Minutes of Proceedings

No. 19-11/12

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

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Speaker’s Business

2.1 The Speaker extended condolences, on behalf of the Assembly, to the family of Ms Norma Coulter and her colleagues in the Ulster Unionist Party, following her sudden death. Mr Danny Kennedy responded on behalf of the party.

3. Private Members’ Business

3.1 Motion: Public Procurement

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the importance of ensuring that public money spent on supplies, services and construction works represents value for money and results in investment in society and the environment: and calls on the Minister of Finance and Personnel to forward the recommendations in the previous Committee for Finance and Personnel’s report on its Inquiry into Public Procurement to the Executive for consideration.

Ms J McCann
Mr M McLaughlin
Mr C Murphy

3.2 Amendment

Proposed:

At end insert:

‘; and urges the revision of policy and practice on the use of social clauses in Government procurement, including the introduction of the social clause model developed by the Department for Social Development for housing and regeneration contracts.’

Mr M Durkan
Mr D Bradley

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Amendment was made without division.

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

3.3 Motion: Illegal Fuel Smuggling and Laundering

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes with concern the statistics which reveal that only four custodial sentences have been handed down to people involved in fuel smuggling or laundering in the past ten years; further notes that the estimated annual cost of these practices to the Exchequer is in excess of £200 million; and calls on the Minister of Justice to ensure that the next Justice Bill incorporates tougher sentences and penalties to deal with illegal operators.

Mr W Irwin
Lord Morrow
Mr P Weir

3.4 Amendment

Proposed:

At end insert:

‘; and urges the Minister to examine opportunities for further cross-border and inter-agency cooperation to identify and prosecute a greater number of offenders.’

Mr C Eastwood
Mr D Bradley

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) took the Chair.

The debate was suspended for Question Time.

4. Question Time

4.1 Enterprise, Trade and Investment

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Mrs Arlene Foster.

4.2 Employment and Learning

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Employment and Learning, Dr Stephen Farry.

5. Private Members’ Business (Cont’d)

5.1 Motion: Illegal Fuel Smuggling and Laundering (Cont’d)

Debate resumed on the Motion.

The Question being put, the Amendment was made without division.

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

6. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 4.05pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
3 October 2011

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
28 September - 3 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

Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment - Disposal of Documents Schedule (PRONI)

Land and Property Services - Disposal of Paper Documents (PRONI)

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

(The Department identified after each rule is for reference purposes only)

• S.R. 2011/328 The Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment No.3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 (DOE)
• S.R. 2011/329 The Road Vehicles Lighting (Amendment No.3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 (DOE)
• S.R. 2011/330 The Price Marking (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011 (DETI)
• S.R. 2011/336 The Route F1361 Hawthorn Walk (Footpath), Highfield Heights, Craigavon (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011 (DRD)
• S.R. 2011/337 The Orchard Drive, Portadown (Footway) (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011 (DRD)
• S.R. 2011/340 The Trunk Road T10 (Shannaragh Realignment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011 (DRD)

For Information Only:

• S.R. 2011/323 (C.24) The Civil Registration (2011 Act) (Commencement No.1) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011 (DFP)
• S.R. 2011/333 The Cycle Routes (Amendment No.3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011 (DRD)

• S.R. 2011/334 The Waiting Restrictions (Newry) (No.2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011 (DRD)
• S.R. 2011/335 The Waiting Restrictions (Dungannon) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011 (DRD)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

Guidance on Nuisance Parking and Abandoned Vehicles Legislation (DOE)

Consultation Paper on Implementing EC Regulations 1071/2009, 1072/2009 & 1073/2009 on Road Transport Operations (DOE)

9. Departmental Publications

Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals Northern Ireland 2010 (DHSSPS)

Department for Work and Pensions - Lung Cancer in Coke Oven Workers (DSD)

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011

12. Miscellaneous Publications