Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Speaker's Business

2.1 The Speaker informed the House that he had written to the Speaker of the House of Commons, forwarding the condolences of the Assembly to the family and parliamentary colleagues of Jo Cox MP.

3. Matter of the Day

3.1 Death of Jo Cox MP

Mr David Ford MLA made a statement, under Standing Order 24, in relation to the death of Jo Cox MP. Other Members were also called to speak on the matter.

4. Assembly Business

4.1 Motion – Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Ms Jennifer McCann replace Ms Caitríona Ruane as a member of the Committee for Education. 

Ms C Ní Chuilín
Mr D McAleer

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

4.2 Motion – Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Mr Pat Sheehan replace Mr Barry McElduff as a member of the Committee for Health; and that Mr Barry McElduff replace Mr Pat Sheehan as a member of the Committee on Procedures.

Ms C Ní Chuilín
Mr D McAleer

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

5. Executive Committee Business

5.1 Statement – British Irish Council

The First Minister, Mrs Arlene Foster, made a statement regarding the twenty-sixth summit meeting of the British Irish Council, following which she replied to questions.

5.2 Consideration Stage – Budget (No.2) Bill (NIA Bill 1/16-21)

The Minister of Finance, Mr Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, moved the Consideration Stage of the Budget (No.2) Bill (NIA Bill 1/16-21).

No amendments were tabled to the Bill.

Clauses

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clauses 1 to 8 stand part of the Bill.

Schedules

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Schedules 1 to 4 stand part of the Bill.

Long Title

The question being put, the Long Title was agreed without division.

The Budget (No.2) Bill (NIA Bill 1/16-21) stood referred to the Speaker.

5.3 Motion – The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2016

Proposed:

That the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 be approved.

Minister for Communities

Debate ensued.

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

6. Private Members' Business

6.1 Motion – Landlord Registration Scheme

Proposed:

That this Assembly calls on the Minister for Communities to review urgently the Landlord Registration Scheme to ensure that it can both cope with this unregulated sector and protect tenants.

Mr A Maskey
Mr F McCann

6.2 Amendment

Proposed:

Delete all after "Scheme" and insert:

'and to introduce the regulation of letting agencies in order to ensure that there is sufficient regulation to cope with this unregulated sector and protect tenants.'.

Mr S Dickson
Mrs P Bradshaw

Debate ensued.

The debate was suspended for Question Time.

The Principal Deputy Speaker (Ms Ruane) took the Chair.

7. Question Time

7.1 Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Miss Michelle McIlveen.

7.2 Finance

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

The Deputy Speaker (Mr McGlone) took the Chair.

8. Private Members' Business (cont'd)

8.1 Motion – Landlord Registration Scheme (cont'd)

8.2 Amendment (cont'd)

Debate resumed.

The Question being put, the Amendment was made.

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

8.3 Motion – Proposed Closure of Regional Electoral Offices

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes with concern the proposals from the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland to close regional offices in Ballymena, Banbridge, Londonderry, Newtownabbey, Newtownards and Omagh; believes that this will damage democracy in Northern Ireland, lead to fewer people on the electoral register and to a diminished role for the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland in local schools and communities; and calls on the secretary of state, the Northern Ireland Office and the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland to retain and fund adequately all regional offices currently under threat of closure.

Mr P Frew
Mr S Anderson
Mr T Buchanan
Mrs P Cameron

8.4 Amendment

Proposed:

Delete all after "calls" and insert:

'on the Executive to pursue the transfer of the functions of the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland, including appropriate funding, to ensure local accountability for the provision of electoral services.'.

Mr D McKay
Ms C Archibald
Ms M Boyle
Mr J O'Dowd

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Amendment fell (Division).

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

9. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 5.31pm.

Mr Robin Newton
The Speaker

20 June 2016

Northern Ireland Assembly

20 June 2016

Division

Motion – Proposed Closure of Regional Electoral Offices (Amendment)

Proposed:

Delete all after "calls" and insert:

'on the Executive to pursue the transfer of the functions of the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland, including appropriate funding, to ensure local accountability for the provision of electoral services.'.

Mr D McKay
Ms C Archibald
Ms M Boyle
Mr J O'Dowd

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 35
Noes: 49

AYES

Mr Agnew, Ms Archibald, Mr Attwood, Ms Bailey, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mrs S Bradley, Mr Carroll, Ms Dillon, Mr Durkan, Ms Fearon, Ms Gildernew, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Mr Lynch, Mr McAleer, Mr E McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McElduff, Mr McGrath, Mr McKay, Mr McMullan, Mr McPhillips, Ms Mallon, Mr Maskey, Mr Milne, Mr Mullan, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó Muilleoir, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Ms Ruane, Ms Seeley, Mr Sheehan.

Tellers for the Ayes: Ms Boyle, Mr McKay.

NOES

Mr Aiken, Mr Allister, Mr Anderson, Mrs Barton, Mr Beattie, Mr Beggs, Mr Bell, Ms P Bradley, Ms Bradshaw, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mrs Bunting, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dobson, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hamilton, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mrs Little Pengelly, Ms Lockhart, Mr Logan, Mr Lunn, Mr Lyons, Mr Lyttle, Miss McIlveen, Mr McKee, Mr Middleton, Mr Nesbitt, Ms Palmer, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Smith, Mr Stalford, Mr Storey, Mr Swann, Mr Weir, Mr Wells.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Anderson, Mr Robinson.

The Amendment fell.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 15 – 20 June 2016

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

Report of the Proceedings of the Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) for the Two Years Ended 31 December 2015 (DAERA).

Managing Legal Aid (NIAO).

Contracted Training Programmes (NIAO).

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

S.R. 2016/000 (Draft) The Landlord Registration Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (DfC).

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

Department of Finance Memorandum on the Thirty Sixth Report from the Public Accounts Committee Mandate 2011-2016 (DoF).

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications