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. Assembly Business

2.1 Member Resignation

The Speaker informed Members that Mr Pat Ramsey is resigning as a Member of the Legislative Assembly with effect from 31 December 2015. The Speaker advised that the Speaker's Office had notified the Chief Electoral Officer, in accordance with section 35 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

2.2 Consideration of business not concluded on Monday 07 December 2015

The Speaker informed the Assembly that all business listed on the Order Paper for 07 December 2015 was concluded.

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Statement – North South Ministerial Council: Inland Waterways

The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Ms Carál Ní Chuilín, made a statement regarding the North South Ministerial Council Inland Waterways meetings held in Annaghmakerrig, County Monaghan on 06 November 2015, following which she replied to questions.

3.2 Statement – North South Ministerial Council in Language Body Sectoral Format

The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Ms Carál Ní Chuilín, made a statement regarding the North South Ministerial Council in Language Body Sectoral format meeting held in Annaghmakerrig, County Monaghan on 06 November 2015, following which she replied to questions.

3.3 Motion – Accelerated Passage: Departments Bill (NIA Bill 70/11-16)

Proposed:

That the Departments Bill (NIA Bill 70/11-16) proceed under the accelerated passage procedure.

Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support.

3.4 Second Stage: Departments Bill (NIA Bill 70/11-16)

The junior Minister, Mrs Emma Pengelly, moved the Second Stage of the Departments Bill (NIA Bill 70/11-16).

Debate ensued.

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

The Departments Bill (NIA Bill 70/11-16) passed Second Stage without division.

3.5 Second Stage – Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill (NIA Bill 72/11-16)

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Mr Simon Hamilton, moved the Second Stage of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill (NIA Bill 72/11-16).

Debate ensued.

The debate was suspended for Question Time.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) in the Chair.

4. Question Time

4.1 Health, Social Services and Public Safety

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Mr Simon Hamilton.

4.2 Justice

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Justice, Mr David Ford.

The Speaker in the Chair.

5. Executive Committee Business (cont'd)

5.1 Second Stage – Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill (NIA Bill 72/11-16) (cont'd)

Debate resumed.

The Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill (NIA Bill 72/11-16) passed Second Stage without division.

5.2 Final Stage – Food Hygiene Rating Bill (NIA Bill 41/11-16)

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Mr Simon Hamilton, moved that the Final Stage of the Food Hygiene Rating Bill (NIA Bill 41/11-16) do now pass.

Debate ensued.

The Food Hygiene Rating Bill (NIA Bill 41/11-16) passed Final Stage.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) in the Chair.

5.3 Second Stage - Addressing Bullying in Schools Bill (NIA Bill 71/11-16)

The Minister of Education, Mr John O'Dowd, moved the Second Stage of the Addressing Bullying in Schools Bill (NIA Bill 71/11-16).

Debate ensued.

The Addressing Bullying in Schools Bill (NIA Bill 71/11-16) passed Second Stage without division.

5.4 Consideration Stage - Water and Sewerage Services Bill (NIA Bill 51/11-16)

The Minister for Regional Development, Miss Michelle McIlveen, moved the Consideration Stage of the Water and Sewerage Services Bill (NIA Bill 51/11-16).

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

Seven amendments were tabled to the Bill, as well as notice of intention to oppose the question that Clause 3 stand part of the Bill.

Clauses

The question that Clauses 1 and 2 stand part of the Bill was agreed without division.

After debate, Amendment 1 to Clause 3 was made without division

After debate, Amendment 2 to Clause 3 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 3 to Clause 3 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 4 to Clause 3 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 5 to Clause 3 was made without division.

After debate, the question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 3, as amended, stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 4 stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 6 to Clause 5 was made without division.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 5, as amended, stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 6 stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 7 inserting a new Clause 6A was negatived without division.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clauses 7 to 9 stand part of the Bill.

Schedules

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Schedules 1 and 2 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.

The Water and Sewerage Services Bill (NIA Bill 51/11-16) stood referred to the Speaker.

5.5 Final Stage – Insolvency (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 39/11-16)

The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Mr Jonathan Bell, moved that the Final Stage of the Insolvency (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 39/11-16) do now pass.

Debate ensued.

The Speaker in the Chair.

The Insolvency (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 39/11-16) passed Final Stage.

5.6 Motion – The Occupational Pension Schemes (Charges and Governance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

Proposed:

That the Occupational Pension Schemes (Charges and Governance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 be approved.

Minister for Social Development

Debate ensued.

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

6. Committee Business

6.1 Final Stage – Public Services Ombudsman Bill (NIA Bill 47/11-16)

The Final Stage of the Public Services Ombudsman Bill (NIA Bill 47/11-16) was not moved.

7. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 9.06pm

Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
The Speaker

08 December 2015

Water and Sewerage Services Bill

Marshalled List of Amendments

Consideration Stage

Tuesday 8 December 2015

Amendments tabled up to 9.30am Wednesday, 2 December 2015 and selected for debate.

The Bill will be considered in the following order-

Clauses, Schedules and Long Title.

Amendment 1 [Made without Division]

Clause 3, Page 2, Line 11

At beginning insert 'suspend (whether indefinitely or for a specified period) or'

Minister for Regional Development

Amendment 2 [Made without Division]

Clause 3, Page 2, Line 12

Leave out '(a)'

Minister for Regional Development

Amendment 3 [Made without Division]

Clause 3, Page 2, Line 16

Leave out 're-enact' and insert 'revive'

Minister for Regional Development

Amendment 4 [Made without Division]

Clause 3, Page 2, Line 16

Leave out 'repealed' and insert 'suspended'

Minister for Regional Development

Amendment 5 [Made without Division]

Clause 3, Page 2, Line 25

At end insert -

'(b) district councils;'

Minister for Regional Development

Clause 3 [Question that Clause 3 stand part made without Division]

The Members listed below give notice of their intention to oppose the question that clause 3 stand part of the Bill.

Mr Chris Lyttle

Mr Stewart Dickson

Amendment 6 [Made without Division]

Clause 5, Page 4, Line 8

At end insert -

'(5C) The reference in subsection (5B) to suitable alternatives includes, in particular —

(a) the use of landscaping, natural features or any other kind of arrangement, or

(b) the design or construction of any other feature (whether or not amounting to a "structure" within the meaning of Article 2(3A)),

for the purpose of reducing the volume of water from the premises or sewer that enters public sewers or watercourses, or the rate at which it does so.".'

Minister for Regional Development

Amendment 7 [Negatived without Division]

New Clause

After clause 6 insert -

'Report on investment needs

7.—(1) Before the end of each review period, the Department must —

(a) carry out a review of water and sewerage infrastructure investment needs;

(b) set out the conclusions of the review in a report; and

(c) lay the report before the Assembly.

(2) The report must in particular set out the assessment of the Department, the water and sewerage undertakers and the utility regulator as to —

(a) the fitness and adequacy of the infrastructure to carry out essential water and sewerage functions;

(b) the cost of improvements necessary to maintain reliable and quality supply;

(c) the likelihood of complying with the Water Framework Directive and other applicable environmental standards;

(d) the cost of failing to so comply; and

(e) how finances should be prioritised in order to make necessary reliability, quality and environmental improvements.

(3) In this section, "review period" means —

(a) the period of twenty four months beginning with the day on which Royal Assent is received, and

(b) subject to paragraph (4), each successive period of twenty four months.

(4) If a report under this section is laid before the Assembly before the last day of the review period to which it relates, the subsequent review period is to begin with the day on which that report is laid.'

Mr Chris Lyttle

Mr Stewart Dickson

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
08 December 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

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 9 December 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.