Good morning ladies and gentlemen.  Thank you for allowing me some time this morning out of your busy schedule.

Mr Speaker / Deputy Speaker

I wish to thank my party colleague Lord Browne for securing this adjournment debate on what is an ongoing and serious problem within the East Belfast constituency.  If memory serves me correctly this is the second time this subject has been debated within the House.  And the matter has been raised during question time and face to face meetings with Ministers through delegations of residents and business owners suffering from the flooding.

Ladies and Gentlemen

It is a great pleasure for me to be invited to the opening of this new Boots chemist in the heart of my East Belfast constituency. 

Mr Speaker / Deputy Speaker

I rise today to support the amendment to the motion from my Party colleagues.  The amendment is sensible in the context of the debate and outlines the best steps for the Assembly to take in dealing with the economic downturn.

Mr Speaker / Deputy Speaker

I rise today as the Chair of the Audit Committee.

The Audit Committee has been concerned for some time with the issue of privilege for the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General.  These reports occasionally deal with serious issues such as fraud and impropriety.

Mr Speaker / Deputy Speaker

I rise today to support the motion brought forward by the Chair of the Social Development Committee.

The Neighbourhood Renewal programme was warmly welcomed in East Belfast as it offered a coherent way of addressing problems facing the most disadvantaged communities. 

Mr Speaker / Deputy Speaker

This is an important matter and in these difficult days it is right that economy is being discussed.

It is a serious matter, not to be toyed with and should not be placed on the agenda today as a political strategy or to become a political football.

Mr Speaker / Deputy Speaker

Context in which we are discussing this report:

A. A major downturn in the economy with unemployment rising and closures of household name companies commonplace.

B. The situation that has arisen with the Presbyterian Mutual Society, an unregulated organisation that leaves many investors facing extreme difficulties.  They may wish that PMS had considered regulation as the organisation became more sophisticated in its approach.

C. On a more positive note a desire from the Credit Union movement to play an increasingly positive role through increased services to their members.

Mr Speaker / Deputy Speaker

I am pleased as the Deputy Chair of the Employment and Learning Committee to speak in this Supply Resolution Debate and participate in the overall discussion.

Mr Speaker/ Deputy Speaker

I welcome this debate and thank Mr Elliot, Mr McCallister and Mr Savage for sponsoring the debate.
I am going to come from a different perspective than previous speakers. I would like to make three points to remind members of past abuses of animals.