Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Executive Committee Business

2.1 Motion – Draft Welfare Supplementary Payment (Benefit Cap) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016

Proposed:

That the draft Welfare Supplementary Payment (Benefit Cap) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 be approved.

Minister for Communities

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Motion on the Draft Welfare Supplementary Payment (Benefit Cap) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016, was carried without division.

3. Committee Business

3.1 Motion – Trustees of the Assembly Members' Pension Scheme

Proposed:

That the following Members are appointed as the Trustees of the Assembly Members' Pension Scheme; Mr Ross Hussey, Mr Trevor Lunn, Mr Richie McPhillips, Ms Caitríona Ruane and Mr Jim Wells.

Mr A Maskey
Mr A Attwood
Mr S Dickson

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

4. Private Members' Business

4.1 Motion – Ending the Separation of Paramilitary Prisoners at HMP Maghaberry

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes that HMP Maghaberry is unique in the British Isles and much of Europe for the challenges it faces as a result of housing prisoners with such opposing political and ideological views, and criminal backgrounds; further notes the continuing implementation of a flawed decision, taken in 2003, to separate paramilitary prisoners, and the impact that this is having on the operation of the prison and on the morale of public servants who live with its consequences; believes that the prison should gradually revert back to its integrationist policy and that this should be reflected in the Executive's Action Plan on Tackling Paramilitary Activity, Criminality, and Organised Crime; and calls on the Minister of Justice to put in place the framework to ensure that, by 2021, there are no new admissions to separate paramilitary wings and that by 2026 there is a fully-integrated prison regime.

Mr D Beattie
Mr R Beggs

4.2 Amendment – Ending the Separation of Paramilitary Prisoners at HMP Maghaberry

Proposed:

Leave out all after 'Maghaberry' and insert:

'is unique on these islands and much of Europe for the challenges it faces as a result of housing prisoners with diverse backgrounds who are subject to different court processes depending on the nature of their charges; recognises that all prisoners and all prison staff must be treated with dignity and respect; believes that there is a need for ongoing and comprehensive prison reform; and calls on the Minister of Justice to work jointly with the planned independent review to examine the operation of the separated regime, evidencing the need for any changes and providing useful information for stakeholders to take forward, as proposed by the report from the Fresh Start Panel on the Disbandment of Paramilitary Groups.'

Mr D Kearney
Ms J McCann
Mr G Kelly
Mr R McCartney

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 1.54pm.

The sitting resumed at 2.00pm, with the Deputy Speaker (Mr McGlone) in the Chair.

5. Question Time

5.1 Justice

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Justice, Ms Claire Sugden.

5.2 Communities

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Communities, Mr Paul Givan.

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

6. Private Members' Business (cont'd)

6.1 Motion: Ending the Separation of Paramilitary Prisoners at HMP Maghaberry (cont'd)

The Question being put, the amendment was made (Division 1).

The Question being put, the motion as amended was carried (Division 2).

6.2 Motion – Addressing Nursing Shortages

Proposed:

That this Assembly acknowledges the ongoing problem of nursing shortages in Northern Ireland; recognises the work carried out by former Health Ministers and Health and Social Care Trusts to address this problem; and calls on the Minister of Health to build on these efforts by working proactively with our colleges and universities to promote nursing as a career choice, and to work collaboratively with the relevant bodies to train and retain more nurses, thus reducing the total spend on agency workers and assisting long-term workforce planning.

Mr S Anderson
Ms P Bradley
Mr G Middleton
Mr T Clarke

4.3 Amendment – Addressing Nursing Shortages

Proposed:

Leave out all after 'ongoing' and insert:

'pressures facing nursing and midwifery staff in Northern Ireland; is concerned about the number of vacant nursing and midwifery posts across each Health and Social Care Trust; acknowledges that staffing shortages have exacerbated pressures in the health system, impacted on the working conditions of staff and affected patient outcomes; and calls on the Minister of Health to work proactively with our colleges and universities to promote nursing and midwifery as a career choice, and to work collaboratively with the relevant bodies to train and retain more nurses and midwives.'

Mr M Dukan
Mr C McGrath
Mr D McCrossan

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the amendment fell (Division 3).

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

5. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 5.44pm.

Mr Robin Newton
The Speaker

24 October 2016

Northern Ireland Assembly

24 October 2016
Division 1

Motion – Ending the Separation of Paramilitary Prisoners at HMP Maghaberry (Amendment)

Proposed:

Leave out all after 'Maghaberry' and insert:

'is unique on these islands and much of Europe for the challenges it faces as a result of housing prisoners with diverse backgrounds who are subject to different court processes depending on the nature of their charges; recognises that all prisoners and all prison staff must be treated with dignity and respect; believes that there is a need for ongoing and comprehensive prison reform; and calls on the Minister of Justice to work jointly with the planned independent review to examine the operation of the separated regime, evidencing the need for any changes and providing useful information for stakeholders to take forward, as proposed by the report from the Fresh Start Panel on the Disbandment of Paramilitary Groups.'

Mr D Kearney
Ms J McCann
Mr G Kelly
Mr R McCartney

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 50
Noes: 15

AYES

Mr Agnew, Ms Archibald, Ms Armstrong, Mr Attwood, Ms Bailey, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Ms S Bradley, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Carroll, Mr Dickson, Ms Dillon, Mr Durkan, Mr Eastwood, Dr Farry, Ms Fearon, Mr Ford, Ms Gildernew, Ms Hanna, Mr Hazzard, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Mrs Long, Mr Lunn, Mr Lynch, Mr Lyttle, Mr McAleer, Mr E McCann, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McCrossan, Mr McElduff, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McMullan, Mr McNulty, Ms Mallon, Mr Maskey, Mr Milne, Mr Mullan, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr Robinson, Ms Seeley, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sugden.

Tellers for the Ayes: Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney.

NOES

Mr Aiken, Mr Allister, Mrs Barton, Mr Beattie, Mr Beggs, Mr Butler, Mr Chambers, Mrs Dobson, Mr Kennedy, Mr McKee, Mr Nesbitt, Mrs Overend, Mrs Palmer, Mr Smith, Mr Swann.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Aiken, Mr Beattie.

The following Members voted in both Lobbies and are therefore not counted in the result:

Mr Anderson, Mr Anderson, Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Ms Bunting, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Frew, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mr Hamilton, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mrs Little Pengelly, Ms Lockhart, Mr Logan, Mr Lyons, Mr McCausland, Miss McIlveen, Mr Middleton, Lord Morrow, Mr Poots, Mr Ross, Mr Stalford, Mr Storey, Mr Weir.

The amendment was made.

Northern Ireland Assembly

24 October 2016
Division 2

Motion – Ending the Separation of Paramilitary Prisoners at HMP Maghaberry (as amended)

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes that HMP Maghaberry is unique on these islands and much of Europe for the challenges it faces as a result of housing prisoners with diverse backgrounds who are subject to different court processes depending on the nature of their charges; recognises that all prisoners and all prison staff must be treated with dignity and respect; believes that there is a need for ongoing and comprehensive prison reform; and calls on the Minister of Justice to work jointly with the planned independent review to examine the operation of the separated regime, evidencing the need for any changes and providing useful information for stakeholders to take forward, as proposed by the report from the Fresh Start panel on the disbandment of paramilitary groups.

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 50
Noes: 15

AYES

Mr Agnew, Ms Archibald, Ms Armstrong, Mr Attwood, Ms Bailey, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Ms S Bradley, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Carroll, Mr Dickson, Ms Dillon, Mr Durkan, Mr Eastwood, Dr Farry, Ms Fearon, Mr Ford, Ms Gildernew, Ms Hanna, Mr Hazzard, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Mrs Long, Mr Lunn, Mr Lynch, Mr Lyttle, Mr McAleer, Mr E McCann, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McCrossan, Mr McElduff, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McMullan, Mr McNulty, Ms Mallon, Mr Maskey, Mr Milne, Mr Mullan, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr Robinson, Ms Seeley, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sugden.

Tellers for the Ayes: Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney.

NOES

Mr Aiken, Mr Allister, Mrs Barton, Mr Beattie, Mr Beggs, Mr Butler, Mr Chambers, Mrs Dobson, Mr Kennedy, Mr McKee, Mr Nesbitt, Mrs Overend, Mrs Palmer, Mr Smith, Mr Swann.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Aiken, Mr Beattie.

The following Members voted in both Lobbies and are therefore not counted in the result:

Mr Anderson, Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Ms Bunting, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Mr Douglas, Mr Easton, Mr Frew, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mr Hamilton, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mrs Little Pengelly, Ms Lockhart, Mr Logan, Mr Lyons, Mr McCausland, Miss McIlveen, Mr Middleton, Lord Morrow, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Stalford, Mr Storey, Mr Weir.

The motion, as amended, carried.

Northern Ireland Assembly

24 October 2016
Division 3

Motion – Addressing Nursing Shortages (Amendment)

Proposed:

Leave out all after 'ongoing' and insert:

'pressures facing nursing and midwifery staff in Northern Ireland; is concerned about the number of vacant nursing and midwifery posts across each Health and Social Care Trust; acknowledges that staffing shortages have exacerbated pressures in the health system, impacted on the working conditions of staff and affected patient outcomes; and calls on the Minister of Health to work proactively with our colleges and universities to promote nursing and midwifery as a career choice, and to work collaboratively with the relevant bodies to train and retain more nurses and midwives.'

Mr M Dukan
Mr C McGrath
Mr D McCrossan

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 34
Noes: 57

AYES

Mr Agnew, Mr Aiken, Mr Allister, Ms Armstrong, Mr Attwood, Ms Bailey, Mrs Barton, Mr Beattie, Mr Beggs, Ms S Bradley, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Butler, Mr Carroll, Mr Chambers, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dobson, Mr Durkan, Dr Farry, Ms Hanna, Mr Kennedy, Mrs Long, Mr E McCann, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McKee, Mr McNulty, Ms Mallon, Mr Mullan, Mr Nesbitt, Mrs Overend, Mrs Palmer, Mr Smith, Mr Swann.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr McGrath, Mr Mullan.

NOES

Mr Anderson, Ms Archibald, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Ms Bunting, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Ms Dillon, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Frew, Ms Gildernew, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hazzard, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Mrs Little Pengelly, Ms Lockhart, Mr Logan, Mr Lynch, Mr Lyons, Mr McAleer, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McCausland, Mr McElduff, Mr McGuigan, Miss McIlveen, Mr McMullan, Mr McQuillan, Mr Maskey, Mr Middleton, Mr Milne, Lord Morrow, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson, Ms Seeley, Mr Sheehan, Mr Stalford, Mr Storey, Ms Sugden, Mr Weir, Mr Wells.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Anderson, Mr Robinson.

The amendment fell.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
19 October 2016 – 24 October 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 on the 2016 Review of the Effects of the Public Service Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DoF).

Retention and Disposal Schedule for Department for Communities (DfC).

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2016/378 The Richmond Crescent, Bangor (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 (DfI).

SR 2016/382 The Church Street/Mullagh Road, Maghera (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 (DfI).

SR 2016/383 The Baronscourt Lane, Carryduff (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 (DfI).

SR 2016/384 The Health and Personal Social Services (Superannuation), Health and Social Care (Pension Schemes) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (DoH).

SR 2016/000 Draft The Water Meters Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (DfI).

For Information Only

SR 2016/379 The Belfast Road, Carrickfergus (Part-Time 20mph Speed Limit) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 (DfI).

SR 2016/380 The Cycle Routes (Amendment No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 (DfI).

SR 2016/381 The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Newtownabbey) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 (DfI).

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications