Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Assembly Business

2.1 Motion­ – Suspension of Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4)

Proposed:

That Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4) be suspended for 07 December 2015.

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

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

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Statement – North South Ministerial Council in Aquaculture and Marine Sectoral Format

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Michelle O'Neill, made a statement regarding the North South Ministerial Council in Aquaculture and Marine Sectoral format meeting held on 11 November 2015, following which she replied to questions.

3.2 First Stage – Employment Bill (NIA Bill 73/11-16)

The Minister for Employment and Learning, Dr Stephen Farry, introduced a Bill to make provision relating to conciliation and other matters in connection with industrial tribunals and the Fair Employment Tribunal, including power to refer to chairmen as employment judges; to amend the law relating to protected disclosures; to confer power on the Department for Employment and Learning in connection with careers guidance and apprenticeships; to correct references relating to statutory shared parental pay; to make other provision relating to employment; and for connected purposes.

The Employment Bill (NIA Bill 73/11-16) passed First Stage and ordered to be printed.

3.3 First Stage – Fisheries Bill (NIA Bill 74/11-16)

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Michelle O'Neill, introduced a Bill to make provision about fisheries.

The Fisheries Bill (NIA Bill 74/11-16) passed First Stage and ordered to be printed.

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

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

The Minister for Social Development, Mr Mervyn Storey, moved the Second Stage of the Houses in Multiple Occupation Bill (NIA Bill 60/11-16).

Debate ensued.

The Houses in Multiple Occupation Bill (NIA Bill 60/11-16) passed Second Stage without division.

3.5 Legislative Consent Motion – Enterprise Bill: Restriction on Public Sector Exit Payments

Proposed:

That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension to Northern Ireland of provisions dealing with public sector exit payments contained in the Enterprise Bill.

Minister of Finance and Personnel

Debate ensued.

The debate was suspended for Question Time.

The Speaker in the Chair.

4. Question Time

4.1 Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister

Questions were put to, and answered by, the deputy First Minister, Mr Martin McGuinness. The junior Minister, Ms Jennifer McCann, also answered a number of questions.

4.2 Finance and Personnel

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

5. Executive Committee Business (cont'd)

5.1 Legislative Consent Motion – Enterprise Bill: Restriction on Public Sector Exit Payments (cont'd)

Debate resumed.

The Question being put, the Motion was negatived (Division).

6. Committee Business

6.1 Motion: Extension of Committee Stage: Human Transplantation Bill (NIA Bill 64/11-16)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 5 February 2016, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Human Transplantation Bill (NIA Bill 64/11-16).

Chairperson, Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety

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

6.2 Motion: Extension of Committee Stage: Rural Needs Bill (NIA Bill 67/11-16)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 26 January 2016, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Rural Needs Bill (NIA 67/11-16).

Chairperson, Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development

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

6.3 Motion: Part-time Higher Education

Proposed:

That this Assembly acknowledges the power of part-time higher education in Northern Ireland to contribute to economic growth, to boost productivity and to increase social mobility; recognises that it enables citizens to fit their studies around their employment and caring responsibilities, apply their knowledge to the workplace immediately, and to upskill and reskill to meet the skills needs of employers in key growth areas; and calls on the Minister for Employment and Learning, and his Executive colleagues, to prioritise the growth of part-time higher education in Northern Ireland.

Chairperson, Committee for Employment and Learning

Debate ensued.

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

6.4 Motion: Business Crime Report

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the report of the Committee for Justice's Business Crime Stakeholder Event (NIA 283/11-16); and calls on the Minister of Justice to work with the Chief Constable of the PSNI to address the issues highlighted in the report in a comprehensive and speedy manner.

Chairperson, Committee for Justice

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) in the Chair.

Debate ensued.

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

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

7. Private Members' Business

7.1 Second Stage: Licensing Bill (NIA Bill 69/11-16)

Mrs Judith Cochrane moved the Second Stage of the Licensing Bill (NIA Bill 69/11-16).

Debate ensued.

The Licensing Bill (NIA Bill 69/11-16) passed Second Stage without division.

8. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Principal Deputy Speaker (Mr Newton)

The Assembly adjourned at 6.41pm.

Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
The Speaker

07 December 2015

07 December 2015
Division

Legislative Consent Motion – Enterprise Bill: Restriction on Public Sector Exit Payments

Proposed:

That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension to Northern Ireland of provisions dealing with public sector exit payments contained in the Enterprise Bill.

Minister of Finance and Personnel

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 40
Noes: 51

AYES

Mr Anderson, Ms P Bradley, Mr Buchanan, Mrs Cameron, Mr Campbell, Mr Clarke, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Craig, Mr Dickson, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Ms Lo, Mr Lyons, Mr Lyttle, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Mr D McIlveen, Mr McQuillan, Mr Middleton, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr G Robinson, Mr P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wells

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr McQuillan, Mr G Robinson

NOES

Mr Allen, Mr Allister, Mr Attwood, Mr Beggs, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr D Bradley, Mr Cochrane-Watson, Mr Cree, Mr Dallat, Mrs Dobson, Mr Eastwood, Ms Fearon, Mr Flanagan, Mr Gardiner, Ms Hanna, Mr Hazzard, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Mr Kennedy, Mr Lynch, Mr McAleer, Mr McCallister, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Ms McCorley, Mr B McCrea, Mr McElduff, Ms McGahan, Mr McGimpsey, Mr McGlone, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McKay, Ms Maeve McLaughlin, Mr McMullan, Mr A Maginness, Mr Maskey, Mr Milne, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mr Ó Muilleoir, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mrs Overend, Mr Rogers, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sugden, Mr Swann

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Attwood, Mr McKay

The Question being put the Motion was negatived.

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
02 December 2015 – 07 December 2015

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

The Employment Bill (NIA Bill 73/11-16).

The Fisheries Bill (NIA Bill 74/11-16).

3. Orders in Council

4. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service – Trust Statement for the year ended 31 March 2015 (DOJ).

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

S.R. 2015/387 The Storage of Carbon Dioxide (Licensing etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DETI).

S.R. 2015/388 The Storage of Carbon Dioxide (Access to Infrastructure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DETI).

S.R. 2015/390 The Clifton Street/Carrick Hill, Belfast (Footway) (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DRD).

S.R. 2015/392 The Carnbane Road, Newry (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DRD).

S.R. 2015/393 The Taxi Licensing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DOE).

S.R. 2015/394 The Taxis (Taximeters, Devices and Maximum Fares) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DOE).

S.R. 2015/395 The Taxi Operators Licensing (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DOE).

S.R. 2015/396 The Taxi Accessibility Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DOE).

S.R. 2015/397 The Road Vehicles Lighting (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DOE).

S.R. 2015/398 The Planning (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DOE).

S.R. 2015/402 The Payment of Pension Levies for Past Periods Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DSD).

S.R. 2015/403 The Occupational Pensions (Revaluation) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DSD).

S.R. 2015/404 The Social Security (Crediting and Treatment of Contributions, and National Insurance Numbers) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DSD).

S.R. 2016/0000 Draft The Police Pensions (Consequential Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016

For Information Only

S.R. 2015/391 (C.9) The Loading Bays on Roads (Amendment No. 3) Order )Northern Ireland) 2015 (DRD).

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Results of consultation on the evaluation of the individual funding request process, report and actions (DHSSPS).

8. Consultation Documents

Consultation on the Use of Seat Belts by Child Passengers aged 3-13 years on Buses and Coaches (final phase of DIRECTIVE 2003/20/EC) (DOE).

Consultation on an Alternative Method for Funding Money Damages Claims (DOJ).

Consultation on Draft Amendments to the Sex Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 (OFMDFM).

Consultation on the Zoonoses (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (DARD).

Consultation on The Scrapie (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (DARD).

Consultation on The Northern Ireland Poultry Health Assurance Scheme (Fees) (Amendment) Order (NI) 2016 (DARD).

9. Departmental Publications

'Leaving Prostitution: a strategy for help and support; Strategy under Section 19 of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Criminal Justice and Support for Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 (DHSSPS).

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

Press Recognition Panel Annual Report and Financial Statements for the period 3 November to 31 March 2015 (Ministry of Justice).