Question Time: Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister Monday 3 March 2014
First Minister, Peter Robinson, confirmed that he and the
deputy First Minister will be participating in the St Patrick’s Day events in
Washington for a seventh successive year during Question
Time. On Friday 14 March they will host the Northern Ireland Bureau
Breakfast for 250 contacts from the Greater Washington area before attending a
private meeting at the White House and then travelling to Capitol Hill for the
Speaker’s St Patrick’s Day lunch. When Patsy McGlone enquired whether the Haass
talks will be discussed with the administration, Mr Robinson said that he would
be very surprised if there aren’t discussions on Northern Ireland’s affairs due
to the United States’ genuine interest in seeing us continue to make progress
and is ready to “share with them our news of what progress has been made to
date and the difficulties that we now face”.
Junior Minister Jonathan Bell then updated the House on the
independent assessment of the Victims
and Survivors Service. Mr Bell was delighted to inform the Chamber that the
full assessment report was delivered
on 14 February 2014. He welcomed the advice and 55 recommendations
contained in the report saying that he envisages the implementation of the
recommendations over the coming months and should “significantly improve the
service to victims and survivors”.
During topical questions the First Minister was asked for
his views on last
week’s controversy surrounding letters issued to ‘on-the-runs’. Thomas
Buchanan was keen for it to be acknowledged that the Policing Board were not aware
of the administration scheme in relation to on-the-runs. Mr Robinson also
agreed with Ian McCrea when he called into question the authority of the
Northern Ireland Office to continue the administration scheme after the
devolution of policing and justice powers to Northern Ireland in 2010.
During Question Time the First Minister also answered
questions on Social Investment Fund projects, Magdalene laundries, organ
donation and the Sexual Orientation Strategy.
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