Minutes of Proceedings

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Executive Committee Business

2.1 Statement – Evaluation and Assessment

The Minister of Education, Mr John O’Dowd, made a statement regarding evaluation and assessment, following which he replied to questions.

2.2 Statement – Progress Update on Transforming Your Care

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Mr Edwin Poots, made a statement regarding a progress update on Transforming Your Care, following which he replied to questions.

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

3. Private Members’ Business

3.1 Motion – Drawdown of European Funds

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the significant funding available for drawdown within the European Union; commends the Minister for Regional Development for leading the Northern Ireland Executive in the successful drawdown of competitive funding; further notes with grave concern the imbalance in the drawdown of European funds for economic development between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland under the Framework 7 Programme, whereby Assembly research statistics show that while Northern Ireland secured €35 per capita, the equivalent in the Republic was €590; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to take steps to ensure an increased drawdown of competitive European funds across Departments, in addition to identifying an appropriate region of the EU against which Northern Ireland can benchmark its performance.

Mr M Nesbitt
Mrs S Overend

3.2 Amendment

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘commends’ and insert:

‘the Executive for setting an increased target for our drawdown; further commends those Ministers who have been successful in securing significant funding to date; and calls on the Executive to ensure that they maximise all potential funding opportunities from Europe.’

Ms M Fearon
Ms B McGahan
Mr A Maskey

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 12.29pm.

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

4. Question Time

4.1 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.

4.2 Justice

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

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) took the Chair.

5. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)

5.1 Motion – Drawdown of European Funds

Debate resumed on the Motion.

The Question being put, the Amendment was made (Division).

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

5.2 Motion – BBC Spotlight Programme on Waste Disposal

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the issues raised in the recently broadcast BBC Spotlight investigation into illegal waste disposal and other irregularities; and calls on the Minister of the Environment to establish an independent public inquiry into waste disposal in the North West to ensure that public confidence is restored and to allay concerns that other illegal waste disposal sites remain undetected.

Mr R McCartney
Mr C Boylan
Mr B McElduff
Mr I Milne

5.3 Amendment

Proposed:

Insert after ‘West’:

‘and the rest of Northern Ireland, including the role unauthorised quarries and related planning enforcement issues played in facilitating environmental crime,’

Mr S Agnew

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) 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.

6. Adjournment

Mr Robin Swann spoke to his topic regarding school absenteeism in North Antrim.

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 7.09pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker

11 March 2014

Northern Ireland Assembly

11 March 2014
Division

Motion – Drawdown of European Funds – Amendment

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘commends’ and insert:

‘the Executive for setting an increased target for our drawdown; further commends those Ministers who have been successful in securing significant funding to date; and calls on the Executive to ensure that they maximise all potential funding opportunities from Europe.’

Ms M Fearon
Ms B McGahan
Mr A Maskey

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 72
Noes: 11

AYES

Mr Anderson, Mr Bell, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Ms P Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Buchanan, Mr Byrne, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Craig, Mr Dallat, Mr Dickson, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Durkan, Mr Easton, Mr Eastwood, Mr Flanagan, Mr Ford, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Girvan,
Mr Hamilton, Mr Hazzard, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Ms Lo,
Mr Lynch, Mr Lyttle, Mr McAleer, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McCausland, Ms McCorley, Mr I McCrea, Dr McDonnell, Mr McElduff, Ms McGahan, Mr McGlone,
Mr D McIlveen, Mr McKay, Mrs McKevitt, Ms Maeve McLaughlin, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin,
Mr McMullan, Mr McQuillan, Mr A Maginness, Mr Maskey, Mr Milne, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Newton, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson,
Mr Rogers, Mr Ross, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wells.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr McAleer and Mr McKay

NOES

Mr Agnew, Mr Allister, Mr Cree, Mrs Dobson, Mr Elliott, Mr Gardiner, Mr Kinahan, Mr McGimpsey, Mr Nesbitt, Mrs Overend, Mr Swann.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Cree and Mrs Overend

The Amendment was made.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
11 March 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

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

S. R. 2014/45 The Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DRD)

S. R. 2014/46 The Vehicle Accessibility (Applications for Exemption Orders) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DRD)

S. R. 2014/66 The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DARD)

S. R. 2014/73 The Social Security (Claims and Payments) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DSD)

For Information Only:

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

Monitoring the impact of recent measures affecting Housing Benefit and Local Housing Allowances in the private rented sector in Northern Ireland: Final Report March 2014 (DSD)

10. Agency Publications

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 5 March 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.