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. Executive Committee Business

2.1 Statement – Access to Justice Review Part II

The Minister of Justice, Mr David Ford, made a statement regarding the Access to Justice Review Part II, following which he replied to questions.

3. Private Members' Business

3.1 Final Stage – Children's Services Co-operation Bill (NIA Bill 44/11-16)

Mr Steven Agnew, moved that the Final Stage of the Children's Services Co-operation Bill (NIA Bill 44/11-16) do now pass.

Debate ensued.

The Children's Services Co-operation Bill (NIA Bill 44/11-16) passed Final Stage.

3.2 Motion – Post-Primary Transfer Process

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes that a solution to the post-primary transfer process has not been found; further notes that a one size fits all educational system will not work; believes that it is becoming increasingly unacceptable that, every year, thousands of young people are sitting unregulated transfer tests and that primary schools are placed in the difficult position of mediating between parental demand and Department of Education policies; further believes that the ongoing politicking of the issue does not address the seriousness of the matter; and calls on the Minister of Education to convene talks with all the major stakeholders in order to build consensus and agree a way forward on the issue.

Mrs S Overend
Mr D Kennedy

The sitting was suspended at 12.59pm.

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

4. Question Time

4.1 Culture, Arts and Leisure

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Culture Arts and Leisure, Ms Carál Ní Chuilín.

4.2 Education

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Education, Mr John O'Dowd.

5. Question for Urgent Oral Answer

5.1 Michelin Plant, Ballymena

The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Mr Jonathan Bell, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer tabled by Mr Jim Allister.

6. Private Members' Business (cont'd)

6.1 Motion – Post-Primary Transfer Process (cont'd)

Debate resumed.

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

7. Adjournment

Ms Claire Hanna spoke to her topic regarding the impact of rates on small businesses in South Belfast.

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 5.55pm.

Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
The Speaker

03 November 2015

Northern Ireland Assembly

03 November 2015
Division

Motion – Post-Primary Transfer Process

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes that a solution to the post-primary transfer process has not been found; further notes that a one size fits all educational system will not work; believes that it is becoming increasingly unacceptable that, every year, thousands of young people are sitting unregulated transfer tests and that primary schools are placed in the difficult position of mediating between parental demand and Department of Education policies; further believes that the ongoing politicking of the issue does not address the seriousness of the matter; and calls on the Minister of Education to convene talks with all the major stakeholders in order to build consensus and agree a way forward on the issue.

Mrs S Overend
Mr D Kennedy

Ayes: 55
Noes: 24

AYES

Mr Agnew, Mr Allister, Mr Anderson, Mr Bell, Mr D Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Mr Buchanan, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dobson, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Durkan, Mr Easton, Mr Eastwood, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Gardiner, Mr Girvan, Mr Hamilton, Ms Hanna, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kennedy, Ms Lo, Mr Lunn, Mr Lyons, Mr Lyttle, Mr McCallister, Mr McCarthy, Mr B McCrea, Mr I McCrea, Mr McGimpsey, Mr McGlone, Mr D McIlveen, Miss M McIlveen, Mr McKinney, Mr McQuillan, Mr Moutray, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Newton, Mrs Overend, Mrs Pengelly, Mr Ramsey, Mr G Robinson, Mr Rogers, Mr Ross, Mr Somerville, Ms Sugden, Mr Swann, Mr Weir.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Kennedy, Mrs Overend.

NOES

Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Ms Fearon, Mr Flanagan, Mr Hazzard, Mr G Kelly, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Ms McCorley, Mr McElduff, Ms McGahan, Mr McKay, Ms Maeve McLaughlin, Mr McMullan, Mr Maskey, Mr Milne, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mr Ó Muilleoir, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Hazzard, Mr McMullan.

The Question being put the motion was carried.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
03 November 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

S.R. 2015/360 The Police (Appeals, Conduct and Unsatisfactory Performance and Attendance) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DOJ).

For Information Only

S.R. 2015/361 (C. 32) The Charities (2008 Act) (Commencement No. 6) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DSD).

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 4 November 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.