Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at noon, the Principal Deputy Speaker (Mr McLaughlin) in the Chair.

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Executive Committee Business

2.1 Statement – Emergency Department Review

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Mr Edwin Poots, made a statement regarding an Emergency Department Review, following which he replied to questions.

2.2 Motion – Suspend Standing Orders

Proposed:

That Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4) be suspended for 10 February 2014.

Minister of Finance and Personnel

The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support nemine contradicente.

2.3 Motion – Supply Resolution for the 2013-2014 Spring Supplementary Estimates

Proposed:

That this Assembly approves that a total sum, not exceeding £15,530,883,000, be granted out of the Consolidated Fund for or towards defraying the charges for Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Audit Office, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2014 and that total resources, not exceeding £16,606,564,000, be authorised for use by Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Audit Office, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2014 as summarised for each Department or other public body in Columns 3(c) and 2(c) of Table 1 in the volume of the Northern Ireland Spring Supplementary Estimates 2013-14 that was laid before the Assembly on 3 February 2014.

Minister of Finance and Personnel

Debate ensued on this motion and the motion on the Supply Resolution for the 2014-2015 Vote on Account.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) took the Chair.

The debate was suspended at 1.54pm for Question Time.

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

3. Question Time

3.1 Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister

Questions were put to, and answered by, the First Minister, the Rt Hon Peter Robinson. The junior Minister, Mr Jonathan Bell, also answered a number of questions.

3.2 Employment and Learning

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

4. Executive Committee Business (cont’d)

4.1 Motion – Supply Resolution for the 2013-2014 Spring Supplementary Estimates

Debate resumed on both motions.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) took the Chair.

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

The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support nemine contradicente.

4.2 Motion – Supply Resolution for the 2014-2015 Vote on Account

Proposed:

That this Assembly approves that a sum, not exceeding £7,062,352,000, be granted out of the Consolidated Fund on account for or towards defraying the charges for Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Audit Office, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2015 and that resources, not exceeding £7,545,788,000, be authorised, on account, for use by Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Audit Office, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2015 as summarised for each Department or other public body in Columns 4 and 6 of Table 1 in the Vote on Account 2014-15 document that was laid before the Assembly on 3 February 2014.

Minister of Finance and Personnel

The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support nemine contradicente.

4.3 First Stage - Budget Bill (NIA 32/11-15)

The Minister of Finance and Personnel, Mr Simon Hamilton, introduced a Bill to authorise the issue out of the Consolidated Fund of certain sums for the service of the years ending 31st March 2014 and 2015; to appropriate those sums for specified purposes; to authorise the Department of Finance and Personnel to borrow on the credit of the appropriated sums; to authorise the use for the public service of certain resources for the years ending 31st March 2014 and 2015; and to revise the limits on the use of certain accruing resources in the year ending 31 st March 2014.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) took the Chair.

The Budget Bill (NIA 32/11-15) passed First Stage and ordered to be printed.

4.4 Further Consideration Stage: Tobacco Retailers Bill (NIA 19/11-15)

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Mr Edwin Poots, moved the Further Consideration Stage of the Tobacco Retailers Bill (NIA 19/11-15).

No amendments were tabled to the Bill.

The Tobacco Retailers Bill (NIA 19/11-15) stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

5. Private Members’ Business

5.1 Motion – Safer Internet Day 2014 Campaign

Proposed:

That this Assembly endorses and supports the Safer Internet Day 2014 Campaign entitled ‘Let’s create a better internet together’; recognises that whilst it poses significant dangers to children and young people, used properly the internet can also positively affect social, economic and educational advancement; acknowledges that all users have a part to play in making the internet a safer and better place for everybody; and calls upon Her Majesty’s Government to encourage a cross-cutting approach to online safety by incorporating it into the school curriculum, by affording parents and carers easy access to sufficient information to take necessary action and by encouraging businesses and industry to self-regulate their web-based content and services.

Mr M Storey
Miss M McIlveen
Mr P Givan
Mr P Frew

5.2 Amendment

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘everybody;’ and insert:

‘calls upon the Northern Ireland Executive and Her Majesty’s Government to encourage a cross-cutting approach to online safety by incorporating it into the school curriculum, by affording parents and carers easy access to sufficient information to take necessary action and by encouraging businesses and industry to self-regulate their web-based content and services; and further calls upon the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to assist with the prompt establishment of an e-safety forum, as recommended in the recent Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland, ‘An exploration of e-safety messages to young people, parents and practitioners in Northern Ireland’, and to co-ordinate e-safety responsibilities across all Executive Departments.’

Mrs S Overend

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

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 8.14pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
10 February 2014  

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
5 – 10 February 2014

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

The North/South Language Body Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2011 (DCAL)

Department of Finance and Personnel Memorandum and the Seventeenth report of the Public Accounts Committee Mandate 2011-2015 - DCAL: Management of Major Capital Projects (DFP)

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

S. R. 2014/22 The Rates (Regional Rates) Order (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DFP)

S. R. 2014/26 The Explosive (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DOJ)

For Information Only:

S. R. 2014/18 The Charities (2008 Act) (Commencement No.5) Order (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DSD)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications