Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2012/2013
Date: 22 April 2013
Venue: Assembly Chamber
The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair.
1. Personal Prayer or Meditation
Members observed two minutes' silence.
2. Public Petition
2.1 Public Petition – Campaign to keep open the University of Ulster Day Nurseries
Mr Pat Ramsey was granted leave, in accordance with Standing Order 22, to present a Public Petition relating to a campaign to keep open the University of Ulster Day Nurseries.
3. Executive Assembly Business
3.1 Motion – The Draft Renewables Obligation (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013
Proposed:
That the draft Renewables Obligation (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013 be approved.
Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
4. Private Members' Business
4.1 Motion: Repeal of the Exception for Teachers in the Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998
Proposed:
That this Assembly notes that the exception in fair employment law allowing discrimination on the grounds of religious belief when appointing teachers is now over 35 years old; further notes that the same exemption, uniquely written into European anti-discrimination employment law (Directive 2000/78/EC), suggests that it is designed to further "the reconciliation of historical divisions"; the Equality Commission recommendation for its withdrawal in 2004, in respect of secondary school appointments, and earlier in its entirety, has not been put into effect, nor has any proposed monitoring been introduced; the Department of Education's Equal Opportunities Policy for Teachers (TNC 2009/2) now prohibits controlled schools from so discriminating; and calls on the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to repeal the exception to ensure equal opportunity and that school teaching staff reflect our religious and ethnic diversity.
Mr D Kinahan
Mrs J Dobson
Debate ensued.
The Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) took the Chair.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
4.2 Motion: Special Needs Provision
Proposed:
That this Assembly notes with concern the lack of provision for individuals with severe learning difficulties leaving Special Needs education at 19 years of age; and calls on the Minister for Employment and Learning to expand the provision of support staff and develop the assistance needed to encourage the uptake of further education and training, thereby allowing more engagement with society.
Mr P Weir
Lord Morrow
Debate ensued.
The sitting was suspended at 2.22pm.
The sitting resumed at 2.30pm, with the Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) in the Chair.
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 Environment
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of the Environment, Mr Alex Attwood.
The Principal Deputy Speaker (Mr McLaughlin) took the Chair.
6. Executive Committee Business
6.1 Statement – Local Government Reform: Transfer of Functions to New Councils
The Minister of the Environment, Mr Alex Attwood, made a statement regarding Local Government Reform: Transfer of Functions to New Councils, following which he replied to questions.
7. Private Members' Business (Cont'd)
7.1 Motion: Special Needs Provision
Debate resumed on the Motion.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
8. Adjournment
Proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
The Speaker
The Assembly adjourned at 4.51pm.
Mr William Hay
The Speaker
22 April 2013
Northern Ireland Assembly
Papers Presented to the Assembly on
17 April - 22 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
Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (Amendment) Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2013 (DFP)
Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (Amendment No. 2) Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2013 (DFP)
The Armagh Observatory and Planetarium Annual Report and Accounts for 2011-2012 Year Ended 31 March 2012 (DCAL)
5. Assembly Reports
Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the appropriate Committees 12 April 2013 NIA 107/11–15R
6. Statutory Rules
S. R. 2013/103 The Plant Health (Amendment No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013 (DARD)
S. R. 2013/105 The Road Races (North West 200) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013 (DRD)
S. R. 2013/106 The Road Races (Spamount Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013 (DRD)
S. R. 2013/108 The Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013 (DETI)
S. R. 2013/109 The Whole of Government Accounts (Designation of Bodies) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013 (DFP)
7. Written Ministerial Statements
8. Consultation Documents
Department for Business Innovation & Skills: Implementation of the WEEE Recast Directive 2012/19/EU and Changes to the UK WEEE System (DOE)
