Minutes of Proceedings

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2.   Speaker’s Business

2.1     Ministerial Resignation

The Speaker informed Members that, on 21 September 2015, Miss Michelle McIlveen resigned as Minister for Regional Development.

3.   Executive Committee Business

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

The Speaker informed Members that, as the Consideration Stage of the Pension Schemes Bill (NIA Bill 54/11-16) 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.   Private Members’ Business

4.1     First Stage – Assembly and Executive Reform (Assembly Opposition) Bill (NIA Bill 62/11-16)

Mr John McCallister introduced a Bill to provide for the formation of an Assembly Opposition; to provide for the passing of an Assembly and Executive Reform Motion; to reform the Assembly and the Executive; and to provide that all Northern Ireland Departments are a single legal entity.

The Assembly and Executive Reform (Assembly Opposition) Bill (NIA Bill 62/11-16) passed First Stage and ordered to be printed.

4.2    Motion – Humanitarian Crisis

Proposed:

That this Assembly expresses its despair at the ongoing international humanitarian crisis in Syria; notes the tragic deaths of refugees fleeing to Europe seeking sanctuary and the terrible conditions endured by those refugees in transport to Europe and in refugee camps upon arrival; believes that EU nations have a moral obligation to assist people seeking refuge from war and persecution; further notes the Prime Minister's eventual decision to accept 20,000 refugees; further believes that the UK government and some other EU governments have not acted in line with their humanitarian obligations; and calls on the Executive to ensure provisions are in place for Northern Ireland to welcome refugees from Syria.

Mr S Dickson
Ms A Lo
Mr C Lyttle

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) took the Chair.

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

4.3    Motion – Absence of a Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety

Proposed:

That this Assembly expresses grave concern that there is no Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in place given the urgent need to implement speedily Transforming Your Care, to address the important issues of waiting times, workforce planning and the health sector pay review and to provide the essential leadership and policy direction which our Health Service requires in the current difficult and challenging environment.

Ms M McLaughlin
Mr C Murphy
Ms R McCorley

Debate ensued.

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

The sitting was suspended at 12.37pm.

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

5.   Question Time

5.1     Environment

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of the Environment, Mr Mark H. Durkan.

5.2     Finance and Personnel

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

6.   Adjournment

Mr Dominic Bradley spoke to his topic regarding the development of Daisy Hill Hospital Emergency Department.

The Speaker took the Chair.

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 3.54pm.

Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
The Speaker

22 September 2015

Division

Motion – Absence of a Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety

Proposed:

That this Assembly expresses grave concern that there is no Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in place given the urgent need to implement speedily Transforming Your Care, to address the important issues of waiting times, workforce planning and the health sector pay review and to provide the essential leadership and policy direction which our Health Service requires in the current difficult and challenging environment.

Ms M McLaughlin
Mr C Murphy
Ms R McCorley

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 48
Noes: 31

AYES

Mr Agnew, Mr Allen, Mr Attwood, Ms Boyle, Mr D Bradley, Mr Byrne, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Cochrane-Watson, Mr Dickson, Mr Durkan, Mr Eastwood, Ms Fearon, Mr Gardiner, Ms Hanna, Mr Hazzard, Mr Hussey, Mr G Kelly, Ms Lo, Mr Lunn, Mr Lynch, Mr Lyttle, Mr McAleer, Mr McCallister, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCarthy, Ms McCorley, Mr McElduff, Ms McGahan, Mr McGlone, Mr McKinney, Ms Maeve McLaughlin, Mr A Maginness, Mr Maskey, Mr Murphy, Mr Nesbitt, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mr Ó Muilleoir, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mrs Overend, Mr Ramsey, Mr Rogers, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan, Mr Somerville, Mr Swann.

Tellers for the Ayes: Ms McCorley, Ms Maeve McLaughlin.

NOES

Mr Anderson, Ms P Bradley, Mr Buchanan, Mrs Cameron, Mr Campbell, Mr Clarke, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Frew, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr Lyons, Mr McCausland, Mr B McCrea, Mr I McCrea, Mr D McIlveen, Miss M McIlveen, Mr McQuillan, Mr Middleton, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Newton, Mr G Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Spratt, Mr Weir, Mr Wells

Tellers for the Noes: Mr McQuillan, Mr G Robinson.

The following Member voted in both Lobbies and is therefore not counted in the result: Mr Allister.

The Motion was carried.

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
22 September 2015

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Assembly and Executive Reform (Assembly Opposition) Bill (NIA Bill 62/11-16).

3.   Orders in Council

4.   Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

5.   Assembly Reports

6.   Statutory Rules

S.R. 2015/330 The Disclosure of Victims and Witnesses' Information (Prescribed Bodies) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DOJ).

For Information Only

S.R. 2015/334 The Roads (Speed Limit) (No. 3) Order (Northern Ireland) (DRD).

S.R. 2015/335 The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Cathedral Quarter, Belfast) (Amendment) Order Northern Ireland) (DRD).

S.R. 2015/336 The Bus Lanes (Falls Road – Grosvenor to Whiterock Road, Belfast) Order (Northern Ireland) (DRD).

S.R. 2015/337 The Waiting Restrictions (Dungannon) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DRD).

S.R. 2015/338 The Prohibition of Waiting (Amendment No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DRD).

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 23 September 2015

2011-2016 Mandate
Executive Bills      

2011-2016 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills