Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Speaker's Business

2.1 Committee Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson Nominations

The Speaker informed the House that he had received the resignation of both Ms Linda Dillon as Chairperson of the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, and Ms Caoimhe Archibald as Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. The Speaker also informed the House that the nominating officer of Sinn Féin, Mr Pat Doherty, had nominated Ms Caoimhe Archibald to fill the vacancy of Chairperson of the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and Mr Oliver McMullan to fill the vacancy of Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, with effect from 2 December 2016, and confirmed the appointments.

3. Assembly Business

3.1 Motion: Committee Membership

That Mr Steven Agnew be appointed as a member of the Business Committee.

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.

4. Executive Committee Business

4.1 Motion: Draft Water Meters Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016

Proposed:

That the draft Water Meters Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 be approved.

Minister for Infrastructure

Debate ensued.

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

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

4.2 Motion: Pensions (2015 Act) (Consequential Amendments) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016

Proposed:

That the Pensions (2015 Act) (Consequential Amendments) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 be approved.

Minister for Communities

Debate ensued.

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

5. Private Members' Business

5.1 Motion: International Human Rights Day

Proposed:

That this Assembly acknowledges international Human Rights Day; notes the United Nations' comments that more should be done to raise awareness of human rights and the need to improve education about human rights; and calls on all Government Departments and public bodies to introduce human rights action plans.

Mr S Lynch
Mr P McGuigan
Mr C Boylan

5.2 Motion: Amendment 1

Proposed:

Leave out all after the third 'rights;' and insert:

'calls on the Executive to move immediately to ensure compliance with all minimum human rights standards; and further calls on all Government Departments and public bodies to introduce human rights action plans.'

Mr S Agnew
Ms C Bailey

5.3 Motion: Amendment 2

Proposed:

Insert after the third 'rights;':

'notes the requirement in the Good Friday Agreement of the incorporation into Northern Ireland law of the European Convention on Human Rights and the subsequent passage of the Human Rights Act; believes that the Human Rights Act 1998 is important for the protection of the rights of the people in Northern Ireland and an obligation further to the Good Friday Agreement;'

Mr A Attwood
Ms C Hanna
Mr R McPhillips

Debate ensued.

The debate was suspended for Question Time.

The Speaker took the Chair.

6. Question Time

6.1 Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Miss Michelle McIlveen.

6.2 Communities

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Communities, Mr Paul Givan.

7. Private Members' Business (cont'd)

7.1 Motion: International Human Rights Day (cont'd)

Debate resumed.

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

The Question being put, the motion, as amended, was carried (Division 3).

7.2 Motion: Regulatory Reform and a Regionally Balanced Economy

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the draft Programme for Government's commitment to a strong, competitive, regionally balanced, economy; recognises the importance of regulatory reform in achieving this outcome; and calls on the Minister for the Economy to ensure that regulation for business in Northern Ireland is proportionate, effective and not unnecessarily burdensome on, or a hindrance to, economic growth and development.'

Mr M Storey
Mr T Buchanan
Mr G Lyons
Mr G Dunne

The Motion was not moved.

8. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 4.06pm.

Mr Robin Newton
The Speaker

5 December 2016

Northern Ireland Assembly

5 December 2016
Division 1

Motion: Draft Water Meters Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016

Proposed:

That the draft Water Meters Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 be approved.

Minister for Infrastructure

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 79
Noes: 9

AYES

Mr Aiken, Mr Allen, Mr Allister, Mr Anderson, Ms Archibald, Mr Attwood, Mrs Barton, Mr Beattie, Mr Beggs, Mr Bell, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Ms S Bradley, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Ms Bunting, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Carroll, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Ms Dillon, Mrs Dobson, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Frew, Ms Gildernew, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hamilton, Ms Hanna, Mr Hazzard, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Kelly, Mr Kennedy, Mrs Little Pengelly, Ms Lockhart, Mr Logan, Mr Lynch, Mr Lyons, Mr McAleer, Mr E McCann, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McCausland, Mr McCrossan, Mr McElduff, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Miss McIlveen, Mr McMullan, Mr McNulty, Mr McPhillips, Mr McQuillan, Ms Mallon, Mr Maskey, Mr Milne, Lord Morrow, Mr Mullan, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs Overend, Mrs Palmer, Mr Poots, Mr Ross, Ms Ruane, Ms Seeley, Mr Sheehan, Mr Stalford, Ms Sugden, Mr Swann, Mr Weir, Mr Wells.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr McAleer, Mr F McCann.

NOES

Mr Agnew, Ms Armstrong, Ms Bailey, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Dickson, Mr Ford, Mrs Long, Mr Lunn, Mr Lyttle.

Tellers for the Noes: Ms Bradshaw, Mr Dickson.

The motion was carried.

Northern Ireland Assembly

5 December 2016
Division 2

Motion: International Human Rights Day (Amendment 1)

Proposed:

Leave out all after the third 'rights;' and insert:

'calls on the Executive to move immediately to ensure compliance with all minimum human rights standards; and further calls on all Government Departments and public bodies to introduce human rights action plans.'

Mr S Agnew
Ms C Bailey

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 57
Noes: 34

AYES

Mr Agnew, Mr Aiken, 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 Carroll, Mr Chambers, Mr Dickson, Ms Dillon, Mrs Dobson, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Ms Gildernew, Ms Hanna, Mr Hazzard, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Mr Kennedy, Mrs Long, Mr Lunn, Mr Lynch, Mr Lyttle, Mr McAleer, Mr E McCann, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McCrossan, Mr McElduff, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McKee, Mr McMullan, Mr McNulty, Mr McPhillips, Ms Mallon, Mr Maskey, Mr Milne, Mr Mullan, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó Muilleoir, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs Overend, Ms Seeley, Mr Sheehan, Mr Smith, Mr Swann.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Agnew, Ms Bailey.

NOES

Mr Allister, Mr Anderson, Mr Bell, Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Frew, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mrs Little Pengelly, Ms Lockhart, Mr Logan, Mr Lyons, Mr McCausland, Miss McIlveen, Mr McQuillan, Mr Middleton, Lord Morrow, Mr Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Stalford, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wells.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr McQuillan, Mr Robinson.

Amendment 1 was made.

Northern Ireland Assembly

5 December 2016
Division 3

Motion: International Human Rights Day (as amended)

Proposed:

That this Assembly acknowledges international Human Rights Day; notes the United Nations' comments that more should be done to raise awareness of human rights and the need to improve education about human rights; calls on the Executive to move immediately to ensure compliance with all minimum human rights standards; and further calls on all Government Departments and public bodies to introduce human rights action plans.

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 58
Noes: 34

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 Carroll, Mr Chambers, Mr Dickson, Ms Dillon, Mrs Dobson, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Ms Gildernew, Ms Hanna, Mr Hazzard, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Mr Kennedy, Mrs Long, Mr Lunn, Mr Lynch, Mr Lyttle, Mr McAleer, Mr E McCann, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McCrossan, Mr McElduff, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McKee, Mr McMullan, Mr McNulty, Mr McPhillips, Ms Mallon, Mr Maskey, Mr Milne, Mr Mullan, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó Muilleoir, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs Overend, Ms Seeley, Mr Sheehan, Mr Smith, Mr Swann.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Boylan, Mr Lynch.

NOES

Mr Allister, Mr Anderson, Mr Bell, Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Frew, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mrs Little Pengelly, Ms Lockhart, Mr Logan, Mr Lyons, Mr McCausland, Miss McIlveen, Mr McQuillan, Mr Middleton, Lord Morrow, Mr Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Stalford, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wells.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr McQuillan, Mr Robinson.

The motion, as amended, was carried.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
30 November 2016 – 5 December 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

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2016/408 The Rathlin Island (Prohibited Methods of Fishing) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (DAERA).

SR 2016/413 The Police Service of Northern Ireland (Promotion) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (DoJ).

SR 2016/414 The Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (DfI).

SR 2016/419 The State Pension Revaluation for Transitional Pensions Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 (DfC).

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Review of Winter Flooding 2015/16 (DfI).

Fresh Start 2016 (DoF).

8. Consultation Documents

Consultation on changes to packaging recycling business targets for paper, steel, aluminium, wood and overall recovery and recycling for 2018-20 (DAERA).

9. Departmental Publications

Financial Auditing and Reporting: General Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland – 2016 (NIAO).

Cycling and Walking to/from Work in Northern Ireland 2015/2016 (DfI).

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications