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 Royal Assent

The Speaker informed Members that Royal Assent had been signified on 12 March 2015 to the Off-street Parking (Functions of District Councils) Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 and to the Budget Act (Northern Ireland) 2015.

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Motion – The draft Teachers' Pension Scheme (Consequential Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

Proposed:

That the draft Teachers' Pension Scheme (Consequential Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 be approved.

Minister of Education

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Motion was carried.

3.2 Motion – The draft Firefighters' Pension Scheme (Consequential Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

Proposed:

That the draft Firefighters' Pension Scheme (Consequential Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 be approved.

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Motion was carried.

3.3 Motion – The draft Health Service Workers (Consequential Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

Proposed:

That the draft Health Service Workers (Consequential Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 be approved.

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Motion was carried.

4. Committee Business

4.1 Motion – Report on the Statutory Rule laid by the Attorney General for Northern Ireland (NIA 236/11-16)

Proposed:

That this Assembly approves the report of the Ad Hoc Committee to consider an AGNI Statutory Rule (NIA 236/11-16) on the Statutory Rule laid by the Attorney General for Northern Ireland entitled: The Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2004 (Amendment of section 8(4)) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015.

Chairperson, Ad Hoc Committee to consider an AGNI Statutory Rule

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Motion was carried.

5. Assembly Business

5.1 Motion – The Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2004 (Amendment of section 8(4)) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015

Proposed:

That the draft Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2004 (Amendment of section 8(4)) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 be approved.

Mr P Weir
Ms C Ruane
Mr P Ramsey
Mr R Swann
Mr S Dickson

The Question being put, the Motion was carried.

6. Committee Business (cont’d)

6.1 Motion – Report on the extent to which Standing Orders should permit the Attorney General for Northern Ireland to participate in proceedings of the Assembly (NIA 232/11-16)

Proposed:

That this Assembly approves the report of the Committee on Procedures (NIA 232/11-16) on its inquiry into the extent to which Standing Orders should permit the Attorney General for Northern Ireland (AGNI) to participate in proceedings of the Assembly: Part 1 – Impartiality of the Office of AGNI, Registration of Interests and participation of the AGNI in Assembly proceedings in respect of areas other than Statutory Rules.

Chairperson, Committee on Procedures

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Motion was carried.

7. Private Members’ Business

7.1 Motion – Equality Legislation

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes, given the passage of the Equality Act in 2010, that Northern Ireland is now out of step with the rest of the UK in terms of equality protections; expresses concern that no progress has been made on introducing a Single Equality Act in this mandate; rejects the proposed Freedom of Conscience Amendment Bill; regrets the failure of the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to introduce age discrimination legislation that covers under-16s; and calls on the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to issue a fresh consultation paper to facilitate the speedy consideration of a Single Equality Bill by the Assembly.

Mr S Dickson
Ms A Lo
Mr C Lyttle

7.2 Amendment

Proposed:

Leave out from ‘rejects’ to the first ‘Bill;’ and insert:

‘notes the public debate generated by the consultation on a proposed Freedom of Conscience Amendment Bill and, recognising the differing views expressed, encourages the Assembly to consider a process to facilitate respectful consideration of these issues;’

Mr P Givan
Mr P Weir

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 1.54pm.

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

8. Question Time

8.1 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.

8.2 Agriculture and Rural Development

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

8.3 Assembly Commission

Questions were put to, and answered by, Members of the Assembly Commission.

9. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)

9.1 Motion – Equality Legislation (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) took the Chair.

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

The Question being put, the Motion, as amended, was negatived.

10. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 4.56 pm.

Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
The Speaker
16 March 2015

Northern Ireland Assembly

16 March 2015
Division

Motion – Equality Legislation – Amendment

Proposed:

Leave out from ‘rejects’ to the first ‘Bill;’ and insert:

‘notes the public debate generated by the consultation on a proposed Freedom of Conscience Amendment Bill and, recognising the differing views expressed, encourages the Assembly to consider a process to facilitate respectful consideration of these issues;’

Mr P Givan
Mr P Weir

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 47
Noes: 44

AYES

Mr Allister, Mr Anderson, Mr Beggs, Mr Bell, Ms P Bradley, Mr Buchanan, Mrs Cameron, 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 Irwin, Mr Kinahan, Mr McCallister, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Mr D McIlveen, Miss M McIlveen, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Newton, Mrs Overend, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Mr P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Swann, Mr Weir, Mr Wells.

