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 New Member

The Speaker informed Members that he had been notified by the Chief Electoral Officer that
Mr Andy Allen had been returned as a Member of the Assembly for the East Belfast constituency to fill the vacancy that resulted from the resignation of Mr Michael Copeland.

Mr Allen signed the Roll of Membership on 17 September 2015 in the presence of the Speaker, Mr McLaughlin, and the Director of Clerking and Reporting to the Assembly. The Speaker confirmed that Mr Allen had signed the Roll and had entered his designation of identity.

2.2 Ministerial Appointments

The Speaker informed Members that, on 16 September 2015, Mr Jonathan Bell had taken up the office of Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Mr Simon Hamilton had taken up the office of Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety 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 17 September 2015, Mr Jonathan Bell resigned as Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Mr Simon Hamilton resigned as Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and Mr Mervyn Storey resigned as Minister for Social Development.

2.4 Ministerial Appointment

The Rt Hon Peter Robinson, the nominating officer for the Democratic Unionist Party, nominated Miss Michelle McIlveen to be Minister for Regional Development.

The Speaker confirmed that Miss Michelle McIlveen affirmed the terms of the Pledge of Office as set out in Schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and confirmed the appointment of Miss Michelle McIlveen as Minister for Regional Development.

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Statement – North South Ministerial Council Meeting in Inland Waterways Sectoral Format

The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Ms Carál Ní Chuilín, made a statement regarding the North South Ministerial Council meeting in Inland Waterways sectoral format, following which she replied to questions.

3.2 Statement – North South Ministerial Council Meeting 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 meeting in Language Body sectoral format, following which she replied to questions.

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

3.3 Second Stage – Housing Amendment Bill (NIA Bill 58/11-16)

The Speaker informed Members that, as the Second Stage of the Housing Amendment Bill (NIA Bill 58/11-16) was listed in the name of the Minister for Social Development and as the ministerial office was vacant, the item of business could not be moved.

3.4 Second Stage – Houses in Multiple Occupation Bill (NIA Bill 60/11-16)

The Speaker informed Members that, as the Second Stage of the Houses in Multiple Occupation Bill (NIA Bill 60/11-16) was listed in the name of the Minister for Social Development and as the ministerial office was vacant, the item of business could not be moved.

4. Committee Business

4.1 Motion – Extension of Committee Stage: Health and Social Care (Control of Data Processing) Bill (NIA Bill 52/11-16)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 20 November 2015, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Health and Social Care (Control of Data Processing) Bill (NIA Bill 52/11-16).

Chairperson, Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety

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

5. Private Members' Business

5.1 Motion – Crisis in the Agriculture Industry

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes with concern the crisis facing all sectors of agriculture across Northern Ireland; recognises the need to deliver significant change in the short term and into the future; and calls on the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to do more for the industry by ensuring basic payments are issued to farmers in early December 2015, lobbying the EU Agriculture Commissioner, Phil Hogan, to raise dairy intervention prices as a matter of urgency and bringing forward a wider strategy to deal with the immediate challenges facing the industry.

Mr W Irwin
Mr T Buchanan
Mr E Poots
Mr S Anderson

5.2 Amendment

Proposed:

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

'by availing of the important permission from the European Commission to make up to 70 per cent of advance Basic Payments from October 2015, lobbying the EU Agriculture Commissioner to raise dairy intervention prices as a matter of urgency and bringing forward a specific set of action points to deal with the immediate challenges facing the industry.'

Mrs J Dobson
Mr R Swann

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Amendment was made.

The Question being put, the Motion, as amended, was carried.

The Speaker took the Chair.

6. Question Time

6.1 Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Acting First Minister, Mrs Arlene Foster.

6.2 Enterprise, Trade and Investment

The Speaker informed Members that, as the ministerial office was vacant, Questions to the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment could not proceed.

7. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 2.46pm.

Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
The Speaker

21 September 2015

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
16 September – 21 September 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

Northern Ireland Law Commission's Annual Report, for the year ended 31 March 2015 (DOJ).

Attorney General for Northern Ireland – Guidance for the Police Service of Northern Ireland on Human Rights Standards Relevant to the Protection of the Right to Life, by the Attorney General for Northern Ireland (DOJ).

Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland – Annual Report and Accounts Year ending 31 May 2015 (DHSSPS).

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

S.R. 2015/331 The State Pension Credit (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DSD).

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

Debt Relief Scheme – Proposals to Amend the Limits for Eligibility (DETI).

Proposal to raise the threshold level of debt at which a creditor can petition for bankruptcy (DETI).

Emissions Performance Standard Monitoring and Enforcement Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DOE).

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications