
(AQO 3429/08)
19. Ms Lo ( South Belfast):
To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment for his assessment of how the economy compares to that of the Republic of Ireland.
(AQO 3434/08)
20. Mr Simpson ( Upper Bann):
To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the action his Department and tourist agencies are taking to market the tourist potential of the Northern Ireland soccer team.
(AQO 3347/08)