Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2011/2012
Date: 10 October 2011
Venue: Assembly Chamber
No. 21-11/12
The Assembly met at noon, the Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) in the Chair.
1. Personal Prayer or Meditation
Members observed two minutes’ silence.
2. Executive Committee Business
2.1 Statement - North South Ministerial Council meeting in Education Sectoral Format
The Minister of Education, Mr John O’Dowd, made a statement regarding the North South Ministerial Council meeting in Education sectoral format, held on 21 September 2011, following which he replied to questions.
The Speaker took the Chair.
2.2 Statement - Londonderry to Coleraine Railway Line
The Minister for Regional Development, Mr Danny Kennedy, made a statement regarding the Londonderry to Coleraine Railway Line, following which he replied to questions.
3. Committee Business
3.1 Motion - Prayer of Annulment S.R. 2011/293
Proposed:
That the Housing Benefit (Amendment No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 (S.R. 2011/293) be annulled.
Chairperson, Committee for Social Development
The Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) took the Chair.
Debate ensued.
The Speaker took the Chair.
The debate was suspended for Question Time.
4. Speaker’s Business
The Speaker made some remarks in relation to a serious challenge to the authority of the Chair.
5. Question Time
5.1 Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister
Questions were put to, and answered by, the First Minister, Rt Hon Peter Robinson. The junior Minister, Mr Jonathan Bell, also answered a number of questions.
5.2 Finance and Personnel
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Finance and Personnel, Mr Sammy Wilson.
6. Committee Business (Cont’d)
6.1 Motion - Prayer of Annulment S.R. 2011/293 (Cont’d)
Debate resumed on the Motion.
The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) took the Chair.
The Question being put, the Motion was negatived (Division 1).
6.2 Motion - Review of the Initial Ministerial Provision - Minister of Justice
Proposed:
That, pursuant to Standing Order 59(4)(b), this Assembly refers to the Assembly and Executive Review Committee the matter of a review of the Initial Ministerial Provision in relation to the Department of Justice; and agrees that the Committee should make recommendations relating to the provision that should exist from 1 May 2012.
Chairperson, Committee for Assembly and Executive Review
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
7. Private Members’ Business
7.1 Motion - Safeguarding Water and Heating Supplies
Proposed:
That this Assembly calls on the Minister for Social Development to put in place measures to safeguard water and heating supplies and repair services in anticipation of severe weather conditions; and to work closely with the Minister for Regional Development in preparation for the winter period.
Mr F McCann
Mr S Lynch
Mr P Doherty
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
7.2 Motion - Dealing with the Past
Proposed:
That this Assembly calls on the Secretary of State to convene talks between the political parties to broker an agreement on how to deal with the legacy of the past.
Mr C Lyttle
Mr S Dickson
Mr T Lunn
Ms A Lo
7.3 Amendment
Proposed:
Leave out all after ‘political parties’ and insert:
‘ and, working with the Irish Government, to identify and agree mechanisms to address the legacy of the past informed by the needs and requirements of victims; and to have regard to the views of the Commission for Victims and Survivors, the Consultative Group on the Past and others’.
Mr C Eastwood
Mrs D Kelly
Mr A Maginness
Mr C McDevitt
Debate ensued.
The Speaker took the Chair.
The Question being put, the Amendment fell (Division 2).
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
8. Adjournment
Proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
The Speaker
The Assembly adjourned at 6.52pm.
Mr William Hay
The Speaker
10 October 2011
Northern Ireland Assembly
10 October 2011
Divisions
Division No. 1
Prayer of Annulment S.R. 2011/293 - Motion
Proposed:
That the Housing Benefit (Amendment No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 (S.R. 2011/293) be annulled.
Chairperson, Committee for Social Development
The Question was put and the Assembly divided.
Ayes: 34
Noes: 55
Ayes
Ms M Anderson, Ms Boyle, Mr D Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Byrne, Mr W Clarke, Mr Doherty, Mr Durkan, Mr Flanagan, Ms Gildernew, Mr G Kelly, Mr Lynch, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McDevitt, Dr McDonnell, Mr McElduff, Mr McGlone, Mr McKay, Mrs McKevitt, Mr McLaughlin, Mr McMullan, Mr A Maginness, Mr A Maskey, Mr P Maskey, Mr Murphy, Ms N í Chuil ín, Mr O ’Dowd, Mrs O ’Neill, Ms S Ramsey, Ms Ritchie, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan.
Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Brady and Mr F McCann.
Noes
Mr Allister, Mr S Anderson, Mr Bell, Ms P Bradley, Mr Buchanan, Mr Campbell, Mr T Clarke, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Copeland, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dobson, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mr Frew, Mr Gardiner, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Hussey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kinahan, Ms Lo, Mr Lunn, Mr Lyttle, Mr McCallister, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCausland, Mr B McCrea, Mr I McCrea, Mr McGimpsey, Mr D McIlveen, Miss M McIlveen, Mr McNarry, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Newton, Mrs Overend, Mr Poots, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Swann, Mr Weir, Mr Wells.
Tellers for the Noes: Mr T Clarke and Mr Spratt.
The Motion was negatived.
Northern Ireland Assembly
10 October 2011
Divisions
Division No. 2
Dealing with the Past - Amendment
Proposed:
Leave out all after ‘political parties’ and insert:
‘ and, working with the Irish Government, to identify and agree mechanisms to address the legacy of the past informed by the needs and requirements of victims; and to have regard to the views of the Commission for Victims and Survivors, the Consultative Group on the Past and others’.
Mr C Eastwood
Mrs D Kelly
Mr A Maginness
Mr C McDevitt
The Question was put and the Assembly divided.
Ayes: 41
Noes: 42
Ayes
Ms M Anderson, Mr Attwood, Ms Boyle, Mr D Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Byrne, Mr W Clarke, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Dickson, Mr Doherty, Mr Durkan, Dr Farry, Mr Flanagan, Mr Ford, Ms Gildernew, Mr G Kelly, Ms Lo, Mr Lunn, Mr Lynch, Mr Lyttle, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCartney, Mr McDevitt, Dr McDonnell, Mr McElduff, Mr McGlone, Mrs McKevitt, Mr McLaughlin, Mr McMullan, Mr A Maginness, Mr P Maskey, Mr Murphy, Ms N í Chuil ín, Mr O ’Dowd, Mrs O ’Neill, Ms S Ramsey, Ms Ritchie, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan.
Tellers for the Ayes: Mr D Bradley and Mr Durkan.
Noes
Mr Allister, Mr S Anderson, Mr Beggs, Mr Bell, Ms P Bradley, Mr Buchanan, Mr Campbell, Mr T Clarke, Mr Craig, Mrs Dobson, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Mr Frew, Mr Gardiner, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hamilton, Mr Humphrey, Mr Hussey, Mr Irwin, Mr McCallister, Mr McCausland, Mr B McCrea, Mr I McCrea, Mr D McIlveen, Miss M McIlveen, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Newton, Mrs Overend, Mr Poots, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Swann, Mr Weir, Mr Wells.
Tellers for the Noes: Mr Irwin and Mr Nesbitt.
The Amendment fell.
Northern Ireland Assembly
Papers Presented to the Assembly on
5 - 10 October 2011
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
The Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council for Nursing and Midwifery Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2011 (NIAO)
Loughs Agency Annual Report & Accounts 2008 (Loughs Agency)
Loughs Agency Annual Report & Accounts 2009 (Loughs Agency)
Report on an unannounced short follow-up inspection of Hydebank Wood Young Offenders Centre 21-25 March 2011 (DOJ)
Report on an unannounced short follow-up inspection of Hydebank Wood Women's Prison 21-25 March 2011 (DOJ)
5. Assembly Reports
6. Statutory Rules
(The Department identified after each rule is for reference purposes only)
- S.R. 2011/331 The Weights and Measures (Packages Goods) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 (DETI)
- S.R. 2011/338 The Housing Executive (Indemnities for Members and Officers) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011 (DSD)
- S.R. 2011/339 The Homeless Persons Advice and Assistance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 (DSD)
- S.R. 2011/341 The Dogwood Walk Footpath, Route F1386, Craigavon (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011 (DRD)
- S.R. 2011/342 The Old Mill Heights, Millbrook, Larne (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011 (DRD)
- S.R. 2011/343 The Footpath between Ballymacash Road and Prince William Road, Lisburn (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011 (DRD)
- S.R. 2011/349 Cattle Identification (Notification of Births, Deaths and Movements) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 (DARD)
- S.R. 2011/351 The Seed Potatoes (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 (DARD)
- S.R. 2011/352 The Plant Health (Amendment No.3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011 (DARD)
- S.R. 2011/356 The Social Security (Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance and Carer's Allowance) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 (DSD)
- S.R. 2011/357 The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 (DSD)
7. Written Ministerial Statements
8. Consultation Documents
Further Public Consultation on Revised Proposals for the Introduction of Changes to Animal Disease Compensation Arrangements for Bovine Tuberculosis and Brucellosis (DARD)
Consultation on the Zoonoses (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DARD)
