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. Executive Committee Business

2.1 Statement - British Irish Council Summit meeting

The First Minister, the Rt Hon Peter Robinson, made a statement regarding the British Irish Council Summit meeting, following which he replied to questions.

2.2 Statement - North South Ministerial Council meeting in Health and Food Safety Sectoral format

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Mr Edwin Poots, made a statement regarding the North South Ministerial Council meeting in Health and Food Safety Sectoral format following which he replied to questions.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) took the Chair.

2.3 Statement - Community Resuscitation Strategy

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Mr Edwin Poots, made a statement regarding the Community Resuscitation Strategy, following which he replied to questions.

3. Private Members’ Business

3.1 Motion – Effective Delivery of Major Infrastructure Work

Proposed:

That this Assembly calls on the Executive to take all necessary steps to create an effective delivery pipeline of major infrastructure work to alleviate the current economic and social difficulties being faced across the community.

Mr P McGlone
Mr P Frew
Mr B McElduff
Mr D Kinahan

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 12.28pm.

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

4. Question Time

4.1 Justice

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

4.2 Social Development

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Social Development, Mr Nelson McCausland.

4.3 Assembly Commission

Questions were put to, and answered by, members of the Assembly Commission.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) took the Chair.

5. Private Members’ Business (Cont’d)

5.1 Motion – Effective Delivery of Major Infrastructure Work

Debate resumed on the motion.

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

5.2 Motion – Support and Investment for the Higher Education Sector

Proposed:

That this Assembly acknowledges the key role of higher education in growing the local economy and helping to realise the Programme for Government’s cross-cutting priorities in health, social development, agri-food, education and skills, and research and innovation; and calls on the Executive to affirm its commitment to supporting and investing in the local higher education sector.

Mr P Ramsey
Mr A Ross
Mr S Agnew
Mr B McCrea
Ms B McGahan
Mr R Swann

Debate ensued.

The Speaker took the Chair.

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

5.3 Motion – BBC/RTE Documentary on ‘The Disappeared’

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the recent BBC/RTE documentary on ‘The Disappeared’ which outlined the harrowing practice of republican terrorists in abducting, killing and secretly burying people; further notes with extreme concern allegations of the involvement of the President of Sinn Fein, Gerry Adams TD, in the murder of one of these people, namely Jean McConville; stands firmly with the families of the Disappeared who have suffered greatly as a result of the actions of republican terrorists; recognises the work of the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains (ICLVR) in providing a mechanism whereby information can be obtained; and calls on all those with information to co-operate fully with the latest appeal from the ICLVR in the aftermath of this programme in order to bring some level of comfort to the families.

Mr M Nesbitt
Mr T Elliott

5.4 Amendment 1

Proposed:

Proposed: Leave out all after first ‘Disappeared’’ and insert:

‘; acknowledges the pain and anguish of the families whose loved ones were killed and secretly buried during the course of the conflict and offers them our full support; commends the work of the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains (ICLVR) in providing a mechanism whereby information relating to the location of the remains of the victims can be obtained; notes previous acknowledgments by the members of the Commission’s forensic team of the co-operation and assistance they received from republicans in their efforts to locate the remains of the victims; calls on all those with information to co-operate fully with the latest appeal from the ICLVR in the aftermath of the documentary, in order to bring some level of comfort to the families; and further calls on anyone who has previously been in touch with the Commission to contact them again in order to assist the Commission to reassess the information available to it.’

Mr M McLaughlin
Mr A Maskey
Ms C Ruane

5.5 Amendment 2

Proposed:

At end insert:

‘and anyone with information on the disappearance and whereabouts of Lisa Dorrian to immediately bring that forward to either the PSNI or the ICLVR; and further calls on the Minister of Justice to ensure that the necessary resources are available to the relevant criminal justice agencies to bring to justice those responsible for the murders of the Disappeared.'

Mr P Givan
Mr P Weir

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, Amendment No. 1 fell without division.

The Question being put, Amendment No. 2 was carried without division.

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

6. Adjournment

Mr Sammy Douglas spoke to his topic regarding the 50th Anniversary of the death of C.S. Lewis.

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 7.41pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
19 November 2013

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
19 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

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

For Information Only:

S. R. 2013/264 The Off-Street Parking (Amendment No.2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013 (DRD)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

A26 Dualling — Glarryford to Drones Road — Publication of Notice of Intention to Proceed and Making of Statutory Orders (DRD)

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

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 20 November 2013

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.