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

The Minister for Social Development, Mr Mervyn Storey, moved that the Final Stage of the Pension Schemes Bill (NIA Bill 54/11-16) do now pass.

Debate ensued.

The Pension Schemes Bill (NIA Bill 54/11-16) passed Final Stage.

3. Committee Business

3.1 Motion – Extension of Committee Stage: Housing (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 58/11-16)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 33 (4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33 (2) be extended to 15 January 2016, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Housing (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 58/11-16).

Chairperson, Committee for Social Development

Debate ensued.

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

4. Private Members' Business

4.1 First Stage – Licensing Bill (NIA Bill 69/11-16)

Mrs Judith Cochrane, introduced a Bill to make provision for the granting of licences to authorise the sale of intoxicating liquor at outdoor stadia.

The Licensing Bill (NIA Bill 69/11-16) passed First Stage and ordered to be printed.

4.2 Motion – Replacement of the Trident Nuclear Weapons Programme

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes with concern the analysis by the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee in Westminster that suggests that the cost to replace the Trident nuclear weapons programme has risen to £167 billion; believes that it is indefensible for the British Government to commit billions of pounds of public money to nuclear weapons, particularly when individuals and families both locally and across Britain are experiencing the consequences of austerity measures; and calls on the British Government to cancel its plans for the renewal of Trident.

Mr C Murphy
Mr M Ó Muilleoir
Ms M Fearon

Debate ensued.

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

The sitting was suspended at 12.23pm.

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

5. Question Time

5.1 Agriculture and Rural Development

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Michelle O'Neill.

5.2 Culture, Arts and Leisure

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

5.3 Assembly Commission

Questions were put to, and answered by, Members of the Assembly Commission.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) took the Chair.

6. Adjournment

Mrs Sandra Overend spoke to her topic regarding the care of older people in Mid Ulster.

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 4.41pm.

Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
The Speaker

24 November 2015

Northern Ireland Assembly

24 November 2015
Division

Motion – Replacement of the Trident Nuclear Weapons Programme

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes with concern the analysis by the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee in Westminster that suggests that the cost to replace the Trident nuclear weapons programme has risen to £167 billion; believes that it is indefensible for the British Government to commit billions of pounds of public money to nuclear weapons, particularly when individuals and families both locally and across Britain are experiencing the consequences of austerity measures; and calls on the British Government to cancel its plans for the renewal of Trident.

Mr C Murphy
Mr M Ó Muilleoir
Ms M Fearon

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 44
Noes: 44

AYES

Mr Agnew, Mr Attwood, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr D Bradley, Mr Byrne, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Dallat, Mr Dickson, Mr Durkan, Mr Eastwood, Mr Flanagan, Mr Ford, Ms Hanna, Mr Hazzard, Mr G Kelly, Ms Lo, Mr Lunn, Mr Lynch, Mr Lyttle, Mr McAleer, Mr F McCann, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCartney, Ms McCorley, Mr McElduff, Ms McGahan, Mr McGlone, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McKay, Mrs McKevitt, Mr McKinney, Ms Maeve McLaughlin, Mr McMullan, Mr A Maginness, Mr Milne, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mr Ó Muilleoir, Mr O'Dowd, Mr Rogers, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Hazzard, Ms Ruane.

NOES

Mr Allen, Mr Allister, Mr Anderson, Mr Beggs, Ms P Bradley, Mr Buchanan, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Mr Cochrane-Watson, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mrs Dobson, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Gardiner, Mr Givan, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kennedy, Mr Lyons, Mr McCallister, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Mr McGimpsey, Mr D McIlveen, Miss M McIlveen, Mr Middleton, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Newton, Mrs Overend, Mrs Pengelly, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Storey, Mr Swann, Mr Weir.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Cochrane-Watson, Mr G Robinson.

The Question being put, the Motion was negatived.

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
24 November 2015

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

2.  Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

The Licensing Bill (NIA Bill 69/11-16)

3. Orders in Council

4. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Annual Report of the Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland for the year ended 31 March 2015 (OFMDFM).

Legislation Consent Memorandum – Housing and Planning Bill (DETI).

Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland - An Inspection of the Quality and Timeliness of Police Files (Incorporating Disclosure) Submitted to the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland (DOJ).

5. Assembly Reports

Report on the Credit Unions and Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Bill (NIA Bill 56//11-16) (NIA 280/11-16) (Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment).

Report on a complaint against Mr Barry McElduff MLA (NIA 273/11-16) (Committee on Standards and Privileges).

6. Statutory Rules

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

Commission Investigation under Paragraph 11 of Schedule 9 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998: Department of Social Development: Housing Policy Proposals (Equality Commission).

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 25 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.