Minutes of Proceedings

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2.    Public Petition

2.1       Public Petition – Putting Patients First

Ms Maeve McLaughlin was granted leave, in accordance with Standing Order 22, to present a Public Petition regarding the delivery of health care.

3.    Executive Committee Business

3.1       Statement – North South Ministerial Council Transport Sector Meeting (Roads and Transport)

The Minister for Regional Development, Mr Danny Kennedy, made a statement regarding the North South Ministerial Council Transport Sector Meeting (Roads and Transport) following which he replied to questions.

3.2       Statement – North South Ministerial Council Transport Sector Meeting (Road Safety)

The Minister of the Environment, Mr Mark H Durkan, made a statement regarding the North South Ministerial Council Transport Sector Meeting (Road Safety) following which he replied to questions.

3.3       Further Consideration Stage – Work and Families Bill (NIA 34/11-15)

The Minister for Employment and Learning, Dr Stephen Farry, moved the Further Consideration Stage of the Work and Families Bill.

No amendments were tabled to the Bill.

The Work and Families Bill (NIA Bill 34/11-15) stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with Section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

3.4       Motion – The Child Support Fees Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014

Proposed:

That the Child Support Fees Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 be approved.

Minister for Social Development

Debate ensued.

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

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

3.5       Motion – The Child Support (Ending Liability in Existing Cases and Transition to New Calculation Rules) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014

Proposed:

That the Child Support (Ending Liability in Existing Cases and Transition to New Calculation Rules) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 be approved.

Minister for Social Development

Debate ensued.

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

4.    Committee Business

4.1       Motion – Public Accounts Committee Reports and Memoranda of Reply

Proposed:

That this Assembly takes note of the following Public Accounts Committee Reports:

Report on the NIFRS: An Organisational Assessment and Review of Departmental Oversight and Report on Accounts 2011-2012 (NIA 131/11-15);

Report on DCAL: Management of Major Capital Projects (NIA 136/11-15);

Report on Department of Finance and Personnel – Collaborative Procurement and Aggregated Demand (NIA 153/11-15);

Report on The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (NIA 162/11-15);

Report on PSNI: Use of Agency Staff (NIA 163/11-15);

Report on NI Water’s Response to a Suspected Fraud & DRD: Review of an Investigation of a Whistleblower Complaint (NIA 172/11-15);

Report on Account NI: Review of a Public Sector Financial Shared Service Centre (NIA 173/11-15);

Report on Improving Pupil Attendance: Follow-Up Report (NIA 181/11-15);

and the following Department of Finance and Personnel Memoranda of Reply:

Report on the NIFRS: An Organisational Assessment and Review of Departmental Oversight and Report on Accounts 2011-2012;

Report on DCAL: Management of Major Capital Projects;

Report on Department of Finance and Personnel – Collaborative Procurement and Aggregated Demand;

Report on The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute;

Report on PSNI: Use of Agency Staff;

Report on NI Water’s Response to a Suspected Fraud & DRD: Review of an Investigation of a Whistleblower Complaint;

Report on Account NI: Review of a Public Sector Financial Shared Service Centre;

Report on Improving Pupil Attendance: Follow-Up Report.

Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee

Debate ensued.

The debate was suspended for Question Time.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) took the Chair.

5.    Question Time

5.1       Office of the First Minister 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. 

5.2       Agriculture and Rural Development

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

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

6.    Committee Business (cont’d)

6.1       Motion – Public Accounts Committee Reports and Memoranda of Reply (cont’d)

Debate resumed on the motion.

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

7.    Private Members’ Business

7.1       Motion – Anniversary of the Murder of Paul Quinn

Proposed:

That this Assembly acknowledges the seventh anniversary of the murder of Paul Quinn; notes that the Independent Monitoring Commission states that current and former members of the Provisional IRA were responsible for the murder; demands that the leadership of the Provisional movement discloses all information regarding the murder of Paul Quinn to the PSNI and an Garda Síochána; condemns the Sinn Féin leadership for its false accusations against Paul Quinn; and further demands that Sinn Féin apologises to his family for making such accusations.

Mr D Bradley
Mrs D Kelly
Mr A Maginness

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) took the Chair.

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

7.2       Motion – Contribution made by the Post Office Network

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the important contribution made by the post office network to communities and the local economy; recognises the need for increased support from the Executive to ensure the viability of the network in the future; urges the Executive to take action to help sustain these vital services with the availability of more public services through the post office network and establish a post office diversification fund, similar to those which have existed in other regions; and supports the Keep Me Posted campaign which champions the principle that consumers and businesses have a right to choose how they receive bills and statements without being penalised for requesting such information in paper format.

Mr C Lyttle
Mr D Bradley
Mrs P Cameron
Mr S Agnew
Mr D Kinahan
Mr C Boylan

Debate ensued.

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

8.    Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Deputy Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 6.32pm.

Mr Roy Beggs MLA

Deputy Speaker

24 November 2014

Northern Ireland Assembly

24 November 2014
Division 1

Motion – Anniversary of the Murder of Paul Quinn

Proposed:

That this Assembly acknowledges the seventh anniversary of the murder of Paul Quinn; notes that the Independent Monitoring Commission states that current and former members of the Provisional IRA were responsible for the murder; demands that the leadership of the Provisional movement discloses all information regarding the murder of Paul Quinn to the PSNI and an Garda Síochána; condemns the Sinn Féin leadership for its false accusations against Paul Quinn; and further demands that Sinn Féin apologises to his family for making such accusations.

Mr D Bradley
Mrs D Kelly
Mr A Maginness

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 64
Noes: 24

AYES

Mr Agnew, Mr Allister, Mr Anderson, Mr Attwood, Mr Bell, Mr D Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Mr Byrne, Mrs Cameron, Mr Campbell, Mr Clarke, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mr Dallat, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dobson, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Durkan, Mr Easton, Mr Eastwood, Mr Elliott, Dr Farry, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kennedy, Mr Kinahan, Ms Lo, Mr Lyttle, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCausland, Mr B McCrea, Mr I McCrea, Dr McDonnell, Mr McGlone, Mr D McIlveen, Miss M McIlveen, Mrs McKevitt, Mr McKinney, Mr McQuillan, Mr A Maginness, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Newton, Mrs Overend, Mr Poots, Mr Ramsey, Mr G Robinson, Mr P Robinson, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Ms Sugden, Mr Swann, Mr Weir, Mr Wells.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr A Maginness, Mr McKinney.

NOES

Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr Brady, Mr Flanagan, Mr Hazzard, Mr G Kelly, Mr McAleer, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Ms McCorley, Ms McGahan, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McKay, Ms Maeve McLaughlin, Mr McMullan, Mr Milne, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mr Ó Muilleoir, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Boylan, Mr Sheehan.

The Motion was carried.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
19 - 24 November 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

The Annual Report on Decision Making and Financial Accuracy 1 January to
31 December 2013 Department for Social Development (DSD).

Legislative Consent Memorandum: Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill (DETI).

5. Assembly Reports

Report on Review into Electricity Policy, Part III, Grid Connections (NIA 196/11-16) (Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment).

6. Statutory Rules

S.R. 2014/283 The Dogs (Licensing and Identification) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DARD).

S.R. 2014/284 The Guarantees of Origin of Electricity Produced from High-efficiency Cogeneration (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DETI).

S.R. 2014/285 The Products Containing Meat etc. Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DHSSPS).

S.R. 2014/286 The Food Hygiene and Official Feed and Food Controls (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DHSSPS).

S.R. 2014/287 The Fish Labelling (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DHSSPS).

S.R. 2014/288 The Misuse of Drugs (Amendment No.4) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DHSSPS).

S.R. 2014/XXX The Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DETI).

For Information Only:

S.R. 2014/281 The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Fivemiletown) Order (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DRD).

S.R. 2014/282 The Parking Places on Roads (Lurgan) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DRD).

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

Proposed Londonderry Harbour (Variation of Limits) Order (Northern Ireland) – Consultation Paper (DRD).

Final Regulatory Impact Assessment on Relaxation of Brucellosis Pre-Movement Testing Controls (DARD).

Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure 2015/16 Draft Budget Consultation (DCAL).

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications