Minutes of Proceedings

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2.    Speaker’s Business

2.1     Committee Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson Nominations

The Speaker informed the House that he had received the resignation of Mr Declan McAleer as Chairperson of the Audit Committee, and that the nominating officer of Sinn Féin, Mr Martin McGuinness, had nominated Mr John O'Dowd to fill the vacancy with effect from 6 June 2016.

3.    Assembly Business

3.1     Motion – Suspension of Standing Order 20(1)

Proposed:

That Standing Order 20(1) be suspended for 7 June 2016.

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

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

4.    Opposition Business

4.1     Motion – Early Years Development and Pre-School Childcare

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises that the experience of children in the early years of life has multiple impacts on development, health and educational achievement; believes that there should be a common, cross-departmental approach to funding, inspection, registration and access to child and family support services; calls on the Minister of Education to develop and bring forward an early education and care act and a care and early childhood development strategy with resourced and supported training, qualifications and a professional development strategy for the entire early years workforce; and further calls on the Minister to bring forward proposals for the provision of free pre-school childcare for children aged three and four years to a minimum of 20 hours per week to be in place in the 2016/17 financial year, and for an increase in provision to 30 hours per week from the 2017/18 financial year.

Ms C Hanna
Mr A Attwood
Ms N Mallon

Debate ensued.

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

The Deputy Speaker (Mr McGlone) took the Chair.

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

5.    Private Members’ Business                                      

5.1     Motion – Economic Strategy

Proposed:

That this Assembly calls on the Executive to focus on creating more and better jobs in Northern Ireland and to bring forward an updated economic strategy alongside the new Programme for Government 2016-21.

Mr M Storey
Mr T Buchanan
Mr G Lyons
Mr G Dunne

5.2     Amendment

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘creating’ and insert:

‘high value, highly skilled and highly paid jobs in Northern Ireland and to bring forward an updated economic strategy alongside the new Programme for Government 2016-21, which focuses on achieving a regionally balanced economy.’

Mr C Eastwood
Ms S Bradley
Mr D McCrossan

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 12.58pm.

The sitting resumed at 2.00pm, with the Principal Deputy Speaker (Ms C Ruane) in the Chair.

The Question being put, the Amendment was made.

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

5.3     Motion – Continuing Crisis in Hospital Waiting Times

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the continuing crisis in hospital waiting times with 376,382 people waiting for a first outpatient appointment, diagnostic test or inpatient treatment as of 31 March 2016; further notes that whilst there has been some limited improvement over recent months, the situation remains considerably worse than twelve months previously; expresses deep concern that the number of outpatients waiting longer than the maximum permitted time increased from 15,000 to 100,000, over 500 per cent, during the duration of the last Assembly term; accepts that targets are set in the interests of quality and safety of patient care and that, with every delay, there is a risk of ailments progressing and patients coming to harm; and calls on the Minister of Health to detail what action she proposes to take to address this unprecedented crisis.

Mrs J Dobson
Mr R Butler

Debate ensued.

The Speaker took the Chair.

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

6.    Adjournment

Mr Gordon Lyons spoke to his topic regarding Tourism in East Antrim.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Kennedy) took the Chair.

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 4.32pm.

Mr Robin Newton
The Speaker

7 June 2016

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 7 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

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

For Information Only

S.R. 2016/188 The Social Security (Reciprocal Agreements) Order (Northern Ireland)  2016 (DfC).

S.R. 2016/189 The Social Security (Reciprocal Agreement) (Isle of Man) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 (DfC).

S.R. 2016/195 The Pensions (2015 Act) (Transitional and Transitory Provisions) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 (DfC).

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications