Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at 10.30am, the Speaker in the Chair.

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Speaker’s Business

Petition to refer a ministerial decision to the Executive

The Speaker informed Members that he received a valid petition to refer a ministerial decision to the Executive Committee under section 28B of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 regarding a decision by the Minister of Education to approve changes to post-primary education in Fermanagh. The Speaker informed Members that, having consulted with the parties in accordance with Standing Order 29, he has certified that the Minister’s decision does not relate to a matter of public importance and that he will not refer the decision to the Executive Committee for consideration.

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Statement – North South Ministerial Council meeting in Health and Food Safety Sectoral Format

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Mr Jim Wells, made a statement regarding the North South Ministerial Council meeting held in Health and Food Safety Sectoral format , following which he replied to questions.

3.2 Statement – North South Ministerial Council Aquaculture and Marine Sectoral Meeting

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Michelle O’Neill, made a statement regarding the North South Ministerial Council Aquaculture and Marine Sectoral meeting , following which she replied to questions.

3.3 Consideration Stage – Off-street Parking (Functions of District Councils) Bill (NIA Bill 40/11-16)

The Minister for Regional Development, Mr Danny Kennedy, moved the Consideration Stage of the Off-street Parking (Functions of District Councils) Bill.

No amendments were tabled to the Bill.

Clause

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 1 stand part of the Bill.

Schedule

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Schedule 1 stand part of the Bill.

Long Title

The question being put, it was agreed without division that the Long Title stand part of the Bill.

Bill NIA 40/11-16 stood referred to the Speaker.

3.4 Legislative Consent Motion – Pension Schemes Bill

Proposed:

That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension to Northern Ireland of the provisions of the Pension Schemes Bill dealing with restrictions on transfers out of public service defined benefits schemes and reduction of cash equivalents in relation to funded public service defined benefits schemes, as contained in clauses 69, 70 and 71 of the Bill as brought from the House of Commons to the Lords.

Minister of Finance and Personnel

Debate ensued.

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

3.5 Legislative Consent Motion – Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill

Proposed:

That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension to Northern Ireland of the provisions dealing with public sector exit payments contained in clauses 149 to 151 of the Small Businesses, Enterprise and Employment Bill, as brought from the House of Commons to the Lords on 20 November 2014.

Minister of Finance and Personnel

Debate ensued.

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

4. Private Members’ Business

4.1 Motion: Education Funding

Proposed:

That this Assembly acknowledges the challenging financial environment in which education will operate in 2015-16 and the widespread concern amongst schools regarding the implications for the classroom of the Department of Education's draft budget; recognises that from 1 April 2015 there will be a single Education Authority in place of the five Education and Library Boards to oversee the allocation of the majority of the education budget; and calls on the Minister of Education to ensure that protecting the classroom is his first priority, that he uses the new administrative arrangements to achieve greater efficiencies within support services and, in so doing, devolves the maximum amount of the available budget to school level.

Miss M McIlveen
Mr J Craig
Mr R Newton
Mr N McCausland

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 12.28pm.

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

5. Question Time

5.1 Culture, Arts and Leisure

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Ms Carál Ní Chuilín.

5.2 Education

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

6. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)

6.1 Motion: Education Funding (cont’d)

Debate resumed on the motion.

6.2 Amendment 1

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘operate’ and insert:

‘from 1 April 2015 and the widespread concern amongst schools regarding the implications for the classroom of the Department of Education's draft budget; recognises that from 1 April 2015 there will be a single Education Authority in place of the five Education and Library Boards to oversee the allocation of the majority of the education budget; and calls on the Minister of Education to ensure that protecting classroom practice is his first priority and to use the new administrative arrangements to devolve maximum budget autonomy to schools that have demonstrated sound financial management skills in order to achieve the best possible educational outcomes whilst ensuring value for money.’

Mr S Rogers
Mr D Bradley

6.3 Amendment 2

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘schools’ and insert:

‘, youth services, early years providers and the broader community regarding the implications for education if the Department of Education's draft budget does not receive a significant uplift in the final budget settlement; recognises that from 1 April 2015 there will be a single Education Authority in place of the five Education and Library Boards to oversee the allocation of the majority of the education budget; and therefore calls on the Executive to ensure that protecting education is a priority; and further calls on the Minister of Education to use the new administrative arrangements to achieve greater efficiencies within administration and, in so doing, devolves the maximum amount of the available budget to frontline education services.’

Mr P Sheehan
Ms M McLaughlin
Mr C Hazzard

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) took the Chair.

The Question being put, Amendment No. 1 was carried without division.

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

7. Adjournment

Mr Danny Kinahan spoke to his topic regarding post-16 education in Antrim.

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 5.27pm.

Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
The Speaker
13 January 2015

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
13 January 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

The Housing Benefit (Executive Determinations) (Amendment) Regulations
(Northern Ireland) 2015 (DSD).

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 14 January 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.