Minutes of Proceedings

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Executive Committee Business

2.1 Statement - Report on Progress on Welfare Reform Issues

The Minister for Social Development, Mr Nelson McCausland, made a statement regarding an update on Welfare Reform Issues, following which he replied to questions.

3. Assembly Business

3.1 Welfare Reform Bill - Standing Order 34

Proposed:

That the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission be asked to advise whether the Welfare Reform Bill is compatible with human rights.

Mr F McCann
Mr M Brady

An explanatory statement was made by the member who proposed the motion and by a member who opposed it.

The Question being put, the Motion was negatived (Division 1).

4. Executive Committee Business

4.1 Consideration Stage - Air Passenger Duty (Setting of Rate) Bill (NIA 15/11-15)

The Minister of Finance and Personnel, Mr Sammy Wilson, moved the Consideration Stage of the Air Passenger Duty (Setting of Rate) Bill.

No amendments were tabled to the Bill.

Clauses

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clauses 1 to 4 stand part of the Bill.

Long Title

The question being put, the Long Title was agreed without division. 

Bill NIA 15/11-15 stood referred to the Speaker.

4.2 Consideration Stage - Superannuation Bill (NIA 6/11-15)

The Minister of Finance and Personnel, Mr Sammy Wilson, moved the Consideration Stage of the Superannuation Bill.

One amendment was tabled to the Bill.

Clauses

The question being put, it was agreed, without division, that Clause 1 stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 1, to Clause 2, was agreed without division.

The question being put, it was agreed, without division, that Clause 2, as amended, stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed, without division, that Clauses 3 and 4 stand part of the Bill.

Long Title

The question being put, the Long Title was agreed without division.                

Bill NIA 6/11-15 passed Consideration Stage and stood referred to the Speaker.

4.3 Motion - Draft Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012

Proposed:

That the draft Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 be approved.

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment

Debate ensued.

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

5. Private Members’ Business

5.1 Motion - Unemployment Rates

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes, with grave concern, that the unemployment rate has risen by 19,000 in the three years between the quarters ended July 2009 and July 2012, and that 23.5 percent of 18-24 year olds, some 24,000 young people, are unemployed with little prospect of work; acknowledges that the role of InvestNI is to grow the local economy; expresses dismay that InvestNI appears to display an attitude of resigned acceptance to the trend of jobs moving overseas; further notes that the Executive has not adequately funded the job creation proposals of the Northern Ireland Green New Deal Group or developed the proposals of the 'Jobs Plan' published by a business alliance including the Confederation of British Industry and the Institute of Directors; and calls on the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, supported by the Executive and InvestNI, to tackle rising unemployment by launching a robust job creation and business support strategy based on these proposals.

Mr P McGlone
Mr A Maginness

5.2  Amendment

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘economy;’ and insert:

‘expresses dismay that InvestNI appeared to display an attitude of resigned acceptance to the job losses at FG Wilson; notes, with concern, that there was no dedicated InvestNI business start-up scheme in place for over a year; further notes that the Executive has not adequately funded the job creation proposals of the Northern Ireland Green New Deal or developed the proposals of the ‘Jobs Plan’ published by a business alliance including the Confederation of British Industry and the Institute of Directors; and calls on the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, supported by the Executive and InvestNI, to tackle rising unemployment by launching a robust job creation and business support strategy based on these proposals, and to give a commitment to work with the Minister for Employment and Learning in making bids for the significant Barnett Consequential arising from the Youth Contract Initiative, as announced by the Coalition Government at Westminster, to tackle youth unemployment specifically.’

Mrs S Overend
Mr B McCrea

The Speaker took the Chair.

Debate ensued.

The debate was suspended for Question Time.

6. Question Time

6.1 Employment and Learning

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Employment and Learning, Dr Stephen Farry.

6.2 Enterprise, Trade and Investment

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Mrs Arlene Foster.

