Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2012/2013
Date: 10 June 2013
Venue: Assembly Chamber
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 Motion – Suspend Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4)
Proposed:
That Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4) be suspended for 10 June 2013.
Minister for Social Development
The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support nemine contradicente.
2.2 Statement – Northern Ireland Housing Executive management of maintenance contracts
The Minister for Social Development, Mr Nelson McCausland, made a statement regarding the Northern Ireland Housing Executive management of maintenance contracts, following which he replied to questions.
2.3 Motion – Supply Resolution for the Northern Ireland Main Estimates 2013-14
Proposed:
That this Assembly approves that a sum, not exceeding £8,271,268,000, be granted out of the Consolidated Fund, for or towards defraying the charges for Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Audit Office, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2014 and that resources, not exceeding £8,558,118,000, be authorised for use by Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Audit Office, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2014 as summarised for each Department or other public body in Columns 3(b) and 3(a) of Table 1.3 in the volume of the Northern Ireland Estimates 2013-14 that was laid before the Assembly on 29 May 2013.
Minister of Finance and Personnel
Debate ensued.
The debate was suspended for Question Time.
The Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) took the Chair.
3. Question Time
3.1 Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister
Questions were put to, and answered by, the First Minister, Rt Hon Peter Robinson. The junior Minister, Mr Jonathan Bell, also answered a number of questions.
3.2 Finance and Personnel
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Finance and Personnel, Mr Sammy Wilson.
4. Executive Committee Business (Cont’d)
4.1 Motion – Supply Resolution for the Northern Ireland Main Estimates 2013-14
Debate resumed on the Motion.
The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) took the Chair.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support.
4.2 First Stage: Budget (No.2) Bill (NIA 21/11-15)
The Minister of Finance and Personnel, Mr Sammy Wilson, introduced a Bill to authorise the issue out of the Consolidated Fund of certain sums for the service of the year ending 31st March 2014; to appropriate those sums for specified purposes; to authorise the Department of Finance and Personnel to borrow on the credit of the appropriated sums; to authorise the use for the public service of certain resources (including accruing resources) for the year ending 31st March 2014; and to repeal certain spent provisions.
The Budget (No.2) Bill (NIA 21/11-15) passed First Stage and ordered to be printed.
The Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) took the Chair.
5. Private Members’ Business
5.1 Motion – Farm Inspections Process 2013
Proposed:
That this Assembly recognises the concerns within the farming community regarding the issuing of inaccurate Land Parcel Identification System Maps; notes that many were still awaiting their altered maps days before the deadline of the 15 May 2013 for their Single Farm Payment application; understands the difficulties and pressures that this will cause to the applicants and calls on the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline how her Department will support farmers and speed up the overall farm inspection process in order that more applicants receive their 2013 Single Farm Payment in good time.
Mr P Frew
Mr W Irwin
Mr T Clarke
Mr T Buchanan
5.2 Amendment 1
Proposed:
Leave out all after first ‘applicants’ and insert:
‘; further notes that Northern Ireland still remains exposed to Disallowance if the rules of the scheme are broken; and calls on the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to tackle the problem of delayed payments by seeking permission from the European Commission to make advance payments, including proportionally smaller advance payments for farms selected for inspection.’
Mrs J Dobson
Mr R Swann
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the Amendment was made without division.
The Question being put, the Motion, as amended, was carried without division.
6. Adjournment
Proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
The Speaker
The Assembly adjourned at 7.04pm.
Mr William Hay
The Speaker
10 June 2013
Northern Ireland Assembly
Papers Presented to the Assembly on
5 – 10 June 2013
1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly
2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly
Budget (No. 2) Bill [as introduced] (NIA Bill 21/11-15)
3. Orders in Council
4. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly
Continuing Progress - Annual Report of The Lay Observer for Northern Ireland (DFP)
Northern Ireland Education and Library Boards Retention and Disposal of Records Schedule SEELB (DCAL)
Draft Code of Practice No. 5 and Accompanying Guidance Reporting Late Payment of Contributions to Occupational Pension Schemes (DSD)
Draft Code of Practice No. 6 and Accompanying Guidance Reporting Late Payment of Contributions to Personal Pension Schemes (DSD)
Legislative Consent Memorandum - Mesothelioma Bill (DSD)
Loughs Agency Annual Report & Accounts 2011 (DARD)
5. Assembly Reports
Report on a Complaint against Mr Pat Ramsey MLA from Mr Bertie Faulkner OBE (NIA 114/11-15) (Committee on Standards and Privileges)
Report on a Complaint against Mr Dominic Bradley MLA (NIA 115/11-15) (Committee on Standards and Privileges)
6. Statutory Rules
For Information Only:
S. R. 2013/148 The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Belfast) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013 (DRD)
S. R. 2013/152 The Off-Street Parking (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013 (DRD)
S. R. 2013/155 The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Banbridge) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013 (DRD)
7. Written Ministerial Statements
8. Consultation Documents
Sharing Parental Rights, Extending Flexibility at Work - Public Consultation (DEL)
