Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Matter of the Day

2.1 Murder of Prison Officer David Black

The Rt Hon Peter Robinson made a statement, under Standing Order 24, in relation to the Murder of Prison Officer David Black. Other Members were also called to speak on the matter. Members observed one minute’s silence.

3. Public Petitions

3.1 New Build for Parkhall Integrated College, Antrim

Mr Trevor Clarke was granted leave, in accordance with Standing Order 22, to present a Public Petition relating to the new build for Parkhall Integrated College, Antrim.

3.2 Proposed Closure of Artillery Youth Centre, Belfast      

Mr Alban Maginness was granted leave, in accordance with Standing Order 22, to present a Public Petition relating to the proposed closure of Artillery Youth Centre, Belfast.

4. Executive Committee Business

4.1 Statement - Northern Ireland Employment Law Review

The Minister for Employment and Learning, Dr Stephen Farry, made a statement regarding the Northern Ireland Employment Law Review, following which he replied to questions.

The Principal Deputy Speaker (Mr Molloy) took the Chair.

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

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

No amendments were tabled to the Bill.

The Air Passenger Duty (Setting of Rate) Bill stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. 

5. Committee Business

5.1 Motion - Muscular Dystrophy and Related Neuromuscular Conditions

Proposed:

That this Assembly welcomes The McCollum Report: Access to specialist neuromuscular care in Northern Ireland; is concerned about the lack of specialised neuromuscular services revealed in the report; believes that a lead for muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular conditions should be appointed from within Health and Social Care; recognises that significant funds are being wasted on unplanned emergency admissions to hospital; notes that investing small amounts in the development of specialised neuromuscular services can lead to a reduction in these unplanned emergency admissions; further recognises the vital evidence provided by the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign's Northern Ireland Muscle Group during the All Party Group on Muscular Dystrophy Inquiry; and calls on the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to act on the recommendations in the report.

Chairperson, Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety

Debate ensued.

The debate was suspended for Question Time.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) took the Chair.

6. Question Time

6.1 Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister  

Questions were put to, and answered by, the deputy First Minister, Mr Martin McGuinness. The junior Minister, Ms Jennifer McCann, also answered a number of questions. 

6.2 Health, Social Services and Public Safety

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Mr Edwin Poots.

7. Question for Urgent Oral Answer

7.1 Security of Prison Officers

The Minister of Justice, Mr David Ford, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer, tabled by Mr Paul Givan. 

8. Committee Business (Cont’d)

8.1 Motion - Muscular Dystrophy and Related Neuromuscular Conditions (Cont’d)

Debate resumed on the motion.

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

9. Private Members’ Business

9.1 Motion - Support for Councillor Sammy Brush

Proposed:

That this Assembly extends support, without qualification, to Samuel Brush, a DUP councillor, who, while working as a postman, was shot and survived an assassination attempt by the convicted terrorist Gerry McGeough; stands by the victims of terrorism; and expresses revulsion at those who side with would-be murderers rather than an innocent public servant.

Rt Hon P Robinson
Lord Morrow
Mrs A Foster

9.2 Amendment

Proposed:

Insert after ‘qualification, to’:

‘all elected representatives, and their families, who have been targeted by paramilitaries throughout the troubles, including’

Mr M Nesbitt
Mr T Elliott
Mr R Swann

The Speaker took the Chair.

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Amendment was made (Division 1).

The Question being put, the Motion, as amended, was carried (Division 2).

10. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 6.21pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
05 November 2012

Northern Ireland Assembly

05 November 2012
Division 1

Support for Councillor Sammy Brush - Amendment

Proposed:

Insert after ‘qualification, to’:

‘all elected representatives, and their families, who have been targeted by paramilitaries throughout the troubles, including’

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 66

Noes: 27

Ayes

Mr Agnew, Mr Allister, Mr Anderson, Mr Attwood, Mr Beggs, Mr Bell, Ms P Bradley, Ms Brown,
Mr Buchanan, Mr Byrne, Mr Campbell, Mr Clarke, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Copeland, Mr Craig,
Mr Cree, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dobson, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Durkan, Mr Easton, Mr Eastwood, Mr Elliott, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Gardiner, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mr Hamilton, Mr Humphrey, Mr Hussey, Mr Irwin, Mrs D Kelly, Mr Kennedy, Mr Kinahan, Mr Lunn, Mr Lyttle,
Mr McCarthy, Mr McCausland, Mr McClarty, Mr I McCrea, Mr McGimpsey, Mr McGlone,
Mr D McIlveen, Miss M McIlveen, Mrs McKevitt, Mr McQuillan, Mr A Maginness, Lord Morrow,
Mr Moutray, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Newton, Mrs Overend, Mr Poots, Mr P Ramsey, Mr G Robinson,
Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Rogers, Mr Ross, Mr Storey, Mr Swann, Mr Weir, Mr Wells.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Elliott and Mr Nesbitt.

Noes

Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr Brady, Ms Fearon, Mr Flanagan, Mr Hazzard, Mr G Kelly, Mr Lynch,
Mr McAleer, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Ms McCorley, Mr McElduff,
Ms McGahan, Mr McKay, Ms Maeve McLaughlin, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, Mr McMullan,
Mr Maskey, Mr Molloy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mr O'Dowd, Ms S Ramsey, Ms Ruane,
Mr Sheehan.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr McCartney and Mr Mitchel McLaughlin.

The Amendment was made.

Northern Ireland Assembly

05 November 2012
Division 2

Support for Councillor Sammy Brush - Motion as amended

Proposed:

That this Assembly extends support, without qualification, to all elected representatives, and their families, who have been targeted by paramilitaries throughout the troubles, including Samuel Brush, a DUP councillor who, while working as a postman, was shot and survived an assassination attempt by the convicted terrorist Gerry McGeough; stands by the victims of terrorism; and expresses revulsion at those who side with would-be murderers rather than an innocent public servant.

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

Ayes: 66

Noes: 27

Ayes

Mr Agnew, Mr Allister, Mr Anderson, Mr Attwood, Mr Beggs, Mr Bell, Ms P Bradley, Ms Brown,
Mr Buchanan, Mr Byrne, Mr Campbell, Mr Clarke, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Copeland, Mr Craig,
Mr Cree, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dobson, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Durkan, Mr Easton, Mr Eastwood, Mr Elliott, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Gardiner, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mr Hamilton, Mr Humphrey, Mr Hussey, Mr Irwin, Mrs D Kelly, Mr Kennedy, Mr Kinahan, Mr Lunn, Mr Lyttle,
Mr McCarthy, Mr McCausland, Mr McClarty, Mr I McCrea, Mr McGimpsey, Mr McGlone,
Mr D McIlveen, Miss M McIlveen, Mrs McKevitt, Mr McQuillan, Mr A Maginness, Lord Morrow,
Mr Moutray, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Newton, Mrs Overend, Mr Poots, Mr P Ramsey, Mr G Robinson,
Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Rogers, Mr Ross, Mr Storey, Mr Swann, Mr Weir, Mr Wells.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Clarke and Mr G Robinson.

Noes

Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr Brady, Ms Fearon, Mr Flanagan, Mr Hazzard, Mr G Kelly, Mr Lynch,
Mr McAleer, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Ms McCorley, Mr McElduff,
Ms McGahan, Mr McKay, Ms Maeve McLaughlin, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, Mr McMullan,
Mr Maskey, Mr Molloy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mr O'Dowd, Ms S Ramsey, Ms Ruane,
Mr Sheehan.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr McCartney and Mr Mitchel McLaughlin.

The Motion, as amended, was carried.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
24 October - 05 November 2012

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Superannuation Bill (As Amended at Consideration Stage) (NIA 6/11-15)

3. Orders in Council

4. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

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

5. Assembly Reports

Report on the Inquiry into Historical Institutional Abuse Bill (NIA Bill 7/11-15) (Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister) (NIA 79/11-15)

The Northern Ireland Assembly Members' Pension Fund Annual Report and Accounts for the period 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012 (NIA 76/11-15)

Fourth Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules (Session 2012-13) (NIA 78/11-15)

6. Statutory Rules

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

• S.R. 2012/379 The Smoke Control Areas (Excepted Fireplaces) (No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DOE)
• S.R 2012/383 The Bluetongue (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DARD)
• S.R 2012/384 The Materials and Articles in Contact with Food Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DHSSPS)
• S.R. 2012/385 Electricity (Priority Dispatch) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DETI)
• S.R. 2012/387 The Welfare of Animals (Docking of Working Dogs' Tails and Miscellaneous Amendments (Regulations) Northern Ireland 2012 (DARD)
• S.R. 2012/390 The Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Automatic Enrolment) (Amendment No.3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DSD)
• S.R. 2012/391 Legal Aid (General) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DOJ)
• S.R. 2012/394 The Social Security (Credits) (Amendment No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DSD)
• S.R. 2012/395 The Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 (Amendment) Regulations 2012 (DOJ)
• S.R. 2012/397 Fisheries (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DCAL)
• Draft S.R. 2012/ The General Register Office (Fees) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DFP)

For Information Only:

• S.R. 2012/373 The Tenancy Deposit Schemes Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DSD)
• S.R. 2012/382 The Off-Street Parking (Amendment No.5) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DRD)
• S.R. 2012/386 (C.36) The Welfare of Animals (2011 Act) (Commencement No.3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DARD)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (DHSSPS)

8. Consultation Documents

Consultation on the Proposed Changes to the Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation (NIRO) and Supplementary Consultations (DETI)

Consultation on the proposal for the reintroduction of a Fixed Penalty for an offence related to Goods Vehicle Licensing (DOE)

Consultation on Revising the Northern Ireland Waste Management Strategy (DOE)

Reviewing Support for Repair and Improvement in the Private Housing Sector (DSD)

9. Departmental Publications

Southern Health and Social Care Trust Charitable Trust Fund Accounts 2011-12 (DHSSPS)

Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health and Social Care Trust Charitable Trust Fund Accounts 2011-12 (DHSSPS)

South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust Charitable Trust Fund Accounts 2011-12 (DHSSPS)

Department of Finance and Personnel Memorandum on the Tenth Report from the Public Accounts Committee Mandate 2011-2015 - Safe Guarding Northern Ireland's Listed Buildings (DFP)

10. Agency Publications

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment Mineral Development Account for the year ended 31 March 2012 (NIAO)

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment Petroleum Production Account for the year ended 31 March 2012 (NIAO)

General Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland – 2012 (NIAO)

Commission for Victims and Survivors Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2012 (CVS)

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications