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 Ministerial Resignation

The Speaker informed Members that, on 06 October 2015, Mr Jonathan Bell resigned as Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

2.2 Ministerial Appointments

The Speaker informed Members that, on 07 October 2015, Mr Simon Hamilton had taken up the office of Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Miss Michelle McIlveen had taken up the office of Minister for Regional Development and that Mr Mervyn Storey had taken up the office of Minister for Social Development.

The Speaker confirmed that the Members affirmed the terms of the Pledge of Office as set out in Schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and confirmed the appointments.

2.3 Ministerial Resignations

The Speaker informed Members that, on 08 October 2015, Mr Simon Hamilton resigned as Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Miss Michelle McIlveen resigned as Minister for Regional Development and Mr Mervyn Storey resigned as Minister for Social Development.

2.4 Ministerial Appointment

The Speaker informed Members that, on 09 October 2015, Mr Jonathan Bell had taken up the office of Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

The Speaker confirmed that Mr Jonathan Bell affirmed the terms of the Pledge of Office as set out in Schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and confirmed the appointment.

3. Matter of the Day

3.1 Fire Tragedy in Dublin

Mr Martin McGuinness made a statement, under Standing Order 24, in relation to a fire tragedy in Dublin. Other Members were also called to speak on the matter.

3.2 Northern Ireland Qualifying for the 2016 European Football Championships

Mr Chris Lyttle made a statement, under Standing Order 24, in relation to Northern Ireland's qualification for the 2016 European Football Championships. Other Members were also called to speak on the matter.

4. Committee Business

4.1 Motion – Extension of Committee Stage: Justice (No.2) Bill (NIA Bill 57/11-16)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 15 January 2016, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Justice (No.2) Bill (NIA Bill 57/11-16).

Chairperson, Committee for Justice

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

5. Private Members' Business

5.1 First Stage – Local Government (Numbers and Addresses of Buildings in Townlands) Bill (NIA Bill 63/11-16)

Mr Phil Flanagan introduced a Bill to amend the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 to make provision about the allocation of numbers to buildings and the format of addresses.

The Local Government (Numbers and Addresses of Buildings in Townlands) Bill (NIA Bill 63/11-16) passed First Stage and ordered to be printed.

5.2 Second Stage – Assembly and Executive Reform (Assembly Opposition) Bill (NIA Bill 62/11-16)

Mr John McCallister moved the Second Stage of the Assembly and Executive Reform (Assembly Opposition) Bill (NIA Bill 62/11-16).

Debate ensued.

The debate was suspended for Question Time.

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

6. Question Time

6.1 Employment and Learning

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Employment and Learning, Dr Stephen Farry.

6.2 Agriculture and Rural Development

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

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) took the Chair.

7. Private Members' Business (cont'd)

7.1 Second Stage – Assembly and Executive Reform (Assembly Opposition) Bill (NIA Bill 62/11-16) (cont'd)

Debate resumed.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) took the Chair.

The Assembly and Executive Reform (Assembly Opposition) Bill (NIA Bill 62/11-16) passed Second Stage without division.

8. Assembly Business

8.1 Motion – Committee Stage of Assembly and Executive Reform (Assembly Opposition) Bill (NIA Bill 62/11-16)

Proposed:

That as provided for in Standing Order 33(1), the Assembly and Executive Reform (Assembly Opposition) Bill (NIA Bill 62/11-16) stands referred to the Assembly and Executive Review Committee.

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

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

9. Private Members' Business (cont'd)

9.1 Motion – Equal Pay

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the inequality of treatment which has arisen for staff in the PSNI, the Department of Justice and the Northern Ireland Office in terms of the equal pay settlement; recognises the genuine hurt and hardship which have been caused as a result; and calls on the Minister of Finance and Personnel and the Minister of Justice to take urgent steps to recognise their moral obligation and to ensure that staff affected are not financially disadvantaged and receive the equivalent payments awarded to their colleagues in other departments.

Mr L Cree
Mr M Nesbitt
Mr R Hussey

9.2 Amendment

Proposed:

Leave out all after the first 'Justice' and insert:

'the Northern Ireland Office and a number of arm's-length bodies in terms of the equal pay settlement; recognises the genuine hurt and hardship which have been caused as a result; and calls on the Executive to address any areas of responsibility that they have and to make representations to the British government, who was the employer for many of those affected, urging them to recognise their moral obligation and to ensure that staff affected are not financially disadvantaged and receive the equivalent payments awarded to their colleagues in other Departments.'

Mr R McCartney
Mr S Lynch
Ms B McGahan

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Amendment fell (Division).

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

10. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 6.24pm.

Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
The Speaker

12 October 2015

Division

Motion – Equal Pay (Amendment)

Proposed:

Leave out all after the first 'Justice' and insert:

'the Northern Ireland Office and a number of arm's-length bodies in terms of the equal pay settlement; recognises the genuine hurt and hardship which have been caused as a result; and calls on the Executive to address any areas of responsibility that they have and to make representations to the British government, who was the employer for many of those affected, urging them to recognise their moral obligation and to ensure that staff affected are not financially disadvantaged and receive the equivalent payments awarded to their colleagues in other Departments.'

Mr R McCartney
Mr S Lynch
Ms B McGahan

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 28
Noes: 36

AYES

Ms Boyle, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Dickson, Ms Fearon, Mr Flanagan, Mr Hazzard, Mr G Kelly, Ms Lo, Mr Lynch, Mr McAleer, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McElduff, Ms McGahan, Mr McGlone, Mr McKay, Ms Maeve McLaughlin, Mr McMullan, Mr Maskey, Mr Milne, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr Rogers, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Lynch, Ms McGahan.

NOES

Mr Allister, Mr Anderson, Ms P Bradley, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Girvan, Mr Humphrey, Mr Hussey, Mr Irwin, Mrs D Kelly, Mr Kennedy, Mr Lyons, Mr McCallister, Mr McCausland, Mr B McCrea, Mr I McCrea, Mr D McIlveen, Miss M McIlveen, Mr Middleton, Mr Moutray, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Newton, Mrs Overend, Mrs Pengelly, Mr G Robinson, Mr Somerville, Mr Storey, Ms Sugden, Mr Weir, Mr Wells.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Hussey, Mr Kennedy.

The Amendment fell.

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
07 October – 12 October 2015

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Local Government (Numbers and Addresses of Buildings in Townlands) Bill (NIA Bill 63/11-16)

3. Orders in Council

4. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission (NIJAC) Annual Report and Accounts 2014/15 (OFMDFM).

Livestock and Meat Commission Retention and Disposal Schedule July 2015 (DCAL).

Attorney General for Northern Ireland Human Rights Guidance for the Youth Justice Agency in Relation to Restorative Justice (DOJ).

5. Assembly Reports

Review of Workforce Planning in the Context of Transforming Your Care (NIA 268/11-16) (Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety).

6. Statutory Rules

S.R. 2015/349 The Road Traffic (Fixed Penalty) (Offences) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DOE).

S.R. 2015/350 The Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Amendments No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DOJ).

S.R. 2015/353 The Criminal Justice (European Protection Order) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DOJ).

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications