Naomi Long MLA @naomi_long@respublicae.eu

@antonmannering @dmcbfs Don't understand your point?

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1603718965980794880

@RemoveTheRoom @dmcbfs Totally agree. That and crisis payments are urgently needed to bridge the gap.

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1603718796631592962

@simonheath1970 @dmcbfs Exactly the point we made.

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1603718618100862976

@Mixedupmarty @GarethBurns18 @timmckane No attack, I asked Gareth a question.

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1603710189085024256

@GarethBurns18 @timmckane So £6m down the pan every 6 months? Just like that?

Even though there's no institutions?

Have to disagree. We had an election 7 months ago: we need to implement that mandate. If we can't then we need reform, not more elections to a void.

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1603710030758305793

@timmckane Maybe not for you, just looking at your photo there. 😉

I usually get accused of looking too grumpy...now I'm too smiley. I can only say that, irrespective of my face, inside I'm screaming in frustration...😣

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1603709023236366336

@blake6_ciaran @timmckane And I hate being called a liar when I'm not: I'm engaging openly as I always do.

Happy for you to take a different view, but call me a liar again and I'll block.

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1603708018587324417

RT @NIPrisons: Fantastic work from our staff who have donated hundreds of toys and food parcels as part of our ‘Christmas Hope’ Appeal.

Even in these challenging times the generosity of prison staff shines through.

Privileged to support @PFNI81 and @TrussellTrust in Northern Ireland.

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1603698821032300544

RT @PatriciaOLynn: Visiting #Ballycastle Community Workshop felt like coming home.

This great organisation offers skills, apprenticeships and support to learners of all ages.

The classroom setting is friendly, nurturing & supportive.

So supportive that @1leekane found his own work on display!

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1603688815524298753

@GarethBurns18 @timmckane Election to what, Gareth?

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1603688565589671936

@timmckane We all saw it for what it was. Smiling in a photo is a reflex, not an endorsement of the approach.

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1603688401542283264

@mgtruth @PatCrosbie1 I think so. Houses had no heating, businesses did.

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1603687929443979270

RT @mandy_mcauley: .@naomi_long says some people in NI may not get the £600 energy support payment until June.

“The energy companies have said they could start to deliver it in Jan but it could still be being rolled out in June.” She was speaking #BBCGmu after party leaders met PM & @chhcalling

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1603687214231191552

@CGreachain4 @dmcbfs They want it to be exclusively for energy costs: that's fine in theory, but as people here will need to cash out to buy oil or pay loans they've taken on the strength of this money, it would be easier to give familes the money by the quickest, most secure means.

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1603687010442567681

@PaulWalker33 @dmcbfs I think that's the point. Government see this as an energy payment, but have accepted people will need to cash out to buy oil here. Once you get to that stage, why involve electricity companies at all? Just get the payment to families who can choose how to spend it.

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1603686025947217920

@DownOrangeMan @dmcbfs Cross-referencing that with any mechanism for non-pension/benefits recipient is nigh on impossible. We had this same problem in the Executive during covid where data set sharing wasn't possible with HMRC.

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1603685222738006017

@C_Fitz_ @dmcbfs I'd have thought that was quickest. They're obsessed with it being an energy payment, and that's the biggest barrier. That made sense earlier this year, but now people who can have spent/borrowed in the belief this money was coming before Christmas. They need it now.

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1603684284799254529

@gaeilge2036 @dmcbfs They could, but then, when it came to those not on benefits, it would be hard to track to avoid duplicate payments. A single system is the best option: the issue is how long it has taken to get here, which means cashing out is a bigger pressure here than in GB.

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1603682746467078146

@Reddsab @dmcbfs If it had been paid sooner/in stages, cashing out would have been less of an issue, but people have waited so long they've been forced to spend on the strength of this coming and now need it to pay off that debt, not sitting as a credit for electricity. It's an absolute mess.

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1603681850706350080

@Reddsab @dmcbfs Potentially, there are issues linking that card to each individual and them to an energy account to protect the individual against theft of their card. It's the same issue with cash out for PAYG customers.>

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/naomi_long/status/1603681146042212353