Minutes of Proceedings

Session: 2013/2014

Date: 24 September 2013

Venue: Assembly Chamber

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 Second Stage - Health and Social Care (Amendment) Bill (NIA 27/11-15)

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety moved the Second Stage of the Health and Social Care (Amendment) Bill (NIA 27/11-15).

Debate ensued.

The Health and Social Care (Amendment) Bill passed Second Stage.

3. Committee Business

3.1 Motion - Extension of Committee Stage: Public Service Pensions Bill (NIA 23/11-15)
Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 29 November 2013, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Public Service Pensions Bill (NIA 23/11-15).

Chairperson, Committee for Finance and Personnel

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

3.2 Motion - Appointment of an Acting Commissioner
Proposed:

That this Assembly notes that the Northern Ireland Assembly Commissioner for Standards is unable to act in relation to any complaint arising from the public assemblies in Castlederg on 11th August 2013; appoints Mr Stuart Allan as an Acting Commissioner, in accordance with section 23(1) of the Assembly Members (Independent Financial Review and Standards) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, to investigate all such complaints; directs that this appointment shall cease when Mr Allan has reported on all such complaints; and that the terms of his appointment, in particular his remuneration will, subject to any necessary modification, be the same as those of the Northern Ireland Assembly Commissioner for Standards.

Chairperson, Committee on Standards and Privileges

Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.

4. Private Members’ Business

4.1 Motion – Access to Public Procurement Opportunities
Proposed:

That this Assembly notes that the procurement of goods, services and infrastructure projects is a key driver of the economy; further notes the on-going work in other devolved regions in this area; and calls on the Minister of Finance and Personnel to take action to address the criticisms of the current system and to ensure that there is sufficient access for small and medium sized enterprises, as well as the social economy, to public procurement opportunities.

Mrs S Overend
Mr R Swann

4.2 Amendment
Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘system’ and insert:

‘to ensure that there is sufficient access for small and medium-sized enterprises, and for organisations in the social economy, to public procurement opportunities and to ensure that employees in companies that are contracted and sub-contracted through Government procurement are paid at least the living wage.’

Mr S Agnew

Debate ensued

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) took the Chair.

The sitting was suspended at 12.27pm.

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

5. Assembly Business

The Deputy Speaker advised the House that the Business Committee had scheduled the remainder of the Second Stage of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Further Provisions and Support for Victims) Bill (NIA 26/11-15) to follow the debate on Access to Public Procurement Opportunities.

6. Question Time

6.1 Enterprise, Trade and Investment  

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Mrs Arlene Foster.

6.1 Justice

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

7. Private Members’ Business (Cont’d)

7.1 Motion – Access to Public Procurement Opportunities

Debate resumed on the Motion.

The Question being put, the Amendment fell without division.

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

7.2 Resumption of Second Stage: Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Further Provisions and Support for Victims) Bill (NIA 26/11-15)

Second Stage of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Further Provisions and Support for Victims) Bill began on Monday 23 September 2013 but stood suspended at 9.00pm.

Debate resumed on the Bill.

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

The Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Further Provisions and Support for Victims) Bill passed Second Stage.

7.3 Motion – Common Funding Formula
Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the current proposals by the Minister of Education to revise the Common Funding Formula; further notes, with grave concern, the apparent disproportionate impact of the proposals on controlled schools; and calls on the Minister to establish, as a matter of urgency, a controlled schools body to properly represent the views of this sector in the consultation.

Mr M Storey
Miss M McIlveen
Mr J Craig
Mrs B Hale

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) took the Chair.

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

The Speaker took the Chair.

7.4 Motion – Support for DVANI Office Staff
Proposed:

That this Assembly supports the staff of Driver and Vehicle Agency offices in Northern Ireland; calls on the Westminster Government and the Northern Ireland Executive to take the necessary steps to retain the existing jobs and services; and further calls for new investment by the Department of Transport in equipment and technology.

Mr J Dallat
Mr C Ó hOisín
Mr R Swann
Mr S Dickson
Mr G Robinson
Mr D McClarty

Debate ensued.

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

8. Adjournment

Mr Sammy Douglas spoke to his topic regarding the Historical Enquiries Team Report into the Death of Kirk Watters.

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 9.16pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker

24 September 2013

Northern Ireland Assembly

24 September 2013

Division 

Motion – Common Funding Formula
Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the current proposals by the Minister of Education to revise the Common Funding Formula; further notes, with grave concern, the apparent disproportionate impact of the proposals on controlled schools; and calls on the Minister to establish, as a matter of urgency, a controlled schools body to properly represent the views of this sector in the consultation.

Mr M Storey
Miss M McIlveen
Mr J Craig
Mrs B Hale

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 53
Noes: 24

AYES

Mr Allister, Mr Anderson, Mr Attwood, Mr Beggs, Mr Bell, Mr D Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Ms Brown, Mr Buchanan, Mr Campbell, Mr Clarke, Mr Copeland, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Durkan, Mr Easton, Mr Eastwood, Mr Frew, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kennedy, Mr Kinahan, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Mr McGimpsey, Mr McGlone, Mr D McIlveen, Miss M McIlveen, Mrs McKevitt, Mr McKinney, Mr McQuillan, Mr A Maginness, Mr Moutray, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Newton, Mrs Overend, Mr Poots, Mr P Ramsey, Mr G Robinson, Mr P Robinson, Mr Rogers, Mr Ross, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wells, Mr Wilson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Anderson and Mr G Robinson

NOES

Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr Brady, Ms Fearon, Mr Flanagan, Mr Hazzard, Mr G Kelly, Mr Lynch, Mr McAleer, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Ms McCorley, Mr McElduff, Ms McGahan, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McKay, Ms Maeve McLaughlin, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, Mr Maskey, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Hazzard and Mr Sheehan.

The following Members voted in both Lobbies and are therefore not counted in the result: Mr Agnew, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Ford, Mr Lunn, Mr Lyttle, Mr McCallister, Mr B McCrea

The Motion was carried.

Northern Ireland Assembly
Papers Presented to the Assembly on
24 September 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

Report on a complaint against Mr Alex Maskey MLA, NIA 126/11-15 (Committee on Standards and Privileges)

6. Statutory Rules

The Pensions (2005 Order) (Codes of Practice) (Reporting Late Payment of Contributions) (Appointed Day) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013  (DSD)

For Information Only:

7. Written Ministerial Statements
8. Consultation Documents

Consultation on a Draft Innovation Strategy for Northern Ireland 2013-2015 (DETI)

9. Departmental Publications

Healthy Food for Healthy Outcomes - Food in Schools Policy (DE)

Tourism Ireland Annual Report 2013 (DETI)

10. Agency Publications
11. Westminster Publications
12. Miscellaneous Publications

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