Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at noon, the Principal Deputy Speaker (Mr McLaughlin) in the Chair.

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Executive Committee Business

2.1 Statement – Recent visit to China

The deputy First Minister, Mr Martin McGuinness, made a statement regarding the recent visit to China, following which he replied to questions.

2.2 First Stage – Carrier Bags Bill (NIA 20/11-15)

The Minister of the Environment, Mr Alex Attwood, introduced a Bill to amend the Climate Change Act 2008 to confer powers to make provision about charging for carrier bags; and for connected purposes.
The Carrier Bag Bill (NIA 20/11-15) passed First Stage and ordered to be printed.

The Speaker took the Chair.

3. Private Members' Business

3.1 Final Stage: Civil Service (Special Advisers) Bill (NIA 12/11-15)

Mr Jim Allister, moved that the Final Stage of the Civil Service (Special Advisers) Bill (NIA 12/11-15) do now pass.

Debate ensued.

The debate was suspended for Question Time.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) took the Chair.

4. Question Time

4.1 Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister

Questions were put to, and answered by, the deputy First Minister, Mr Martin McGuinness. The junior Minister, Ms Jennifer McCann, 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.

The Speaker took the Chair.

5. Private Members' Business (Cont'd)

5.1 Final Stage: Civil Service (Special Advisers) Bill (NIA 12/11-15)

Debate resumed on the Bill.

The debate stood suspended.

6. Assembly Business

6.1 Motion - Extension of sitting on Monday 3 June 2013 under SO 10(3A)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 10(3A), the sitting on Monday 3 June 2013 be extended to no later than 3.00am.

Mr P Weir

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

7. Private Members' Business (Cont'd)

7.1 Final Stage: Civil Service (Special Advisers) Bill (NIA 12/11-15)

Debate resumed on the Bill.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) took the Chair.

The Speaker took the Chair.

The Civil Service (Special Advisers) Bill (NIA 12/11-15) passed Final Stage (Division).

8. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker
The Assembly adjourned at 8.23pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
3 June 2013

Northern Ireland Assembly
3 June 2013
Division

Final Stage: Civil Service (Special Advisers) Bill (NIA 12/11-15)

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 56
Noes: 28

AYES
Mr Allister, Mr Anderson, Mr Bell, Ms P Bradley, Ms Brown, Mr Buchanan, Mr Campbell, Mr Clarke, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Copeland, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mrs Dobson, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Mr Ford, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Gardiner, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Hussey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kennedy, Mr Kinahan, Mr Lunn, Mr Lyttle, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCausland, 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 G Robinson, Mr P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Swann, Mr Weir, Mr Wells, Mr Wilson.
Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Allister and Mr McNarry

NOES
Mr Agnew, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr Brady, Ms Fearon, Mr Flanagan, Mr G Kelly, Mr Lynch, Mr McAleer, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Ms McCorley, Mr McElduff, Ms McGahan, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McKay, Ms Maeve McLaughlin, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, Mr McMullan, Mr Maskey, Mr Milne, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mr O'Dowd, Ms S Ramsey, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan.
Tellers for the Noes: Mr McKay and Mr Sheehan

Resolved:
That the Civil Service (Special Advisers) Bill [NIA 12/11-15] do now pass.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
29 May – 3 June 2013

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

Legislative Consent Memorandum Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Bill (DSD)

5. Assembly Reports

Improving Literacy and Numeracy Achievement in Schools (NIA 116/11-15) (Public Accounts Committee)
Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees (NIA 117/11-15) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

6. Statutory Rules

S. R. 2013/144 The Agriculture (Hardship Payment) Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2013 (DARD)
S. R. 2013/146 The Charities Act 2008 (Consequential Provision and Savings) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013 (DSD)
S. R. 2013/147 The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (Continuing Professional Development) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013 (DHSSPS)

For Information Only:
Draft S. R. 2013 The Renewables Obligation (Amendment No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013 (DETI)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

Consultation Paper on proposals for an Environmental Better Regulation Bill (DOE)
Improvements to the ADI/AMI Schemes in Northern Ireland (DOE)
Community Asset Transfer in Northern Ireland (DSD)

9. Departmental Publications

Northern Ireland Estimates 2013 – 2014 (DFP)

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications