Minutes of Proceedings

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Matter of the Day

2.1 The death of Police Officer Philippa Reynolds in Londonderry

Mr Gregory Campbell, made a statement, under Standing Order 24, in relation to the death of police officer Philippa Reynolds in Londonderry. Other Members were also called to speak on the matter.

3. Assembly Business

3.1 Motion - Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Mr Sydney Anderson replace Mr Sammy Douglas as a member of the Committee for Social Development; and that Mr Sammy Douglas replace Mr Sydney Anderson as a member of the Committee for Employment and Learning and as a member of the Public Accounts Committee.

Mr P Weir
Lord Morrow

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

4. Executive Committee Business

4.1 Statement - Review of Policy on Apprenticeships and Youth Training

The Minister for Employment and Learning, Dr Stephen Farry, made a statement regarding the Review of Policy on Apprenticeships and Youth Training, following which he replied to questions.

4.2 Motion - Suspend Standing Orders

Proposed:

That Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4) be suspended for 11 February 2013.

Minister of Finance and Personnel

The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support nemine contradicente.

4.3 Motion - Supply Resolution for the 2012-2013 Spring Supplementary Estimates

Proposed:

That this Assembly approves that a total sum, not exceeding £15,459,758,000 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 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 2013 and that total resources, not exceeding £16,572,965,000 be authorised for use by Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and 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 2013 as summarised for each Department or other public body in Columns 3(c) and 2(c) of Table 1 in the volume of the Northern Ireland Spring Supplementary Estimates 2012-13 that was laid before the Assembly on 4 February 2013.

Minister of Finance and Personnel

Debate ensued on this motion and the motion on the Supply Resolution for the 2013-14 Vote on Account.

The Principal Deputy Speaker (Mr Molloy) 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. The junior Minister, Mr Jonathan Bell, also answered a number of questions. 

5.2 Social Development 

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Social Development, Mr Nelson McCausland.

6. Executive Committee Business (Cont’d)

6.1 Motion - Supply Resolution for the 2012-2013 Spring Supplementary Estimates (Cont’d)

Debate resumed on both motions.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) took the Chair.

The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support nemine contradicente.

6.2 Motion - Supply Resolution for the 2013-2014 Vote on Account

Proposed:

That this Assembly approves that a sum, not exceeding £7,136,563,000, be granted out of the Consolidated Fund on account for or towards defraying the charges for Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and 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 £7,641,877,000, be authorised, on account, for use by Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and 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 4 and 6 of Table 1 in the Vote on Account 2013-14 document that was laid before the Assembly on 4 February 2013.

Minister of Finance and Personnel

The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support nemine contradicente.

6.3 First Stage - Budget Bill (NIA 18/11-15)

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 years ending 31st March 2013 and 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 for the years ending 31st March 2013 and 2014; and to revise the limits on the use of certain accruing resources in the year ending 31st March 2013.

The Budget Bill (NIA 18/11-15) passed First Stage and ordered to be printed.

6.4 Final Stage - Business Improvements Districts Bill (NIA 9/11-15)

The Minister for Social Development, Mr Nelson McCausland, moved that the Final Stage of the Business Improvements Districts Bill (NIA 9/11-15) do now pass.

Debate ensued.

The Business Improvements Districts Bill (NIA 9/11-15) passed Final Stage without division.

6.5 Legislative Consent Motion - Part 1 of the Energy Bill

Proposed:

That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension to Northern Ireland of the provisions in Part 1 of the Energy Bill, as introduced in the House of Commons on 29 November 2012, dealing with Electricity Market Reform.

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment

Debate ensued.

Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.

7. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 5.39pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker

11 February 2013

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
06 - 11 February 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

CITB - ConstructionSkills Northern Ireland Annual Report 2011-2012 (DEL)

The Use of Early Guilty Pleas in the Criminal Justice System in Northern Ireland (DOJ)

Department for Regional Development: Review of an Investigation of a Whistleblower Complaint (NIAO)

5. Assembly Reports

Consideration of the Legislative Consent Memorandum Concerning Provisions in Part 1 of the Westminster Energy Bill Dealing with Electricity Market Reforms (NIA 89/11-15) (Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment)

6. Statutory Rules

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

S. R. 2013/22 Mental Health (Private Hospitals) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013 (DHSSPS)

S. R. 2013/27 The Limestone Road Area, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013 (DRD)

For Information Only:

S. R. 2013/20 The Waiting Restrictions (Bangor) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013 (DRD)

S. R. 2013/21 The Waiting Restrictions (Londonderry) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013 (DRD)

S. R. 2013/23 The Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013 (DEL)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

The Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011-2012 (OFMDFM)

11. Westminster Publications

Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2013 Chapter 2

Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 Chapter 3

European Union (Croatian Accession and Irish Protocol) Act 2013 Chapter 5

Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 Chapter 6

12. Miscellaneous Publications