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

NOES

Mr Agnew, Mr Attwood, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr Brady, Mr Byrne, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Dickson, Mr Eastwood, Dr Farry, Ms Fearon, Mr Flanagan, Mr Ford, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Ms Lo, Mr Lunn, Mr Lynch, Mr Lyttle, Mr McAleer, Mr F McCann, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCartney, Ms McCorley, Mr B McCrea, Mr McElduff, Ms McGahan, Mr McGlone, Mr M McGuinness, Mrs McKevitt, Mr McKinney, Ms Maeve McLaughlin, Mr McMullan, Mr A Maginness, Mr Maskey, Mr Milne, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr Ramsey, Mr Rogers, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Dickson, Ms Lo.

The amendment was made.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 11 March – 16 March 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

Waterways Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2013 (DCAL).

Northern Ireland Certification Officer for Trade Unions and Employers' Associations Annual Report 2013-2014 (DEL).

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

S.R. 2015/72 The Planning (General Development Procedure) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DOE).

S.R. 2015/73 The Planning (Fees) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DOE).

S.R. 2015/85 The Planning (Management of Waste from Extractive Industries) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DOE).

S.R. 2015/91 The Statutory Shared Parental Pay (Administration) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DEL).

S.R. 2015/92 The Statutory Paternity Pay and Statutory Adoption Pay (Parental Orders and Prospective Adopters) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DEL).

S.R. 2015/94 The Statutory Shared Parental Pay (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DEL).

S.R. 2015/99 The Statutory Shared Parental Pay (Adoptions from Overseas) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DEL).

S.R. 2015/102 The Statutory Shared Parental Pay (Parental Order Cases) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DEL).

S.R. 2015/103 The Statutory Shared Parental Pay (Persons Abroad and Mariners) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DEL).

S.R. 2015/134 The A54 Ballymacombs Road, Portglenone (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DRD).

S.R. 2015/144 The Fair Employment and Treatment Order (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (OFMDFM).

S.R. 2015/145 The Sex Discrimination Order 1976 (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (OFMDFM).

S.R. 2015/146 The Shared Parental Leave and Statutory Shared Parental Pay (Consequential Amendments to Subordinate Legislation) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DEL).

S.R. 2015/147 The Valuation (Telecommunications, Natural Gas and Water) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DFP).

S.R. 2015/148 The Zoonoses (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DARD).

S.R. 2015/149 The Maternity Allowance (Curtailment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DSD).

S.R. 2015/150 The Statutory Maternity Pay (Curtailment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DSD).

S.R. 2015/151 The General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (Registration of Teachers) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DE).

S.R. 2015/153 The Social Security (Invalid Care Allowance) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DSD).

S.R. 2015/154 The Occupational Pension Schemes (Disclosure of Information) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DSD).

S.R. 2015/155 The Occupational Pension Schemes (Consequential and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DSD).

S.R. 2015/162 The Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DOE).

S.R. 2015/163 The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DSD).

S.R. 2015/164 The Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Transfer Values) (Amendment and Revocation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DSD).

S.R. 2015 The Local Government (Transferred Functions Grant) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DOE).

For Information Only

S.R. 2015/118 The Pensions (2005 Order) (Code of Practice) (Governance and Administration of Public Service Pension Schemes) (Appointed Day) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DSD).

S.R. 2015/132 The Road Races (Croft Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DRD).

S.R. 2015/133 The Roads Races (Circuit of Ireland Rally) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DRD).

S.R. 2015/142 The Parking Places on Roads (Coaches) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DRD).

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

Proposals for a New Regulatory Framework for Social Housing Providers in Northern Ireland (DSD).

9. Departmental Publications

Consultation on Transition from the Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation to Contracts for Difference and Grace Periods (DETI).

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 11 March 2015

2011-2016 Mandate
Executive Bills

2011-2016 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.