7. Private Members’ Business (Cont’d)

7.1 Motion - Unemployment Rates (Cont’d)

Debate resumed on the Motion.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) took the Chair.

The Question being put, the Amendment was made (Division 2).

The Question being put, the Motion, as amended, was carried (Division 3).

8. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 5.00pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
22 October 2012

Northern Ireland Assembly

22 October 2012
Division 1

Welfare Reform Bill - Standing Order 34

Proposed:

That the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission be asked to advise whether the Welfare Reform Bill is compatible with human rights.

Mr F McCann
Mr M Brady

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 40

Noes: 44

Ayes

Mr Agnew, 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 Lynch,
Mr McAleer, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Ms McCorley, Mr McDevitt,
Dr McDonnell, Ms McGahan, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McKay, Mrs McKevitt,
Ms Maeve McLaughlin, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, Mr McMullan, Mr A Maginness, Mr Maskey,
Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr P Ramsey, Ms S Ramsey, Mr Rogers,
Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr F McCann and Ms Ruane.

Noes

Mr Allister, Mr Anderson, Mr Bell, Ms P Bradley, Ms Brown, Mr Buchanan, Mr Campbell,
Mr Clarke, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Craig, Mr Dickson, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Dr Farry,
Mr Ford, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch,
Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr Lunn, Mr Lyttle, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea,
Mr D McIlveen, Miss M McIlveen, Mr McNarry, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray,
Mr Newton, Mr G Robinson, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir,
Mr Wilson.

Tellers for the Noes: Ms P Bradley and Ms Brown.

The following Members voted in both Lobbies and are therefore not counted in the result:
Mr Beggs, Mr Copeland, Mr Cree, Mrs Dobson, Mr Elliott, Mr Gardiner, Mr Hussey, Mr Kinahan, Mr B McCrea, Mr Nesbitt, Mrs Overend, Mr Swann.

The Motion was negatived.

Northern Ireland Assembly

22 October 2012
Division 2

Unemployment Rates - Amendment

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘economy;’ and insert:

‘expresses dismay that InvestNI appeared to display an attitude of resigned acceptance to the job losses at FG Wilson; notes, with concern, that there was no dedicated InvestNI business start-up scheme in place for over a year; further notes that the Executive has not adequately funded the job creation proposals of the Northern Ireland Green New Deal or developed the proposals of the ‘Jobs Plan’ published by a business alliance including the Confederation of British Industry and the Institute of Directors; and calls on the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, supported by the Executive and InvestNI, to tackle rising unemployment by launching a robust job creation and business support strategy based on these proposals, and to give a commitment to work with the Minister for Employment and Learning in making bids for the significant Barnett Consequential arising from the Youth Contract Initiative, as announced by the Coalition Government at Westminster, to tackle youth unemployment specifically.’

Mrs S Overend
Mr B McCrea

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 48

Noes: 41

Ayes

Mr Agnew, Mr Allister, Mr Beggs, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr D Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Byrne,
Mr Copeland, Mr Cree, Mrs Dobson, Mr Durkan, Mr Eastwood, Mr Elliott, Ms Fearon,
Mr Flanagan, Mr Gardiner, Mr Hazzard, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Mr Kennedy, Mr Kinahan,
Mr Lynch, Mr McAleer, Mr F McCann, Mr McCartney, Ms McCorley, Mr B McCrea, Mr McDevitt,
Dr McDonnell, Ms McGahan, Mr McGlone, Mr McKay, Mrs McKevitt, Ms Maeve McLaughlin,
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, Mr McMullan, Mr A Maginness, Mr Maskey, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Ó hOisín,
Mrs Overend, Mr P Ramsey, Ms S Ramsey, Mr Rogers, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan, Mr Swann.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Beggs and Mrs Overend.

Noes

Mr Anderson, Mr Bell, Ms P Bradley, Ms Brown, Mr Buchanan, Mr Campbell, Mr Clarke,
Mrs Cochrane, Mr Craig, Mr Dickson, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Dr Farry, Mr Ford,
Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey,
Mr Lunn, Mr Lyttle, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Mr D McIlveen,
Miss M McIlveen, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Newton, Mr G Robinson,
Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wilson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Dunne and Mr Frew.

The Amendment was made.

Northern Ireland Assembly

22 October 2012
Division 3

Unemployment Rates - Motion as amended

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes with grave concern that the unemployment rate has risen by 19,000 in the three years between the quarters ended July 2009 and July 2012 and that 23·5%percent of 18-24-year-olds, some 24,000 young people, are unemployed with little prospect of work; acknowledges that the role of Invest NI is to grow the local economy; expresses dismay that Invest NI appeared to display an attitude of resigned acceptance to the job losses at FG Wilson; notes with concern that there was no dedicated Invest NI business start-up scheme in place for over a year; further notes that the Executive has not adequately funded the job creation proposals of the Northern Ireland Green New Deal or developed the proposals of the jobs plan published by a business alliance including the Confederation of British Industry and the Institute of Directors; and calls on the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, supported by the Executive and Invest NI, to tackle rising unemployment by launching a robust job creation and business support strategy based on these proposals and to give a commitment to work with the Minister for Employment and Learning in making bids for the significant Barnett Consequential arising from the Youth Contract initiative, as announced by the coalition Government at Westminster, to tackle youth unemployment specifically.

The Question, as amended, was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 48

Noes: 41

Ayes

Mr Agnew, Mr Allister, Mr Beggs, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr D Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Byrne,
Mr Copeland, Mr Cree, Mrs Dobson, Mr Durkan, Mr Eastwood, Mr Elliott, Ms Fearon,
Mr Flanagan, Mr Gardiner, Mr Hazzard, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Mr Kennedy, Mr Kinahan,
Mr Lynch, Mr McAleer, Mr F McCann, Mr McCartney, Ms McCorley, Mr B McCrea, Mr McDevitt,
Dr McDonnell, Ms McGahan, Mr McGlone, Mr McKay, Mrs McKevitt, Ms Maeve McLaughlin,
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, Mr McMullan, Mr A Maginness, Mr Maskey, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Ó hOisín,
Mrs Overend, Mr P Ramsey, Ms S Ramsey, Mr Rogers, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan, Mr Swann.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mrs Overend and Mr Rogers.

Noes

Mr Anderson, Mr Bell, Ms P Bradley, Ms Brown, Mr Buchanan, Mr Campbell, Mr Clarke,
Mrs Cochrane, Mr Craig, Mr Dickson, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Dr Farry, Mr Ford,
Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey,
Mr Lunn, Mr Lyttle, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Mr D McIlveen,
Miss M McIlveen, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Newton, Mr G Robinson,
Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wilson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Dunne and Mr Frew.

The Motion, as amended, was carried.

Superannuation Bill

Marshalled List of Amendments

Consideration Stage

Monday 22 October 2012

Amendments tabled up to 9.30am Thursday, 18 October 2012 and selected for debate

Amendment 1

Clause 2, Page 2, Line 32

Leave out ‘Before’ and insert ‘The scheme shall be subject to negative resolution and before’

Chair, Committee for Finance and Personnel

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
17 - 22 October 2012

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

Western Education and Library Board Annual Report and Accounts 2011-12 (DE)

Northern Ireland Certification Officer for Trade Unions and Employers' Associations Annual Report 2011-12 (DEL)

5.    Assembly Reports

6.    Statutory Rules

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

• S.R. 2012/376 The Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (Codes of Practice) (Revision of Codes C, E, F and H) Order 2012 (DOJ)
• S.R. 2012/380 The Social Security (Habitual Residence) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DSD)

7.    Written Ministerial Statements

Announcement of Amendments to the Terms of Reference of the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry

8.    Consultation Documents

9.    Departmental Publications

10.  Agency Publications

11.  Westminster Publications

12.  Miscellaneous Publications