Minutes of Proceedings

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Executive Committee Business

2.1 Statement - Early Years: Learning to Learn 

The Minister of Education, Mr John O’Dowd, made a statement regarding Early Years: Learning to Learn, following which he replied to questions.

2.2 Statement - Promoting Innovation in Health and Social Care

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Mr Edwin Poots, made a statement regarding Promoting Innovation in Health and Social Care, following which he replied to questions.

3. Committee Business

3.1 Motion - Report on Inquiry into Unadopted Roads in Northern Ireland

Proposed:

That this Assembly approves the Report of the Committee for Regional Development on its Inquiry into Unadopted Roads in Northern Ireland; and calls on the Minister for Regional Development, in conjunction with his Executive colleagues and relevant bodies, to implement the recommendations.

Chairperson, Committee for Regional Development

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 12.22pm.

The sitting resumed at 2.00pm, with the Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) in the Chair.

4. Question Time

4.1 Agriculture and Rural Development

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

4.2 Culture, Arts and Leisure

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

4.3 Assembly Commission

Questions were put to, and answered by, Members of the Assembly Commission.

The Speaker took the Chair.

5.Committee Business (Cont’d)

5.1 Motion - Report on Inquiry into Unadopted Roads in Northern Ireland (Cont’d)

Debate resumed on the motion.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) took the Chair.

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

6. Private Members’ Business

6.1 Motion - Narrow Water Bridge Project

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the significant social and economic benefits, particularly for tourism, that will flow from the proposed Narrow Water Bridge Project in South Down; notes that the project has obtained planning consent on both sides of the border; welcomes the support of the Irish Government for the project and the Special EU Programmes Body's decision to allocate very substantial funding for the Bridge; calls on the Executive to make explicit its support for the project; and further calls on the Minister of Finance and Personnel to make clear his commitment to the successful delivery of the Narrow Water Bridge Project and to take the lead, along with his counterparts in the Irish Government, in ensuring that any remaining finance required to complete the funding package is committed immediately.

Mr S Rogers
Mrs K McKevitt

Debate ensued.

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

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

7. Adjournment

Mr Thomas Buchanan spoke to his topic on the future of acute mental health services in Omagh.

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 5.47pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
4 December 2012

Northern Ireland Assembly

4 December 2012
Division

Motion - Narrow Water Bridge Project

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the significant social and economic benefits, particularly for tourism, that will flow from the proposed Narrow Water Bridge Project in South Down; notes that the project has obtained planning consent on both sides of the border; welcomes the support of the Irish Government for the project and the Special EU Programmes Body's decision to allocate very substantial funding for the Bridge; calls on the Executive to make explicit its support for the project; and further calls on the Minister of Finance and Personnel to make clear his commitment to the successful delivery of the Narrow Water Bridge Project and to take the lead, along with his counterparts in the Irish Government, in ensuring that any remaining finance required to complete the funding package is committed immediately.

Mr S Rogers
Mrs K McKevitt

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 47
Noes: 38

Ayes

Mr Agnew, Mr Attwood, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr D Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Byrne, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Dallat, Mr Dickson, Mr Durkan, Dr Farry, Mr Flanagan, Mr Ford, Mr Hazzard, Mrs D Kelly,
Mr G Kelly, Mr Lunn, Mr Lynch, Mr Lyttle, Mr McAleer, Mr McCallister, Mr F McCann,
Ms J McCann, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCartney, Ms McCorley, Mr B McCrea, Mr McDevitt,
Dr McDonnell, Mr McElduff, Ms McGahan, Mr McGlone, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McKay,
Mrs McKevitt, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, Mr McMullan, Mr A Maginness, Mr Maskey, Mr Molloy,
Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr P Ramsey, Mr Rogers.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr D Bradley and Mr McDevitt.

Noes

Mr Allister, Mr Anderson, Mr Bell, Ms P Bradley, Ms Brown, Mr Buchanan, Mr Clarke,
Mr Copeland, Mr Cree, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew,
Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Hussey, 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, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Swann,
Mr Weir, Mr Wilson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr McQuillan and Mr G Robinson.

The Motion was carried.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
4 December 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

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

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

• The Child Support Maintenance (Changes to Basic Rate Calculation and Minimum Amount of Liability) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DSD)
• The Child Support Maintenance Calculation Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DSD)

For Information Only:

• The Waiting Restrictions (Ahoghill) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DRD)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

Potential Short-Term Changes to A-Levels Consultation Document (DE)

Potential Short-Term Changes to A-Levels Consultation Response Booklet (DE)

9. Departmental Publications

Northern Ireland Tourist Board Annual Report 2011/2012 (DETI)

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

Northern Ireland Assembly Legislation:

Stages in Consideration of Public Bills

First Stage: Introduction of Bill.

Second Stage: General debate of the Bill with an opportunity for Members to vote on its general principles.

Committee Stage (Comm. Stage): Detailed investigation by a Committee which concludes with the publication of a report for consideration by the Assembly.

Consideration Stage (CS): Consideration by the Assembly of, and an opportunity for Members to vote on, the details of the Bill including amendments proposed to the Bill.

Further Consideration Stage (FCS): Consideration by the Assembly of, and an opportunity for Members to vote on, further amendments to the Bill.

Final Stage: Passing or rejecting of Bill by the Assembly, without further amendment.

Royal Assent.

Proceedings as at 4 DECEMBER 2012

2011-2015 Mandate
Executive Bills

2011-2015 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills

/ Bill progressing by accelerated passage

** Please note that any bills that received Royal Assent in the previous session have been removed from the table.