Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

2. Assembly Business

2.1 Motion – Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Mr Roy Beggs replace Mr Michael Copeland as a member of the Committee for Social Development; and that Mr Robin Swann replace Mr Roy Beggs as a member of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee.

Mr R Swann
Mrs S Overend

The Question being put, the Motion was carried.

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Motion – Suspension of Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4)

Proposed:

That Standing Orders 10 (2) to 10 (4) be suspended for 9 February 2015.

Minister of Finance and Personnel

The Question being put, the Motion, was carried with cross-community support nemine contradicente.

3.2 Motion – Supply Resolution for the 2014-2015 Spring Supplementary Estimates

Proposed:

That this Assembly approves that a total sum, not exceeding £15,646,075,000, be granted out of the Consolidated Fund for or towards defraying the charges for Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Audit Office, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2015 and that total resources, not exceeding £17,051,879,000, be authorised for use by Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Audit Office, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2015 as summarised for each Department or other public body in Columns 3(c) and 2(c) of Table 1 in the volume of the Northern Ireland Spring Supplementary Estimates 2014-15 that was laid before the Assembly on 2 February 2015.

Minister of Finance and Personnel

Motion – Supply Resolution for the 2015-2016 Vote on Account

Proposed:

That this Assembly approves that a sum, not exceeding £7,075,640,000, be granted out of the Consolidated Fund on account for or towards defraying the charges for Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Audit Office, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2016 and that resources, not exceeding £7,742,283,000, be authorised, on account, for use by Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Audit Office, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2016 as summarised for each Department or other public body in Columns 4 and 6 of Table 1 in the Vote on Account 2015-16 document that was laid before the Assembly on 2 February 2015.

Minister of Finance and Personnel

Motion – Supply Resolution for the 2015-2016 Vote on Account – Amendment 1

A valid Petition of Concern was presented under Standing Order 28, on Friday 06 February 2015 in relation to the Amendment (Appendix 1).

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘Assembly approves’ and insert:

that a sum, not exceeding £7,075,390,000, reflecting a reduction in the cash grant from OFMDFM to the Equality Commission, be granted out of the Consolidated Fund on account for or towards defraying the charges for Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Audit Office, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2016 and that resources, not exceeding £7,742,033,000, reflecting a reduction in the cash grant from OFMDFM to the Equality Commission, be authorised, on account, for use by Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Audit Office, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2016 as summarised for each Department or other public body in Columns 4 and 6 of Table 1 in the Vote on Account 2015-16 document that was laid before the Assembly on 2 February 2015.

Mr J Allister

Motion – Supply Resolution for the 2015-2016 Main Estimate

Proposed:

That this Assembly authorises resources, not exceeding £50,000, for use by the Department of Justice Northern Ireland Judicial Pensions Scheme for the year ending 31 March 2016, for the purposes specified in column 1 of the 2015-16 Main Estimate document that was laid before the Assembly on 2 February 2015.

Minister of Finance and Personnel

A single debate ensued on all three motions and the amendment.

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

The debate was suspended for Question Time.

4. Question Time

4.1 Education

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Education, Mr John O’Dowd.

4.2 Employment and Learning

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Employment and Learning, Dr Stephen Farry.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) took the Chair.

5. Executive Committee Business (cont’d)

5.1 Motion – Supply Resolution for the 2014-2015 Spring Supplementary Estimates

Motion – Supply Resolution for the 2015-2016 Vote on Account

Motion – Supply Resolution for the 2015-2016 Vote on Account – Amendment 1

Motion – Supply Resolution for the 2015-2016 Main Estimate

Debate resumed on all three motions and the amendment.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) took the Chair.

The Question being put, the Motion regarding the Supply Resolution for the 2014-2015 Spring Supplementary Estimates was carried with cross-community support nemine contradicente.

The Question being put, the Amendment regarding the Supply Resolution for the 2015-2016 Vote on Account fell (Division).

The Question being put, the Motion regarding the Supply Resolution for the 2015-2016 Vote on Account was carried with cross-community support nemine contradicente.

The Question being put, the Motion regarding the Supply Resolution for the 2015-2016 Main Estimate was carried with cross-community support nemine contradicente.

5.2 First Stage – Budget Bill (NIA Bill 45/11-16)

A Bill to authorise the issue out of the Consolidated Fund of certain sums for the service of the years ending 31st March 2015 and 2016; to appropriate those sums for specified purposes; to authorise the Department of Finance and Personnel to borrow on the credit of the appropriated sums; to authorise the use for the public service of certain resources for the years ending 31st March 2015 and 2016; and to revise the limits on the use of certain accruing resources in the year ending 31 March 2015.

The Budget Bill (NIA 45/11-16) passed First Stage and ordered to be printed.

6. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 6.23pm.

Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
The Speaker
9 February 2015

Appendix 1  

Northern Ireland Assembly

The undersigned Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly presented a Petition of Concern, in accordance with Standing Order 28, on Friday 06 February 2015 in relation to the following amendment:

Supply Resolution for the 2015-2016 Vote on Account – Amendment 1

Leave out all after ‘Assembly approves’ and insert:

that a sum, not exceeding £7,075,390,000, reflecting a reduction in the cash grant from OFMDFM to the Equality Commission, be granted out of the Consolidated Fund on account for or towards defraying the charges for Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Audit Office, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2016 and that resources, not exceeding £7,742,033,000, reflecting a reduction in the cash grant from OFMDFM to the Equality Commission, be authorised, on account, for use by Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Audit Office, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2016 as summarised for each Department or other public body in Columns 4 and 6 of Table 1 in the Vote on Account 2015-16 document that was laid before the Assembly on 2 February 2015.

MS MEGAN FEARON

MR CHRIS HAZZARD

MR CATHAL BOYLAN

MR DAITHÍ MCKAY

MR CATHAL Ó HOISÍN

MS CARÁL NÍ CHUILÍN

MS MICHAELA BOYLE

MR MICKEY BRADY

MS MAEVE MCLAUGHLIN

MR MÁIRTÍN Ó MUILLEOIR

MR RAYMOND MCCARTNEY

MR PAT SHEEHAN

MR SEÁN LYNCH

MS CAITRÍONA RUANE

MS BRONWYN MCGAHAN

MR ALEX MASKEY

MR BARRY MCELDUFF

MS ROSALEEN MCCORLEY

MR GERRY KELLY

MR DECLAN MCALEER

MR OLIVER MCMULLAN

MR JOHN O’DOWD

MS JENNIFER MCCANN

MR FRA MCCANN

MR PHIL FLANAGAN

MRS MICHELLE O’NEILL

MR IAN MILNE

MR MARTIN MCGUINNESS

MR ALBAN MAGINNESS

MR DOMINIC BRADLEY

MR FEARGHAL MCKINNEY

MR PATSY MCGLONE

DR ALASDAIR MCDONNELL

MR JOE BYRNE

MR PAT RAMSEY

MRS DOLORES KELLY

MR COLUM EASTWOOD

MR SEÁN ROGERS

MRS KAREN MCKEVITT

MR ALEX ATTWOOD

Northern Ireland Assembly

9 February 2015
Division 1

Motion – Supply Resolution for the 2015-2016 Vote on Account – Amendment 1

Leave out all after ‘Assembly approves’ and insert:

that a sum, not exceeding £7,075,390,000, reflecting a reduction in the cash grant from OFMDFM to the Equality Commission, be granted out of the Consolidated Fund on account for or towards defraying the charges for Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Audit Office, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2016 and that resources, not exceeding £7,742,033,000, reflecting a reduction in the cash grant from OFMDFM to the Equality Commission, be authorised, on account, for use by Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Audit Office, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2016 as summarised for each Department or other public body in Columns 4 and 6 of Table 1 in the Vote on Account 2015-16 document that was laid before the Assembly on 2 February 2015.

Mr J Allister

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 02
Noes: 96

AYES

UNIONIST:

Mr Allister, Mr McCallister.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Allister, Mr McCallister.

NOES

NATIONALIST:

Mr Attwood, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr D Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Durkan, Ms Fearon, Mr Flanagan, Mr Hazzard, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Mr Lynch, Mr McAleer, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Ms McCorley, Dr McDonnell, 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, Mr Ó Muilleoir, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr Ramsey, Mr Rogers, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan.

UNIONIST:

Mr Anderson, Mr Bell, Ms P Bradley, Mr Buchanan, Mr Campbell, Mr Clarke, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mr Devenney, Mrs Dobson, 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 Hussey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kennedy, Mr Kinahan, Mr McCausland, Mr B McCrea, Mr I McCrea, Mr McGimpsey, Mr D McIlveen, Miss M McIlveen, 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, Ms Sugden, Mr Swann, Mr Weir, Mr Wilson.

OTHER:

Mr Agnew, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Dickson, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Ms Lo, Mr Lunn, Mr Lyttle.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr McKay, Mr Ó Muilleoir.

Total votes: 98 Total Ayes: 2 [2.0 % ]

Nationalist Vote: 39 Nationalist Ayes: 0 [0.0 % ]

Unionist Votes: 51 Unionist Ayes: 2 [3.9 % ]

Other Votes: 8 Other Ayes: 0 [0.0 % ]

The Motion was negatived on a cross-community vote.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
4 February – 9 February 2015

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

Northern Ireland Local Government Officers Superannuation Committee (NILGOSC) Retention and Disposal Schedule (DCAL).

5. Assembly Reports

Public Accounts Committee Report on Primary Care Prescribing NIA 230/11-16 (PAC).

6. Statutory Rules

S.R. 2015/23 The Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts by Children in Front Seats) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DOE).

S.R. 2015/36 The Fair Employment (Specification of Public Authorities) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (OFMDFM).

S.R. 2015/30 The Rathdown Walk, Lisburn (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DRD).

S.R. 2015/XXX The Teachers' Pension Scheme (Consequential Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DE).

S.R. 2015/XXX The Firefighters' Pension Scheme (Consequential Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DHSSPS).

S.R. 2015/XXX The Local Government (Standing Orders) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DOE).

S.R. 2015/XXX The Health Service Workers (Consequential Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DHSSPS).

For Information Only:

S.R. 2015/28 (C. 3) The Local Government (2014 Act) (Commencement No. 3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DOE).

S.R. 2015/31 The Urban Clearways (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DRD).

S.R. 2015/33 The Parking Places on Roads (Disabled Persons' Vehicles) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DRD).

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

Public Consultation on Policy Proposals for a Rural Proofing Bill (DARD).

The Law on Unduly Lenient Sentences – A Consultation (DOJ).

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications