Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Executive Committee Business

2.1 Statement: Mental Health in Prisons

The Minister of Justice, Ms Claire Sugden, made a statement regarding Mental Health in Prisons, following which she replied to questions.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Kennedy) took the Chair.

3. Opposition Business

3.1 Motion: EU Funding for the Agricultural Sector

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes with concern the risks to multiple streams of funding posed by withdrawal from the European Union; further notes that over 70 per cent of all European funding to Northern Ireland falls under the Common Agricultural Policy and other rural funds, which provide approximately £350 million each year to farmers, representing 87 per cent of annual farm income; acknowledges that the agri-food sector accounts for 3.25 per cent of Northern Ireland's Gross Value Added, which equates to £1.1 billion at basic prices and approximately 71,500 local jobs, and that existing strategies in these sectors, such as Going for Growth, make no provision for the withdrawal of European Union funding; and calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to outline how she intends to uphold the First Minister's commitment that farmers can be provided for as well as, if not better if Northern Ireland leaves the European Union, and to detail how she will develop a strategy to provide for and secure the long-term sustainability of the agricultural and agri-food sectors to ensure no loss of assistance to farmers arising from the withdrawal of existing European Union funding.

Mr P McGlone
Mr R McPhillips
Mr H McKee
Mr R Swann

Debate ensued.

The debate was suspended for Question Time.

The Principal Deputy Speaker (Ms Ruane) took the Chair.

4. Question Time

4.1 The Executive Office

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

4.2 Economy

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for the Economy, Mr Simon Hamilton.

5. Question for Urgent Oral Answer

5.1 Social Investment Fund

The deputy First Minister, Mr Martin McGuinness, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer tabled by Ms Nichola Mallon.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Kennedy) took the Chair.

6. Assembly Business

6.1 Motion: Extension of Sitting on Monday 21 November 2016 under Standing Order 10(3A)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 10(3A), the sitting on Monday 21 November 2016 be extended to no later than 8:30pm.

Mr T Clarke
Ms C Ní Chuilín
Mr R Swann
Mr A Attwood
Mr S Dickson

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

7. Opposition Business (cont'd)

7.1 Motion: EU Funding for the Agricultural Sector (cont'd)

Debate resumed.

The Question being put, the Motion was carried (Division 1).

The Deputy Speaker (Mr McGlone) took the Chair.

7.2 Motion: Impact of Draft Strategic Area Plan on Rural Schools

Proposed:

That this Assembly, noting the failure of the attempt at area based planning for schools in the previous mandate, expresses its concern at the proposals contained in Providing Pathways the Draft Strategic Area Plan for School Provision 2017-2020; believes that schools in rural areas will be most at risk from the proposals; calls on the Minister of Education to detail what rural-proofing measures were undertaken during the development of the proposed Area Plan; and further calls on the Minister to introduce legislation for a statutory presumption against the closure of rural schools similar to the protections already in place in England and Scotland.

Mrs S Overend
Mr C McGrath
Mrs R Barton
Mr D McCrossan

7.3 Motion: Amendment 1

Proposed:

Leave out all after 'Assembly;' and insert:

'notes the publication of the Education Authority's Providing Pathways Draft Strategic Area Plan for School Provision 2017-2020; acknowledges the concerns that there will be over the proposals, particularly in rural areas; believes that every pupil, regardless of whether they live in a rural or an urban area, should have access to quality education in a viable and sustainable school, contributing to achieving the draft Programme for Government outcome to give our children and young people the best start in life; believes that the best way to achieve this is through an effective area planning process involving managing authorities and sectoral support bodies; acknowledges sensitivities around the provision of the schools estate, in both rural and other areas; and calls on the Minister of Education to bring forward a strategic small schools initiative to ensure accessibility to a quality education, particularly for isolated communities.'

Lord Morrow
Mr P Logan
Ms C Lockhart

7.4 Motion: Amendment 2

Proposed:

Leave out all after 'mandate;' and insert:

'calls on the Minister for Education to ensure that the findings of the Chief Inspector of the Education and Training Inspectorate's report are taken into consideration and applied when looking at the sustainability of rural schools and that a proper, efficient and effective consultation with local rural communities is completed prior to any decision being taken to close or merge smaller rural schools.'

Ms K Armstrong
Mr C Lyttle

Debate ensued.

The Speaker took the Chair.

The Question being put, Amendment 1 was made (Division 2).

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

7.5 Motion: Poverty and Deprivation

Proposed:

That this Assembly expresses its concern that according to the Department for Communities, around 376,000 or 21 per cent of people in Northern Ireland live in relative income poverty, before housing costs; notes that in June 2015 the High Court found that the Executive had breached a legal duty by failing to adopt an identifiable strategy setting out how it proposed to tackle poverty, social exclusion and patterns of deprivation based on objective need; further notes that the Programme for Government consultation document published in October 2016 refers to a new Social Strategy in relation to these matters; and calls on the Minister for Communities to publish an overarching strategy and long-term plan, including budget allocations, which outlines specific targets and timelines to reduce poverty and deprivation and tackle social exclusion and ensures the application of resources based on neutral criteria that measure deprivation, irrespective of community background or other affiliation.

Mr A Attwood
Mr A Allen
Ms N Mallon
Mr M Nesbitt

7.6 Motion: Amendment

Proposed:

Leave out all after 'Assembly;' and insert:

'notes the latest edition of the Northern Ireland Poverty Bulletin detailing the levels of poverty across Northern Ireland; further notes that Section 28E of the Northern Ireland Act (1998) was the subject of a judicial review in June 2015; and welcomes the Executive's commitment, as outlined in the recent Programme for Government consultation document, to publish a new Social Strategy that aims to improve the lives of those in poverty through a range of specific interventions that will tackle poverty, social exclusion and deprivation on the basis of the objective need.'

Mr J Bell
Mr C Stalford
Mr A McQuillan

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Amendment was made (Division 3).

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

8. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 7.45pm.

Mr Robin Newton
The Speaker

21 November 2016

Northern Ireland Assembly

21 November 2016
Division 1

Motion: EU Funding for the Agricultural Sector

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes with concern the risks to multiple streams of funding posed by withdrawal from the European Union; further notes that over 70 per cent of all European funding to Northern Ireland falls under the Common Agricultural Policy and other rural funds, which provide approximately £350 million each year to farmers, representing 87 per cent of annual farm income; acknowledges that the agri-food sector accounts for 3.25 per cent of Northern Ireland's Gross Value Added, which equates to £1.1 billion at basic prices and approximately 71,500 local jobs, and that existing strategies in these sectors, such as Going for Growth, make no provision for the withdrawal of European Union funding; and calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to outline how she intends to uphold the First Minister's commitment that farmers can be provided for as well as, if not better if Northern Ireland leaves the European Union, and to detail how she will develop a strategy to provide for and secure the long-term sustainability of the agricultural and agri-food sectors to ensure no loss of assistance to farmers arising from the withdrawal of existing European Union funding.

Mr P McGlone
Mr R McPhillips
Mr H McKee
Mr R Swann

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 59
Noes: 34

AYES

Mr Aiken, Ms Archibald, Ms Armstrong, Mr Attwood, Mrs Barton, Mr Beattie, Mr Beggs, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Ms S Bradley, Mr Butler, Mr Carroll, Mr Chambers, Ms Dillon, Mrs Dobson, Mr Durkan, Mr Eastwood, Dr Farry, Ms Fearon, Mr Ford, Ms Gildernew, Ms Hanna, Mr Hazzard, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Mrs Long, Mr Lunn, Mr Lynch, Mr Lyttle, Mr McAleer, Mr E McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McElduff, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McGuinness, Mr McKee, Mr McMullan, Mr McNulty, Mr McPhillips, Ms Mallon, Mr Maskey, Mr Milne, Mr Mullan, Mr Murphy, Mr Nesbitt, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó Muilleoir, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mrs Overend, Mrs Palmer, Ms Seeley, Mr Sheehan, Mr Smith, Ms Sugden, Mr Swann.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr McKee, Mr Swann.

NOES

Mr Agnew, Mr Allister, Mr Anderson, Ms Bailey, Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Ms Bunting, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Frew, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mr Hamilton, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mrs Little Pengelly, Ms Lockhart, Mr Logan, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr McQuillan, Mr Middleton, Lord Morrow, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Stalford, Mr Storey, Mr Weir.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr McQuillan, Mr Robinson.

The motion was carried.

Northern Ireland Assembly

21 November 2016
Division 2

Motion: Impact of Draft Strategic Area Plan on Rural Schools (Amendment 1)

Proposed:

Leave out all after 'Assembly;' and insert:

'notes the publication of the Education Authority's Providing Pathways Draft Strategic Area Plan for School Provision 2017-2020; acknowledges the concerns that there will be over the proposals, particularly in rural areas; believes that every pupil, regardless of whether they live in a rural or an urban area, should have access to quality education in a viable and sustainable school, contributing to achieving the draft Programme for Government outcome to give our children and young people the best start in life; believes that the best way to achieve this is through an effective area planning process involving managing authorities and sectoral support bodies; acknowledges sensitivities around the provision of the schools estate, in both rural and other areas; and calls on the Minister of Education to bring forward a strategic small schools initiative to ensure accessibility to a quality education, particularly for isolated communities.'

Lord Morrow
Mr P Logan
Ms C Lockhart

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 66
Noes: 26

AYES

Mr Anderson, Ms Archibald, Ms Armstrong, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Ms Bradshaw, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Ms Bunting, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Ms Dillon, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Dr Farry, Ms Fearon, Mr Ford, Mr Frew, Ms Gildernew, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mr Hazzard, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Mrs Little Pengelly, Ms Lockhart, Mr Logan, Mrs Long, Mr Lunn, Mr Lynch, Mr Lyons, Mr Lyttle, Mr McAleer, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McElduff, Mr McGuigan, Mr McGuinness, Miss McIlveen, Mr McMullan, Mr McQuillan, Mr Maskey, Mr Middleton, Mr Milne, Lord Morrow, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó Muilleoir, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson, Mr Ross, Ms Ruane, Ms Seeley, Mr Sheehan, Mr Stalford, Mr Storey, Ms Sugden, Mr Weir, Mr Wells.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr McQuillan, Mr Robinson.

NOES

Mr Agnew, Mr Aiken, Mr Allister, Mr Attwood, Ms Bailey, Mrs Barton, Mr Beattie, Mr Beggs, Ms S Bradley, Mr Butler, Mr Carroll, Mr Chambers, Mrs Dobson, Mr Durkan, Mr Kennedy, Mr E McCann, Mr McGrath, Mr McKee, Mr McNulty, Mr McPhillips, Ms Mallon, Mr Nesbitt, Mrs Overend, Mrs Palmer, Mr Smith, Mr Swann.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr McGrath, Mrs Overend.

Amendment 1 was made.

Northern Ireland Assembly

21 November 2016
Division 3

Motion: Impact of Draft Strategic Area Plan on Rural Schools (Amendment)

Proposed:

Leave out all after 'Assembly;' and insert:

'notes the latest edition of the Northern Ireland Poverty Bulletin detailing the levels of poverty across Northern Ireland; further notes that Section 28E of the Northern Ireland Act (1998) was the subject of a judicial review in June 2015; and welcomes the Executive's commitment, as outlined in the recent Programme for Government consultation document, to publish a new Social Strategy that aims to improve the lives of those in poverty through a range of specific interventions that will tackle poverty, social exclusion and deprivation on the basis of the objective need.'

Mr J Bell
Mr C Stalford
Mr A McQuillan

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 56
Noes: 31

AYES

Mr Anderson, Ms Archibald, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Ms Bunting, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Ms Dillon, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Ms Fearon, Mr Frew, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mr Hazzard, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Mrs Little Pengelly, Ms Lockhart, Mr Logan, Mr Lynch, Mr Lyons, Mr McAleer, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McElduff, Mr McGuigan, Miss McIlveen, Mr McMullan, Mr McQuillan, Mr Maskey, Mr Middleton, Mr Milne, Lord Morrow, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó Muilleoir, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson, Mr Ross, Ms Ruane, Ms Seeley, Mr Sheehan, Mr Stalford, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wells.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr McQuillan, Mr Robinson.

NOES

Mr Agnew, Mr Aiken, Ms Armstrong, Mr Attwood, Ms Bailey, Mrs Barton, Mr Beattie, Mr Beggs, Ms S Bradley, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Butler, Mr Carroll, Mr Chambers, Mrs Dobson, Mr Durkan, Ms Hanna, Mr Kennedy, Mrs Long, Mr Lyttle, Mr E McCann, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McKee, Mr McNulty, Mr McPhillips, Ms Mallon, Mr Nesbitt, Mrs Overend, Mrs Palmer, Mr Smith, Mr Swann.

Tellers for the Noes: Ms Mallon, M Nesbitt.

The Amendment was made.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
16 November 2016 – 21 November 2016

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

Records and Information Retention and Disposal Schedules (DoJ).

The Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2015-16 (DfC).

Libraries NI Annual Report and Accounts 2015-16 (DfC).

The National Museums of Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2014-15 (DfC).

The National Museums of Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2015-16 (DfC).

Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Ombudsman Annual Report 2015-16 (DfC).

5. Assembly Reports

Managing Legal Aid (Public Accounts Committee).

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2016/400 The Juries Regulations (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 (DoJ).

SR 2016/401 The Waste (Fees and Charges) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (DAERA).

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

Consultation on Incentivising Cleaner Fuel Technologies: Implementing Amendments to the General Circulation Directive and Other Associated Proposals (DfI).

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications