Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2011/2012
Date: 30 January 2012
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 Public Petition - Future of Bangor Central Integrated Primary School
Mr Stephen Agnew was granted leave, in accordance with Standing Order 22, to present a Public Petition relating to the future of Bangor Central Integrated Primary School.
3. Private Members’ Business
3.1 Motion - Tenancy Deposit Scheme
Proposed:
That this Assembly recognises the safeguards which Tenancy Deposit Schemes offer to landlords and tenants within the private rented sector; expresses concern that many landlords often make unjustified deductions or are slow to return deposits at the end of a tenancy, particularly for tenants living in student accommodation; and calls on the Minister for Social Development to urgently bring forward his plans to introduce a mandatory Tenancy Deposit Scheme which would safeguard tenants' deposits and provide a fair and effective mechanism to resolve disputes.
Mr M Copeland
Mr J McCallister
3.2 Amendment
Proposed:
After ‘Social Development’ insert:
‘ to consider the workings of the Private Residential Tenancies Board, which is based in Dublin, as a potential way forward for dealing with unscrupulous landlords who cheat their tenants out of deposits; and ’
Mr F McCann
Mr M Brady
Mr A Maskey
Debate ensued.
The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) took the Chair.
The Question being put, the Amendment fell without division.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
The Speaker took the Chair.
3.3 Motion - Marian Price
Proposed:
That this Assembly notes with concern the continuing detention of Marian Price in Maghaberry Prison, by reason of the Secretary of State's decision to revoke her licence; further notes her on-going medical and social needs; believes that reliable evidence and the necessary process should govern judicial and quasi-judicial actions; and calls on the Minister of Justice to engage with the Secretary of State on the reasons for the revocation of her licence, and for her detention, by reason of the Secretary of State's decision, to be reviewed urgently.
Mr P Ramsey
Mr C McDevitt
Mr A Maginness
Debate ensued.
The debate was suspended for Question Time.
4. Question Time
4.1 Agriculture and Rural Development
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Michelle O’Neill.
4.2 Culture, Arts and Leisure
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Ms Caral Ní Chuilín.
5. Private Members’ Business (Cont’d)
5.1 Motion - Marian Price (Cont’d)
Debate resumed on the Motion.
The Question being put, the Motion was negatived (Division 1).
The Principal Deputy Speaker (Mr Molloy) took the Chair.
6. Adjournment
Ms Margaret Ritchie spoke to her topic on Tourism development in the South Down area, in particular St Patrick’s Country and the Early Christian Heritage Signature Project.
Proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
The Speaker
The Assembly adjourned at 4.57pm.
Mr William Hay
The Speaker
30 January 2012
Northern Ireland Assembly
30 January 2012
Divisions
Division No. 1
Marian Price - Motion
Proposed:
That this Assembly notes with concern the continuing detention of Marian Price in Maghaberry Prison, by reason of the Secretary of State's decision to revoke her licence; further notes her on-going medical and social needs; believes that reliable evidence and the necessary process should govern judicial and quasi-judicial actions; and calls on the Minister of Justice to engage with the Secretary of State on the reasons for the revocation of her licence, and for her detention, by reason of the Secretary of State's decision, to be reviewed urgently.
The Question was put and the Assembly divided.
Ayes: 37
Noes: 54
Ayes
Ms M Anderson, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr D Bradley, Mr Byrne, Mr W Clarke, Mr Dallat,
Mr Doherty, Mr Durkan, Mr Eastwood, Mr Flanagan, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Mr Lynch,
Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McDevitt, Dr McDonnell, Mr McGlone,
Mr M McGuinness, Mrs McKevitt, Mr McLaughlin, Mr McMullan, Mr A Maginness, Mr A Maskey, Mr P Maskey, Mr Molloy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mr O’Dowd, Mrs O’Neill, Mr P Ramsey,
Ms S Ramsey, Ms Ritchie, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan.
Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Durkan and Mr McDevitt.
Noes
Mr Allister, Mr S Anderson, Mr Beggs, Mr Bell, Ms P Bradley, Mr Buchanan, Mr Campbell,
Mr T Clarke, Mr Copeland, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dobson, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mrs Foster, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kennedy, Mr Kinahan, Ms Lewis, Ms Lo, Mr Lunn,
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, Mr G Robinson, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Spratt, Mr Swann, Mr Weir, Mr Wells, Mr Wilson.
Tellers for the Noes: Mr T Clarke and Mr Nesbitt.
The Motion was negatived.
Northern Ireland Assembly
Papers Presented to the Assembly on
25 - 30 January 2012
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
Retention and Disposal Schedule for the Office of the Northern Ireland Certification Officer (DCAL)
Retention and Disposal Schedule for the Office of the Northern Ireland Ombudsman and Office of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints (DCAL)
5. Assembly Reports
6. Statutory Rules
(The Department identified after each rule is for reference purposes only)
- S.R. 2012/10 The Local Government (Constituting Joint Committees as Bodies Corporate) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DOE)
- S.R. 2012/12 Plant Protection Products (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DARD)
For Information Only:
7. Written Ministerial Statements
8. Consultation Documents
Consultation on Proposed Amendments to the Tribunal Procedure (Upper Tribunal) Rules 2008 (Tribunal Procedure Committee)
9. Departmental Publications
DFP Memorandum on the First Report from the Public Accounts Committee Mandate 2011-2015 (DFP)
