Minutes of Proceedings

Session: 2014/2015

Date: 14 June 2015

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

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Executive Committee Business

2.1 Motion – The draft Marine Conservation (Fixed Monetary Penalties) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015

Proposed:

That the draft Marine Conservation (Fixed Monetary Penalties) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 be approved.

Minister of the Environment

Debate ensued.

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

2.2 Motion – The draft Planning (Amount of Fixed Penalty) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

Proposed:

That the draft Planning (Amount of Fixed Penalty) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 be approved.

Minister of the Environment

Debate ensued.

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

2.3 Motion – The Social Security (Members of the Reserve Forces) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

Proposed:

That the Social Security (Members of the Reserve Forces) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 be approved.

Minister for Social Development

Debate ensued.

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

2.4 Motion – The Jobseeker's Allowance (Extended Period of Sickness) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

Proposed:

That the Jobseeker's Allowance (Extended Period of Sickness) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 be approved.

Minister for Social Development

Debate ensued.

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

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

Proposed:

That Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4) be suspended for 15 June 2015.

Minister of Finance and Personnel

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

2.6 Motion – Supply Resolution for the 2013-2014 Excess Votes

Proposed:

That this Assembly approves that resources, not exceeding £7,444,446.68 be authorised for use by the Department of Education and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, for the year ending 31 March 2014, as summarised for each Department in Part II of the 2013-2014 Statement of Excesses that was laid before the Assembly on 8 June 2015.

Minister of Finance and Personnel

2.7 Motion – Supply Resolution for the Northern Ireland Main Estimates 2015-16

Proposed:

That this Assembly approves that a sum, not exceeding £8,336,067,000, 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 the 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 £9,004,299,000, be authorised for use by Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and the 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 3 (b) and 3 (a) of Table 1.3 in the volume of the Northern Ireland Estimates 2015-16 that was laid before the Assembly on 8 June 2015.

Minister of Finance and Personnel

2.8 Amendment 1

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘exceeding’ and insert:

‘£7,732,067,000, 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 the 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 £8,400,299,000, be authorised for use by Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and the 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 3 (b) and 3 (a) of Table 1.3 in the volume of the Northern Ireland Estimates 2015-16 that was laid before the Assembly on 8 June 2015, subject to a proportionate reduction for each Department, with the exception of the Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety, and each other public body referred to in Columns 3(b) and 3(a) of Table 1.3 of the aforesaid Estimates, so as to reflect the £604,000,000 shortfall resulting from the failure to implement the Stormont House Agreement.’

Mr J Allister

A single debate ensued on both motions and the amendment.

The debate was suspended for Question Time.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) took the Chair.

3. Question Time

3.1 Justice

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Justice, Mr David Ford.

3.2 Social Development

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

4. Executive Committee Business (cont’d)

4.1 Motion – Supply Resolution for the 2013-2014 Excess Votes (cont’d)

4.2 Motion – Supply Resolution for the Northern Ireland Main Estimates 2015-16 (cont’d)

Debate resumed on both motions and the amendment.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) took the Chair.

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

The Speaker took the Chair.

The Question being put, the Motion regarding the Supply Resolution for the 2013-2014 Excess Votes was carried with cross-community support nemine contradicente.

The Question being put, the Amendment regarding the Supply Resolution for the Northern Ireland Main Estimates 2015-16 fell.

The Question being put, the Motion regarding the Supply Resolution for the Northern Ireland Main Estimates 2015-16 was carried with cross-community support.

5. Private Members’ Business

5.1 Motion – BBC Panorama Programme Broadcast 28 May 2015

Proposed:

That this Assembly shares the serious concerns about collusion, as reported in the BBC Panorama programme broadcast on 28 May; calls for a thorough and independent investigation of these matters; and further calls for the legacy institutions, agreed in the Stormont House Agreement, to be set up as a matter of urgency so that victims and survivors are given real hope of achieving truth and justice in the near future.

Mr R McCartney
Mr S Lynch
Mr G Kelly
Ms C Ruane

5.2 Amendment

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘May’ and insert:

‘as well as the Spotlight programme broadcast on 9 June 2015 and the criminal actions of paramilitary organisations highlighted in both programmes; and calls for the implementation of the Stormont House Agreement, in full, as a matter of urgency to afford victims and survivors the opportunity to pursue justice in the near future.’

Mr A Ross
Mr E Poots
Mr P Frew
Mr J Craig

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Amendment was made (Division 1).

The Question being put, the Motion, as amended, was carried (Division 2).

6. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 7.40pm.

Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
The Speaker
15 June 2015

Northern Ireland Assembly

15 June 2015
Division 1

Motion – BBC Panorama Programme Broadcast 28 May 2015 - Amendment 1

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘May’ and insert:

‘as well as the Spotlight programme broadcast on 9 June 2015 and the criminal actions of paramilitary organisations highlighted in both programmes; and calls for the implementation of the Stormont House Agreement, in full, as a matter of urgency to afford victims and survivors the opportunity to pursue justice in the near future.’

Mr A Ross
Mr E Poots
Mr P Frew
Mr J Craig

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 49
Noes: 36

AYES

Mr Allister, Mr Anderson, Mr Beggs, Ms P Bradley, Mr Buchanan, Mrs Cameron, Mr Campbell, Mr Clarke, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mr Dickson, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Gardiner, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Hussey, Mr Irwin, Ms Lo, Mr Lunn, Mr Lyttle, Mr McCallister, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Mr McGimpsey, Mr D McIlveen, Mr Middleton, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Newton, Mrs Overend, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Swann, Mr Weir, Mr Wells.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Anderson, Mr G Robinson.

NOES

Mr Attwood, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr Durkan, Ms Fearon, Mr Flanagan, Mr Hazzard, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Mr Lynch, Mr McAleer, Mr F 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 Milne, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mr Ó Muilleoir, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr Ramsey, Mr Rogers, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr G Kelly, Ms Ruane.

The Amendment was made.

Northern Ireland Assembly

15 June 2015
Division 2

Motion – BBC Panorama Programme Broadcast 28 May 2015 (As Amended)

Proposed:

That this Assembly shares the serious concerns about collusion, as reported in the BBC Panorama programme broadcast on 28 May as well as the Spotlight programme broadcast on 9 June 2015 and the criminal actions of paramilitary organisations highlighted in both programmes; and calls for the implementation of the Stormont House Agreement, in full, as a matter of urgency to afford victims and survivors the opportunity to pursue justice in the near future.

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 48
Noes: 36

AYES

Mr Allister, Mr Anderson, Mr Beggs, Ms P Bradley, Mr Buchanan, Mrs Cameron, Mr Campbell, Mr Clarke, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mr Dickson, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Gardiner, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Hussey, Mr Irwin, Ms Lo, Mr Lunn, Mr Lyttle, Mr McCallister, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Mr McGimpsey, Mr D McIlveen, Mr Middleton, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Newton, Mrs Overend, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Swann, Mr Weir.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Anderson, Mr G Robinson.

NOES

Mr Attwood, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr Durkan, Ms Fearon, Mr Flanagan, Mr Hazzard, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Mr Lynch, Mr McAleer, Mr F 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 Milne, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mr Ó Muilleoir, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr Ramsey, Mr Rogers, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr G Kelly, Ms Ruane.

The following Member voted in both Lobbies and is therefore not counted in the result: Mr B McCrea.

The motion, as amended was carried.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
10 June – 15 June 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

Royal Ulster Constabulary George Cross Foundation – Annual Report and Accounts 2012/13 (DOJ).

5. Assembly Reports

The Effectiveness of Public Transport in Northern Ireland (NIA 255/11-16) (Public Accounts Committee).

Review of the Code of Conduct and Guide to the Rules Relating to the Conduct of Members (NIA 178/11-16) (Committee on Standards and Privileges).

Seventeenth Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and Appropriate Committees Session 2014/2015 (ESR) (NIA 256/11-16).

6. Statutory Rules

S.R 2015/265 The Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Chemicals (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DETI).

S.R. 2015/272 The Funded Public Service Pension Schemes (Reduction of Cash Equivalents) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

S.R. 2015/273 The Planning (Development Management) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

For Information Only

S.R 2015/267 The Waiting Restrictions (Clogher) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DRD).

S.R 2015/268 The Cycle Routes (Amendment No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DRD).

S.R 2015/269 The Traffic Weight Restriction (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DRD).

S.R 2015/270 The Parking Places on Roads and Waiting Restrictions (Newry) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DRD).

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

Consultation on the draft Weights and Measures (Food) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DETI).

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

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