Minutes of Proceedings

No. 05-11/12

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 Damages (Asbestos-Related Conditions) Bill

The Speaker informed the House that, following the withdrawal of the reference to the Supreme Court by the Attorney General for Northern Ireland of the Damages (Asbestos-Related Conditions) Bill, he has written to the Secretary of State to advise him of the withdrawal and to request that arrangements are made for the Bill to receive Royal Assent.

2.2 Public Petition - Reduction of Funding for Down Community Transport

Mr Kieran McCarthy was granted leave, in accordance with Standing Order 22, to present a Public Petition relating to the reduction of funding for Down Community Transport.

3. Committee Business

3.1 Motion - Statutory Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Mr Stewart Dickson replace Mr Trevor Lunn as a member of the Committee for Regional Development.

Mr K McCarthy
Ms Anna Lo

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

4. Private Members’ Business

4.1 Motion - Domestic Violence

Proposed:

That this Assembly calls on the Minister of Justice to ensure that addressing domestic violence is a priority for his Department; and that all the agreed processes and protocols in place are focused on protecting those most at risk.

Mrs P Lewis
Ms P Bradley

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) took the Chair.

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

4.2 Motion - Reform of Government Structures

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the need to reform its structures, including having a requirement for an official opposition to be in place by 2015 to create greater delivery, flexibility and scrutiny; and supports a review of the number of Departments and MLAs, and a restructuring of arm’s-length bodies.

Mr T Elliott
Mr J McCallister

Debate ensued.

The Speaker took the Chair.

The debate was suspended for Question Time.

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. Junior Minister, Mr Jonathan Bell, also answered a number of questions.

5.2 Agriculture and Rural Development

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

6. Private Members’ Business (Cont’d)

6.1 Motion - Reform of Government Structures (Cont’d)

Debate resumed on the Motion.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) took the Chair.

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

7. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 4.20pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
6 June 2011

Northern Ireland Assembly

6 June 2011
Divisions

Division No. 1

Reform of Government Structures - Motion

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the need to reform its structures, including having a requirement for an official opposition to be in place by 2015 to create greater delivery, flexibility and scrutiny; and supports a review of the number of Departments and MLAs, and a restructuring of arm’s-length bodies.

Mr T Elliott
Mr J McCallister

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 57
Noes: 37

Ayes

Mr Agnew, Mr Allister, Mr S Anderson, Ms P Bradley, Mr Buchanan, Mr Campbell, Mr T Clarke, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Copeland, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mr Dickson, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Gardiner, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Hussey, Mr Kennedy, Mr Kinahan, Mrs Lewis, 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 McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Newton, Mrs Overend, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Swann, Mr Weir, Mr Wilson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Nesbitt and Mr Swann.

Noes

Ms M Anderson, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr D Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Byrne, Mr W Clarke, Mr Doherty, Mr Durkan, Mr Eastwood, Mr Flanagan, Ms Gildernew, Mrs D Kelly, Mr Lynch, Mr A Maginness, Mr A Maskey, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McDevitt, Dr McDonnell, Mr McElduff, Mr McGlone, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McKay, Mrs McKevitt, Mr McLaughlin, Mr McMullan, Mr Molloy, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mrs O’Neill, Mr P Ramsey, Ms Ritchie, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr McLaughlin and Mr Sheehan.

The Motion was carried.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
1 - 6 June 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

Retention and Disposal Schedule - Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company

(NITHC) /Translink (DCAL)

5. Assembly Reports

Inquiry into Standing Orders for Principal Deputy Speaker (NIA 3/11-15) (Committee on Procedures)

6. Statutory Rules

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

• S.R. 2011/210 The Environmental Liability (Prevention and Remediation) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 (DOE)
• S.R. 2011/211 Groundwater (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 (DOE)
• S.R. 2011/212 The Pollution Prevention and Control (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 (DOE)

For Information Only:

• S.R. 2011/208 The Rules of the Court of Judicature (Northern Ireland) (Amendment No.2) 2011 (DOJ)
• S.R. 2011/213 (C.11) The Welfare Reform (2010 Act) (Commencement No.3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011 (DSD)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

Northern Ireland Estimates 2011-12 and Statements of Excesses 2009-10 (DFP)

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications