Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Public Petition

2.1 Public Petition – Loane House, Dungannon

Ms Bronwyn McGahan was granted leave, in accordance with Standing Order 22, to present a Public Petition regarding Loane House, Dungannon.

3. Committee Business

3.1 Motion – Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Mrs Jo-Anne Dobson replace Mr Samuel Gardiner as a member of the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety; that Mr Danny Kinahan replace Mrs Sandra Overend as a member of the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment; that Mrs Sandra Overend replace Mrs Jo-Anne Dobson as a member of the Committee for Education; that Mr Tom Elliott replace Mr Robin Swann as a member of the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development; and that Mrs Sandra Overend replace Mr Tom Elliott as a member of the Committee for the Environment, with effect from Friday 4 July 2014.

Mr R Swann
Mrs S Overend

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

3.2 Motion – Assembly Commission Membership

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 79(4), Mr Samuel Gardiner be appointed to fill a vacancy on the Assembly Commission with effect from Friday 4 July 2014.

Mr R Swann
Mrs S Overend

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

4. Executive Committee Business

4.1 Statement – Report on Stage 2 of the Review of Initial Teacher Education Infrastructure in Northern Ireland

The Minister for Employment and Learning, Dr Stephen Farry, made a statement regarding the report on Stage 2 of the review of initial teacher education infrastructure in Northern Ireland, following which he replied to questions.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

4.2 Statement – Improving Unscheduled Care

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Mr Edwin Poots, made a statement regarding improving unscheduled care, following which he replied to questions.

4.3 Statement – North South Ministerial Council in Special EU Programmes Sectoral Format

The Minister of Finance and Personnel, Mr Simon Hamilton, made a statement regarding the North South Ministerial Council in Special EU Programmes Sectoral format, following which he replied to questions.

5. Private Members’ Business

5.1 Motion – Demonstrating Respect, Restraint and Tolerance in Contested Parades and Associated Protests

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes, in the absence of a formal agreement on a new way forward for contested parades and associated protests, that it is essential that everyone involved, whether participants, spectators or protestors, demonstrate respect, restraint and tolerance for those of differing opinions.

Mr M Nesbitt
Mr T Elliott

5.2 Amendment

Proposed:

Proposed: At end insert:

‘; and calls on all organisations and parties involved, particularly elected representatives, to demonstrate unambiguous adherence to the rule of law.’

Mr C Lyttle
Mr S Dickson

Debate ensued.

The Speaker took the Chair.

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

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

The sitting was suspended at 1.55pm.

The sitting resumed at 2.00pm, with the Speaker in the Chair.

6. Question Time

6.1 Health, Social Services and Public Safety

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Mr Edwin Poots.

6.2 Justice

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

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) took the Chair.

7. Executive Committee Business (Cont’d)

7.1 Statement – Public Consultation on the Future of Tourism

The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Mrs Arlene Foster, made a statement regarding public consultation on the future of tourism, following which she replied to questions.

8. Private Members’ Business (Cont’d)

8.1 Motion – Cancer Research and Treatment

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the prevalence of cancer in Northern Ireland and the efforts made by frontline staff and professionals to counteract the disease; notes the advances in cancer treatment being made here and the achievements of the cancer centre in South Belfast which, in collaboration with the pharmaceutical sector, has made significant and unique strides in bio-medical diagnostic research; applauds the global and local economic and health benefits of such research; acknowledges that the predicted increased rates of cancer dictates that more needs to be done in terms of furthering research and treatment; and calls on the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to support this work to develop Northern Ireland as a world class centre for cancer research and treatment.

Mr F McKinney
Mr S Rogers

8.2 Amendment

Proposed:

Proposed: After first ‘research and treatment;’ insert:

‘supports efforts to broaden access for local patients to innovative treatments and clinical trials; encourages the establishment of a university-linked Biomedical Research Centre;’

Mr J Wells
Mr G Dunne
Mrs P Cameron
Mr D McIlveen

Debate ensued.

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

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

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) took the Chair.

9. Adjournment

Ms Rosaleen McCorley spoke to her topic regarding transitional family support services in West Belfast.

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 5.47pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
1 July 2014

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
1 July 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

Driver and Vehicle Agency Annual Report and Statement of Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March 2014 (DOE)

Northern Ireland Environment Agency Annual Report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March 2014 (DOE)

Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland Annual Report and Statement of Accounts 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2014 (DETI)

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

For Information Only:

7. Written Ministerial Statements

2014 Annual Report on the Concordat between the Voluntary and Community Sector and the Northern Ireland Government (DSD)

8. Consultation Documents

Consultation on the draft Environmental Liability (Prevention and Remediation) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DOE)

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

Managing and Protecting Funds Held in Court (NIAO)

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 2 July 2014

2011-2015 Mandate
Executive Bills

2011-2015 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills

/ Bill progressing by accelerated passage

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