Minutes of Proceedings

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Executive Committee Business

2.1 Statement: A Higher Education Strategy for Northern Ireland

The Minister for Employment and Learning, Dr Stephen Farry, made a statement regarding a Higher Education Strategy for Northern Ireland, following which he replied to questions.

2.2 Further Consideration Stage – Pensions Bill (NIA 3/11-15)

The Minister for Social Development, Mr Nelson McCausland, moved the Further Consideration Stage of the Pensions Bill.

Two amendments were tabled to the Bill.

Clauses

After debate, Amendment 1, inserting new Clause 1A, was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 2 to Clause 19 was negatived without division.

Bill NIA 3/11-15 passed Further Consideration Stage and stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with Section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

3. Private Members’ Business

3.1 Motion – Devolution of Fuel Duty Powers

Proposed:

That this Assembly condemns the forthcoming three pence rise in the cost of fuel; notes that our people pay some of the highest fuel costs in Europe; and calls on the Executive to start negotiations with the British Government regarding the devolution of powers on fuel duty.

Mr D McKay
Mr P Maskey
Mr C Murphy

3.2 Amendment 1

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘Europe;’ and insert:

‘and calls on Her Majesty’s Government to halt its planned fuel duty increase and, due to Northern Ireland’s peripherality within the United Kingdom, to devise and implement a scheme for Northern Ireland similar to the rural fuel duty relief scheme which was recently introduced for the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Northern Isles, the Islands of the Clyde and the Isles of Scilly.’

Mr S Hamilton
Mr A Ross

3.3 Amendment 2

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘Europe;’ and insert:

‘recognises the potentially significant cost to the block grant of devolving fuel duty; and calls on the Executive to lobby Her Majesty’s Government to take action to address high fuel prices in Northern Ireland.’

Mrs S Overend
Mr L Cree
Mr R Beggs

3.4 Amendment 3

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘regarding the’ and insert:

‘establishment of a commission to assess the devolution of further fiscal powers, such as fuel duty, which would enable the Assembly to serve the people of Northern Ireland better.’

Mr D Bradley
Mr C McDevitt
Mr A Maginness

The sitting was suspended at 12.28pm.

The sitting resumed at 2.00pm with the Principal Deputy Speaker (Mr Molloy) in the Chair.

4. Question Time

4.1 Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister

Questions were put to, and answered by, the First Minister, Mr Peter Robinson. The junior Minister, Mr Jonathan Bell, also answered a number of questions.

4.2 Enterprise, Trade and Investment

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

5. Private Members’ Business (Cont’d)

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) in the Chair.

Debate resumed on the motion.

The Question being put, Amendment No.1 was made (Division 1).

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

6. Adjournment

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) took the Chair.

Mr Cathal Boylan spoke to his topic on the progress of the East and West link road projects in Armagh City.

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 5.19pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
24 April 2012

Northern Ireland Assembly

24 April 2012
Division 1

Devolution of Fuel Duty Powers – Amendment 1

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘Europe;’ and insert:

‘and calls on Her Majesty’s Government to halt its planned fuel duty increase and, due to Northern Ireland’s peripherality within the United Kingdom, to devise and implement a scheme for Northern Ireland similar to the rural fuel duty relief scheme which was recently introduced for the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Northern Isles, the Islands of the Clyde and the Isles of Scilly.’

Mr S Hamilton
Mr A Ross

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 51

Noes: 33

Ayes

Mr Allister, Mr S Anderson, Mr Beggs, Mr Bell, Ms P Bradley, Ms Brown, Mr Buchanan, Mr Clarke, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mrs Dobson, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kennedy, Mr Kinahan, Ms Lo, Mr Lunn, Mr Lyttle, Mr McCallister, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCausland, Mr McClarty, Mr B McCrea, Mr I McCrea, Mr McGimpsey, Mr D McIlveen, Miss M McIlveen, Mr Moutray, Mr Nesbitt, Mrs Overend, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Storey, Mr Swann, Mr Weir, Mr Wells.

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

Noes

Mr Agnew, Ms M Anderson, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr D Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Durkan, Mr Eastwood, Ms Gildernew, Mr G Kelly, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McDevitt, Dr McDonnell, Mr McElduff, Mr McGlone, Mr McKay, Mrs McKevitt, Mr McLaughlin, Mr McMullan, Mr A Maginness, Mr A Maskey, Mr P Maskey, Mr Molloy, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mr O’Dowd, Mr P Ramsey, Ms S Ramsey, Mr Rogers, Ms Ruane.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Boylan and Mr Brady.

The amendment was made.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
24 April 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

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

S.R. 2012/172 The Trunk Road T9 (Coleman's Corner to Ballyrickard Road) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DRD)

S.R. 2012/173 The Whole of Government Accounts (Designation of Bodies) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DFP)

Draft S.R. 2012 Local Government (Boundaries) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DOE)

For Information Only:

S.R. 2012/171 The Road Races (Drumhorc Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DRD)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

Belfast Rapid Transit - Public Consultation Report (DRD)

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

Northern Ireland Assembly Legislation:

Stages in Consideration of Public Bills

First Stage: Introduction of Bill.

Second Stage: General debate of the Bill with an opportunity for Members to vote on its general principles.

Committee Stage (Comm. Stage): Detailed investigation by a Committee which concludes with the publication of a report for consideration by the Assembly.

Consideration Stage (CS): Consideration by the Assembly of, and an opportunity for Members to vote on, the details of the Bill including amendments proposed to the Bill.

Further Consideration Stage (FCS): Consideration by the Assembly of, and an opportunity for Members to vote on, further amendments to the Bill.

Final Stage: Passing or rejecting of Bill by the Assembly, without further amendment.

Royal Assent.

Proceedings as at 24 April 2012

2011-2015 Mandate
Executive Bills

2011-2015 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills

/ Bill progressing by accelerated passage