Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair.

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Public Petitions

2.1 Public Petition – Stop the closure of Crossmaglen Jobs and Benefits Office

Ms Megan Fearon was granted leave, in accordance with Standing Order 22, to present a Public Petition relating to the closure of Crossmaglen Jobs and Benefits Office.

3. Assembly Business

3.1 Motion - Suspension of Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4)

Proposed:

That Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4) be suspended for 15 April 2013.

Mr P Weir
Ms C Ruane
Mr P Ramsey
Mr R Swann
Mr S Dickson

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

3.2 Motion – Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Mr Jimmy Spratt replace Mr Paul Givan as a member of the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister and that Ms Paula Bradley replace Mr Jonathan Craig as a member of the Committee on Standards and Privileges.

Mr P Weir
Lord Morrow

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

3.3 Motion – Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Mr Ian Milne be appointed as a member of the Committee for the Environment; that Mr Chris Hazzard replace Mr Mitchel McLaughlin as a member of the Public Accounts Committee; that Mr Declan McAleer be appointed as a member of the Committee on Standards and Privileges; and that Mr Ian Milne replace Mr Chris Hazzard as a member of the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development.

Ms C Ruane
Mr G Kelly

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

3.4 Election of a Deputy Speaker

The Speaker outlined the procedure for the election of a Deputy Speaker under Standing Order 5.

Mr Martin McGuinness nominated Mr Mitchel McLaughlin as a Deputy Speaker.

Ms Caitríona Ruane seconded the nomination. Mr McLaughlin indicated his agreement to accepting the nomination.

Mr John McCallister nominated Mr Basil McCrea as a Deputy Speaker.

Mr Jim Allister seconded the nomination. Mr McCrea indicated his agreement to accepting the nomination.

Debate ensued.

The Question being put that Mr Mitchel McLaughlin be a Deputy Speaker, the Motion was carried with cross-community support (Division 1).

3.5 Nomination to act as Principal Deputy Speaker

The Speaker advised that the procedure for the nomination of a Deputy Speaker to act as Principal Deputy Speaker would be conducted in accordance with Standing Order 5A.

Mr Martin McGuinness nominated Mr Mitchel McLaughlin to act as Principal Deputy Speaker. Mr McLaughlin indicated his agreement to accepting the nomination.

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, that Mr McLaughlin be Principal Deputy Speaker, the Nomination was approved with cross-community support (Division 2).

4. Executive Committee Business

4.1 First Stage – Tobacco Retailers Bill (NIA 19/11-15)

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Mr Edwin Poots, introduced a Bill to make provision for a register of tobacco retailers; to make provision for dealing with the persistent commission of tobacco offences; to confer additional powers of enforcement in relation to offences under Articles 3 and 4 of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1978; and for connected purposes.

Bill passed First Stage and ordered to be printed.

4.2 Motion: The Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers' Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013

Proposed:

That the Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers' Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013 be affirmed.

Minister for Social Development

Debate ensued.

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

4.3 Motion: The Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013

Proposed:

That the Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013 be approved.

Minister for Social Development

Debate ensued.

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

5. Committee Business

5.1 Motion: Suicide Prevention

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes with concern the significant rise in suicide rates in Northern Ireland over the last fifteen years; and calls on the Executive to prioritise suicide prevention strategies.

Chairperson, Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) took the Chair.

The debate was suspended for Question Time.

6. Question Time

6.1 Agriculture and Rural Development

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Michelle O’Neill.

6.2 Culture, Arts and Leisure

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Ms Carál Ní Chuilín.

7. Committee Business (Cont’d)

7.1 Motion: Suicide Prevention

Debate resumed on the Motion.

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

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) took the Chair.

7.2 Motion: Report on the Inquiry into Topical Questions

Proposed:

That this Assembly approves the report of the Committee on Procedures on its inquiry into Topical Questions.

Chairperson, Committee on Procedures

Debate ensued.

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

8. Private Members’ Business

8.1 Motion – Integrated Education

Proposed:

That this Assembly calls on the Minister of Education to acknowledge the expressed wish of parents to see their children educated in an integrated setting; to honour his Department’s obligation to encourage and facilitate integrated education where demand exists; to make integration of controlled and maintained schools a specific objective of area planning; and to work, in particular with the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education and the Integrated Education Fund, to ease the process of the transformation of existing schools to integrated status.

Mr T Lunn
Mr C Lyttle

The Speaker took the Chair.

8.2 Amendment 1

Leave out all after ‘educated’ and insert:

‘in accordance with their wishes, including in an integrated setting; urges the Minister to guarantee parity of esteem for all sectors with the establishment of sectoral bodies to support parental choice; and further calls on the Minister to encourage all sectoral bodies to promote the development of a single shared education system based upon equality of treatment for all.’

Proposed:

Mr M Storey
Miss M McIlveen
Mr J Craig
Mrs B Hale

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Amendmentwas carried (Division 3).

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

9. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 6.16pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
15 April 2013

Northern Ireland Assembly

15 April 2013
Divisions

Division No. 1

Election of a Deputy Speaker

Question put, That Mr Mitchel McLaughlin act as a Deputy Speaker.

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 80
Noes: 15

AYES

NATIONALIST:

Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr D Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Byrne, Mr Dallat, Mr Durkan, Mr Eastwood, Ms Fearon, Mr Flanagan, Mr Hazzard, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Mr McAleer, Mr F McCann, Mr McCartney, Ms McCorley, Mr McDevitt, Ms McGahan, Mr McGlone, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McKay, Mrs McKevitt, Ms Maeve McLaughlin, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, Mr McMullan, Mr A Maginness, Mr Maskey, Mr Milne, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr P Ramsey, Ms S Ramsey, Mr Rogers, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan.

UNIONIST:

Mr Anderson, Mr Bell, Ms P Bradley, Ms Brown, Mr Buchanan, Mr Campbell, Mr Clarke, Mr Craig, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Mr D McIlveen, Miss M McIlveen, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Newton, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Mr P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wilson.

OTHER:

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

Tellers for the Ayes: Ms Fearon and Mr McMullan.

NOES

UNIONIST:

Mr Allister, Mr Beggs, Mr Cree, Mrs Dobson, Mr Elliott, Mr Gardiner, Mr Hussey, Mr Kennedy, Mr Kinahan, Mr McCallister, Mr B McCrea, Mr Nesbitt, Mrs Overend, Mr Swann.

OTHER:

Mr Agnew.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Allister and Mr McCallister.

Total votes 95 Total Ayes 80 [84.2 % ]

Nationalist Vote 38 Nationalist Ayes 38 [100.0 %]

Unionist Votes 49 Unionist Ayes 35 [71.4 % ]

Other Votes 8 Other Ayes 7 [87.5 % ]

The Motion was carried by cross-community vote.

Northern Ireland Assembly

15 April 2013
Divisions

Division No. 2

Nomination of a Principal Deputy Speaker

Question put, That Mr Mitchel McLaughlin act as Principal Deputy Speaker.

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 70
Noes: 28

AYES

NATIONALIST:

Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr Brady, Ms Fearon, Mr Flanagan, Mr Hazzard, Mr G Kelly, Mr McAleer, Mr F 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, Mrs O'Neill, Ms S Ramsey, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan.

UNIONIST:

Mr Anderson, Mr Bell, Ms P Bradley, Ms Brown, Mr Buchanan, Mr Campbell, Mr Clarke, Mr Craig, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Mr D McIlveen, Miss M McIlveen, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Newton, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Mr P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wilson.

OTHER:

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

Tellers for the Ayes: Ms Fearon and Mr McMullan.

NOES

NATIONALIST:

Mr D Bradley, Mr Byrne, Mr Dallat, Mr Durkan, Mr Eastwood, Mrs D Kelly, Mr McDevitt, Mr McGlone, Mrs McKevitt, Mr A Maginness, Mr P Ramsey, Mr Rogers.

UNIONIST:

Mr Allister, Mr Beggs, Mr Copeland, Mr Cree, Mrs Dobson, Mr Elliott, Mr Gardiner, Mr Hussey, Mr Kennedy, Mr Kinahan, Mr McCallister, Mr B McCrea, Mr Nesbitt, Mrs Overend, Mr Swann.

OTHER:

Mr Agnew.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Rogers and Mr Swann.

Total votes 98 Total Ayes 70 [71.4 %]

Nationalist Vote 39 Nationalist Ayes 27 [69.2 %]

Unionist Votes 50 Unionist Ayes 35 [70.0 % ]

Other Votes 9 Other Ayes 8 [88.9 %]

The Nomination was approved by cross-community vote.

Northern Ireland Assembly

15 April 2013
Divisions

Division No. 3

Motion: Integrated Education – Amendment

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘educated’ and insert:

‘in accordance with their wishes, including in an integrated setting; urges the Minister to guarantee parity of esteem for all sectors with the establishment of sectoral bodies to support parental choice; and further calls on the Minister to encourage all sectoral bodies to promote the development of a single shared education system based upon equality of treatment for all.’

Proposed:

Mr M Storey
Miss M McIlveen
Mr J Craig
Mrs B Hale

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 71
Noes: 23

AYES

Mr Allister, Mr Anderson, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Ms P Bradley, Mr Brady, Ms Brown, Mr Campbell, Mr Clarke, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mrs Dobson, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Elliott, Ms Fearon, Mr Flanagan, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Gardiner, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hazzard, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr G Kelly, Mr Kennedy, Mr Kinahan, Mr McAleer, Mr F McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McCausland, Ms McCorley, Mr I McCrea, Mr McElduff, Ms McGahan, Mr M McGuinness, Mr D McIlveen, Miss M McIlveen, Mr McKay, Ms Maeve McLaughlin, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, Mr McMullan, Mr McQuillan, Mr Maskey, Mr Milne, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Newton, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mrs Overend, Mr Poots, Ms S Ramsey, Mr G Robinson, Mr P Robinson, Mr Ross, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Swann, Mr Weir, Mr Wells, Mr Wilson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Craig and Mrs Hale

NOES

Mr Agnew, Mr Attwood, Mr D Bradley, Mr Byrne, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Dallat, Mr Dickson, Mr Durkan, Mr Eastwood, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mrs D Kelly, Ms Lo, Mr Lunn, Mr Lyttle, Mr McCallister, Mr McCarthy, Mr McDevitt, Dr McDonnell, Mrs McKevitt, Mr A Maginness, Mr P Ramsey, Mr Rogers.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Dickson and Ms Lo

The Amendment was made.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
10 April - 15 April 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

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

For Information Only:

S. R. 2013/97 The Parking Places on Roads (Lurgan) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013 (DRD)

S. R. 2013/98 The Parking Places (Disabled Persons' Vehicles) (Amendment No. 3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013 (DRD)

S. R. 2013/99 The Traffic Weight Restriction (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013 (DRD)

S. R. 2013/100 The Waiting Restrictions (Londonderry) (Amendment No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013 (DRD)

S. R. 2013/101 The Road Races (Drumhorc Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013 (DRD)

Draft S. R. 2013 The Forestry (Felling of Trees) (Calculation of the Area of Land) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013 (DARD)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

Severance Arrangements for Councillors and draft Local Government (Severance Payments for Councillors) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013 (DOE)

Proposed Scheme Design for the Local Government Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DOE)

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications