Minutes of Proceedings

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2.    Speaker’s Business

The Speaker informed Members that he had received a letter from Mr Willie Clarke resigning as a Member of the Assembly with effect from Thursday 12 April 2012. The Speaker advised that he had notified the Chief Electoral Officer, in accordance with Section 35 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

3.    Assembly Business

3.1 Motion - Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Mr Alastair Ross replace Mr Sammy Douglas as a member of the Committee for Social Development.

Mr P Weir
Lord Morrow

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

4.    Executive Committee Business

4.1       Statement - Update on the Prison Reform Programme

The Minister of Justice, Mr David Ford, made a statement regarding an Update on the Prison Reform Programme, following which he replied to questions.

4.2       Statement - North-South Ministerial Council meeting in Aquaculture and Marine sectoral format

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Michelle O’Neill, made a statement regarding the North-South Ministerial Council meeting in Aquaculture and Marine sectoral format, following which she replied to questions.         

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) took the Chair.   

4.3       Second Stage - Superannuation Bill (NIA 6/11-15)

The Minister of Finance and Personnel, Mr Sammy Wilson, moved the Second Stage of the Superannuation Bill (NIA 6/11-15).

Debate ensued.

The debate was suspended for Question Time.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) took the Chair.

5.    Question Time

5.1       Environment  

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of the Environment, Mr Alex Attwood.

5.2       Health, Social Services and Public Safety  

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Mr Edwin Poots.

6.    Executive Committee Business (Cont’d)

6.1       Second Stage - Superannuation Bill (NIA 6/11-15) (Cont’d)

Debate resumed on the motion.

Bill (NIA 6/11-15) passed Second Stage (Division 1).

6.2       Motion - Draft Rates (Deferment) (Revocation and Savings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012

Proposed:

That the Draft Rates (Deferment) (Revocation and Savings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 be approved.

Minister of Finance and Personnel

Debate ensued.

The Principal Deputy Speaker (Mr Molloy) took the Chair.

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

6.3       Motion - Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012

Proposed:

That the Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 be approved.

Minister for Social Development

Debate ensued.

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

6.4       Motion - Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers' Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012

Proposed:

That the Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers' Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 be affirmed.

Minister for Social Development

Debate ensued.

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

7.    Private Members’ Business

7.1       Motion - Accident and Emergency Department at the Royal Victoria Hospital

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the unprecedented pressures currently being placed on the Accident and Emergency Department at the Royal Victoria Hospital; notes with concern that staff are working in extremely challenging circumstances and the impact that this has on staff and patients; accepts the recommendation contained in the recent review into the provision of Health and Social Care that the Department should encourage only people in need of emergency treatment to attend accident and emergency departments; and calls on the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to review urgently the services at the Royal Victoria Hospital, to ensure that the necessary permanent staff are employed on an effective and efficient basis to allow the smooth operation of the Accident and Emergency Department.

Mr J McCallister
Mr S Gardiner

Debate ensued.

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 5.47pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker

26 March 2012

Northern Ireland Assembly

26 March 2012
Divisions

Division No. 1

Second Stage: Superannuation Bill (NIA 6/11-15)

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 74
Noes: 12

Ayes 

Mr Allister, Ms M Anderson, Mr S Anderson, Mr Bell, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Ms P Bradley,
Ms Brown, Mr Buchanan, Mr Campbell, Mr T Clarke, Mr W Clarke, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Copeland, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mr Dickson, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Mr Ford,
Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Gardiner, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch,
Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr G Kelly, Mr Kennedy, Mr Kinahan, Ms Lo, Mr Lynch, Mr Lyttle,
Mr McCallister, Ms J McCann, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCartney, Mr McCausland, Mr McClarty,
Mr B McCrea, Mr I McCrea, Mr McElduff, Mr M McGuinness, Miss M McIlveen, Mr McKay,
Mr McLaughlin, Mr McMullan, Mr McQuillan, Mr A Maskey, Mr P Maskey, Mr Molloy, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Murphy, Mr Nesbitt, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mr O’Dowd, Mrs O’Neill, Mr Poots, Ms S Ramsey, Mr G Robinson, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Ms Ruane, Mr Storey,
Mr Swann, Mr Weir, Mr Wilson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr McQuillan and Mr G Robinson.

Noes

Mr Agnew, Mr D Bradley, Mr Byrne, Mr Durkan, Mr Eastwood, Mrs D Kelly, Mr McDevitt,
Dr McDonnell, Mr McGlone, Mrs McKevitt, Mr A Maginness, Mr P Ramsey.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr McDevitt and Mrs McKevitt.

The Second Stage was agreed.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
21 - 26 March 2012

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Budget Act (Northern Ireland) 2012

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3.    Orders in Council

4.    Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Department of Finance and Personnel Minute 20 March 2012, Under Section 8(1) of the Government Resources and Accounts Act (Northern Ireland) 2001, Directing that Accruing Resources may be used for certain purposes for the year ending 31 March 2012 (DFP)

The Northern Ireland Social Security Agency Social Fund Account for the year ended 31 March 2011 (NIAO)

NIEA Regulatory Fees and Charges 2012: (DOE)

•           Pollution Prevention and Control Charging Scheme

•           Radioactive Substances Act Fees and Charging Scheme

•           Water Order Fees and Charging Schemes

•           Waste Management Charging (Northern Ireland) Scheme

•           Marine Licensing Charging Scheme

•           EU Emissions Trading Scheme Charging Scheme

•           Abstraction and Impoundment Licensing (Fees and Charges) Scheme

5.    Assembly Reports

6.    Statutory Rules

• S.R. 2012/133 The Plant Health (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DARD)
• S.R 2012/135 The Criminal Aid Certificates Rules (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DOJ)
• S.R. 2012/136 The Education (Student Loans) (Repayment) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DEL)
• S.R. 2012/140 The Social Security (Suspension of Payment of Benefits and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DSD)

For Information Only:

• S.R. 2012/115 (C.11) The Pensions (2008 Act) (Commencement No.3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DSD)
• S.R. 2012/119 (C.12) The Pensions (2008 No.2 Act) (Commencement No.7) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DSD)
• S.R. 2012/127 The Road Races (Croft Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DRD)
• S.R. 2012/128 The Road Races (Circuit of Ireland International Rally) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DRD)
• S.R. 2012/129 The College Avenue, Belfast (Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DRD)

7.   Written Ministerial Statements

8.    Consultation Documents

9.    Departmental Publications

Invest NI: A Performance Review (NIAO)

10. Agency Publications

11.  Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications