Accountability, transparency and truth are important. As a recent convert to EV car travel, I have made occasional use of the charging facilities for partial charging, however my main vehicle charging is always done at home. I have claimed only those allowances available under the rules agreed by the Assembly. The Assembly Travel Allowance is not a mileage reimbursement or a direct repayment of fuel or electricity costs. Rather, it is intended to contribute towards the general costs of travel associated with attending Parliament Buildings, including vehicle wear and tear, insurance, motor tax, maintenance and depreciation. The provision of workplace EV charging is fully compliant with Assembly policy and HMRC guidance. Across the UK, workplace EV charging is treated as a separate tax-exempt benefit and does not affect entitlement to travel expenses or allowances. It is also a UK Government wide policy ambition to move to greener and more sustainable transport systems. The EV charging infrastructure has been introduced by the Assembly Commission in 2015 as part of its wider environmental ambition to reduce emissions, support more sustainable travel choices and encourage the transition to lower-carbon transport options. However, recognising the public interest in this matter, I have ceased using the facility and I look forward to an updated policy which continues to recognise the environmental benefits of EV travel while also maintaining public confidence and appropriately balancing the interests of taxpayers. As an individual, and in line with my party’s wishes, I believe it is important to maintain public confidence in the proper use of public funds. While I have acted fully within the rules and any benefit received was legitimately accrued under the arrangements in place, I am happy to engage with the Assembly authorities on this matter, including consideration of repaying any benefit deemed appropriate.

My research notes are typed…rabbit holes are my favourite pastime!I have learnt the joy of Speechify and dictating my notes to pages! Thanks again to @RobbieButlerMLA, the @AssemblyLibrary for your support and kindness and @DannyDonnelly1 #TeamDanny #RightsToReality #UNCRPD✊

No sentence was ever going to be long enough but we are grateful to Justice Kinney on his judgement today Echoing what the PSNI and PPS said today if you are in a violent relationship you need to come forward We miss you Nats 💙💙 #EndViolenceAgainstWomenAndGirls

Welcome to the world Robbie!! It’s life affirming (remember that on 4 hours sleep) - great to see that Garland smile!!

📢ICYMI: Last week, JRF launched the Disability and Poverty in NI report. This work was supported by an amazing Research Advisory Group & key organisations involved in providing support services in NI. You can hear some of their thoughts below & find the full report in this 🧵

On Monday, our Public Leader Programme participants spent an inspiring evening at Stormont, enjoying a tour, dinner, and an interview with @RobbieButlerMLA as they reflected on the opportunities and challenges of navigating faith in politics.

RT @RobinSwann_MP: Carbon capture is an important growing industry in Northern Ireland. I was pleased to raise the innovative work of @nuad…

What a lovely tribute from one decent politician to another. I will be sad to see @patsymcglone retire as he has always been a voice of reason and calming influence, but I wish him a long and happy retirement.

Is fear ionraic @patsymcglone is a man of integrity & tá an ceart ar fad ina bhreithiúnas ag @RobbieButlerMLA is absolutely right in his estimation.

Tributes come in many forms, these words from Robbie Butler Ulster Unionist give you faith in humanity. Patsy McGlone respected by all sides. Wonderful tribute with grace,style & some good humour.

👏 Well done to the Friends of Fleming Fulton and Principal Karen Hancock on today’s hugely successful fundraiser for Fleming Fulton School! 💙 I even got to be a “Ghostbuster for a day” 👻🚫 thankfully with a little more enthusiasm than expertise! Sadly, a walk around the school makes it clear just how urgently investment is needed to maintain the facilities, never mind transform them. 🏫 But what shines through above all else is the incredible resilience, dedication and capacity within our Special Schools sector. 🌟 The staff, pupils, families and supporters have so much to be proud of. Thank you to everyone who helped make today such a success. 🙌 #FlemingFulton #SpecialSchools #Education #CommunitySupport #FundraisingSuccess #GhostbusterForADay

Wouldn’t be great if politics was like this all of the time 👏

The CEO of Microsoft Ireland has said Northern Ireland could become “an AI innovation hub globally” as new research found businesses here are adopting artificial intelligence faster and with greater confidence than organisations in the Republic of Ireland. belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/…

The Executive has agreed on new legislation which will grant borrowing powers to Belfast Harbour, allowing it to fund its new masterplan.

As @patsymcglone steps down after decades of service to his community, Northern Ireland politics loses one of its genuine gentlemen. While many of us talk about friendships that exist beyond the Chamber, Patsy is one of the few who can wear that honour with pride and without fear of contradiction. A detail-oriented politician with an inquisitive mind, sound judgement, and a personality it would be impossible not to like, he has earned respect across political divides. I genuinely will miss Patsy. He represents the very best of public service, the very best of politics, and the very best in us. Apart from not being a Unionist of course, nobody's perfect 😛 Wishing him every happiness in the years ahead. Go n-éirí an bóthar leat agus gach sonas ort sa todhchaí.

Commenting on DAERA's announcement of appointments to the Just Transition Commission, Ulster Unionist Agriculture spokesperson and AERA Committee Chair Robbie Butler MLA said: "While I welcome the establishment of the Just Transition Commission, the proof will be in who actually ends up sitting around that table. Words like 'balanced' and 'equitable' mean nothing if the people shaping climate policy have never set foot on a farm or worked in our agri-food sector. "Agriculture accounts for three posts on this Commission and that is simply not enough given the scale of what this industry faces. I would urge DAERA in the strongest possible terms to ensure those agriculture seats are filled by people who genuinely understand the sector from the ground up, not just in theory. "For the Ulster Unionist Party, food security and energy security are non-negotiable priorities for Northern Ireland. These are not aspirations; they are cornerstones of our economy and our way of life. That must be reflected not only in who is appointed to this Commission, but in its terms of reference and the outcomes it is held to deliver. "If we are serious about a just transition, it has to be just for our farmers and food producers too. That means practitioners, not just academics and advocates, having a real voice in the room."

Ulster Unionist Justice Spokesperson Doug Beattie MC MLA has welcomed the Justice Minister's decision to withdraw the consultation on firearms licensing fees and the banded system. Doug Beattie MC MLA said: "There was significant opposition to these proposals from across the rural and sporting community, and this U-turn by the Minister is the right course of action. "The proposed increases were disproportionate and the process was clearly flawed. Withdrawing the consultation gives space for proper engagement, and any future proposals must be fair and built on a service that actually works for certificate holders. “Before certificate holders are charged the full cost of this service, the service itself must work. The delays and appeals backlog must be addressed first, and any future proposals must protect those who hold weapons for personal protection because they are under threat.”

Ulster Unionist Agriculture spokesperson and AERA Committee Chair Robbie Butler MLA has given a cautious welcome to the cross-border bovine TB research project announced by DAERA Minister Andrew Muir, but warned that farmers will judge it on delivery rather than funding announcements. Robbie Butler MLA said: "Bovine TB exacts a heavy toll on farming families in Northern Ireland, financially and emotionally, so any credible, evidence-led effort to bring it down deserves serious consideration. Cross-border co-operation of this kind is welcome in principle. "But farmers living with repeated breakdowns, movement restrictions and mounting uncertainty will want to know what this actually changes on the ground. The Minister has spoken of transformation and regionalisation. What is missing are the measurable targets, the timelines, and a commitment to having the results independently assessed. Without those, this is an announcement, not yet a plan. "The enhanced testing regime, including more interferon gamma testing and six-monthly skin testing, must come with the support to match. Farmers cannot be asked to carry additional operational pressure without clarity about what these measures mean for their herds. "We should not pretend the burden here is only financial. Behind every breakdown is a family under real strain. Any TB strategy worth its name has to treat the mental health of farmers as seriously as the cost to the agri-food sector. "I welcome that this project tackles wildlife, cattle and biosecurity together, because no single measure will solve TB on its own. The strong early engagement locally, with the great majority of farmers already co-operating, shows the goodwill is there to build on. That goodwill has to be earned and kept. Farmers and their private vets need a genuine hand in shaping and judging these measures, not a consultation after the decisions are taken. "In the end, confidence won't be won by headlines or funding figures. It will be won, or lost, on whether this delivers fair, practical and measurable progress for the people living with bovine TB every day."

#MON2032 🔒 We are delighted to announce that senior men’s manager Michael O’Neill has signed a new four-year contract extension, keeping him in charge until 2032 🤝💚🤍 #GAWA

🎥 WATCH: Robbie Butler MLA responding to the Draft Anti-poverty Strategy. Poverty isn’t just a statistic; we need to understand the real impact of poverty on families and communities.