Minutes of Proceedings

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2.    Executive Committee Business

2.1   Further Consideration Stage – Legal Aid and Coroners' Courts Bill (NIA 33/11-15)

The Minister of Justice, Mr David Ford, moved the Further Consideration Stage of the Legal Aid and Coroners’ Courts Bill.

Two amendments were tabled to the Bill.

Debate ensued.

Clauses

After debate, Amendment 1 to Clause 2 was made on division (Division 1).

After debate, Amendment 2 to Clause 3 was negatived on division (Division 2).

Bill (NIA 33/11-15) stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

3.   Private Members’ Business

3.1  Motion – Investigation of Allegations of Abuse at Kincora Boys’ Home

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes with deep concern the allegation of sexual abuse that took place in Kincora Boys’ Home during the 1970s and 1980s; further notes allegations that senior politicians, military personnel, paramilitary figures and businessmen from Northern Ireland and Great Britain were involved both in the commissioning and subsequent cover-up of the abuse, as well as allegations that members of the intelligence service were complicit in a cover-up of this scandal; believes that the nature and seriousness of the allegations, especially that MI5 were involved in a cover-up, means that this cannot be adequately considered in any way other than a Westminster Government-led inquiry; and urges the Home Secretary to include Kincora Boys' Home in the inquiry by Fiona Woolf as the most appropriate means of achieving truth and justice.

Mr C Lyttle
Mrs J Cochrane
Mr S Dickson
Mr K McCarthy

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 12.33pm.

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

4.  Question Time

4.1  Social Development

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Social Development, Mr Mervyn Storey.

4.2  Agriculture and Rural Development

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

5.   Private Members’ Business (Cont’d)

5.1  Motion – Investigation of Allegations of Abuse at Kincora Boys’ Home (Cont’d)

Debate resumed.

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

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) took the Chair.

5.2  Motion – Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Team

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the tremendous achievement of the entire Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games team at the recent Glasgow Games, in particular the boxing team; congratulates all those involved; and calls on the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure to urgently reassess other sports which might be expected to excel in the 2018 Commonwealth Games and ensure the appropriate training, resources and facilities are in place to maximise our medal return in 2018.

Mr G Campbell
Mr W Irwin
Miss M McIlveen
Mr D Hilditch

Debate ensued.

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

6.    Adjournment

Mr Cathal Ó hOisín spoke to his topic regarding Adequate Sporting Provision in Dungiven.

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Principal Deputy Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 5.51pm

Mr Mitchel McLaughlin MLA
Principal Deputy Speaker

30 September 2014

Northern Ireland Assembly

30 September 2014
Division  1

Further Consideration Stage – Legal Aid and Coroners' Courts Bill (NIA 33/11-15) – Amendment 1

Proposed:

Clause 2, Page 2, Line 18

At end insert -‘(2)The selection of the person to be so designated must be on the basis of merit through fair and open public competition.’

Mr T Elliott

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 46
Noes: 33

AYES

Mr Agnew, Mr Allister, Mr Attwood, Mr Beggs, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr D Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Byrne, Mr Dallat, Mr Eastwood, Mr Elliott, Ms Fearon, Mr Flanagan, Mr Hazzard, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Mr Lynch, Mr McAleer, Mr McCallister, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Ms McCorley, Dr McDonnell, Mr McElduff, Ms McGahan, Mr McGlone, Mr M McGuinness, Mrs McKevitt, Ms Maeve McLaughlin, Mr McMullan, Mr A Maginness, Mr Maskey, Mr Milne, Mr Nesbitt, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs Overend, Mr P Ramsey, Mr Rogers, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sugden, Mr Swann.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Elliott and Mr Nesbitt

NOES

Mr Anderson, Ms P Bradley, Mrs Cameron, Mr Campbell, Mr Clarke, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Dickson, Mr Douglas, Mr Easton, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Ms Lo, Mr Lyttle, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Mr D McIlveen, Miss M McIlveen, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Poots, Mr P Robinson, Mr Spratt, Mr Weir.

Tellers for the Noes: Mrs Cochrane and Mr McCarthy

The Amendment was made.

Northern Ireland Assembly

30 September 2014
Division  2

Further Consideration Stage – Legal Aid and Coroners' Courts Bill (NIA 33/11-15) – Amendment 2

Proposed:

Clause 3, Page 2, Line 27

After ‘directions’ insert ‘, issued under this section or under any other statutory provision,’

Mr T Elliott

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 21
Noes: 61

AYES

Mr Agnew, Mr Allister, Mr Attwood, Mr Beggs, Mr D Bradley, Mr Byrne, Mr Dallat, Mr Eastwood, Mr Elliott, Mrs D Kelly, Mr McCallister, Dr McDonnell, Mr McGlone, Mrs McKevitt, Mr A Maginness, Mr Nesbitt, Mrs Overend, Mr P Ramsey, Mr Rogers, Ms Sugden, Mr Swann.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Elliott and Mr Nesbitt

NOES

Mr Anderson, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Ms P Bradley, Mr Brady, Mrs Cameron, Mr Campbell, Mr Clarke, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Craig, Mr Dickson, Mr Douglas, 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 F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCartney, Mr McCausland, Ms McCorley, Mr I McCrea, Mr McElduff, Ms McGahan, Mr M McGuinness, Mr D McIlveen, Miss M McIlveen, Ms Maeve McLaughlin, Mr McMullan, Mr McQuillan, Mr Maskey, Mr Milne, Lord Morrow, Mr Newton, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr Poots, Mr P Robinson, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan, Mr Spratt, Mr Weir.

Tellers for the Noes: Mrs Cochrane and Mr McCarthy

The Amendment fell.

Legal Aid and Coroners’ Courts Bill

Annotated Marshalled List of Amendments

Further Consideration Stage

Tuesday 30 September 2014

Amendments tabled up to 9.30 am Thursday, 25 September 2014 and selected for debate

Amendment 1 [Made on division]

Clause 2, Page 2, Line 18

At end insert -

‘(2) The selection of the person to be so designated must be on the basis of merit through fair and open public competition.’

Mr Tom Elliott

Amendment 2 [Negatived on division]

Clause 3, Page 2, Line 27

After ‘directions’ insert ‘, issued under this section or under any other statutory provision,’

Mr Tom Elliott

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
30 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

5.  Assembly Reports

6.  Statutory Rules

Draft S.R. 2014/000 – The Pollution Prevention and Control (Industrial Emissions) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014.

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 1 October 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.