Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at 10.30am, the Speaker in the Chair.

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Public Petition

2.1 Public Petition: Campaign for Abortion Law Reform in Northern Ireland

Ms Clare Bailey was granted leave, in accordance with Standing Order 22, to present a Public Petition regarding the Campaign for Abortion Law Reform in Northern Ireland.

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Statement: North South Ministerial Council Plenary Meeting

The deputy First Minister, Mr Martin McGuinness, made a statement regarding the twenty-third meeting of the North South Ministerial Council in Plenary format, which was held in Armagh on Friday 18 November 2016, following which he replied to questions.

3.2 Statement: Rating Policy

The Minister of Finance, Mr Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, made a statement regarding Rating Policy, following which he replied to questions.

3.3 Statement: North South Ministerial Council in Agriculture Sectoral Format

The Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Miss Michelle McIlveen, made a statement regarding the meeting of the North South Ministerial Council in Agriculture Sectoral format, which was held in Armagh on Wednesday 26 October 2016, following which she replied to questions.

The sitting was suspended at 12.52pm.

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

4. Question Time

4.1 Education

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

4.2 Finance

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Finance, Mr Máirtín Ó Muilleoir.

5. Question for Urgent Oral Answer

5.1 Proposed Industrial Action by the NASUWT

The Minister of Education, Mr Peter Weir, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer tabled by Mr Chris Lyttle.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr McGlone) took the Chair.

6. Executive Committee Business (cont'd)

6.1 Statement: Progression of the Regeneration Bill

The Minister for Communities, Mr Paul Givan, made a statement regarding the Progression of the Regeneration Bill, following which he replied to questions.

6.2 Statement: British-Irish Council in Environment Sectoral Format

The junior Minister, Mr Alistair Ross, made a statement regarding the meeting of the British-Irish Council in Environment Sectoral format, which was held in Guernsey on Friday 4 November 2016, following which he replied to questions.

6.3 Legislative Consent Motion: Savings (Government Contributions) Bill

Proposed:

That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension to Northern Ireland of the Savings (Government Contributions) Bill as introduced in the House of Commons on 6 September 2016, including the provision in clause 5(2) making bonuses under the Bill an excepted matter under the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and the provision in paragraph 16(8) of Schedule 2 dealing with information sharing.

Minister for Communities

Debate ensued.

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

7. Private Members' Business

7.1 Motion: Energy Affordability and Security

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes with concern that electricity prices for non-domestic large energy users are almost 60 per cent higher than the EU-15 median; further notes the policy vacuum which exists in the Department for the Economy regarding renewable energy following the closure of the Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation and the collapse of the Renewable Heat Incentive; calls on the Minister for the Economy to clarify the position on future subsidy arrangements for all forms of energy generation, in the context of decarbonisation and mitigating the effects of rising costs; and further calls for long-term energy security and affordability to be given a much higher priority in the emerging Programme for Government 2016-21.

Mr S Aiken
Mr A Chambers

Debate ensued.

The Speaker took the Chair.

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

The Question being put, the motion fell (Division 1).

7.2 Motion: Review of Arm's-Length Bodies

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the reduction in the number of Government departments and the associated efficiencies; and calls on the Executive to review the number and function of its arm's-length bodies with a view to reducing their number, where possible, and maximising the available revenue.

Mr C Stalford
Mr W Irwin
Mrs P Cameron
Mr P Logan

7.3 Motion: Amendment

Proposed:

Leave out all after 'departments' and insert:

'and acknowledges the important contribution of current and past arm's-length bodies across a range of social, cultural, environmental, economic, legal, rights and equality issues; recognises that arm's-length bodies have independence which avoids decisions and funding being politicised, produces best policy outcomes and has access to technical and specialist capacity; and calls for a review of the financing of arm's-length bodies to establish proper resourcing with an objective and sustainable funding process through which arm's-length bodies can deliver effectively their work.'

Mr R McPhillips
Mr A Attwood
Ms N Mallon

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the amendment fell.

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

The Speaker took the Chair.

8. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

Mr Alex Easton spoke to his topic regarding Funding for Road and Footpath Maintenance in North Down.

The Assembly adjourned at 9.15pm.

Mr Robin Newton
The Speaker

22 November 2016

Northern Ireland Assembly

22 November 2016
Division 1

Motion: Energy Affordability and Security

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes with concern that electricity prices for non-domestic large energy users are almost 60 per cent higher than the EU-15 median; further notes the policy vacuum which exists in the Department for the Economy regarding renewable energy following the closure of the Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation and the collapse of the Renewable Heat Incentive; calls on the Minister for the Economy to clarify the position on future subsidy arrangements for all forms of energy generation, in the context of decarbonisation and mitigating the effects of rising costs; and further calls for long-term energy security and affordability to be given a much higher priority in the emerging Programme for Government 2016-21.

Mr S Aiken
Mr A Chambers

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 35
Noes: 53

AYES

Mr Agnew, Mr Aiken, Mr Allen, Mr Allister, Ms Armstrong, Mr Attwood, Ms Bailey, Mrs Barton, Mr Beattie, Mr Beggs, Ms S Bradley, Mr Butler, Mr Chambers, Mrs Dobson, Mr Durkan, Mr Eastwood, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Ms Hanna, Mr Kennedy, Mrs Long, Mr Lunn, Mr E McCann, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McKee, Mr McPhillips, Ms Mallon, Mr Mullan, Mr Nesbitt, Mrs Overend, Mrs Palmer, Mr Smith, Mr Swann.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Aiken, Mr Chambers.

NOES

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

Tellers for the Noes: Mr McQuillan, Mr Robinson.

The motion fell.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
22 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

Report of an announced visit to Maghaberry Prison to review progress against the nine inspection recommendations made in 2015 (DoJ).

Legislative Consent Memorandum: Health Service Medical Supplies (Costs) Bill (DoH). (Version Laid on 7 November 2016 replaced with this version).

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2016/402 The Level Crossing (Ballarena) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 (DfI).

SR 2016/403 The Level Crossing (Castlerock) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 (DfI).

SR 2016/404 The Level Crossing (Coleraine (Bushmills Road)) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016 (DfI).

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

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 22 November 2016

2016-2021 Mandate
Executive Bills                                  

2016-2021 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills                     

/ Bills progressing by acelerated passage