Minutes of Proceedings

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Matter of the Day

2.1 Newry Bomb

Mr Dominic Bradley made a statement, under Standing Order 24, in relation to the Newry Bomb. Party representatives were also called to speak on the matter.

3. Assembly Business

3.1 Use of Electronic Devices in the Chamber

The Speaker delivered a revised ruling on the use of electronic devices in the Chamber.

3.2 Motion - Committee Membership

The following motion stood on the Order Paper in the name of Ms Jennifer McCann.

Proposed:

That Mr Chris Hazzard be appointed as a member of the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development and as a member of the Committee for the Environment.

Ms J McCann

The Motion was not moved.

4. Committee Business

4.1 Motion - Amend Standing Order 26(1)(a)

Proposed:

In Standing Order 26(1)(a) leave out ‘a provision of the Northern Ireland Act 1998’ and insert ‘any statutory provision’

Chairperson, Committee on Procedures

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support nemine contradicente.

4.2 Motion - Amend Standing Order 27

Proposed:

In Standing Order 27, leave out paragraph (1) and insert –

‘(1) Subject to paragraph (1A), the Speaker shall direct that the lobbies be cleared and the division bells sounded if –

(a) the Speaker is unsure whether or not a question is carried following the collection of voices under Standing Order 26; or

(b) the Speaker’s judgement as to whether a question is so carried is challenged.’

Chairperson, Committee on Procedures

The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support nemine contradicente.

4.3 Motion - Amend Standing Order 27(1)

Proposed:

After Standing Order 27(1) insert – 

‘(1A)Where a question is put immediately after the result of a previous division is announced, and paragraph 1(a) or (b) applies –

(a) the Speaker may direct that the lobbies be cleared and the division bells sounded; or

(b) the Speaker may direct that the lobbies be cleared and proceed immediately in accordance with paragraphs (4) to (11)

and in deciding whether to direct that the lobbies be cleared and the division bells sounded under this paragraph, the Speaker shall have regard to any representations made by any party whip.’

Chairperson, Committee on Procedures

The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support nemine contradicente.

4.4 Motion - Amend Standing Order 27(2)

Proposed:

In Standing Order 27(2) line 1 leave out ‘this direction’ and insert –

‘a direction under paragraph (1) or (1A)(a)’

Chairperson, Committee on Procedures

The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support nemine contradicente.

4.5 Motion - Amend Standing Order 76(1)

Proposed:

In Standing Order 76, leave out paragraph (1) and insert –

‘(1) Any determination made by the Assembly under section 47(2A)(a) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 shall be published in full.’

Chairperson, Committee on Procedures

The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support nemine contradicente.

4.6 Motion - Amend Standing Order 76(2)

Proposed:

In Standing Order 76(2) line 1, leave out ‘also’

Chairperson, Committee on Procedures

The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support nemine contradicente.

5. Private Members’ Business

5.1 Motion - Limit to Tax Relief on Charitable Donations

Proposed:

That this Assembly expresses concern at the proposals by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to limit tax relief on large charitable donations; believes that this could have a devastating impact on charities; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to abandon this approach.

Mr P Weir
Mr A Ross
Mr S Hamilton
Mr M Storey

Debate ensued.

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

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

5.2 Motion - The Gathering: An Irish Homecoming

Proposed:

That this Assembly calls on the Executive to support and encourage Tourism Ireland's plans for 'The Gathering: An Irish Homecoming' in 2013, which will promote Ireland as a tourism destination to 70 million people worldwide; and further calls on the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to engage with the Irish Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to ensure that the benefit from these plans is derived on an all-island basis and that the Derry-Londonderry UK City of Culture 2013 celebrations are included as an integral attraction.

Mrs D Kelly
Mr A Maginness
Mr P Ramsey

The debate was suspended for Question Time.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) took the Chair.

6. Question Time

6.1 Agriculture and Rural Development  

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Michelle O’Neill.  

6.2 Finance and Personnel

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Finance and Personnel, Mr Sammy Wilson.

7. Private Members’ Business (Cont’d)

7.1 Motion - The Gathering: An Irish Homecoming (Cont’d)

Debate resumed on the Motion.

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

8. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 4.11pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker

30 April 2012

Northern Ireland Assembly

30 April 2012
Division 1

The Gathering: An Irish Homecoming - Motion

Proposed:

That this Assembly calls on the Executive to support and encourage Tourism Ireland's plans for 'The Gathering: An Irish Homecoming' in 2013, which will promote Ireland as a tourism destination to 70 million people worldwide; and further calls on the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to engage with the Irish Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to ensure that the benefit from these plans is derived on an all-island basis and that the Derry-Londonderry UK City of Culture 2013 celebrations are included as an integral attraction.

Mrs D Kelly
Mr A Maginness
Mr P Ramsey

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 48

Noes: 46

Ayes

Mr Agnew, Ms M Anderson, Mr Attwood, Ms Boyle, Mr D Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Byrne, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Dallat, Mr Dickson, Mr Doherty, Mr Durkan,  Mr Eastwood, Dr Farry, Mr Flanagan, Mr Ford,  
Ms Gildernew, Mr Chris Hazzard, Mrs D Kelly,  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, Mr McKay,  Mr McLaughlin, Mr McMullan, Mr A Maginness, Mr A Maskey, Mr P Maskey, Mr Murphy,  Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mr O’Dowd,  Mrs O’Neill, Mr P Ramsey, Ms S Ramsey,  
Mr Rogers, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Byrne and Mr Rogers.

Noes

Mr Allister, Mr S Anderson, Mr Bell, Ms P Bradley, Ms Brown, Mr Buchanan, Mr Clarke, Mr Craig,  
Mr Cree, Mrs Dobson, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne,  Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew,  Mr Gardiner, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale,  Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey,  Mr Hussey, Mr Irwin,
Mr Kinahan, Mr McCallister, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Mr McGimpsey,  Mr D McIlveen,
Miss M McIlveen, Mr McNarry,  Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray,  Mr Nesbitt, Mrs Overend,
Mr Poots,  Mr G Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Storey, Mr Swann, Mr Weir, Mr Wells, Mr Wilson.

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

The Motion was carried.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
25 - 30 April 2012

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Pensions Bill (As Amended at Further Consideration Stage) NIA Bill 3/11-15

3. Orders in Council

4. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Legislative Consent Memorandum - Finance (No.4) Bill (DFP)

Financial Reporting Advisory Board - Annual Report 2011-2012 (DFP)

Second Legislative Consent Memorandum - Finance (No.4) Bill 2012 (DCAL)

Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service: An inspection of the adequacy of the courts estate (DOJ)

5. Assembly Reports

Review of Judicial Appointments in Northern Ireland (NIA 38/11-15) (Committee for Justice)

6. Statutory Rules

• S.R. 2012/168 The Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DHSSPS)
• S.R. 2012/170 The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DOE)
• S.R. 2012/179 The Control of Asbestos Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DETI)
• S.R. 2012/180 The Food Additives (Amendment) and the Extraction Solvents in Food (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DHSSPS)
• S.R. 2012/181 The Jobseeker's Allowance (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DSD)

For Information Only:

• S.R. 2012/174 The Private Accesses (A8 Belfast to Larne Dual Carriageway (Coleman's Corner to Ballyrickard Road)) Stopping-Up Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DRD)
• S.R 2012/175 The Road Races (North West 200) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DRD)
• S.R. 2012/176 The Diseases of Animals (Importation of Machinery and Vehicles) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DARD)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

Consultation on Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products (DHSSPS)

The Law on Damages (A) Claims for Wrongful Death (B) Bereavement Damages (C) Damages for Gratuitous Care (DFP)

Consultation Paper on the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DOE)

9. Departmental Publications

10.  Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications