Minutes of Proceedings

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2.    Assembly Business

2.1   Authorisation to Exercise Functions

The Principal Deputy Speaker informed Members that he received a letter from the Speaker, advising that under Standing Order 5(2), he has designated the Principal Deputy Speaker, to exercise all of his procedural functions relating to proceedings of the Assembly. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Assembly Library.

3.    Matter of the Day

3.1   Scottish Referendum Result

Mr Mike Nesbitt made a statement, under Standing Order 24, in relation to the Scottish referendum result. Other Members were also called to speak on the matter.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) took the Chair.

4.    Executive Committee Business                                

4.1   Statement – North South Ministerial Council Meeting in Aquaculture and Marine Sectoral Format

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Michelle O’Neill, made a statement regarding the North South Ministerial Council meeting in Aquaculture and Marine Sectoral Format, held on Friday 27 June 2014, following which she replied to questions.

5.    Committee Business

5.1    Motion – Extension of Committee Stage: Justice Bill (NIA 37/11-15)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 27 March 2015, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Justice Bill (NIA 37/11-15).

Chairperson, Committee for Justice

Debate ensued.

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

6.    Private Members’ Business  

6.1   Motion – Development Proposals from the Western Education and Library Board

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes Development proposals 260, 261 and 262 by the Western Education and Library Board regarding the proposed closure of the Collegiate Grammar School and Portora Royal School; commends the staff and pupils of both schools for the excellent GSCE and A-level results achieved again this year; and requires the Minister of Education to reject the development proposals and seek consensus on the future of these schools with broad community support.

Lord Morrow
Mrs A Foster

6.2  Amendment

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘Portora Royal School’ and insert:

‘and the creation of a new school; commends the staff and pupils of both schools for the excellent GCSE and A-level results achieved again this year; and calls on the Minister of Education to ensure that his decision on these development proposals ensures that all of the young people served by the controlled sector in Enniskillen are given equality of access to high quality education, including the provision of a new build for Devenish College.’

Mr C Hazzard
Ms M McLaughlin
Mr P Sheehan
Mr P Flanagan

Debate ensued.

The debate was suspended for Question Time.

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

7.    Question Time

7.1   Office of the First and deputy First Minister

Questions were put to, and answered by, the First Minister the Rt. Hon Peter Robinson. The junior Minister, Mr Bell, also answered a number of questions.  

7.2  Minister of the Environment

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of the Environment, Mr Mark H Durkan.

8.    Private Members’ Business (Cont’d)

8.1   Motion – Development Proposals from the Western Education and Library Board (Cont’d)

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) took the Chair.

Debate resumed.

The Question being put, the Amendment fell (Division 1).

The Question being put, the Motion was carried (Division 2).

8.2   Motion – Replacement of the Current 2011-2015 Budget

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises that the 2011-2015 Budget Settlement is unravelling; expresses concern about the impact that the current funding crisis may have on the sick and the vulnerable across Northern Ireland and how this will be further compounded if penalties are passed down from Westminster; accepts that on-going implementation of the current four year Budget is now untenable; and calls on the Executive to bring forward a new Budget, accompanied by a revised Programme for Government which takes account of the new financial environment.

Mr M Nesbitt
Mr D Kennedy

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Motion was negatived (Division 3). 

9.    Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Principal Deputy Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 6.17pm

Mr Mitchel McLaughlin MLA

Principal Deputy Speaker

22 September 2014

Northern Ireland Assembly

22 September 2014
Division  1

Motion – Development Proposals from the Western Education and Library Board – Amendment

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘Portora Royal School’ and insert:

‘and the creation of a new school; commends the staff and pupils of both schools for the excellent GCSE and A-level results achieved again this year; and calls on the Minister of Education to ensure that his decision on these development proposals ensures that all of the young people served by the controlled sector in Enniskillen are given equality of access to high quality education, including the provision of a new build for Devenish College.’

Mr C Hazzard
Ms M McLaughlin
Mr P Sheehan
Mr P Flanagan

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 43
Noes: 47

AYES

Mr Attwood, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr Brady, Mr Byrne, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Dallat, Mr Dickson, Mr Eastwood, Ms Fearon, Mr Flanagan, Mr Ford, Mr Hazzard, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Ms Lo, Mr Lunn, Mr Lynch, Mr Lyttle, Mr McAleer, Ms J McCann, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCartney, Ms McCorley, Mr McElduff, Ms McGahan, Mr McGlone, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McKay, Mrs McKevitt, Mr McKinney, Ms Maeve McLaughlin, Mr McMullan, Mr A Maginness, Mr Maskey, Mr Milne, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mrs O'Neill, Mr P Ramsey, Mr Rogers, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Hazzard and Mr Sheehan

NOES

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

Tellers for the Noes: Mr McQuillan and Mr G Robinson.

The following Member voted in both Lobbies and is therefore not counted in the result: Mr Agnew.

The Amendment fell.

Northern Ireland Assembly

22 September 2014

Division 2

Motion – Development Proposals from the Western Education and Library Board

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes Development proposals 260, 261 and 262 by the Western Education and Library Board regarding the proposed closure of the Collegiate Grammar School and Portora Royal School; commends the staff and pupils of both schools for the excellent GSCE and A-level results achieved again this year; and requires the Minister of Education to reject the development proposals and seek consensus on the future of these schools with broad community support.

Lord Morrow
Mrs A Foster

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 47
Noes: 32

AYES

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

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr McQuillan and Mr G Robinson

NOES

Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr Brady, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Dickson, Ms Fearon, Mr Flanagan, Mr Ford, Mr Hazzard, Mr G Kelly, Ms Lo, Mr Lunn, Mr Lynch, Mr Lyttle, Mr McAleer, Ms J McCann, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCartney, Ms McCorley, Mr McElduff, Ms McGahan, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McKay, Ms Maeve McLaughlin, Mr McMullan, Mr Maskey, Mr Milne, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mrs O'Neill, 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, Mr McCallister. 

The Motion was carried.

Northern Ireland Assembly

22 September 2014
Division 3

Motion – Replacement of the Current 2011-2015 Budget

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises that the 2011-2015 Budget Settlement is unravelling; expresses concern about the impact that the current funding crisis may have on the sick and the vulnerable across Northern Ireland and how this will be further compounded if penalties are passed down from Westminster; accepts that on-going implementation of the current four year Budget is now untenable; and calls on the Executive to bring forward a new Budget, accompanied by a revised Programme for Government which takes account of the new financial environment.

Mr M Nesbitt
Mr D Kennedy

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 19
Noes: 70

AYES

Mr Attwood, Mr Byrne, Mr Copeland, Mrs Dobson, Mr Eastwood, Mr Elliott, Mr Gardiner, Mrs D Kelly, Mr Kennedy, Mr Kinahan, Mr McGlone, Mrs McKevitt, Mr McKinney, Mr A Maginness, Mr Nesbitt, Mrs Overend, Mr P Ramsey, Mr Rogers, Mr Swann.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Nesbitt and Mrs Overend

NOES

Mr Agnew, Mr Anderson, Mr Bell, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Ms P Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Buchanan, Mrs Cameron, Mr Campbell, Mr Clarke, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Craig, Mr Dickson, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Dr Farry, Ms Fearon, Mr Flanagan, Mr Ford, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hazzard, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr G Kelly, Ms Lo, Mr Lynch, Mr Lyttle, Mr McAleer, Mr McCallister, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McCausland, Ms McCorley, Mr I McCrea, Mr McElduff, Ms McGahan, Mr D McIlveen, Miss M McIlveen, Mr McKay, Ms Maeve McLaughlin, Mr McMullan, Mr McQuillan, Mr Maskey, Mr Milne, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Newton, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Mr P Robinson, Mr Ross, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wells, Mr Wilson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr McQuillan and Mr G Robinson.

The following Member voted in both Lobbies and is therefore not counted in the result: Mr Allister. 

The Motion was negatived.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
17 - 22 September 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

Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2013-14 (DHSSPS).

DETI Resource Accounts – Annual Report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March 2014 (DFP).

Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency Annual Report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March 2014 (DFP).

5.  Assembly Reports

NIA 192/11-16 Review of Waiting Times Report (DHSSPS).

NIA 193/11-16 Review of Supported Living for Older People in the Context of Transforming Your Care (DHSSPS).

6.  Statutory Rules

S.R. 2014/228 The Private Crossings (Signs and Barriers) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DRD).

S.R. 2014/229 The Level Crossing (McConaghy’s) Order (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DRD).

S.R. 2014/235 The Social Security (Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance) (Waiting Days) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DSD).

7.  Written Ministerial Statements

8.  Consultation Documents

Consultation Paper on The Proposals for the Level Crossing (Cullybackey South) Order (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DRD).

9.  Departmental Publications

10.  Agency Publications

11.  Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications