Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Speaker's Business

2.1 End of Mandate

The Speaker made some remarks to mark the end of the Assembly mandate.

3. Assembly Business

3.1 Motion: Assembly Commission Membership

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 79(4), Mr Robin Swann be appointed to fill a vacancy on the Assembly Commission as of 23:59 on 25 January 2017.

Mrs S Overend
Mr M Nesbitt

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

3.2 Motion: Trustee of the Assembly Members' Pension Scheme

Proposed:

That Mr Roy Beggs be appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Assembly Members' Pension Scheme.

Mr R Swann
Mrs S Overend

The Question being put, the Motion was carried.

4. Private Members' Business

4.1 Motion: Cavity Insulation in Northern Ireland Housing Executive Properties

Proposed:

That this Assembly calls on the Minister for Communities to hold the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to account for its failure to address the lack of, or poor quality of, cavity insulation within many Housing Executive properties; and calls on the Housing Executive to formulate a plan of action to ensure that all its properties have adequate and proper cavity insulation.

Mr A Easton
Mr G Lyons

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Motion was carried.

4.2 Motion: Review of Bail Policy in Cases of Terrorism and Murder

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the recent failures in the criminal justice system to ensure that a man suspected of involvement in the murder of Prison Officer David Black abided by bail conditions; expresses concern at the granting of bail in this case, the low level of sureties required and the length of time taken by the PSNI to realise that this individual had absconded; believes that terrorist suspects should remain in custody for as long as necessary to allow judicial proceedings to be completed; calls on the Minister of Justice to ensure that steps are taken to see that the suspect is returned to custody; and further calls on the Minister of Justice to take urgent steps to review bail policy in Northern Ireland, with particular regard to cases involving murder and terrorism.

Mr D Beattie
Mr R Beggs
Mrs S Overend

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr McGlone) took the Chair.

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

4.3 Motion: Independent Investigation of Alleged Breaches of the Ministerial Code

Proposed:

That this Assembly acknowledges that it is in the public interest for there to be openness, transparency and accountability in relation to the Northern Ireland Executive; recognises the important role that the Northern Ireland Assembly Commissioner for Standards plays in providing independent investigation of alleged breaches of the Assembly's Code of Conduct by back-bench Members; further recognises that the current lack of independent scrutiny of Executive Ministers benefits neither the public or the Ministers themselves; and calls on The Executive Office to bring forward urgently legislation to expand the role of the Northern Ireland Assembly Commissioner for Standards to allow him to investigate alleged breaches of the Ministerial Code of Conduct.

Mr S Agnew
Ms C Bailey

Debate ensued.

The debate was suspended for Question Time.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Kennedy) took the Chair.

5. Question Time

5.1 Communities

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

5.2 Economy

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

6. Question for Urgent Oral Answer

6.1 Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type One: Treatment

The Minister of Health, Mrs Michelle O'Neill, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer tabled by Ms Nichola Mallon.

The Speaker took the Chair.

7. Executive Committee Business

7.1 Statement: Public Inquiry on the Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme

The Minister of Finance, Mr Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, made a statement regarding a Public Inquiry on the Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme, following which he replied to questions.

8. Private Members' Business (cont'd)

8.1 Motion: Independent Investigation of Alleged Breaches of the Ministerial Code (cont'd)

Debate resumed.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

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

9. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

Mr Danny Kennedy spoke to his topic regarding Broadband Provision in Newry and Armagh.

The Assembly adjourned at 6.23pm.

Mr Robin Newton
The Speaker

24 January 2017

Northern Ireland Assembly

24 January 2017
Division

Motion: Review of Bail Policy in Cases of Terrorism and Murder

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the recent failures in the criminal justice system to ensure that a man suspected of involvement in the murder of Prison Officer David Black abided by bail conditions; expresses concern at the granting of bail in this case, the low level of sureties required and the length of time taken by the PSNI to realise that this individual had absconded; believes that terrorist suspects should remain in custody for as long as necessary to allow judicial proceedings to be completed; calls on the Minister of Justice to ensure that steps are taken to see that the suspect is returned to custody; and further calls on the Minister of Justice to take urgent steps to review bail policy in Northern Ireland, with particular regard to cases involving murder and terrorism.

Mr D Beattie
Mr R Beggs
Mrs S Overend

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 51
Noes: 33

AYES

Mr Aiken, Mr Allen, Mr Allister, Mr Anderson, Ms Armstrong, Mrs Barton, Mr Beattie, Mr Beggs, Ms P Bradley, Ms Bradshaw, Mr K Buchanan, Ms Bunting, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dobson, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mr Frew, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kennedy, Mrs Little Pengelly, Ms Lockhart, Mr Lunn, Mr Lyons, Mr Lyttle, Miss McIlveen, Mr McKee, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Nesbitt, Mrs Overend, Mrs Palmer, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Smith, Mr Stalford, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wells.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Beattie, Mrs Overend.

NOES

Mr Agnew, Ms Archibald, Mr Attwood, Ms Bailey, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr Carroll, Ms Dillon, Mr Durkan, Ms Fearon, Ms Flynn, Ms Gildernew, Ms Hanna, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Mr Lynch, Mr McAleer, Mr E McCann, Mr F McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McMullan, Mr McNulty, Ms Mallon, Mr Maskey, Mr Milne, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó Muilleoir, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Ms Seeley.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Kearney, Mr McAleer.

The following Member voted in both Lobbies and are therefore not counted in the result: Ms Sugden.

The motion was carried.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
24 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

Human Tissue Authority - Revised Codes of Practice (DoH).

Agri-Food and Bioscience Institute (AFBI) 2015-16 Annual Report and Statements of Accounts (DAERA).

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2017/26 The Police Pensions (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (DoJ).

SR 2017/29 The Public Service Pensions Revaluation (Prices) Order (Northern Ireland) 2017 (DoF).

SR 2017/30 The Public Service Pensions Revaluation (Earnings) Order (Northern Ireland) 2017 (DoF).

SR 2017/31 The Trunk Roads T1, T3 and T7 (York Street Interchange) Order (Northern Ireland) 2017 (DfI).

SR 2017/36 The Police Service of Northern Ireland and Police Service of Northern Ireland Reserve (Injury Benefit) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (DoJ).

For Information

SR 2017/34 (C. 3) The Roads (Miscellaneous Provisions) (2010 Act) (Commencement No. 1) Order (Northern Ireland) 2017 (DfI).

7. Written Ministerial Statements

School Enhancement Programme (DE).

8. Consultation Documents

Consultation Document: Individual funding request (IFR) - Draft guide for patients and service users (DoH).

9. Departmental Publications

A progress report on the Invasive Alien Species Strategy for Northern Ireland (DAERA).

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 24 January 2017

2016-2021 Mandate
Executive Bills          

2016-2021 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills           

/ Bills progressing by accelerated passage