Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Public Petition

2.1 Public Petition: Promotion of the Protection of Unborn Children in Northern Ireland

Mr Jim Wells was granted leave, in accordance with Standing Order 22, to present a Public Petition regarding the Promotion of the Protection of Unborn Children in Northern Ireland.

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Legislative Consent Motion: Higher Education and Research Bill

Proposed:

That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension to Northern Ireland of the provisions of the Higher Education and Research Bill relating to joint working and advisory services, the Teaching Excellence Framework and powers to fund research.

Minister for the Economy

Debate ensued.

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

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

3.2 Motion: Further Education (Governing Body of Institution of Further Education) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016

Proposed:

That the Further Education (Governing Body of Institution of Further Education) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 be affirmed.

Minister for the Economy

Debate ensued.

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

3.3 Legislative Consent Motion: Policing and Crime Bill

Proposed:

That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension to Northern Ireland of a number of provisions within the Policing and Crime Bill, by amendment at Lords Committee and Lords Report Stage, insofar as they related to UK maritime enforcement powers; UK cross jurisdictional arrest powers; anonymity for victims of forced marriage and pardons for convictions of certain abolished offences.

Minister of Justice

The debate was suspended for Question Time.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Kennedy) took the Chair.

4. Question Time

4.1 Health

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

4.2 Infrastructure

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Infrastructure, Mr Chris Hazzard.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr McGlone) took the Chair.

5. Executive Committee Business (cont'd)

5.1 Legislative Consent Motion: Amendment

Proposed:

Leave out all after the second 'powers;' and insert:

'and anonymity for victims of forced marriage.'

Mr J Allister

Debate ensued.

The Speaker took the Chair.

The Question being put, there were dissenting voices. Tellers were called for a Division. One Teller presented for the Ayes but none for the Noes. In accordance with Standing Order 27(4), the question was not carried. The Amendment, therefore, fell.

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

5.2 Motion: Draft Civil Legal Services (Scope) (No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016

Proposed:

That the draft Civil Legal Services (Scope) (No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 be approved.

Minister of Justice

Debate ensued.

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

6. Assembly Business

6.1 Motion: Extension of Sitting on Monday 28 November 2016 under Standing Order 10(3A)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 10(3A), the sitting on Monday 28 November 2016 be extended to no later than 8:00pm.

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. Private Members' Business

7.1 Motion: House Sales Scheme

Proposed:

That this Assembly calls on the Minister for Communities to suspend the House Sales Scheme until such time as a full review into the long term impact of this scheme on the provision of social housing stock has been carried out.

Mr A Maskey
Mr F McCann

7.2 Motion: Amendment

Proposed:

Leave out all after 'Communities' and insert:

'to commission immediately a full review into the long term impact of the House Sales Scheme on the provision of social housing stock.'

Mrs N Long
Ms P Bradshaw

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Amendment fell.

The Question being put, the Motion fell (Division 2).

8. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 7.14pm.

Mr Robin Newton
The Speaker

28 November 2016

Northern Ireland Assembly

28 November 2016
Division 1

Legislative Consent Motion: Higher Education and Research Bill

Proposed:

That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension to Northern Ireland of the provisions of the Higher Education and Research Bill relating to joint working and advisory services, the Teaching Excellence Framework and powers to fund research.

Minister for the Economy

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 58
Noes: 28

AYES

Mr Allister, Mr Anderson, Ms Archibald, Ms Armstrong, Mr Bell, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Ms Bradshaw, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Clarke, Mr Dickson, Ms Dillon, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Dr Farry, Ms Fearon, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Ms Gildernew, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hazzard, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Ms Lockhart, Mr Logan, Mr Lunn, Mr Lynch, Mr Lyons, Mr Lyttle, Mr McAleer, Mr F McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McGuigan, Mr McGuinness, Miss McIlveen, Mr McMullan, Mr McQuillan, Mr Maskey, Mr Middleton, Mr Milne, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr Robinson, Ms Seeley, Mr Sheehan, Mr Stalford, Mr Storey, Ms Sugden, Mr Weir.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr McQuillan, Mr Robinson.

NOES

Mr Agnew, Mr Aiken, Mr Allen, Mr Attwood, Ms Bailey, Mrs Barton, Mr Beattie, Mr Beggs, Ms S Bradley, Mr Butler, Mr Carroll, Mr Chambers, Mrs Dobson, Mr Durkan, Mr Eastwood, Ms Hanna, Mr Kennedy, Mr E McCann, Mr McCrossan, Mr McKee, Mr McNulty, Mr McPhillips, Ms Mallon, Mr Mullan, Mr Nesbitt, Mrs Overend, Mrs Palmer, Mr Smith.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Aiken, Ms S Bradley.

The motion was carried.

Northern Ireland Assembly

28 November 2016
Division 2

Motion: House Sales Scheme

Proposed:

That this Assembly calls on the Minister for Communities to suspend the House Sales Scheme until such time as a full review into the long term impact of this scheme on the provision of social housing stock has been carried out.

Mr A Maskey
Mr F McCann

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 35
Noes: 49

AYES

Mr Agnew, Mr Attwood, Ms Bailey, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Ms S Bradley, Mr Carroll, Ms Dillon, Mr Durkan, Ms Fearon, Ms Gildernew, Ms Hanna, Mr Hazzard, Mr Kelly, Mr Lynch, Mr McAleer, Mr E McCann, Mr F McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McMullan, Mr McNulty, Mr McPhillips, Ms Mallon, Mr Maskey, Mr Milne, Mr Mullan, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó Muilleoir, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Ms Ruane, Ms Seeley, Mr Sheehan.

Tellers for the Ayes: Ms Gildernew, Mr F McCann.

NOES

Mr Aiken, Mr Allen, Mr Allister, Mr Anderson, Ms Armstrong, Mrs Barton, Mr Beggs, Mr Bell, Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Ms Bradshaw, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Ms Bunting, Mr Butler, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dobson, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Dr Farry, Mr Frew, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kennedy, Mrs Little Pengelly, Ms Lockhart, Mr Logan, Mr Lunn, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr McKee, Mr McQuillan, Mr Middleton, Lord Morrow, Mr Nesbitt, Mrs Overend, Mrs Palmer, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Smith, Mr Stalford, Mr Weir.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr McQuillan, Mr Robinson.

The motion fell.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
23 November 2016 – 28 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

Social Security Agency Annual Report on Decision Making and Financial Accuracy (DfC).

Tourism NI Annual Report and Accounts 2015/2016 (DfE).

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2016/405 The Magistrates' Courts (Licensing) (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2016 (DoJ).

SR 2016/406 The Offshore Installations (Offshore Safety Directive) (Safety Case etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (DfE).

SR 2016/410 The Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Criminal Justice and Support for Victims) (Independent Guardian) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (DoH).

SR 2016/412 The Building (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (DoF).

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications