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. Committee Business

2.1 Motion – Review of Workforce Planning (NIA 268/11-16)

Proposed:

That this Assembly welcomes the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety's Review of Workforce Planning (NIA 268/11-16); and calls on the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to ensure that workforce planning is fully integrated with the implementation of Transforming Your Care.

Chairperson, Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety

Debate ensued.

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

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

3. Private Members' Business

3.1 First Stage – Human Transplantation Bill (NIA Bill 64/11-16)

Mrs Jo-Anne Dobson introduced a Bill to make provision concerning the consent required for the removal, storage and use of human organs and tissue for the purpose of transplantation; and for connected purposes.

The Human Transplantation Bill (NIA Bill 64/11-16) passed First Stage and ordered to be printed.

3.2 Second Stage – Civil Service (Special Advisers) (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 61/11-16)

Mr Jim Allister moved the Second Stage of the Civil Service (Special Advisers) (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 61/11-16).

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 12.50pm.

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

4. Question Time

4.1 Environment

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

4.2 Finance and Personnel

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

5. Private Members' Business (cont'd)

5.1 Second Stage – Civil Service (Special Advisers) (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 61/11-16) (cont'd)

Debate resumed.

The Speaker took the Chair.

The Civil Service (Special Advisers) (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 61/11-16) fell (Division).

5.2 Motion – Tax Credits

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the reliance of thousands of low and middle earning families on the tax credits system to top up their earnings; deplores the recent attack by the British government on the tax credits system, which will reduce further the income of thousands of working families and drive them into greater poverty as well as making it more difficult for people to move into employment; further notes the proposed introduction of an increased minimum wage by the British government but recognises the study by the Institute for Fiscal Studies which shows that the impact of cuts to the tax credits system is much greater than the increase proposed in the minimum wage, which falls significantly short of the wage required for someone to have a decent standard of living.

Mr A Maskey
Mr F McCann
Mr P Flanagan

5.3 Amendment

Proposed:

Leave out all after the second 'government' and insert:

'and the increase to the personal income tax allowance but recognises the study by the Institute for Fiscal Studies which shows that the impact of cuts to the tax credits system is much greater than the increase proposed in the minimum wage, which falls significantly short of the wage required for someone to have a decent standard of living; and calls on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to ensure that working households on low wages are not financially worse off following the introduction of the government's changes.'

Mr R Beggs
Mr L Cree

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Amendment was made without division.

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

6. Adjournment

Mr Stewart Dickson spoke to his topic regarding rail services in East Antrim.

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 5.16pm.

Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
The Speaker

13 October 2015

Division

Second Stage – Civil Service (Special Advisers) (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 61/11-16)

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 33
Noes: 52

AYES

Mr Agnew, Mr Allen, Mr Allister, Mr Attwood, Mr Beggs, Mr D Bradley, Mr Byrne, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Cree, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dobson, Mr Durkan, Mr Eastwood, Mr Ford, Mr Gardiner, Ms Hanna, Mrs D Kelly, Mr Kennedy, Ms Lo, Mr Lunn, Mr Lyttle, Mr McCallister, Mr McCarthy, Mr B McCrea, Mr McGlone, Mr McKinney, Mr A Maginness, Mr Nesbitt, Mrs Overend, Mr Ramsey, Mr Rogers, Mr Somerville, Ms Sugden.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Allister, Mr B McCrea.

NOES

Mr Anderson, Ms Boyle, Ms P Bradley, Mr Buchanan, Mrs Cameron, Mr Campbell, Mr Clarke, Mr Craig, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Ms Fearon, Mr Flanagan, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Givan, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hazzard, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr G Kelly, Mr Lynch, Mr Lyons, Mr McAleer, Mr McCartney, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Mr McElduff, Ms McGahan, Mr D McIlveen, Miss M McIlveen, Mr McKay, Ms Maeve McLaughlin, Mr Maskey, Mr Middleton, Mr Milne, Mr Moutray, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mrs Pengelly, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Mr P Robinson, Mr Ross, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wells.

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

The Question was negatived.

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
13 October 2015

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Human Transplantation Bill (NIA Bill 64/11-16)

3. Orders in Council

4. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

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 October 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.