Minutes of Proceedings

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Executive Committee Business

2.1 Statement - North South Ministerial Council meeting in Inland Waterways Sectoral Format

The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Ms Carál Ní Chuilín, made a statement regarding the North South Ministerial Council meeting in Inland Waterways Sectoral Format, following which she replied to questions.  

2.2 tatement - North South Ministerial Council meeting in Language Body Sectoral Format

The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Ms Carál Ní Chuilín, made a statement regarding the North South Ministerial Council meeting in Language Body Sectoral Format, following which she replied to questions.  

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) took the Chair.

2.3 Motion - Jobseeker's Allowance (Domestic Violence) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012

Proposed:

That the Jobseeker's Allowance (Domestic Violence) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 be approved.

Minister for Social Development

Debate ensued.

The Speaker took the Chair.

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

2.4 Second Stage - Welfare Reform Bill (NIA 13/11-15)

The Minister for Social Development, Mr Nelson McCausland, moved that the Second Stage of the Welfare Reform Bill (NIA 13/11-15) be agreed.

2.5 Reasoned Amendment

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘That’ and insert:

‘the Second Stage of the Welfare Reform Bill be not agreed pending further consideration and adjustment to better reflect the specific circumstances, obligations and needs of our people; because, while recognising the need for a simplification of the benefit system and development of work incentives, the Bill’s proposals have their origins in austerity policies being pursued at Westminster which are targeted at the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in society and which clearly do not adequately address the specific circumstances and needs of our people and will create significant hardship and difficulties for many individuals and families living in socially disadvantaged unionist and nationalist communities; in addition, the payment proposals of Universal Credit:

(a) do not reflect the specifics of our labour market and the prevalence of the weekly wage;

(b) fail to take account of an established pattern of direct payments to landlords; and

(c) in proposing a single household payment, fail to meet specific statutory equality obligations which require social policy to mitigate any adverse impact on named groups, including women and children;

and furthermore the Bill fails to take account of:

(i) the impact of increased punitive measures on jobseekers in a society emerging from conflict and recovering from a legacy of discrimination in employment;

(ii) the fact that there is currently no statutory duty to provide affordable childcare, yet the Bill increases conditionality for lone parents;

(iii) the existing housing stock and the legacy of segregated housing, in relation to the introduction of an under-occupancy penalty;

(iv) the high rate of error in the Work Capability Assessment which is creating hardship and uncertainty amongst many sick and disabled people who are being wrongly declared fit for work; and

(v) the anomaly of a benefit cap that was primarily devised to address extortionate housing costs in London but has discriminatory consequences for families here with more than the average number of children.’

Mr M Brady
Mr F McCann

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 12.26pm.

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

3.  Question Time

3.1 Regional Development  

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Regional Development, Mr Danny Kennedy.

3.2 Social Development

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Social Development, Mr Nelson McCausland.

4. Executive Committee Business (Cont’d)

4.1 Statement - Transforming Your Care

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

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

4.2 Second Stage - Welfare Reform Bill (NIA 13/11-15) (Cont’d)

Debate resumed on the Motion.

The Speaker took the Chair.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) took the Chair.

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

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) took the Chair.

The Speaker took the Chair.

The Question being put, the Reasoned Amendment fell (Division 1).

The Welfare Reform Bill passed Second Stage (Division 2).

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) took the Chair.

5. Adjournment

Ms Caitríona Ruane spoke to her topic on Post-Primary education provision in the Kilkeel area.

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 1.09am.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
09 October 2012

Northern Ireland Assembly

09 October 2012
Division 1

Second Stage: Welfare Reform Bill (NIA 13/11-15) - Reasoned Amendment

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘That’ and insert:

‘the Second Stage of the Welfare Reform Bill be not agreed pending further consideration and adjustment to better reflect the specific circumstances, obligations and needs of our people; because, while recognising the need for a simplification of the benefit system and development of work incentives, the Bill’s proposals have their origins in austerity policies being pursued at Westminster which are targeted at the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in society and which clearly do not adequately address the specific circumstances and needs of our people and will create significant hardship and difficulties for many individuals and families living in socially disadvantaged unionist and nationalist communities; in addition, the payment proposals of Universal Credit:

(a) do not reflect the specifics of our labour market and the prevalence of the weekly wage;

(b) fail to take account of an established pattern of direct payments to landlords; and

(c) in proposing a single household payment, fail to meet specific statutory equality obligations which require social policy to mitigate any adverse impact on named groups, including women and children;

and furthermore the Bill fails to take account of:

(i) the impact of increased punitive measures on jobseekers in a society emerging from conflict and recovering from a legacy of discrimination in employment;

(ii) the fact that there is currently no statutory duty to provide affordable childcare, yet the Bill increases conditionality for lone parents;

(iii) the existing housing stock and the legacy of segregated housing, in relation to the introduction of an under-occupancy penalty;

(iv) the high rate of error in the Work Capability Assessment which is creating hardship and uncertainty amongst many sick and disabled people who are being wrongly declared fit for work; and

(v) the anomaly of a benefit cap that was primarily devised to address extortionate housing costs in London but has discriminatory consequences for families here with more than the average number of children.’

Mr M Brady
Mr F McCann

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 42

Noes: 60

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, Mr McElduff, Ms McGahan, Mr McGlone, 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 Brady and Mr F McCann.

Noes

Mr Allister, Mr Anderson, Mr Bell, Ms P Bradley, Ms Brown, Mr Buchanan, Mr Campbell, 
Mr Clarke, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Copeland, Mr Craig, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dobson, Mr Douglas, 
Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Gardiner, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Hussey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kennedy, Mr Kinahan, Ms Lo, Mr Lunn, Mr Lyttle, Mr McCallister, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCausland, 
Mr McClarty, Mr B McCrea, Mr I McCrea, Mr McGimpsey, Mr D McIlveen, Miss M McIlveen, 
Mr McNarry, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Newton, Mrs Overend, Mr Poots, 
Mr G Robinson, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Swann, Mr Weir, 
Mr Wells, Mr Wilson.

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

The amendment fell.

Northern Ireland Assembly

09 October 2012
Division 2

Second Stage: Welfare Reform Bill (NIA 13/11-15)

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 60
Noes: 42

Ayes

Mr Allister, Mr Anderson, Mr Bell, Ms P Bradley, Ms Brown, Mr Buchanan, Mr Campbell, 
Mr Clarke, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Copeland, Mr Craig, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dobson, Mr Douglas, 
Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Gardiner, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Hussey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kennedy, Mr Kinahan, Ms Lo, Mr Lunn, Mr Lyttle, Mr McCallister, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCausland, 
Mr McClarty, Mr B McCrea, Mr I McCrea, Mr McGimpsey, Mr D McIlveen, Miss M McIlveen, 
Mr McNarry, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Newton, Mrs Overend, Mr Poots, 
Mr G Robinson, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Swann, Mr Weir, 
Mr Wells, Mr Wilson.

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

Noes

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, Mr McElduff, Ms McGahan, Mr McGlone, 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 Noes: Mrs McKevitt and Mr Rogers.

The Second Stage was agreed.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
09 October 2012

1.   Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2.   Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

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

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)                         

• Draft S.R. 2012/  The Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (DETI)

7.    Written Ministerial Statements

8.    Consultation Documents

Proposals to Widen the Powers of the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland and Extend its Remit to Include the Further Education Sector (DEL)

9.    Departmental Publications

Northern Ireland Museums Council Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011-2012 (DCAL)

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 9 OCTOBER 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.