Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2014/2015
Date: 08 December 2014
The Assembly met at noon, the Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) in the Chair.
1. Personal Prayer or Meditation
Members observed two minutes’ silence.
2. Assembly Business
2.1 Motion – Committee Membership
Proposed:
That Mr Alastair Ross replace Mr Sammy Douglas as a member of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee; that Mr Sammy Douglas replace Mr Ian McCrea as a Member of the Committee on Standards and Privileges; and that Mr Sammy Douglas replace Ms Paula Bradley as a Member of the Committee on Procedures.
Mr P Weir
Lord Morrow
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
2.2 Motion – Committee Membership
Proposed:
That Mr Seán Rogers replace Mr Colum Eastwood as a member of the Committee for Education.
Mr P Ramsey
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
3. Executive Committee Business
3.1 Statement – North South Ministerial Council meeting held in Environment Sectoral format
The Minister of the Environment, Mr Mark H Durkan, made a statement regarding the North South Ministerial Council meeting held in Environment Sectoral format on Thursday 13 November 2014, following which he replied to questions.
3.2 First Stage – Regeneration Bill (NIA Bill 43/11-16)
The Minister for Social Development, Mr Mervyn Storey, introduced a Bill to confer functions on district councils in relation to regeneration; to amend the Social Need (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 and Part 7 of the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 in relation to the functions of the Department for Social Development; and for connected purposes.
The Regeneration Bill (NIA Bill 43/11-16) passed First Stage and ordered to be printed.
3.3 Legislative Consent Motion – Serious Crime Bill
Proposed:
That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension to Northern Ireland of the provisions of the Serious Crime Bill, as introduced in the House of Commons on 6 November, dealing with: the Proceeds of Crime as contained in Chapters 3 and 4 of Part 1 of the Bill; proposed changes to the Serious Crime Act 2007 as contained in clauses 45-49; the possession of a paedophile manual in clause 66; and female genital mutilation in clauses 67-70; and agrees that the Westminster Parliament should consider amendments to the Bill to make explicit in statute common law safeguards (R v Waya [2012] UKSC 51) in relation to the exercise of confiscation order powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
Minister of Justice
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
3.4 Legislative Consent Motion – Modern Slavery Bill
Proposed:
That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension to Northern Ireland of the provisions of the Modern Slavery Bill, as brought from the Commons to the House of Lords on 5 November 2014, dealing with enforcement powers in relation to ships, as contained in clauses 37, 38 and 39 of Part 3 of the Bill and Part 3 of Schedule 2 to the Bill; the Independent Anti-slavery Commissioner, in Part 4 of the Bill; and transparency in supply chains, in Part 6 of the Bill.
Minister of Justice
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
3.5 Motion – The draft Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014
Proposed:
That the draft Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 be approved.
Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
4. Committee Business
4.1 Motion – Extension of Committee Stage: Food Hygiene Rating Bill (NIA Bill 41/11-16)
Proposed:
That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 8 May 2015, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Food Hygiene Rating Bill (NIA Bill 41/11-16).
Chairperson, Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
The Principal Deputy Speaker (Mr McLaughlin) 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 deputy First Minister Mr Martin McGuinness. The junior Minister, Ms Jennifer McCann, also answered a number of questions.
5.2 Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Mr Jim Wells.
6. Committee Business (cont’d)
6.1 Motion – Extension of Committee Stage: Insolvency (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 39/11-16)
Proposed:
That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 13 March 2015, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Insolvency (Amendment) Bill (NIA 39/11-16).
Chairperson, Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
7. Private Members’ Business
7.1 First Stage – Children’s Services Co-operation Bill (NIA Bill 44/11-16)
Mr Steven Agnew introduced a Bill to require Northern Ireland departments to discharge their functions and co-operate with one another in order to contribute to the achievement of certain specified outcomes relating to the well-being of children and young people, and to amend the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995.
The Children’s Services Co-operation Bill (NIA Bill 44/11-16) passed First Stage and ordered to be printed.
7.2 Motion – The Cost of Division
Proposed:
That this Assembly notes with concern the financial and economic impact of continued division in Northern Ireland; calls on the Executive to conduct formal audits of its budgets and publish its assessment of the impact of societal division; and further calls on all Departments to actively encourage de-segregation and promote cohesion, sharing and integration within their policies and spending plans.
Mr C Lyttle
Mrs J Cochrane
Mr S Dickson
Debate ensued.
The Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) took the Chair.
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 4.49pm.
Mr John Dallat MLA
Deputy Speaker
08 December 2014
Northern Ireland Assembly
Papers Presented to the Assembly on
03 - 08 December 2014
1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly
2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly
Regeneration Bill.
Children’s Services Co-operation Bill.
3. Orders in Council
4. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly
Report by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council on Ocular Melanoma (DSD).
Policing and Community Safety Partnerships: A review of governance, delivery and outcomes. December 2014 (DOJ).
Northern Ireland Tourist Board Annual Report for the Year Ended 2013/2014 (DETI).
Social Security Agency Annual Report & Accounts for Year Ended 2013-2014
(DSD).
Safefood 2013 Annual Report Incorporating Financial Statements for 2013 (DHSSPS).
Northern Ireland Audit Office Financial Auditing and Reporting: General Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland 9 December 2014 (NIAO).
Disposal of Records Schedule for 2013 World Police and Fire Games (WPFG) LTD
(DCAL).
5. Assembly Reports
Report on the Legislative Consent Motion: The Modern Slavery Bill (NIA 212/11-16) (Committee for Justice).
Report on the Legislative Consent Motion: Home Office Serious Crime Bill [HL] 2014/15 (NIA 213/11-16) (Committee for Justice).
Report on the Off-Street Parking (Functions of District Councils) Bill (Committee for Regional Development).
6. Statutory Rules
S.R. 2014/292 Local Government (Disqualification) (Prescribed Offices and Employments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DOE).
S.R. 2014/293 The Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (Membership, Procedure, Functions and Committee) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DHSSPS).
S.R. 2014/295 The Seeds (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DARD).
S.R. 2014/298 The Occupational Pensions (Revaluation) Order (Northern Ireland) 2014 (DSD).
7. Written Ministerial Statements
8. Consultation Documents
Consultation on the Zoonoses (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DARD).
9. Departmental Publications
Rating Policy Division Small Business Rate Relief Evaluation, 1 December 2014 (DFP).
