Minutes of Proceedings

Session: 2013/2014

Date: 16 September 2013

Venue: Assembly Chamber

The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair.

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Speaker’s Business

2.1 New Member

The Speaker informed Members that he had been notified by the Chief Electoral Officer that Mr Fearghal McKinney had been returned as a Member of the Assembly for the South Belfast constituency to fill the vacancy that resulted from the resignation of Mr Conall McDevitt.

Mr Fearghal McKinney signed the Roll of Members on 16 September 2013 in the presence of the Speaker. The Speaker confirmed that the Member had signed the Roll and had entered his designation of identity.

2.2 Deputy Chairperson Nomination

The Speaker informed Members that he had received the resignation of Mr Simon Hamilton as Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for the Environment.  The Speaker also received the nomination of Ms Pam Brown as Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for the Environment with effect from 10 September 2013. The Speaker confirmed the appointment.

3. Public Petition

3.1 Public Petition – Hazelwood Integrated College

Mr Alban Maginness was granted leave, in accordance with Standing Order 22, to present a Public Petition regarding Hazelwood Integrated College.

4. Assembly Business

4.1 MotionCommittee Membership

Proposed:

That Miss Michelle McIlveen replace Mr Trevor Clarke as a member of the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development; that Mr Stephen Moutray and Mr Robin Newton replace Mrs Brenda Hale and Miss Michelle McIlveen as members of the Committee for Education; that Mr Sydney Anderson and Mr Sammy Douglas replace Mr Stephen Moutray and Mr Robin Newton as members of the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment; that Mr Ian McCrea replace Mr Sydney Anderson as a member of the Committee for the Environment; that Mr Ian McCrea replace Mr David McIlveen as a member of the Committee for Finance and Personnel; that Mr David McIlveen replace Ms Paula Bradley as a member of the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety; that Mr Sydney Anderson replace Mr Alex Easton as a member of the Committee for Justice; that Mrs Brenda Hale replace Mr Ian McCrea as a member of the Committee for Regional Development; that Mr Trevor Clarke and Mr Sammy Wilson replace Ms Pam Brown and Mr Sammy Douglas as members of the Committee for Social Development; that Ms Paula Bradley replace Mr Mervyn Storey as a member of the Committee on Procedures; that Mr Alex Easton replace Mr David McIlveen as a member of the Public Accounts Committee; that Mr Mervyn Storey replace Mr Sydney Anderson as a member of the Committee for Standards and Privileges.

Mr P Weir
Lord Morrow

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

5. Executive Committee Business

5.1 Statement – North South Ministerial Council meeting in Agriculture Sectoral Format

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Michelle O’Neill, made a statement regarding the North South Ministerial Council meeting in Agriculture sectoral format, held on 10 July 2013, following which she replied to questions.

5.2 First Stage: Health and Social Care (Amendment) Bill (NIA 27/11-15)

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Mr Edwin Poots, introduced a Bill to amend the Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009 and to make amendments consequential on that Act.

The Health and Social Care (Amendment) Bill (NIA 27/11-15) passed First Stage and ordered to be printed.

6. Committee Business

6.1 MotionAmend Standing Order 30

Proposed:

In standing order 30, after paragraph (6), insert –

“(7) Subject to paragraph 8, a Bill which is in the same or similar terms to a Bill which
has fallen or been rejected by the Assembly –

(a) must not be introduced in the Assembly within a period of 6 months from the date of that fall or rejection; but

(b) may be introduced at any time following the dissolution of the Assembly in which the fallen or rejected Bill was introduced.

(8)  In exceptional circumstances, the Assembly may, on a motion by the appropriate
person, allow the introduction of a Bill to which paragraph 7 applies.  The

‘appropriate person’ is –

(a) where the Bill is proposed to be introduced by a Minister, that Minister;

(b) where the Bill is proposed to be introduced by a member of the Assembly, that member”.

Chairperson, Committee on Procedures

Debate ensued.

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

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

6.2 MotionReport on Proposals for a Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman Bill

Proposed:

That this Assembly approves the Report of the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister on its proposals for a Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman Bill.

Chairperson, Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister

Debate ensued.

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

7. Private Members’ Business

7.1 Motion Free School Meals Entitlement

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the importance of free school meals entitlement; welcomes the increase in children who are accessing free school meals; and calls on the Minister of Education to explore ways in which the uptake of free school meals can be improved.

Mr C Hazzard
Mr M Boyle
Mr P Sheehan

7.2 Amendment

Leave out all after ‘recognises’ and insert:

‘the important role of nutrition in the educational attainment of children; and, in light of increased financial pressures on working families, calls on the Minister of Education to explore ways in which to extend access to free school meals to more children.’

Proposed:

Mr S Rogers
Mrs D Kelly

Debate ensued.

The debate was suspended for Question Time.

The Speaker took the Chair.

8. Question Time

8.1 Finance and Personnel   

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Finance and Personnel, Mr Simon Hamilton.

8.2 Education

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Education, Mr John O’Dowd.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) took the Chair.

9. Private Members’ Business (Cont’d)

9.1 Motion Free School Meals Entitlement

Debate resumed on the Motion.

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

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

10. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 4.11pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
16 September 2013

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
11 – 16 September 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

Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2012-13 (DHSSPS)

Belfast Education and Library Board Retention and Disposal of Records Schedule (DCAL)

5. Assembly Reports

Legislative Consent Motion to allow the inclusion of Amendments to Court Rule-Making Procedures in the Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill (NIA 111/11-15)

6. Statutory Rules

S. R. 2013/219 The Fish Labelling Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013 (DHSSPS)

S. R. 2013/221 The Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Automatic Enrolment) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013 (DSD)

For Information Only:

S. R. 2013/216 The Disability Discrimination (2006 Order) (Commencement No.5) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013 (OFMDFM)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Appointment of a Speech and Language Therapist to the Youth Justice Agency (DOJ)

8. Consultation Documents

Consultation on the Introduction of Restrictions on the Landfilling of Food Waste (Draft Food Waste Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013) (DOE)

9. Departmental Publications

Department of Finance and Personnel Memorandum on the Fourteenth Report from the Public Accounts Committee Mandate 2011-2015. Invest NI a Performance Review 11 September 2013. (DFP)

10. Agency Publications
11. Westminster Publications
12. Miscellaneous Publications

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