Minutes of Proceedings

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Executive Committee Business

2.1 Further Consideration Stage: Carrier Bags Bill (NIA 20/11-15)

The Minister of the Environment, Mr Mark H Durkan, moved the Further Consideration Stage of the Carrier Bags Bill (NIA 20/11-15).

Five amendments were tabled to the Bill.

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 12.30pm.

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

3. Question Time

3.1 Agriculture and Rural Development

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

3.2 Culture, Arts and Leisure

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Ms Carál Ní Chuilín.

The sitting was suspended at 3.29pm.

The sitting resumed at 3.30pm with the Speaker in the Chair.

4. Executive Committee Business (Cont’d)

4.1 Further Consideration Stage: Carrier Bags Bill (NIA 20/11-15)

Debate resumed on the Bill.

Clauses

After debate, Amendment 1 to Clause 9 was negatived on division.

After debate, Amendment 2 to Clause 9 was negatived on division.

As neither Amendment 1 nor 2 was made, Amendments 3 and 4 were not called.

After debate, Amendment 5 inserting a new Clause 9A after Clause 9 was made on division and it was agreed that the new clause stand part of the Bill.

The Carrier Bags Bill (NIA 20/11-15) stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

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

5. Private Members’ Business

5.1 Motion – Reclassification of Guide Dogs

Proposed:

That this Assembly commends the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association's Campaign ‘Guide Dogs are Working Dogs too!’; and calls on Her Majesty’s Government to reclassify guide dogs and other assistance dogs as working dogs to afford them the same entitlements as other working dogs.

Lord Morrow
Mr P Weir
Mr J Wells

Debate ensued.

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

6. Committee Business

6.1 Motion – Financial Support to Expand Credit Union Services

Proposed:

That this Assembly acknowledges the valuable contribution of the credit union movement to providing affordable credit; and calls on the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to work with her Executive colleagues to provide appropriate financial assistance to Northern Ireland credit unions to cover start-up costs to enable those credit unions that want to expand their range of services to include current accounts, in order to enable more people to avail of banking services, to fill the gap left by widespread bank closures and to make a greater difference to communities across Northern Ireland, especially the most vulnerable and those in rural areas.

Chairperson, Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment

Debate ensued.

The Speaker took the Chair.

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

7. Adjournment

The Adjournment debate regarding Creavery Primary School stood on the Order Paper in the name of Mr Trevor Clarke.

The Adjournment debate was not moved.

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 7.19pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
25 February 2014

Northern Ireland Assembly

25 February 2014
Division 1

Further Consideration Stage: Carrier Bags Bill (NIA 20/11-15) – Amendment 1

Proposed:

Clause 9, Page 3, Line 25

After ‘any material’ insert ‘, except bags made wholly or mainly of paper,’

Mr J Allister

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 33
Noes: 53

AYES

Mr Allister, Mr Anderson, Mr Bell, Ms P Bradley, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Mr Craig, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Frew, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey,
Mr Irwin, Mr McCallister, Mr McCausland, Mr B McCrea, Mr I McCrea, Mr D McIlveen,
Miss M McIlveen, Mr McNarry, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Newton,
Mr G Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Allister and Mr McNarry

NOES

Mr Agnew, Mr Beggs, Mr Boylan, Mr D Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Byrne, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Cree,
Mr Dallat, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dobson, Mr Durkan, Mr Elliott, Mr Flanagan, Mr Ford, Mr Hazzard, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Mr Kennedy, Mr Kinahan, Ms Lo, Mr Lunn, Mr Lynch, Mr McAleer,
Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCartney, Ms McCorley, Dr McDonnell,
Mr McElduff, Ms McGahan, Mr McGimpsey, Mr McGlone, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McKay,
Mrs McKevitt, Mr McKinney, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, Mr McMullan, Mr A Maginness, Mr Maskey, Mr Milne, Mr Nesbitt, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mrs Overend,
Mr P Ramsey, Mr Rogers, Ms Ruane, Mr Swann.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr D Bradley and Mr McGlone

The Amendment fell.

Northern Ireland Assembly

25 February 2014
Division 2

Further Consideration Stage: Carrier Bags Bill (NIA 20/11-15) – Amendment 2

Proposed:

Clause 9, Page 3, Line 25

After ‘any material’ insert ‘, except a bag made wholly or mainly of paper, hessian material, cotton, cloth or jute,’

Mr P Weir
Mrs P Cameron
Mr I McCrea
Lord Morrow

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 31
Noes: 51

AYES

Mr Allister, Mr Anderson, Ms P Bradley, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Mr Craig, Mr Douglas,
Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Frew, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey,
Mr Irwin, Mr McCallister, Mr B McCrea, Mr I McCrea, Mr D McIlveen, Miss M McIlveen,
Mr McNarry, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Newton, Mr G Robinson, Mr Ross,
Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr McQuillan and Mr G Robinson

NOES

Mr Agnew, Mr Beggs, Mr Boylan, Mr D Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Byrne, Mr Cree, Mr Dallat,
 Mr Dickson, Mrs Dobson, Mr Durkan, Mr Elliott, Mr Flanagan, Mr Ford, Mr Hazzard, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Mr Kennedy, Mr Kinahan, Ms Lo, Mr Lunn, Mr Lynch, Mr McAleer, Mr F McCann,
Ms J McCann, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCartney, Ms McCorley, Dr McDonnell, Mr McElduff,
 Ms McGahan, Mr McGlone, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McKay, Mrs McKevitt, Mr McKinney,
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, Mr McMullan, Mr A Maginness, Mr Maskey, Mr Milne, Mr Nesbitt,
Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mrs Overend, Mr P Ramsey, Mr Rogers,
Ms Ruane, Mr Swann.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr D Bradley and Mr McGlone

The Amendment fell.

Northern Ireland Assembly

25 February 2014
Division 3

Further Consideration Stage: Carrier Bags Bill (NIA 20/11-15) – Amendment 5

Proposed:

New Clause

After clause 9 insert -

‘Report on biodegradable carrier bags

9A.—(1) The Department must, within 18 months of Royal Assent, prepare a report on biodegradable carrier bags.

(2) A report under this section must consider—

(a) the desirability of any exemptions on the grounds of biodegradability from the requirement to charge for carrier bags;

(b) the criteria under which any such exemptions should apply; and

(c) how any exemptions on the grounds of biodegradability proposed in the report would be implemented.

(3) The Department must—

(a) lay a report under this section before the Assembly; and

(b) publish a report under this section in such a manner as it thinks appropriate.’

Mr P Weir
Mrs P Cameron
Mr I McCrea
Lord Morrow

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 45
Noes: 42

AYES

Mr Allister, Mr Anderson, Mr Beggs, Mr Bell, Ms P Bradley, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke,
Mrs Cochrane, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mrs Dobson, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey,
Mr Irwin, Mr Kennedy, Mr McCallister, Mr McCausland, Mr B McCrea, Mr I McCrea,
 Mr D McIlveen, Miss M McIlveen, Mr McNarry, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray,
Mr Nesbitt, Mr Newton, Mrs Overend, Mr G Robinson, Mr P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Spratt,
Mr Storey, Mr Swann, Mr Weir.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr McQuillan and Mr G Robinson

NOES

Mr Agnew, Mr Boylan, Mr D Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Byrne, Mr Dallat, Mr Dickson, Mr Durkan,
Mr Flanagan, Mr Ford, Mr Hazzard, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Ms Lo, Mr Lunn, Mr Lynch,
Mr McAleer, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCartney, Ms McCorley,
Dr McDonnell, Mr McElduff, Ms McGahan, Mr McGlone, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McKay,
Mrs McKevitt, Mr McKinney, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, Mr McMullan, Mr A Maginness, Mr Maskey, Mr Milne, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr P Ramsey, Mr Rogers,
Ms Ruane.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr D Bradley and Mr McGlone

The Amendment was made.

Carrier Bags Bill

Annotated Marshalled List of Amendments

Further Consideration Stage

Tuesday 25 February 2014

Amendments tabled up to 9.30am Thursday, 20 February 2014 and selected for debate

Amendment 1            [Negatived on division]

Clause 9, Page 3, Line 25

After ‘any material’ insert ‘, except bags made wholly or mainly of paper,’

Mr Jim Allister

Amendment 2            [Negatived on division] 

Clause 9, Page 3, Line 25

After ‘any material’ insert ‘, except a bag made wholly or mainly of paper, hessian material, cotton, cloth or jute,’

Mr Peter Weir
Mrs Pam Cameron
Mr Ian McCrea
Lord Morrow of Clogher Valley

Amendment 3            [Not called] 

Clause 9, Page 3, Line 35

At end insert -

‘( ) omit head (g);’

Mr Jim Allister

Amendment 4            [Not called]    

Clause 9, Page 3, Line 35

At end insert -

‘( ) omit head (i);’

Mr Jim Allister

Amendment 5            [Made on division] 

New Clause

After clause 9 insert -

‘Report on biodegradable carrier bags

9A.—(1) The Department must, within 18 months of Royal Assent, prepare a report on biodegradable carrier bags.

(2) A report under this section must consider—

(a) the desirability of any exemptions on the grounds of biodegradability from the requirement to charge for carrier bags;

(b) the criteria under which any such exemptions should apply; and

(c) how any exemptions on the grounds of biodegradability proposed in the report would be implemented.

(3) The Department must—

(a) lay a report under this section before the Assembly; and

(b) publish a report under this section in such a manner as it thinks appropriate.’

Mr Peter Weir
Mrs Pam Cameron
Mr Ian McCrea
Lord Morrow of Clogher Valley

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
25 February 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

Land Property Services Trust Statement - Rate Levy Accruals Account 2012-13 (DFP)

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

For Information Only:

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

Consultation on Implementation of EC Regulation 181/2011 on Bus and Coach Passenger Rights (DOE)

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 26 February 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.