Minutes of Proceedings

Session: 2013/2014

Date: 12 May 2014

Venue: Assembly Chamber

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 Death of Oscar Knox

The Rt Hon Peter Robinson made a statement, under Standing Order 24, in relation to the death of Oscar Knox. Other Members were also called to speak on the matter.

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Statement – North South Ministerial Council Transport Sector Meeting (Roads and Transport)

The Minister for Regional Development, Mr Danny Kennedy, made a statement regarding the North South Ministerial Council Transport Sector Meeting (Roads and Transport) following which he replied to questions.

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

3.2 Statement – North South Ministerial Council Transport Sector Meeting (Road Safety)

The Minister of the Environment, Mr Mark H Durkan, made a statement regarding the North South Ministerial Council Transport Sector Meeting (Road Safety) following which he replied to questions.

4. Assembly Business

4.1 Motion – Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Ms Claire Sugden replace the late Mr David McClarty as a member of the Committee for Employment and Learning.

Mr R Swann
Mrs S Overend

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

5. Executive Committee Business (Con’t)

5.1 First Stage – Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill (NIA 35/11-15)

The Minister of the Environment, Mr Mark H Durkan, introduced a Bill to amend the law relating to the prescribed limit of alcohol for drink-driving offences; to make further provision for breath testing; to make provision relating to certain offences being specified as fixed penalty offences; to amend the law relating to disqualification on conviction of certain offences; to amend the law, as respects certain vehicles, relating to the age at which a provisional licence may be obtained, the requirements to be satisfied to take a test of competence to drive and the restrictions to which newly qualified drivers are subject for a period after passing such a test; to make provision relating to completion of an approved course as an alternative to licence revocation during a new driver’s probationary period and extending requirements to wear protective headgear; and for connected purposes.

The Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill (NIA 35/11-15) passed First Stage and ordered to be printed.

5.2 Second Stage – Work and Families Bill (NIA 34/11-15)

The Minister for Employment and Learning, Dr Stephen Farry, moved the Second Stage of the Work and Families Bill (NIA 34/11-15).

Debate ensued.

The debate was suspended for Question Time.

The Speaker 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 Environment 

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of the Environment, Mr Mark H Durkan.

7. Executive Committee Business (Con’t)

7.1 Second Stage – Work and Families Bill (NIA 34/11-15)

Debate resumed on the Bill.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) took the Chair.

The Work and Families Bill (NIA 34/11-15) passed Second Stage without division.

8. Private Members’ Business

8.1 Motion – Heavy Goods Vehicle Levy

Proposed:

That this Assembly expresses concern at the implications of the Heavy Goods Vehicle Levy being introduced by the Department for Transport; notes with concern the deeply negative impact that this levy would have on hauliers based in border areas and on island-wide trade, which generates £2.3 billion for the island, with the larger return to the local economy; further notes that the additional levy would increase costs to local consumers; and calls on the Executive to exert maximum influence on the British government to ensure that the local road system is exempt from this levy.

Mr P Flanagan
Mr C Boylan
Ms M Fearon
Mr B McElduff

Debate ensued.

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

9. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 5.30pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
12 May 2014

Northern Ireland Assembly

12 May 2014
Division

Motion – Heavy Goods Vehicle Levy

Proposed:

That this Assembly expresses concern at the implications of the Heavy Goods Vehicle Levy being introduced by the Department for Transport; notes with concern the deeply negative impact that this levy would have on hauliers based in border areas and on island-wide trade, which generates £2.3 billion for the island, with the larger return to the local economy; further notes that the additional levy would increase costs to local consumers; and calls on the Executive to exert maximum influence on the British government to ensure that the local road system is exempt from this levy.

Mr P Flanagan
Mr C Boylan
Ms M Fearon
Mr B McElduff

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 32
Noes: 39

AYES

Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr Brady, 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 McElduff, Ms McGahan, Mr McKay, Mrs McKevitt, Mr McKinney, Ms Maeve McLaughlin, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, Mr McMullan, Mr A Maginness, Mr Maskey, Mr Milne,
Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Mr P Ramsey, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Boylan and Mr McElduff

NOES

Mr Agnew, Mr Allister, Mr Beggs, Mr Bell, Ms P Bradley, Mr Buchanan, Mrs Cameron,
Mr Campbell, Mr Clarke, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Copeland, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mrs Dobson,
Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Mrs Foster, Mr Gardiner, Mr Girvan, Mrs Hale,
Mr Hamilton, Mr Humphrey, Mr Kennedy, Mr Kinahan, Ms Lo, Mr Lyttle, Mr McCarthy,
Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Miss M McIlveen, Lord Morrow, Mr Newton, Mrs Overend,
Mr P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Swann, Mr Weir.

Tellers for the Noes: Mrs Cameron and Mr Elliott

The Motion was negatived.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
7 – 12 May 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

Waterways Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2012 (DCAL)

17th Report of the Financial Reporting Advisory Board April 2013 to March 2014 (DFP)

Code of Practice for the Detention, Treatment and Questioning of Persons under Section 41 of, and Schedule 8 to, the Terrorism Act 2000 - Code C (DOJ)

Code of Practice for the Detention, Treatment and Questioning of Persons under Section 41 of, and Schedule 8 to, the Terrorism Act 2000 - Code H (DOJ)

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

S. R. 2014/134 The Police and Criminal Evidence (1989 Order) (Codes of Practice) (Revision of Codes C and H) Order (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DOJ)

S. R. 2014/133 The Social Security (Habitual Residence) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DSD)

For Information Only:

S. R. 2014/125 (C.5) The Tobacco Retailers (2014 Act) (Commencement No.1) Order (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DHSSPS)

S. R. 2014/128 The Bus Lanes (Dublin Road, Antrim) Order (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DRD)

S. R. 2014/129 The Waiting Restrictions (Carrickfergus) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DRD)

S. R. 2014/130 The Road Races (Spamount Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DRD)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

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