Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Matter of the Day

2.1 The Shooting of a Police Officer in North Belfast

Mr Doug Beattie made a statement, under Standing Order 24, in relation to the Shooting of a Police Officer in North Belfast. Other Members were also called to speak on the matter.

3. Assembly Business

3.1 Motion: Suspension of Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4)

That Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4) be suspended for 23 January 2017.

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

The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support (No dissenting voices).

4. Executive Committee Business

4.1 Motion: The draft Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (cont'd)

Proposed:

That the draft Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 be approved.

Minister for the Economy

The debate, suspended on 16 January 2017 in accordance with Standing Order 16, was resumed.

The debate was suspended for Question Time.

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

5. Question Time

5.1 Education

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Education, Mr Peter Weir.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Kennedy) took the Chair.

6. Executive Committee Business (cont'd)

6.1 Motion: The draft Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (cont'd)

Debate resumed.

The Speaker took the Chair.

The Question being put, the Motion was carried.

6.2 Motion: The draft Grants to Water and Sewerage Undertakers Order (Northern Ireland) 2017

Proposed:

That the draft Grants to Water and Sewerage Undertakers Order (Northern Ireland) 2017 be approved.

Minister for Infrastructure

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

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Motion was carried.

7. Private Members' Business

7.1 Motion: Values and Principles of the Good Friday Agreement

Proposed:

That this Assembly calls on the British and Irish Governments to convene all-party talks to identify how to affirm and promote the values and principles of the Good Friday Agreement, to address issues that have arisen in relation to Strands 1, 2 and 3 of the Agreement, to comprehensively and conclusively address all matters that have led to political instability and have been an impediment to reconciliation, and to further agree how to best protect the interests of the people.

Mr C Eastwood
Ms N Mallon
Mr C McGrath
Mr D McCrossan

7.2 Motion: Amendment 1

Proposed:

Leave out from 'all-party' to the second 'Agreement' and insert:

'a constitutional convention including politicians and other citizens to review, reform and revitalise the Good Friday Agreement with a view to the future,'

Mr S Agnew
Ms C Bailey

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Amendment fell.

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

7.3 Motion: Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry Report

Proposed:

That this Assembly welcomes the publication of the report of the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry under its Chair, Sir Anthony Hart; notes his recommendations for redress for victims and survivors of institutional abuse and deplores that political impasse means that the report is not being actioned.

Mr M Nesbitt
Mr C Eastwood
Mrs N Long
Mr S Agnew

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Kennedy) took the Chair.

The Question being put, the Motion was carried.

8. Speaker's Business

8.1 Assembly Commission Member Resignation

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Kennedy) informed Members that the Speaker had received the resignation of Mr Ross Hussey as a member of the Assembly Commission, with immediate effect.

9. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 11.16pm.

Mr Robin Newton
The Speaker

23 January 2017

Northern Ireland Assembly

23 January 2017
Division

Motion: Values and Principles of the Good Friday Agreement

Proposed:

That this Assembly calls on the British and Irish Governments to convene all-party talks to identify how to affirm and promote the values and principles of the Good Friday Agreement, to address issues that have arisen in relation to Strands 1, 2 and 3 of the Agreement, to comprehensively and conclusively address all matters that have led to political instability and have been an impediment to reconciliation, and to further agree how to best protect the interests of the people.

Mr C Eastwood
Ms N Mallon
Mr C McGrath
Mr D McCrossan

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 54
Noes: 31

AYES

Mr Agnew, Mr Aiken, Mr Allen, Ms Archibald, Ms Armstrong, Mr Attwood, Ms Bailey, Mrs Barton, Mr Beattie, Mr Beggs, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Ms S Bradley, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Butler, Mr Chambers, Mr Dickson, Ms Dillon, Mrs Dobson, Dr Farry, Ms Fearon, Ms Flynn, Mr Ford, Ms Gildernew, Ms Hanna, Mr Hazzard, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Mr Kennedy, Mr Lynch, Mr Lyttle, Mr McAleer, Mr F McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McElduff, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McKee, Mr McMullan, Mr McNulty, Mr McPhillips, Ms Mallon, Mr Maskey, Mr Milne, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Ó Muilleoir, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mrs Overend, Mrs Palmer, Ms Seeley, Mr Sheehan, Mr Smith, Mr Swann.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr McGrath, Mr McNulty.

NOES

Mr Allister, Mr Anderson, 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, Mrs Hale, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mrs Little Pengelly, Ms Lockhart, Mr Logan, Mr Lyons, Mr McCausland, Miss McIlveen, Mr Middleton, Lord Morrow, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson, Mr Stalford, Mr Storey, Mr Weir.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Robinson, Mr Stalford.

The motion was carried.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
18 January 2017 – 23 January 2017

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

Historic Buildings Council for Northern Ireland 2013-2016 (DfC).

Review by Department of Finance – District Rates Convergence Scheme October 2016 (DoF).

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2017/19 The County Court (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2017 (DoJ).

SR 2017/20 The A509 Derrylin Road, Kinawley (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2017 (DfI).

SR 2017/21 The Former Derriaghy Road, Lisburn (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2017 (DfI).

SR 2017/22 The Cusher Road (U8048) and Glenanne Road (C212), Loughgilly (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2017 (DfI).

SR 2017/23 The Coronation Park, Dundonald (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2017 (DfI).

SR 2017/24 The Carryduff Road and Saintfield Road, Temple Crossroads, Lisburn (Abandonment and Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2017 (DfI).

SR 2017/25 The Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (DfI).

SR 2017/27 The Costs Protection (Aarhus Convention) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (DoJ).

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications