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. Speaker's Business

The Speaker announced the death of Mr Eddie McGrady, a former Member for the South Down Constituency.

Members paid tribute to Mr McGrady on behalf of their parties.

3. Matter of the Day
3.1 Devastation in the Philippines
Mr Cathal Ó hOisín made a statement, under Standing Order 24, in relation to the devastation in the Philippines. Other Members were also called to speak on the matter.

4. Executive Committee Business
4.1 Statement – North South Ministerial Council Plenary meeting
The deputy First Minister, Mr Martin McGuinness made a statement regarding the North South Ministerial Council Plenary meeting, held on 8 November 2013, following which he replied to questions.
The Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) took the Chair.

4.2 Legislative Consent Motion – Intellectual Property Bill (Freedom of Information Pre-Publication Exemption)
Proposed:
That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension of the Freedom of Information provisions in the UK Intellectual Property Bill on the protection of pre-publication research to Northern Ireland.
Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.

5. Committee Business
5.1 Motion - Amend Standing Order 20A(1)
Proposed:
In Standing Order 20A(1) leave out 'first' and insert 'last'.
Chairperson, Committee on Procedures
The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support nemine contradicente.
5.2 Motion - Public Accounts Committee Reports and Memoranda of Reply
Proposed:
That this Assembly takes note of the following Public Accounts Committee Reports:
Report on the Use of External Consultants by Northern Ireland Departments: Follow-up Report (NIA 43/11-15)
Report on the Uptake of Benefits by Pensioners (NIA 45/11-15)
Report on The Bioscience and Technology Institute (NIA 48/11-15)
Report on the Transfer of Former Military and Security Sites to the Northern Ireland Executive and Ilex Accounts 2010 - 2011 (NIA 58/11-15)
Report on Safeguarding Northern Ireland's Listed Buildings (NIA 64/11-15)
Report on Statements of Rate Levy and Collection 2009 -10 and 2010 -11 (NIA 88/11-15)
Report on the Northern Ireland Housing Executive: Management of Response Maintenance Contracts (NIA 99/11-15)
Report on the Safety of Services Provided by Health and Social Care Trusts (NIA 102/11-15)
Report on Improving Literacy and Numeracy Achievement in Schools (NIA 116/11-15)
Report on InvestNI: A Performance Review (NIA 109/11-15)
and the following Department of Finance and Personnel Memoranda of Reply:
Report on the Use of External Consultants by Northern Ireland Departments: Follow-up Report
Report on the Uptake of Benefits by Pensioners
Report on The Bioscience and Technology Institute
Report on the Transfer of Former Military and Security Sites to the Northern Ireland Executive and Ilex Accounts 2010 - 2011
Report on Safeguarding Northern Ireland's Listed Buildings
Report on Statements of Rate Levy and Collection 2009 -10 and 2010 -11
Report on the Northern Ireland Housing Executive: Management of Response Maintenance Contracts
Report on the Safety of Services Provided by Health and Social Care Trusts
Report on Improving Literacy and Numeracy Achievement in Schools
Report on Invest NI: A Performance Review .
Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee
Debate ensued.
The sitting was suspended at 12.31pm.
The sitting resumed at 2.00pm, with the Speaker in the Chair.

6. Question Time
6.1 Finance and Personnel
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Finance and Personnel, Mr Simon Hamilton.
6.2 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.

7. Committee Business (Cont'd)
7.1 Motion – Public Accounts Committee Reports and Memoranda of Reply
Debate resumed on the Motion.
The Principal Deputy Speaker (Mr McLaughlin) took the Chair.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.

8. Private Members' Business
8.1 Motion – Public Awareness Campaign on Prostate Cancer
Proposed:
That this Assembly expresses its concern at the rates of prostate cancer; and calls on the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to introduce a public awareness campaign to raise awareness of the disease and to introduce a screening programme.
Mr O McMullan
Ms M McLaughlin
Mr M Brady
Debate ensued.
The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) took the Chair.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.

9. Adjournment
Ms Maeve McLaughlin spoke to her topic regarding public sector jobs in the North West.
Proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
The Speaker
The Assembly adjourned at 6.43pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
12 November 2013

Northern Ireland Assembly
Papers Presented to the Assembly on 12 November 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

South Eastern Education and Library Board Annual Report and Accounts 2012/2013 (DE)
Southern Education and Library Board Annual Report and Accounts 2012/2013 (DE)

5. Assembly Reports
6. Statutory Rules
For Information Only:
7. Written Ministerial Statements
8. Consultation Documents
9. Departmental Publications

Annual Report and Financial Statements for Middletown Centre for Autism 2013 (DE)

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 13 November 2013
2011-2015 Mandate
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.