Minutes of Proceedings

No. 28-11/15

The Assembly met at 10.30am, Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) in the Chair.

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Private Members’ Business

2.1 Motion - Murder of Pat Finucane (vote on the motion and amendment without debate)

The motion and the amendment were debated on 7 November 2011. A valid Petition of Concern was presented under Standing Order 28 on 7 November 2011 in relation to the motion and amendment. The votes on the motion and amendment were taken on 8 November 2011 .

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the British Government’s acceptance that there was collusion by the Army, the RUC and the Security Service in the murder of Pat Finucane; recognises that accepting collusion is not sufficient in itself and that the public now needs to know the extent and nature of that collusion; and calls on the British Government to honour the binding commitment, made by the then British and Irish Governments in the Weston Park Agreement, by establishing a judicial inquiry, as recommended by Judge Cory in 2004, with the power to compel witnesses to give evidence under oath.

Ms M Ritchie
Mr A Maginness
Mr C Eastwood

2.2 Amendment

Proposed:

At end insert:

‘; and further calls on the British Government to establish this judicial inquiry within the next three months.’

Mr M McLaughlin
Mr G Kelly
Mr R McCartney

The Question being put, the Amendment fell on a cross-community basis (Division 1).

The Question being put, the Motion was negatived on a cross-community basis (Division 2).

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Statement - Dementia Services in Northern Ireland

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Mr Edwin Poots, made a statement regarding Dementia Services in Northern Ireland, following which he replied to questions.

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

4. Private Members’ Business (Cont’d)

4.1 Motion - Review of Planning Enforcement

Proposed:

That this Assembly calls on the Minister of the Environment to carry out a review of planning enforcement.

Mr J Wells
Mr P Weir
Mr A Easton

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 12.29pm.

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

5. Question Time

5.1 Health, Social Services and Public Safety

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Mr Edwin Poots.

5.2 Justice

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Justice, Mr David Ford.

6. Private Members’ Business (Cont’d)

6.1 Motion - Review of Planning Enforcement (Cont’d)

Debate resumed on the Motion.

The Speaker took the Chair.

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

6.2 Motion - Education and Skills Authority

Proposed:

That this Assembly calls on the Minister of Education to bring forward legislation to establish the Education and Skills Authority within this Assembly session.

Mr T Lunn
Ms A Lo
Mr C Lyttle
Mrs J Cochrane

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) took the Chair.

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

7. Adjournment

Mr Conor Murphy spoke to his topic on Ambulance cover in Newry and Armagh.

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 5.16pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
8 November 2011

Northern Ireland Assembly

8 November 2011
Divisions

Division No. 1

Murder of Pat Finucane - Amendment

Proposed:

At end insert:

‘; and further calls on the British Government to establish this judicial inquiry within the next three months.’

Mr M McLaughlin
Mr G Kelly
Mr R McCartney

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 37
Noes: 55

Ayes

Nationalist

Ms M Anderson, Mr Attwood, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr D Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Byrne, Mr W Clarke, Mr Durkan, Mr Eastwood, Mr Flanagan, Ms Gildernew, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Mr Lynch, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McDevitt, Dr McDonnell, Mr McElduff, Mr McGlone, Mrs McKevitt, 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, Ms S Ramsey, Ms Ritchie, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan.

Other

Mr Agnew.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr P Maskey and Mr McCartney.

Noes

Unionist

Mr S Anderson, Mr Bell, Ms P Bradley, Mr Buchanan, Mr Campbell, Mr T Clarke, Mr Copeland, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mrs Dobson, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Mr Frew, Mr Gardiner, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Hussey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kennedy, Mr Kinahan, Ms Lewis, Mr McCallister, Mr McClarty, Mr B McCrea, 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 Ross, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Swann, Mr Weir, Mr Wells, Mr Wilson.

Other

Mrs Cochrane, Mr Dickson, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Ms Lo, Mr Lunn, Mr Lyttle, Mr McCarthy.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Givan and Mr Ross.

The Amendment fell (cross-community vote).

Northern Ireland Assembly

8 November 2011
Divisions

Division No. 2

Murder of Pat Finucane - Motion

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the British Government’s acceptance that there was collusion by the Army, the RUC and the Security Service in the murder of Pat Finucane; recognises that accepting collusion is not sufficient in itself and that the public now needs to know the extent and nature of that collusion; and calls on the British Government to honour the binding commitment, made by the then British and Irish Governments in the Weston Park Agreement, by establishing a judicial inquiry, as recommended by Judge Cory in 2004, with the power to compel witnesses to give evidence under oath.

Ms M Ritchie
Mr A Maginness
Mr C Eastwood

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 45
Noes: 46

Ayes

Nationalist

Ms M Anderson, Mr Attwood, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr D Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Byrne, Mr W Clarke, Mr Durkan, Mr Eastwood, Mr Flanagan, Ms Gildernew, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Mr Lynch, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McDevitt, Dr McDonnell, Mr McElduff, Mr McGlone, Mrs McKevitt, 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, Ms S Ramsey, Ms Ritchie, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan.

Other

Mr Agnew, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Dickson, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Ms Lo, Mr Lunn, Mr Lyttle, Mr McCarthy.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Durkan and Mr McDevitt.

Noes

Unionist

Mr S Anderson, Mr Bell, Ms P Bradley, Mr Buchanan, Mr Campbell, Mr T Clarke, Mr Copeland, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mrs Dobson, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Mr Frew, Mr Gardiner, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Hussey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kennedy, Mr Kinahan, Ms Lewis, Mr McCallister, Mr McClarty, Mr B McCrea, 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 Ross, Mr Storey, Mr Swann, Mr Weir, Mr Wells, Mr Wilson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Givan and Mr Ross.

The Motion was negatived (cross-community vote).

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
8 November 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

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

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

• S.R. 2011/384 The Plant Health (Import Inspection Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 (DARD)
• S.R. 2011/385 Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 (DOE)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications