Minutes of Proceedings

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Speaker’s Business

The sitting was, by leave, suspended at 12.48pm as a mark of respect to the late Mr McClarty.

The sitting resumed at 1.20pm, with the Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) in the Chair.

2.1 Royal Assent

The Speaker informed Members that Royal Assent had been signified on 11 April 2014 to the Health and Social Care (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2014.

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 First Stage: Work and Families Bill (NIA 34/11-15)

The Minister for Employment and Learning, Dr Stephen Farry, introduced a Bill to make provision about shared rights to leave from work and statutory pay in connection with caring for children; time off work to accompany to ante-natal appointments or to attend adoption appointments; to make provision about the right to request flexible working; and for connected purposes.

The Work and Families Bill (NIA 34/11-15) passed First Stage and ordered to be printed.

4. Private Members’ Business

4.1 Motion – Praxis Care

Proposed:

That this Assembly acknowledges and commends the work carried out by Praxis Care; asserts that the transfer of the publicly-owned assets at Hillsborough Castle should be conditional on securing the future of Praxis at this location; and calls on the Secretary of State to explore all possible avenues to ensure that the employment provided and the work carried out by Praxis at Hillsborough Castle remain on site.

Ms J McCann
Mr M Brady

Debate ensued.

The debate was suspended for Question Time.

The Speaker took the Chair.

5. Question Time

5.1 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. 

5.2 Agriculture and Rural Development

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Michelle O’Neill.

6. Private Members’ Business (Cont’d)

6.1 Motion – Praxis Care

Debate resumed.

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

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

6.2 Motion – Mental Health

Proposed:

That this Assembly believes that mental health should be taken as seriously as physical health; urges the Executive to take action to end stigma against mental health; further believes that psychological therapies should be at the heart of the mental health services agenda; and calls for the current underfunding of child and adolescent mental health services to be addressed.

Mr K McCarthy
Mr C Lyttle
Mr T Lunn

Debate ensued.

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

7. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 5.01pm.

Mr William Hay

The Speaker

28 April 2014

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
9 - 28 April 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

Legislative Consent Memorandum Finance (No.2) Bill (DFP)

Human Rights Guidance for the Northern Ireland Prison Service Prison Order and Discipline by the Attorney General for Northern Ireland (Attorney General for Northern Ireland)

The Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Records 2012/13 (PRONI/DCAL)

Investigation under Paragraph 11, Schedule 9, Northern Ireland Act 1998. Newry and Mourne District Council Final Investigation Report March 2014 (Equality Commission)

Report of Proceedings of the Agricultural Wages Board for Northern Ireland under the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) (Northern Ireland) Order 1977 (DARD)

Records and Information Retention and Disposal Schedules Department of Justice (DCAL/PRONI)

Commission Investigation under Paragraph 10 of Schedule 9 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998; Acceptable Enterprises (Larne) Ltd & Larne Borough Council (Equality Commission)

Northern Ireland Audit Office - Safer Births: Using Information to Improve Quality (NIAO)

5.    Assembly Reports

6.    Statutory Rules

S. R. 2014/107 The Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DARD)

S. R. 2014/108 The Recovery of Health Service Charges (Amounts) (Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DHSSPS)

S. R. 2014/110 The Whole of Government Accounts (Designation of Bodies) Order (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DFP)

S. R. 2014/111 The Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (Membership, Procedure, Functions and Committee)(Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DHSSPS)

S. R. 2014/112 The North Circular Road and Tarry Lane, Lurgan (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DRD)

S. R. 2014/117 The Controlled Waste and Duty of Care (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DOE)

S. R. 2014/118 The Planning (Control of Advertisements) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DOE)

S. R. 2014/121 The Social Security (Invalid Care Allowance) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DSD)

For Information Only:

S. R. 2014/106 The Parking Places (Disabled Persons' Vehicles) (Amendment No.2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DRD)

S. R. 2014/109 The Road Races (Tandragee 100) Order (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DRD)

S. R. 2014/113 The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Charlemont Gardens, Armagh) Order (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DRD)

S. R. 2014/119 The Road Races (Tour of the Sperrins Rally) Order (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DRD)

S. R. 2014/120 The Road Races (North West 200) Order (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DRD)

7.    Written Ministerial Statements

PPS 23 – Enabling Development for the Conservation of Significant Places (DOE)

8.    Consultation Documents

CAP Reform Cross-Compliance Consultation Paper April 2014 (DARD)

Consultation on Proposed Relaxation of Brucellosis Pre-Movement Testing Controls (DARD)

Proposed Secondary Legislation Relating to EU Regulations 181/2011 - The Bus and Coach Passenger Rights and Obligations (Designation and Enforcement) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DRD)

The Draft Local Government (Executive Arrangements) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 - Consultation Document (DOE)

9.    Departmental Publications

Industrial Injuries Advisory Council Report: Terminal Cancers and Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (DSD)

Department for Social Development's Response to Dr Paul Litchfield's Report (DSD)

The Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 (DOE)

The Water Abstraction and Impoundment (Licensing) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (DOE)

Department of Finance and Personnel Memorandum on the Eighteenth Report from the Public Accounts Committee Mandate 2011-2015 (DFP)

10. Agency Publications

11.  Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications