Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair.

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Assembly Business

2.1 Motion: Suspension of Standing Order 20(1)

Proposed:

That Standing Order 20(1) be suspended for 16 January 2017.

Mr T Clarke
Ms C Ní Chuilín
Mr R Swann
Mr A Attwood
Mr S Dickson
Mr S Agnew

The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support (No dissenting voices).

2.2 Filling of Vacancies in the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister

The Speaker outlined the procedure for the appointment of the First Minister and deputy First Minister as set out in section 16B (4) to (7) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and Standing Order 44(1).

Lord Morrow of Clogher Valley, the nominating officer for the Democratic Unionist Party, nominated the Rt. Hon Mrs Arlene Foster as First Minister.

The Rt. Hon Mrs Arlene Foster affirmed the terms of the Pledge of Office contained in Schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

Mrs Michelle O'Neill, the nominating officer for Sinn Féin, declined to make a nomination for deputy First Minister.

The Speaker confirmed that the requirements of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 had not been met and that the offices of the First Minister and deputy First Minister must remain vacant.

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Motion: The draft Housing Benefit (Welfare Supplementary Payment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017

Proposed:

That the draft Housing Benefit (Welfare Supplementary Payment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 be approved.

Minister for Communities

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.

The debate was suspended for Question Time.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr McGlone) took the Chair.

4. Question Time

4.1 Finance

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Finance, Mr Máirtín Ó Muilleoir.

4.2 Health

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Health, Mrs Michelle O'Neill.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Kennedy) took the Chair.

5. Executive Committee Business (cont'd)

5.1 Motion: The draft Welfare Supplementary Payment (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017

Proposed:

That the draft Welfare Supplementary Payment (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 be approved.

Minister for Communities

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.

6. Assembly Business (cont'd)

6.1 Motion: Extension of Sitting on Monday 16 January 2017 under Standing Order 10(3A)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 10(3A), the sitting on Monday 16 of January 2017 be extended to no later than 1:00am on Tuesday 17 January 2017.

Mr T Clarke
Ms C Ní Chuilín
Mr R Swann
Mr A Attwood
Mr S Dickson
Mr S Agnew

The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support (No dissenting voices).

7. Executive Committee Business (cont'd)

7.1 Motion: The draft Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017

Proposed:

That the draft Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 be approved.

Minister for the Economy

Debate ensued.

The debate was suspended.

The sitting was suspended at 5.42pm and resumed at 5.58pm.

8. Private Members' Business

8.1 Motion to Delay

Proposed:

That this Assembly, in accordance with Standing Order 16, adjourns the debate on the draft Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 until Monday 23 January 2017.

Mr M Nesbitt

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division

In accordance with Standing Order 9A, the Temporary Speaker (Lord Morrow) took the Chair.

8.2 Motion: No Confidence in the Speaker

Proposed:

That this Assembly has no confidence in the Speaker of the Assembly; believes that his position is untenable as he has compromised the independence and integrity of the Office of Speaker; and calls for his immediate resignation.

Ms C Ní Chuilín
Mr C Murphy
Mr A Maskey
Mr G Kelly

The Motion was not moved.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr McGlone) took the Chair.

The sitting was suspended at 6.48pm and resumed at 7.45pm with the Deputy Speaker (Mr Kennedy) in the Chair.

8.3 Motion: Alcohol-Related Crime

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the proven link between crime and the over-consumption of alcohol; and calls on the Minister of Justice to work on a joint strategy with the Minister of Health that will aim to deliver a targeted outcome of significantly reducing alcohol-related crime.

Mr A Easton
Mr S Douglas

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

9. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 8.42pm.

Mr Robin Newton
The Speaker

16 January 2017

Appendix 1

The Northern Ireland Assembly

The undersigned Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly presented a Petition of Concern, in accordance with Standing Order 28, at 1249pm on Monday 16 January 2017, in relation to the motion of No Confidence in the Speaker:

MR SYDNEY ANDERSON

MR MAURICE BRADLEY

MS PAULA BRADLEY

MR KEITH BUCHANAN

MR TOM BUCHANAN

MS JOANNE BUNTING

MRS PAM CAMERON

MR TREVOR CLARKE

MR SAMMY DOUGLAS

MR GORDON DUNNE

MR ALEX EASTON

MRS ARLENE FOSTER

MR PAUL FREW

MR PAUL GIRVAN

MR PAUL GIVAN

MRS BRENDA HALE

MR SIMON HAMILTON

MR DAVID HILDITCH

MR WILLIAM HUMPHREY

MR WILLIAM IRWIN

MS CARLA LOCKHART

MR PHILLIP LOGAN

MR GORDON LYONS

MR NELSON MCCAUSLAND

MS MICHELLE MCILVEEN

MR ADRIAN MCQUILLAN

MR GARY MIDDLETON

MRS EMMA LITTLE PENGELLY

MR EDWIN POOTS

MR GEORGE ROBINSON

MR ALASTAIR ROSS

MR CHRISTOPHER STALFORD

MR MERVYN STOREY

MR PETER WEIR

MR JIM WELLS

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
20 December 2016 – 16 January 2017

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunal Service – Trust Statement 2015-16 (DoJ).

Maze/Long Kesh Development Corporation Annual Report and Accounts 2015-16 (TEO).

Victims and Survivors Service Limited Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2016 (TEO).

The Northern Ireland Community Relations Council Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2016 (TEO).

The Commission for Victims and Survivors for Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2015-16 (TEO).

Gangmasters Licensing Authority Annual Report and Accounts 2015-2016 (DAERA).

The Northern Ireland Social Security Agency Social Fund Account for the year ended 31 March 2016 (NIAO).

Legislative Consent Memorandum – Criminal Finances Bill (DoJ).

Witness Charter: A Charter for Witnesses of Crime (DoJ).

Legislative Consent Memorandum – Digital Economy Bill (DfE).

Attorney General for Northern Ireland Sixth Annual Report 2015/16 (TEO).

Northern Ireland Social Security Agency Social Fund Account for the year ended 31 March 2016 – Second Version (NIAO).

Funds in Court in Northern Ireland – Statement of Accounts for 2015-2016 (DoJ).

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2016/427 The Mines Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (DfE).

SR 2016/431 The Victim Statement Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (DoJ).

SR 2017/1 The Housing Benefit and State Pension Credit (Temporary Absence) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (DfC).

SR 2017/2 The Air Quality Standards (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (DAERA).

SR 2017/3 The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (DAERA).

SR 2017/7 The Education (Student Support) (No. 2) (Amendment) and Education (Student Loan) (Repayment) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (DfE).

SR 2017/8 The Areas of Natural Constraint Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (DAERA).

SR 2017/9 The Housing Benefit (Executive Determinations) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (DfC).

SR 2017/10 The General Dental Services (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (DoH).

SR 2017/13 The Single Common Market Organisation (Exceptional Adjustment Aid) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (DAERA).

SR 2017/000 Draft The Witness Charter (Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015) Order (Northern Ireland) 2017 (DoJ).

SR 2017/000 Draft The Grants to Water and Sewerage Undertakers Order (Northern Ireland) 2017 (DfI).

SR 2017/000 Draft The Welfare Supplementary Payment (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (DfC).

SR 2017/000 Draft The Housing Benefit (Welfare Supplementary Payment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (DfC).

SR 2017/000 Draft The Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (DfE).

For Information Only

SR 2016/433 The Bus Lanes Orders (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 (DfI).

SR 2016/434 The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Belfast) (Amendment No. 6) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 (DfI).

SR 2016/435 The Waiting Restrictions (Saintfield) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 (DfI).

SR 2016/436 (C.35) The Justice (2015 Act) (Commencement No. 9) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 (DoJ).

SR 2017/5 (C.1) The Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 (Commencement No. 11) Order 2017 (DoJ).

SR 2017/6 (C.2) The Justice (2011 Act) (Commencement No. 10) Order (Northern Ireland) 2017 (DoJ).

SR 2017/11 The Court Judicature (Non-Contentious Probate) Fees (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2017 (DoJ).

SR 2017/12 The Judgment Enforcement Fees (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2017 (DoJ).

SR 2017/14 The Magistrates' Court Fees (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2017 (DoJ).

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Outcome of the December Fisheries Council Meeting (DAERA).

Reform of Financial Assistance for People Infected or Otherwise Infected by Contaminated NHS Blood or Blood products (DoH).

8. Consultation Documents

Proposals for a Pension Schemes Bill: Equality Impact Assessment (DfC).

Environmental Impact Assessment – Joint Technical Consultation (planning changes to regulations on forestry, agriculture, water resources, land drainage and marine works) (DAERA).

Proposals to ban the use of plastic microbeads in cosmetics and personal care products in the UK and call for evidence on other sources of microplastics entering the marine environment (DAERA).

Consultation on a Revision of the Northern Ireland Local Government Code of Conduct for Councillors (DfC).

UK-Wide Consultation on Technical consultation on motor insurance: Consideration of the European Court of Justice ruling in the case of Damijan Vnuk v Zavarovalnica Triglav d.d (C-162/13) (DfI).

The Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017: EIA Amendment Directive Public Consultation (DfI).

Consultation on Regulations Restricting Smoking in Private Vehicles Carrying Children (DoH).

Private Rented Sector in Northern Ireland – Proposals for Change Consultation Document (DfC).

Consultation – Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Knowledge Framework (DAERA).

9. Departmental Publications

Air Pollution in Northern Ireland 2015 (DAERA).

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications