Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at 10.30am, the Principal Deputy Speaker (Ms Ruane) in the Chair.

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Executive Committee Business

2.1 Motion: Draft Food Hygiene Rating (Fee and Fixed Penalty Amount) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016

Proposed:

That the draft Food Hygiene Rating (Fee and Fixed Penalty Amount) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 be approved.

Minister of Health

Debate ensued.

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

3. Private Members' Business

3.1 First Stage: Abortion (Fatal Foetal Abnormality) Bill (NIA Bill 03/16-21)

Mr David Ford introduced a Bill to make provision to decriminalise medical termination of a pregnancy in those circumstances where the foetus is diagnosed with a fatal abnormality.

The Abortion (Fatal Foetal Abnormality) Bill (NIA Bill 03/16-21) passed First Stage and ordered to be printed.

3.2 Motion: Social Investment Fund

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the deep public concern regarding the formation, implementation and operation of the Social Investment Fund; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to commission an independent review of the operation of the entire Social Investment Fund process, taking particular account of the role of lead partners in this process and the impact that this role has had on good governance.

Mrs N Long
Dr S Farry
Mr S Dickson
Mr D Ford

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Motion fell (Division 1).

3.3 Motion: Covenant Reference Group

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the need to deliver for the veterans' community in Northern Ireland; and calls on the Executive to nominate a Northern Ireland representative to the UK-wide Armed Forces Covenant Reference Group, who will be responsible for ensuring that the Executive is kept updated of issues relating to the veterans' community in Northern Ireland.

Mr D Beattie [R]
Mr A Allen [R]
Mr S Aiken [R]

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr McGlone) took the Chair.

The Question being put, the Motion was carried (Division 2).

The sitting was suspended at 1.47pm.

The sitting resumed at 2.00pm, with the Speaker in the Chair.

4. Question Time

4.1 Economy

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for the Economy, Mr Simon Hamilton.

4.2 Education

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Education, Mr Peter Weir.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Kennedy) took the Chair.

5. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

Mr Philip McGuigan spoke to his topic regarding the Proposed Closure of Bushmills Outdoor Education Centre.

The Assembly adjourned at 4.34pm.

Mr Robin Newton
The Speaker

6 December 2016

Northern Ireland Assembly

6 December 2016
Division 1

Motion: Social Investment Fund

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the deep public concern regarding the formation, implementation and operation of the Social Investment Fund; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to commission an independent review of the operation of the entire Social Investment Fund process, taking particular account of the role of lead partners in this process and the impact that this role has had on good governance.

Mrs N Long
Dr S Farry
Mr S Dickson
Mr D Ford

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 38
Noes: 53

AYES

Mr Agnew, Mr Aiken, Mr Allen, 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 Eastwood, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Ms Hanna, Mr Kennedy, Mrs Long, Mr Lunn, Mr Lyttle, Mr E McCann, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McKee, Mr McNulty, Mr McPhillips, Ms Mallon, Mr Mullan, Mrs Overend, Mrs Palmer, Mr Smith, Mr Swann.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Dickson, Mr Lunn.

NOES

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

Tellers for the Noes: Mr McGuigan, Mr Robinson.

The motion fell.

Northern Ireland Assembly

6 December 2016
Division 2

Motion: Covenant Reference Group

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the need to deliver for the veterans' community in Northern Ireland; and calls on the Executive to nominate a Northern Ireland representative to the UK-wide Armed Forces Covenant Reference Group, who will be responsible for ensuring that the Executive is kept updated of issues relating to the veterans' community in Northern Ireland.

Mr D Beattie [R]
Mr A Allen [R]
Mr S Aiken [R]

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 58
Noes: 20

AYES

Mr Agnew, Mr Aiken, Mr Allen, Mr Allister, Mr Anderson, Ms Armstrong, Ms Bailey, Mrs Barton, Mr Beattie, Mr Beggs, Mr Bell, Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Ms Bradshaw, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Ms Bunting, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dobson, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mr Frew, Mr Girvan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hamilton, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kennedy, Mrs Little Pengelly, Ms Lockhart, Mr Logan, Mrs Long, Mr Lunn, Mr Lyons, Mr Lyttle, Mr McCausland, Miss McIlveen, Mr McKee, Mr McQuillan, Mr Middleton, Lord Morrow, Mr Nesbitt, Mrs Overend, Mrs Palmer, Mr Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Smith, Mr Stalford, Mr Storey, Mr Swann, Mr Wells.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Aiken, Mr Beattie.

NOES

Ms Archibald, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Ms Dillon, Ms Gildernew, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Mr Lynch, Mr McAleer, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McElduff, Mr McGuigan, Mr McMullan, Mr Maskey, Mr Milne, Mr Murphy, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr Sheehan.

Tellers for the Noes: Ms Archibald, Ms Dillon.

The motion was carried.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
6 December 2016

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Abortion (Fatal Foetal Abnormality) Bill (NIA Bill 03/16-21)

3. Orders in Council

4. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

19th Report of the Financial Reporting Advisory Board for the period April 2015 to March 2016 (DoF).

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2016/420 The Railways Infrastructure (Access, Management and Licensing of Railway Undertakings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (DfI).

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Introduction of Universal Credit in Northern Ireland (DfC).

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

Greater Clarendon (Sailortown) Masterplan Report (DfC).

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

Northern Ireland Assembly Legislation:

Stages in Consideration of Public Bills

First Stage: Introduction of Bill.

Second Stage: General debate of the Bill with an opportunity for Members to vote on its general principles.

Committee Stage (Comm. Stage): Detailed investigation by a Committee which concludes with the publication of a report for consideration by the Assembly.

Consideration Stage (CS): Consideration by the Assembly of, and an opportunity for Members to vote on, the details of the Bill including amendments proposed to the Bill.

Further Consideration Stage (FCS): Consideration by the Assembly of, and an opportunity for Members to vote on, further amendments to the Bill.

Final Stage: Passing or rejecting of Bill by the Assembly, without further amendment.

Royal Assent.

Proceedings as at 6 December 2016

2016-2021 Mandate
Executive Bills

2016-2021 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills