8th November 2021

Minutes of Proceedings - 8 November 2021

2021-11-08 Draft Minutes.pdf (423.35 kb)

Committee for the Economy

Minutes of Proceedings

8th November 2021

Meeting Location: Room 30, Parliament Buildings

Present:                 

Dr Caoímhe Archibald (MLA (Chairperson)

Mr Matthew O’Toole MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Mr Keith Buchanan MLA

Mr Stephen Dunne MLA

Mr Peter Weir MLA

Mr Stewart Dickson MLA

Mr Mike Nesbitt MLA

Mr John O’Dowd MLA

 

Apologies:              

Ms Claire Sugden MLA

 

In Attendance:      

Mr Peter Hall (Assembly Clerk

Mr Michael Greer (Clerical Supervisor)

 

In Attendance by Video or Teleconference: 

Ms Sinead Kelly (Assistant Assembly Clerk)

The meeting commenced at 10:03am in open session.

 

1.     Apologies

As noted above.

 

2.     Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay Bill) Clause by Clause

The Committee commenced its formal clause by clause consideration of the Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Bill.

The Chair put the question in relation to each clause.   

 

Clause 1 –Parental Bereavement Leave  

The Committee considered its proposed amendment to Clause 1 to bring forward a scheme to provide for leave and pay for miscarriage to be introduced 12-months from Royal Assent:

 

Clause 1, page 3, line 42, at end insert –

 

Application in relation to miscarriage

 

112EF. The Department must by regulations provide that regulations under this Chapter apply in relation to a person who has experienced a miscarriage as they apply in relation to a bereaved parent, with such modifications, if any, as specified in regulations

 

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the amendment as drafted.

 

The Committee considered Clause 1 as amended.

 

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with Clause 1 as amended.

Clause 2 –Parental Bereavement Pay  

The Committee considered its proposed amendment to Clause 2 to remove the 26-week eligibility criteria for parental bereavement pay.

The question was put on the amendment:

Clause 2, page 4, line 12

Leave out paragraph (b)

 

The Committee divided:

Ayes 5; Noes 3; Abstain 0

AYES: Dr Caoimhe Archibald, Mr John O’Dowd, Mr Matthew O’Toole, Mr Mike Nesbitt, Mr Stewart Dickson.

NOES: Mr Peter Weir, Mr Stephen Dunne, Mr Keith Buchanan.

The amendment was carried.

 

The Committee considered its proposed amendment to Clause 2 to on ‘Application in relation to miscarriage’:

167ZZ19. The Department must by regulations provide that this Part and regulations under it apply in relation to a person who has experienced a miscarriage as they apply in relation to a bereaved parent as set out in section 167ZZ9 (Entitlement) with such modifications, if any, as specified in regulations.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the amendment as drafted.

 

The Committee considered Clause 2 as amended.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with Clause 2 as amended.

 

 

Clause 3: Further Amendments to do with Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay

The Committee noted a draft amendment from the Minister for the Economy to provide for a new Clause 3A and agreed that the amendment did not fulfil the Committee’s request and conflicts with the amendments already agreed under Clauses 1 and 2.

 

The Committee considered Clause 3 as drafted.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with Clause 3 as drafted.

 

Clause 4: Commencement 

The Committee considered its proposed amendment to Clause 4 on commencement in conjunction with the amendments on the application of miscarriage made to Clauses 1 & 2:

Clause 4, page 10, line 24, at end insert-

‘but this is subject to subsection (2)(a)’

 

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the amendment as drafted.

 

The Committee considered its proposed amendment to Clause 4 on commencement in conjunction with the amendments on the application of miscarriage made to Clauses 1 & 2:

Clause 4, page 10, line 27, at end insert-

‘(2)(a) Regulations under Chapter 4 of the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 and regulations under Part 12ZD of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (including regulations under Article 112EF and regulations under Section 167ZZ19) must come into operation within 12 months of Royal Assent.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the amendment as drafted.

The Committee considered Clause 4 as amended.

 

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with Clause 4 as amended.

 

Clause 5 – Short Title  

The Committee considered Clause 5 as drafted.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with Clause 5 as drafted.

 

Schedule 1- Further Amendments to do with Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay 

The Committee considered its proposed amendment to Schedule 1 in respect of the Assembly procedures applied to the amendment on the application of miscarriage pay made to Clause 2:

Schedule 1, page 13, line 16, at end insert-

‘8A. Regulations made under section 167ZZ19 must not be made unless a draft has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the Assembly.’

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the amendment as drafted.

 

The Committee considered its proposed amendment to Schedule 1in respect of the Assembly procedures applied to the amendments on the application of miscarriage leave made to Clause 1:

Schedule 1, page 15, line 2, at end insert-

‘24A. In Article 251(5A) (regulations that are subject to approval by the Assembly), after “107AB(4),” insert “112EF”

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the amendment as drafted.

 

The Committee considered Schedule 1 as amended.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with Schedule 1 as amended.

 

Long Title

The Committee considered the Long Title as drafted.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Long Title as drafted.

 

The Chairperson advised that the formal clause by clause scrutiny of the Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Bill had concluded.

 

The clause by clause consideration of the Bill was reported by Hansard.

 

3.     Draft Committee Report on the Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Bill

 

The Committee considered the draft report on the Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Bill.

Title Page, Committee Powers and Membership and Table of Contents

The Committee considered the Title Page, Committee Powers and Membership, and Table of Contents as drafted.


Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Title Page, Committee Powers and Membership, and Table of Contents.

 

4.     Any Other Business

 There were no items of business.

 

5.     Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Wednesday 10th November 2021 in Room 30, Parliament Buildings at 10am.

 

 The meeting was adjourned at 10.17am.

Dr Caoímhe Archibald MLA

Chairperson, Committee for the Economy

10th November 2021   

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