Minutes of Proceedings

Session: 2012/2013

Date: 21 May 2013

Venue: Assembly Chamber

The Assembly met at 10.30am, the Speaker in the Chair.

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Executive Committee Business
2.1 Statement – Update on the Department for Employment and Learning Review of Teacher Education Infrastructure in Northern Ireland

The Minister for Employment and Learning, Dr Stephen Farry, made a statement regarding an Update on the Department for Employment and Learning Review of Teacher Education Infrastructure in Northern Ireland, following which he replied to questions.

2.2 Statement – Computer Based Assessments

The Minister of Education, Mr John O’Dowd, made a statement regarding Computer Based Assessments, following which he replied to questions.

2.3 Final Stage – Marine Bill (NIA 5/11-15)

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) took the Chair.

The Minister of the Environment, Mr Alex Attwood, moved that the Final Stage of the Marine Bill (NIA 5/11-15) do now pass.

Debate ensued.

The Marine Bill (NIA 5/11-15) passed Final Stage.

The sitting was suspended at 12.44pm.

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

4. Question Time

4.1 Justice

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Justice, Mr David Ford.

4.2 Regional Development

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

5. Private Members’ Business

5.1       Motion – Announcement on a Shared Future
Proposed:

That this Assembly notes that the development of a shared future and building a strong economy are inextricably linked; further notes the statement from the First Minister and deputy First Minister entitled Together: Building a United Community; calls for the individual projects announced to be subject to public consultation, where appropriate; and stresses the importance of the Executive developing a comprehensive shared future strategy which includes a clear vision, action plan, targets, budgeting and delivery mechanisms, and which addresses issues such as integrated education, mixed housing, shared space, the regulation of the flying of flags, parades and dealing with the past.

Mr C Lyttle
Mr T Lunn
Mr S Dickson

The Speaker took the Chair.

5.2 Amendment 1
Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘Community;’ and insert:

‘and that the good relations strategy was subject to full consultation; urges all relevant parties to fully and constructively participate in the All-Party Group to find solutions on the issues of parades and protests, flags, emblems and symbols and the past; welcomes the statement from the First Minister and deputy First Minister that all relevant departments will be invited to participate in the detailed project design stage; and calls on all Executive Ministers to ensure their departments fully and constructively participate, where relevant, in this process.’

Mr S Moutray
Mr J Spratt
Mr G Robinson

5.3 Amendment 2
Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘Community;’ and insert:

‘expresses concern at the lack of consultation with other parties, the absence of detail and uncertainty over costing; calls for the individual projects announced to be subject to public consultation, where appropriate; and stresses the importance of the Executive developing a comprehensive shared future strategy which includes a clear vision, action plan, targets, budgeting and delivery mechanisms, and which addresses issues such as a single education system by introducing a statutory promotion and facilitation of shared education and learning from existing integrated education techniques as a means of achieving that, mixed housing, shared space, the regulation of the flying of flags, parades, dealing with the past and reconciliation.’

Mr M Nesbitt
Mr D Kinahan

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, Amendment No. 1 was made (Division).

Amendment No. 2 was not put.

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

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

5.4 Motion – Fall in Farm Incomes
Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the recent publication of the Statistical Review of Northern Ireland Agriculture 2012 and Farm Incomes in Northern Ireland 2011/12; expresses significant concern about the collapse in the Total Income From Farming (TIFF) which fell by 50.6 per cent, 52.2 per cent in real terms, to £143 million compared to £290 million in 2011; notes that farmers have experienced an exceptionally difficult 12 months, due to a multitude of aggravating circumstances; and therefore calls upon the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the actions she has taken to alleviate the pressures which are faced by farmers and their families which are within her control.

Mrs J Dobson
Mr R Swann

5.5 Amendment 1
Proposed:

Insert after ‘circumstances’:

‘, including restricted bank credit facilities’

Mr J Byrne
Mr S Rogers

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Amendment was made without division.

The Question being put, the Motion, as amended, was carried without division

6. Adjournment

Ms Rosaleen McCorley spoke to her topic regarding the Whitemountain Quarry Hazardous Waste Transfer Site, West Belfast.

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 6.58pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
21 May 2013

21 May 2013

Division

Motion: Shared Future – Amendment 1
Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘Community;’ and insert:

‘and that the good relations strategy was subject to full consultation; urges all relevant parties to fully and constructively participate in the All-Party Group to find solutions on the issues of parades and protests, flags, emblems and symbols and the past; welcomes the statement from the First Minister and deputy First Minister that all relevant departments will be invited to participate in the detailed project design stage; and calls on all Executive Ministers to ensure their departments fully and constructively participate, where relevant, in this process.’

Mr S Moutray
Mr J Spratt
Mr G Robinson

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 60
Noes: 31

AYES

Mr Anderson, Mr Bell, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Ms P Bradley, Mr Brady, Ms Brown, Mr Buchanan, Mr Clarke, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Ms Fearon, Mr Flanagan, Mr Frew, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hazzard, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr G Kelly,    Mr Lynch, Mr McAleer, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McCausland,  Ms McCorley, Mr I McCrea, Mr McElduff, Ms McGahan, Mr M McGuinness, Mr D McIlveen, Miss M McIlveen, Ms Maeve McLaughlin, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, Mr McMullan, Mr McQuillan, Mr Maskey, Mr Milne, Mr Moutray, Mr Newton, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr Poots, Ms S Ramsey, Mr G Robinson, Mr P Robinson, Mr Ross, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wells.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr McQuillan and Mr G Robinson

NOES

Mr Allister, Mr Attwood, Mr Beggs, Mr D Bradley, Mr Byrne, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Copeland,Mr Cree, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dobson, Mr Durkan, Mr Eastwood, Mr Elliott, Mr Ford, Mr Hussey,Mrs D Kelly, Mr Kennedy, Mr Kinahan, Mr Lunn, Mr Lyttle, Mr McCallister, Mr McCarthy,Mr B McCrea, Mr McDevitt, Mrs McKevitt, Mr A Maginness, Mr Nesbitt, Mrs Overend, Mr P Ramsey, Mr Rogers, Mr Swann.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Kennedy and Mr Kinahan

The Amendment was made.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
21 May 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
5. Assembly Reports
6. Statutory Rules

For Information Only:

7. Written Ministerial Statements
8. Consultation Documents
9. Departmental Publications
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 21 May 2013

2011-2015 Mandate
Executive Bills

Title &
NIA Bill Number

First
Stage

Second Stage

Comm. Stage to Conclude

Report Ordered to be Printed

CS

FCS

Final Stage

Royal Assent

Marine Bill          5/11-15

21.02.12

05.03.12

06.07.12

05.07.12

30.04.13

13.05.13

21.05.13

 

Superannuation Bill 6/11-15

12.03.12

26.03.12

28.09.12

26.09.12

22.10.12

06.11.12

19.11.12

10.01.13

Inquiry into Historical Institutional Abuse Bill 7/11-15

12.06.12

25.06.12

26.10.12

24.10.12

20.11.12

03.12.12

11.12.12

18.01.13

Business Improvement Districts Bill 9/11-15

25.06.12

17.09.12

13.12.12

13.12.12

21.01.13

29.01.13

11.02.13

21.03.13

Criminal Justice Bill 10/11-15

25.06.12

03.07.12

14.12.12

13.12.12

19.02.13 & 25.02.13

12.03.13

08.04.13

25.04.13

Charities Bill     11/11-15

02.07.12

11.09.12

23.10.12

23.10.12

20.11.12

03.12.12

11.12.12

18.01.13

Welfare Reform Bill 13/11-15

01.10.12

09.10.12

19.02.13

14.02.13

 

 

 

 

Education Bill    14/11-15

02.10.12

15.10.12

08.04.13

08.04.13

 

 

 

 

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

08.10.12

16.10.12

N/A

N/A

22.10.12

05.11.12

06.11.12

11.12.12

Water and Sewerage Services (Amendment) Bill 16/11-15

19.11.12

27.11.12

29.01.12

23.01.13

12.02.13

25.02.13

05.03.13

25.04.13

Planning Bill     17/11-15

14.01.13

22.01.13

07.06.13

 

 

 

 

 

/Budget Bill      18/11-15

11.02.13

12.02.13

N/A

N/A

18.02.13

19.02.13

25.02.13

14.03.13

Tobacco Retailers Bill 19/11-15

15.04.13

23.04.13

06.06.13

 

 

 

 

 

2011-2015 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills

Title &
Bill Number

First
Stage

Second Stage

Comm. Stage to Conclude

Report Ordered to be Printed

CS

FCS

Final Stage

Royal Assent

Civil Service (Special Advisers) Bill    12/11-15

02.07.12

25.09.12

15.02.13

13.02.13

19.03.13

20.05.13

 

 

/ Bill progressing by accelerated passage

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

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