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 – Advancing Shared Education

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

2.2 Statement – Planning Bill

The Minister of the Environment, Mr Mark Durkan, made a statement regarding the Planning Bill, following which he replied to questions.

The sitting was suspended at 12.31pm.

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

3. Question Time

3.1 Social Development

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

3.2 Agriculture and Rural Development

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

4. Executive Committee Business (cont’d)

4.1 Legislative Consent Motion – Energy Bill (Decarbonisation Provisions)

Proposed:

That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension to Northern Ireland of the provisions of the Energy Bill dealing with Power Sector Decarbonisation, as contained in Part 1 of the Energy Bill, as amended at Committee Stage in the House of Lords.

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment

Debate ensued.

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

5. Private Members’ Business

5.1 Motion – The Use of the Social Investment Model in Tackling Social Issues

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the growing use of the social investment model to tackle a variety of long-standing and extensive social issues; recognises its value in pioneering new approaches and techniques that produce better results for people, shifting risk away from the public sector and only paying on results; and calls on the Minister of Finance and Personnel to examine how such a model could be applied to contracts to help tackle a range of social issues.

Mr P Girvan
Mr P Weir
Mr P Frew
Mr G Dunne

Debate ensued.

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

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

5.2 Motion – Review of the North South Implementation Bodies and Areas for Co-operation

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the Review of the North South Implementation Bodies and Areas for Co-operation that has been ongoing since 2007; expresses its disappointment and frustration that the Review has not concluded its work more than six years after it started; believes that the expansion of areas of co-operation and implementation across economic, social, educational, health, environmental and other areas serves the interests of the people of the island of Ireland; further notes that the July 2013 North South Ministerial Council agreed that the Review recommendations should be presented to its December 2013 meeting; and urges that there is no further slippage in concluding the Review and that its recommendations are actioned urgently.

Mr A Attwood
Dr A McDonnell
Mrs D Kelly

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Motion, was carried (Division 1).

6. Adjournment

Mr Dominic Bradley spoke to his topic regarding the future of Armagh Gaol.

The Speaker took the Chair.

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 6.26pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
22 October 2013

Northern Ireland Assembly

22 October 2013

Division 1

Motion – Review of the North South Implementation Bodies and Areas for Co-operation

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the Review of the North South Implementation Bodies and Areas for Co-operation that has been ongoing since 2007; expresses its disappointment and frustration that the Review has not concluded its work more than six years after it started; believes that the expansion of areas of co-operation and implementation across economic, social, educational, health, environmental and other areas serves the interests of the people of the island of Ireland; further notes that the July 2013 North South Ministerial Council agreed that the Review recommendations should be presented to its December 2013 meeting; and urges that there is no further slippage in concluding the Review and that its recommendations are actioned urgently.

Mr A Attwood
Dr A McDonnell
Mrs D Kelly

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 38
Noes: 32

AYES

Mr Agnew, Mr Attwood, Mr Boylan, Mr D Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Byrne, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Eastwood, Mr Flanagan, Mr Ford, Mr Hazzard, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Mr McAleer, Mr McCallister, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCartney, Ms McCorley, Mr B McCrea, Mr McElduff, Ms McGahan, Mr McGlone, Mr McKay, Mrs McKevitt, Mr McKinney, Ms Maeve McLaughlin, Mr McMullan, Mr Maskey, Mr Milne, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr P Ramsey, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr D Bradley and Mr McKinney

NOES

Mr Allister, Mr Anderson, Mr Beggs, Mr Bell, Ms P Bradley, Ms Brown, Mr Buchanan, Mr Clarke, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mrs Dobson, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Frew, Mr Gardiner, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Mr D McIlveen, Miss M McIlveen, Mr McQuillan, Mr Moutray, Mr Newton, Mrs Overend, Mr G Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Swann, Mr Weir.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Moutray and Mr G Robinson

The Motion was carried.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
22 October 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

SSA Annual Report on Decision Making and Financial Accuracy 1 January to 31 December 2012 (DSD)

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

For Information Only:

7. Written Ministerial Statements

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 23 October 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.