Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2014/2015
Date: 26 April 2015
The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair.
1. Personal Prayer or Meditation
Members observed two minutes’ silence.
2. Public Petition
2.1 Public Petition – Reconsideration of the Belmont Road proposed development along the banks of the Sixmilewater River
Mr Danny Kinahan was granted leave, in accordance with Standing Order 22, to present a Public Petition relating to reconsideration of the Belmont Road proposed development along the banks of the Sixmilewater River.
3. Executive Committee Business
3.1 Motion - The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2015
Proposed:
That the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 be approved.
Minister for Social Development
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
4. Committee Business
4.1 First 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, introduced a Bill to extend the maximum period for which an acting Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and an acting Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints may hold office.
The Ombudsman and Commissioner for Complaints (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 48/11-16) passed First Stage and ordered to be printed.
4.2 Motion - Report on the Operation of the Provisions of Parts 3 and 4 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998
Proposed:
That this Assembly notes the report of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee on the Operation of the Provisions of Parts 3 and 4 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (NIA 242/11-16), made under Section 29A (3) of that Act.
Deputy Chairperson, Assembly and Executive Review Committee
Debate ensued.
The Principal Deputy Speaker (Mr Newton) took the Chair.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
5. Private Members’ Business
5.1 Motion - Marriage Equality
A valid Petition of Concern was presented under Standing Order 28, on Friday 24 April 2015 in relation to the Motion (Appendix 1).
Proposed:
That this Assembly welcomes the marriage equality referendum in the south of Ireland; notes that a growing number of parliaments across the world have embraced, and legislated for, marriage equality; respects the rights of the religious institutions to define, observe and practise marriage within their beliefs; and calls on the Executive to legislate for marriage equality for same sex couples so that all citizens will have the same legal entitlement to the protections, responsibilities, rights, obligations and benefits afforded by the legal institution of marriage.
Ms C Ruáne
Mr Daíthi McKay
Mr Chris Hazzard
Ms Megan Fearon
The Speaker took the Chair.
Debate ensued.
The sitting was suspended at 13.55pm.
The sitting resumed at 2.00pm, with the Speaker in the Chair.
6. Question Time
6.1 Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister
Questions were put to, and answered by, the First Minister, Rt. Hon. Mr Peter Robinson. The junior Minister, Mr Jonathan Bell, also answered a number of questions.
The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) took the Chair.
6.2 Social Development
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Social Development, Mr Mervyn Storey.
The Speaker took the Chair.
7. Private Members’ Business (Cont’d)
7.1 Motion – Marriage Equality (cont’d)
Debate resumed.
The Question being put, the Motion was negatived on a cross-community vote (Division).
8. Adjournment
Proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
The Speaker
The Assembly adjourned at 4.00pm.
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
The Speaker
27 April 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 24 April 2015 in relation to the following motion:
Marriage Equality
That this Assembly welcomes the marriage equality referendum in the south of Ireland; notes that a growing number of parliaments across the world have embraced, and legislated for, marriage equality; respects the rights of the religious institutions to define, observe and practise marriage within their beliefs; and calls on the Executive to legislate for marriage equality for same sex couples so that all citizens will have the same legal entitlement to the protections, responsibilities, rights, obligations and benefits afforded by the legal institution of marriage.
MR SYDNEY ANDERSON
MS PAULA BRADLEY
MR THOMAS BUCHANAN
MRS PAM CAMERON
MR GREGORY CAMPBELL
MR TREVOR CLARKE
MR JONATHAN CRAIG
MR SAMMY DOUGLAS
MR GORDON DUNNE
MR ALEX EASTON
MR PAUL FREW
MR PAUL GIRVAN
MR PAUL GIVAN
MRS BRENDA HALE
MR DAVID HILDITCH
MR WILLIAM HUMPHREY
MR WILLIAM IRWIN
MR IAN MCCREA
MR DAVID MCILVEEN
MISS MICHELLE MCILVEEN
MR ADRIAN MCQUILLAN
MR GARY MIDDLETON
THE LORD MORROW
MR STEPHEN MOUTRAY
MR EDWIN POOTS
MR GEORGE ROBINSON
MR ALASTAIR ROSS
MR JIMMY SPRATT
MR PETER WEIR
MR SAMMY WILSON
Northern Ireland Assembly
27 April 2015
Division
Motion – Marriage Equality
Proposed:
That this Assembly welcomes the marriage equality referendum in the south of Ireland; notes that a growing number of parliaments across the world have embraced, and legislated for, marriage equality; respects the rights of the religious institutions to define, observe and practise marriage within their beliefs; and calls on the Executive to legislate for marriage equality for same sex couples so that all citizens will have the same legal entitlement to the protections, responsibilities, rights, obligations and benefits afforded by the legal institution of marriage.
Ms C Ruáne
Mr Daíthi McKay
Mr Chris Hazzard
Ms Megan Fearon
The Question was put and the Assembly divided.
Ayes: 47
Noes: 49
AYES
NATIONALIST:
Mr Attwood, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr D Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Durkan, Mr Eastwood, 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, Mr McKinney, Ms Maeve McLaughlin, Mr McMullan, Mr Maskey, Mr Milne, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mr Ó Muilleoir, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr Ramsey, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan.
UNIONIST:
Mr Kinahan, Mr McCallister, Mr B McCrea, Ms Sugden.
OTHER:
Mr Agnew, Mr Dickson, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Ms Lo, Mr Lyttle.
Tellers for the Ayes: Ms Fearon and Ms Ruane.
NOES
UNIONIST:
Mr Allister, Mr Anderson, Mr Beggs, Mr Bell, Ms P Bradley, Mr Buchanan, Mrs Cameron, Mr Campbell, Mr Clarke, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, 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 Kennedy, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Mr D McIlveen, Miss M McIlveen, Mr McNarry, Mr McQuillan, Mr Middleton, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Newton, Mrs Overend, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Mr P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Swann, Mr Weir, Mr Wells, Mr Wilson.
Tellers for the Noes: Mr McQuillan and Mr G Robinson.
Total votes 96 Total Ayes 47 [49.0 % ]
Nationalist Vote 37 Nationalist Ayes 37 [100.0 % ]
Unionist Votes 53 Unionist Ayes 4 [7.5 % ]
Other Votes 6 Other Ayes 6 [100 % ]
The following Members voted in both Lobbies and are therefore not counted in the result:
Mrs Cochrane, Mr Lunn, Mr McCarthy.
The Motion was negatived on a cross-community vote.
Northern Ireland Assembly
Papers Presented to the Assembly on
22 April 2015 to 27 April 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
5. Assembly Reports
6. Statutory Rules
S.R. 2015/223 The Health and Safety (Miscellaneous Repeals, Revocations and Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DETI).
S.R. 2015/227 The Misuse of Drugs (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DHSSPS).
S.R. 2015/228 The Misuse of Drugs (Designation) (Amendment No.2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DHSSPS).
S.R. 2015/229 The Ship Recycling Facilities Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DOE).
For Information Only
S.R. 2015/226 The Road Races (North West 200) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DRD).
7. Written Ministerial Statements
8. Consultation Documents
9. Departmental Publications
The Waste Management Charging (Northern Ireland) Scheme 2015 (DOE).
10. Agency Publications
11. Westminster Publications
12. Miscellaneous Publications
