Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair.

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Executive Committee Business

2.1 Statement – Consultation on a Culture and Arts Strategy

The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Ms Carál Ní Chuilín, made a statement regarding the Consultation on a Culture and Arts Strategy, following which she replied to questions.

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

2.2 First Stage – Health and Personal Social Services (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 68/11-16)

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Mr Simon Hamilton, introduced a Bill to make provision about the Northern Ireland Social Care Council and other provision about social care workers.

The Health and Personal Social Services (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 68/11-16) passed First Stage and ordered to be printed.

2.3 Further Consideration Stage – Pension Schemes Bill (NIA Bill 54/11-16)

The Minister for Social Development, Mr Mervyn Storey, moved the Further Consideration Stage of the Pension Schemes Bill.

No amendments were tabled to the Bill.

The Pension Schemes Bill (NIA Bill 54/11-16) stood referred to the Speaker in accordance with Section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

3. Committee Business

3.1 Motion – Extension of Committee Stage: Credit Unions and Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Bill (NIA Bill 56/11-16)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 33 (4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33 (2) be extended to 29 January 2016, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Credit Unions and Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Bill (NIA 56/11-16).

Chairperson, Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment

Debate ensued.

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

3.2 Motion – The European Social Fund

Proposed:

That this Assembly acknowledges the important role of the European Social Fund in delivering essential support and services to the most vulnerable people in Northern Ireland; recognises the challenges faced by the community and voluntary sectors in the administration of the current and previous programmes; and calls on the Department for Employment and Learning to learn from its mistakes and to ensure that it works in partnership with the community and voluntary sector to deliver, efficiently and effectively, the European Social Fund programme.

Chairperson, Committee for Employment and Learning

Debate ensued.

The Speaker took the Chair.

The debate was suspended for Question Time.

4. Question Time

4.1 Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister

Questions were put to, and answered by, the First Minister, the Rt Hon Peter Robinson. The junior Minister, Mrs Emma Pengelly, also answered a number of questions.

4.2 Social Development

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Social Development, Mr Mervyn Storey.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) took the Chair.

5. Committee Business (cont'd)

5.1 Motion – The European Social Fund (cont'd)

Debate resumed.

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

6. Private Members' Business

6.1 Motion – Reduction in the Number of MLAs

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes that the Stormont House Agreement contains a deadline to reduce the number of MLAs from 108 to 90 by 2021 and the number of Executive Departments in time for the 2016 Assembly term; believes that there is an opportunity to reform the size of the Assembly and the number of Executive Departments to the same timescale; and calls on the Executive to ensure any legislation will see that the reduction in the number of MLAs takes places in time for the 2016 elections.

Mr S Dickson
Mr C Lyttle
Mr K McCarthy
Dr S Farry

Debate ensued.

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

7. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 4.49pm.

Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
The Speaker

23 November 2015

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
19 November – 23 November 2015

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland AssemblyBills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Health and Personal Social Services (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 68/11-16).

3. Orders in Council

4. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

5. Assembly Reports

Report on the Health and Social Care (Control of Data Processing) Bill (NIA Bill 52/11-16) (NIA 274/11-16) (Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety).

Examiner of Statutory Rules 6th Report 2015/16 (NIA 279/11-16).

Report on the Environmental Better Regulation Bill (NIA Bill 55/11-16) (NIA 277/11-16) (Committee for the Environment).

6. Statutory Rules

S.R. 2015/372 The Occupational Pension Schemes (Power to Amend Schemes to Reflect Abolition of Contracting-out) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DSD).

For Information Only

S.R. 2015/339 Correction Slip - The Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DETI).

S.R. 2015/368 The Rules of the Court of Judicature (Northern Ireland) (Amendment No. 2) 2015 (DOJ).

S.R. 2015/370 The Victim Charter (Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DOJ).

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications