Minutes of Proceedings

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2.    Speaker’s Business

2.1  Ministerial Appointments

The Speaker informed Members that, on 11 May 2015 the following Ministerial appointments took effect: Mr Simon Hamilton had taken up the office of Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety; Mrs Arlene Foster had taken up the office of Minister of Finance and Personnel; Mr Jonathan Bell had taken up the office of Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and that Miss Michelle McIlveen had taken up the office of junior Minister in the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister.

2.2  Committee Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson Nominations

The Speaker informed Members that the following resignations took effect from 11 May 2015: Miss Michelle McIlveen as Chairperson of the Committee for Education; and Ms Paula Bradley as Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety. The Speaker also informed Members that, with effect from 11 May 2015, Mr Peter Weir had been nominated as Chairperson of the Committee for Education; and Mr Alex Easton had been nominated as Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety and confirmed the appointments.

3.    Executive Committee Business

3.1  Statement – North South Ministerial Council Transport Sector Meeting (Road Safety)

The Minister of the Environment, Mr Mark H. Durkan, made a statement regarding the North South Ministerial Council Transport Sector Meeting (Road Safety), following which he replied to questions.

3.2  Statement – North South Ministerial Council Transport Sector Meeting (Roads and Transport)

The Minister for Regional Development, Mr Danny Kennedy, made a statement regarding the North South Ministerial Council Transport Sector Meeting (Roads and Transport), following which he replied to questions.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) took the Chair.

3.3  Motion – The Shared Parental Leave Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

Proposed:

That the Shared Parental Leave Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 be approved.

Minister for Employment and Learning

3.4  Motion – The Statutory Shared Parental Pay (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

Proposed:

That the Statutory Shared Parental Pay (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 be approved.

Minister for Employment and Learning

A single debate ensued on both motions.

The Question being put, the motion regarding The Shared Parental Leave Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 was carried without division.

The Question being put, the motion regarding The Statutory Shared Parental Pay (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 was carried without division.

3.5  Motion – The Paternity and Adoption Leave (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

Proposed:

That the Paternity and Adoption Leave (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 be approved.

Minister for Employment and Learning

3.6  Motion – The Maternity and Adoption Leave (Curtailment of Statutory Rights to Leave) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

Proposed:

That the Maternity and Adoption Leave (Curtailment of Statutory Rights to Leave) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 be approved.

Minister for Employment and Learning

3.7  Motion – The Maternity and Parental Leave etc. (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

Proposed:

That the Maternity and Parental Leave etc. (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 be approved.

Minister for Employment and Learning

A single debate ensued on all three motions.

The Question being put, the motion regarding The Paternity and Adoption Leave (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 was carried without division.

The Question being put, the motion regarding The Maternity and Adoption Leave (Curtailment of Statutory Rights to Leave) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 was carried without division.

The Question being put, the motion regarding The Maternity and Parental Leave etc. (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 was carried without division.

3.8  Motion – The Statutory Shared Parental Pay (Adoptions from Overseas) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

Proposed:

That the Statutory Shared Parental Pay (Adoptions from Overseas) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 be approved.

Minister for Employment and Learning

3.9  Motion – The Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (Application of Articles 107G and 107I to Adoptions from Overseas) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

Proposed:

That the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (Application of Articles 107G and 107I to Adoptions from Overseas) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 be approved.

Minister for Employment and Learning

3.10 Motion – The Shared Parental Leave and Paternity and Adoption Leave (Adoptions from Overseas) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

Proposed:

That the Shared Parental Leave and Paternity and Adoption Leave (Adoptions from Overseas) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 be approved.

Minister for Employment and Learning

3.11 Motion – The Statutory Shared Parental Pay (Parental Order Cases) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

Proposed:

That the Statutory Shared Parental Pay (Parental Order Cases) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 be approved.

Minister for Employment and Learning

3.12 Motion – The Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (Application of Articles 107A, 107B, 107G, 107I, 112A and 112B to Parental Order Cases) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 

Proposed:

That the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (Application of Articles 107A, 107B, 107G, 107I, 112A and 112B to Parental Order Cases) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 be approved.

Minister for Employment and Learning

3.13 Motion – The Paternity, Adoption and Shared Parental Leave (Parental Order Cases) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

Proposed:

That the Paternity, Adoption and Shared Parental Leave (Parental Order Cases) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 be approved.

Minister for Employment and Learning

A single debate ensued on all six motions.

The Question being put, the motion regarding The Statutory Shared Parental Pay (Adoptions from Overseas) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 was carried without division.

The Question being put, the motion regarding The Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (Application of Articles 107G and 107I to Adoptions from Overseas) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 was carried without division.

The Question being put, the motion regarding The Shared Parental Leave and Paternity and Adoption Leave (Adoptions from Overseas) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 was carried without division.

The Question being put, the motion regarding The Statutory Shared Parental Pay (Parental Order Cases) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 was carried without division.

The Question being put, the motion regarding The Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (Application of Articles 107A, 107B, 107G, 107I, 112A and 112B to Parental Order Cases) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 was carried without division.

The Question being put, the motion regarding The Paternity, Adoption and Shared Parental Leave (Parental Order Cases) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 was carried without division.

The Speaker took the Chair.

4.    Committee Business

4.1   Motion – Inquiry into allegations, arising from a BBC NI Spotlight programme aired on 3 July 2013, of impropriety or irregularity relating to NIHE managed contracts and consideration of any resulting actions (NIA 222/11-16)     

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the report of the Committee for Social Development on Phase 3 of its Inquiry into allegations, arising from a BBC NI Spotlight programme aired on 3 July 2013, of impropriety or irregularity relating to NIHE managed contracts and consideration of any resulting actions (NIA 222/11-16), which deals specifically with decision making relating to the award, modification and cancellation of NIHE maintenance contracts to establish any impropriety and, in particular, whether the actions of Ministers were appropriate.

Chairperson, Committee for Social Development

Debate ensued.

The debate was suspended at 12.28pm.

The sitting resumed at 1.00pm, with the Speaker in the Chair.

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

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

5.    Question Time

5.1   Environment

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of the Environment, Mr Mark H. Durkan.

5.2   Finance and Personnel

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Finance and Personnel, Mrs Arlene Foster.

5.3   Education

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

The Deputy Speaker Mr Beggs took the Chair.

6.    Adjournment

Mr Gary Middleton spoke to his topic regarding suicide prevention in Londonderry.

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 5.09pm.

Mr Mitchel McLaughlin

The Speaker

12 May 2015

Northern Ireland Assembly

12 May 2015
Division

Motion – Inquiry into allegations, arising from a BBC NI Spotlight programme aired on 3 July 2013, of impropriety or irregularity relating to NIHE managed contracts and consideration of any resulting actions (NIA 222/11-16)

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the report of the Committee for Social Development on Phase 3 of its Inquiry into allegations, arising from a BBC NI Spotlight programme aired on 3 July 2013, of impropriety or irregularity relating to NIHE managed contracts and consideration of any resulting actions (NIA 222/11-16), which deals specifically with decision making relating to the award, modification and cancellation of NIHE maintenance contracts to establish any impropriety and, in particular, whether the actions of Ministers were appropriate.

Chairperson, Committee for Social Development

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 55
Noes: 32

AYES

Mr Agnew, Mr Allister, Mr Beggs, Mr Boylan, Mr Brady, Mr Byrne, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Cree, Mr Dallat, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dobson, Mr Durkan, Dr Farry, Ms Fearon, Mr Ford, Mr Gardiner, Mr Hazzard, Mr Hussey, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Mr Kennedy, Mr Kinahan, Ms Lo, Mr Lunn, Mr Lynch, Mr McAleer, Mr McCallister, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCartney, Ms McCorley, Mr B McCrea, Mr McElduff, Ms McGahan, Mr McGimpsey, Mr McGlone, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McKay, Mrs McKevitt, Mr McKinney, Ms Maeve McLaughlin, Mr McMullan, Mr A Maginness, Mr Maskey, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mrs Overend, Mr Rogers, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sugden, Mr Swann.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Brady, Mr F McCann.

NOES

Mr Anderson, Ms P Bradley, Mr Buchanan, Mrs Cameron, Mr Campbell, Mr Clarke, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Miss M McIlveen, Mr McQuillan, Mr Middleton, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Newton, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Mr P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wells.

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

The motion was carried.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 12 May 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

For Information Only

S.R. 2015/245 The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Fivemiletown) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DRD).

7.    Written Ministerial Statements

8.    Consultation Documents

9.    Departmental Publications

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 13 May 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.