Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair.

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Speaker’s Business

2.1 Member Resignation

The Speaker informed Members that the Speaker’s Office had received a letter from Mr Mickey Brady giving notice of his intention to resign as a Member of the Assembly with effect from Wednesday 03 June 2015. The Speaker advised that the Speaker’s Office had notified the Chief Electoral Officer, in accordance with section 35 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

2.2 New Member

The Speaker informed Members that he had been notified by the Chief Electoral Officer that Mr Conor Murphy had been returned as a Member of the Assembly for the Newry and Armagh constituency to fill the vacancy that resulted from the resignation of Mr Mickey Brady.

Mr Murphy signed the Roll of Members on 08 June 2015 in the presence of the Speaker, Mr McLaughlin, and the Clerk to the Assembly. The Speaker confirmed that the Member had signed the Roll and had entered his designation of identity.

3. Public Petition

3.1 Public Petition – Early Years Fund

Mr Dominic Bradley was granted leave, in accordance with Standing Order 22, to present a Public Petition regarding the Early Years Fund.

4. Executive Committee Business

4.1 First Stage – Mental Capacity Bill (NIA Bill 49/11-16)

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Mr Simon Hamilton, introduced a Bill to make new provision relating to persons who lack capacity; to make provision about the powers of criminal courts in respect of persons with disorder; to disapply Part 2 of the Mental Health Order (Northern Ireland) 1986 in relation to persons aged 16 or over and make other amendments of that Order; to make provision in connection with the Convention on the International Protection of Adults signed at the Hague on 13th January 2000; and for connected purposes.

The Mental Capacity Bill (NIA Bill 49/11-16) passed First Stage and ordered to be printed.

4.2 First Stage – Legal Complaints and Regulation Bill (NIA Bill 50/11-16)

The Minister of Finance and Personnel, Mrs Arlene Foster, introduced a Bill to make provision for the establishment of the office of the Legal Services Oversight Commissioner for Northern Ireland; to make provision as regards complaints against members of the legal profession in Northern Ireland; and for connected purposes.

The Legal Complaints and Regulation Bill (NIA Bill 50/11-16) passed First Stage and ordered to be printed.

5. Committee Business

5.1 Further Consideration Stage – Ombudsman and Commissioner for Complaints (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 48/11-16)

The Chairperson of the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister, Mr Mike Nesbitt, moved the Further Consideration Stage of the Ombudsman and Commissioner for Complaints (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 48/11-16).

No amendments were tabled to the Bill.

The Ombudsman and Commissioner for Complaints (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 48/11-16) stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

5.2 Motion – Reduction of the Disability Action and Community Transport Budgets

Proposed:

That this Assembly condemns the disproportionate reduction of the Disability Action and Community Transport budgets; notes the very negative impact the severe reduction of departmental budgets is having on people with disabilities and the most vulnerable and isolated people in our society; and calls on the Minister for Regional Development to urgently reinstate this essential funding.

Chairperson, Committee for Regional Development

Debate ensued.

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

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

6. Private Members’ Business

6.1 Motion – Funding for Musical Instruments

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the cultural, artistic and community importance of bands in Northern Ireland; recognises the importance of the Musical Instruments for Bands funding programme; expresses its disappointment at the failure of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure to fund the programme this year; and calls on the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to restore the funding for the programme.

Mr N McCausland
Mr G Dunne
Mr D Hilditch
Mr W Humphrey

Debate ensued.

The debate was suspended for Question Time.

The Speaker took the Chair.

7. Question Time

7.1 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.

7.2 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 – Funding for Musical Instruments (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) took the Chair.

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

9. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 4.23pm.

Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
The Speaker
08 June 2015

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
03 June – 08 June 2015

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Mental Capacity Bill (NIA Bill 49/11-16)

Legal Complaints and Regulation Bill (NIA Bill 50/11-16)

3. Orders in Council

4. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Northern Ireland Central Investment Fund for Charities Annual Report to 30 September 2014 (DSD).

Charity Commission for Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2014-15 (DSD).

The Economic Research Institute of Northern Ireland Limited: Annual Report and Statement of Accounts for the Period Ended 30 September 2013 (OFMdFM).

North/South Language Body Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2013 (DCAL).

Civil Service Compensation Scheme (Amendment) Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DFP).

Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (Amendment No.2) Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DFP).

Northern Ireland Estimates 2015-2016 (DFP).

Northern Ireland Estimates 2013-2014 Statement of Excesses for the year ending 31 March 2014 (DFP).

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

S.R 2015/266 The Optical Charges and Payments (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DHSSPS).

For Information Only:

S.R 2015/257 (C. 20) The Taxis (2008 Act) (Commencement No. 4) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DOE).

S.R. 2015/258 The Parking Places on Roads (Disabled Persons' Vehicles) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DRD).

S.R. 2015/260 The Waiting Restrictions (Lisburn) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DRD).

S.R. 2015/263 The Parking Places, Loading Bay and Waiting Restrictions (Lisburn City Centre) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DRD).

S.R. 2015/264 The Prohibition of Waiting (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DRD).

7. Written Ministerial Statements

DEL - Launch of Consultation on Part-Time and Postgraduate Student Finance Arrangements.

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

Review of the Composition and Employment Practices of the Northern Ireland Civil Service (DFP).

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications