Minutes of Proceedings

Session: Session currently unavailable

Date: 08 November 2016

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Executive Committee Business

2.1 Motion – Child Support (Deduction Orders and Fees) (Amendment and Modification) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016

Proposed:

That the Child Support (Deduction Orders and Fees) (Amendment and Modification) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 be approved.

Minister for Communities

Debate ensued.

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

3. Private Members' Business

3.1 Motion – Ending All Forms of Paramilitarism

Proposed:

That this Assembly believes that, 18 years after the Good Friday Agreement, all paramilitary organisations should have ceased to exist; notes the Fresh Start Panel Report on the Disbandment of Paramilitary Groups in Northern Ireland and the lacklustre response from the Executive; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister and the Minister of Justice to produce a substantive response to the report which contains clear targets, timescales and resources for implementation, identifies which Departments have responsibility for specific actions, and commits to developing a protocol on state and public sector engagement with individuals with perceived paramilitary connections.

Mr S Dickson
Mr T Lunn
Dr S Farry

3.2 Motion: Amendment 1

Proposed:

Leave out all after 'believes' and insert:

'that twenty-two years on from the ceasefires, and eighteen years since the Good Friday Agreement, all paramilitary organisations should have ceased to exist; condemns all paramilitary activities; notes the Fresh Start Panel Report on the Disbandment of Paramilitary Groups in Northern Ireland and the lacklustre response from the Executive; regrets that the Executive has allocated only £3.8 million of a potential budget line of £10 million in this financial year; further notes the statement of the Minister of Finance that British Government funding to address paramilitary activity will not be released until the Executive agrees a more detailed Action Plan on Tackling Paramilitary Activity, Criminality and Organised Crime; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister and the Minister of Justice to rectify the inadequacies of the Action Plan by producing a substantive response to the report which contains clear targets, timescales and resources for implementation, identifies which Departments have responsibility for specific actions, and commits to developing a protocol on state and public sector engagement with individuals with perceived paramilitary connections.'

Mr C Eastwood
Mr R McPhillips
Mr M Nesbitt
Mr D Beattie

3.3 Motion: Amendment 2

Proposed:

Leave out all after 'Groups' and insert:

'and the publication of an Executive Action Plan; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister and the Minister of Justice to ensure the full and robust implementation of all forty-three recommendations in a manner that aligns resources with needs, is prompt and innovative, engages and empowers communities, builds unequivocal commitment to the rule of law, supports transition, tackles criminality and that addresses the systemic issues that perpetuate paramilitarism, criminality and organised crime.'

Mr G Kelly
Ms J McCann
Mr P McGuigan

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr McGlone) took the Chair.

The Question being put, Amendment 1 fell (Division 1).

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

The sitting was suspended at 12.57pm.

The sitting resumed at 2.00pm, with the Principal Deputy Speaker (Ms Ruane) in the Chair.

4. Question Time

4.1 Finance

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

4.2 Health

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

5. Private Members' Business (cont'd)

5.1 Motion: Ending All Forms of Paramilitarism (cont'd)

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

5.2 Motion: Legacy Inquests

Proposed:

That this Assembly endorses the five-year plan, advanced by the Lord Chief Justice in consultation with victims' families, to deal with the backlog in legacy inquests; and calls on the British Government, in recognition of its obligations under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, to provide the funding required.

Mr D Kearney
Ms M Boyle
Mr P Sheehan
Ms J McCann

5.3 Motion: Amendment 1

Proposed:

Leave out all after 'Assembly' and insert:

'notes the five-year plan, advanced by the Lord Chief Justice in consultation with victims' families, to deal with the backlog in legacy inquests; cautions against a continued hierarchy of investigations; further notes that the closure of the Historical Enquiries Team has left a large number of people without access to any review or investigation into their loved one's murder; and calls on the Executive to bring forward proposals that are fair, balanced, impartial and proportionate.'

Mr M Nesbitt
Mr D Kennedy
Mr D Beattie

5.4 Motion: Amendment 2

Proposed:

Insert after 'inquests;':

'notes the call of the Lord Chief Justice that the local Executive, legislature and the British Government should, as a matter of urgency, play their part in the release of monies; further notes that the Executive has failed to agree a request to the British Government to release funding further to the Stormont House Agreement proposals;'

Mr A Attwood
Mr D McCrossan

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr McGlone) took the Chair.

The Question being put, Amendment 1 fell (Division 3).

The Question being put, Amendment 2 fell (Division 4).

The Question being put, the motion fell (Division 5).

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Kennedy) took the Chair.

6. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

Mr Gordon Dunne spoke to his topic regarding Improvements to A2 Dual Carriageway Junctions in North Down.

The Assembly adjourned at 6.32pm.

Mr Robin Newton
The Speaker

8 November 2016

 

Northern Ireland Assembly

8 November 2016
Division 1

Motion – Ending All Forms of Paramilitarism (Amendment 1)

Proposed:

Leave out all after 'believes' and insert:

'that twenty-two years on from the ceasefires, and eighteen years since the Good Friday Agreement, all paramilitary organisations should have ceased to exist; condemns all paramilitary activities; notes the Fresh Start Panel Report on the Disbandment of Paramilitary Groups in Northern Ireland and the lacklustre response from the Executive; regrets that the Executive has allocated only £3.8 million of a potential budget line of £10 million in this financial year; further notes the statement of the Minister of Finance that British Government funding to address paramilitary activity will not be released until the Executive agrees a more detailed Action Plan on Tackling Paramilitary Activity, Criminality and Organised Crime; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister and the Minister of Justice to rectify the inadequacies of the Action Plan by producing a substantive response to the report which contains clear targets, timescales and resources for implementation, identifies which Departments have responsibility for specific actions, and commits to developing a protocol on state and public sector engagement with individuals with perceived paramilitary connections.'

Mr C Eastwood
Mr R McPhillips
Mr M Nesbitt
Mr D Beattie

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 36
Noes: 57

AYES

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

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Butler, Mr McNulty.

NOES

Mr Anderson, Ms Archibald, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Ms Bunting, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Ms Dillon, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Ms Fearon, Mr Frew, Ms Gildernew, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hazzard, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Mrs Little Pengelly, Ms Lockhart, Mr Logan, Mr Lynch, Mr Lyons, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McCausland, Mr McElduff, Mr McGuigan, Mr McMullan, Mr McQuillan, Mr Maskey, Mr Middleton, Mr Milne, Lord Morrow, Mr Murphy, Mr Ó Muilleoir, Mrs O'Neill, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson, Mr Ross, Ms Ruane, Ms Seeley, Mr Sheehan, Mr Stalford, Mr Storey, Ms Sugden, Mr Weir.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Kelly, Mr Robinson.

Amendment 1 fell.

 

Northern Ireland Assembly

8 November 2016
Division 2

Motion – Ending All Forms of Paramilitarism (Amendment 2)

Proposed:

Leave out all after 'Groups' and insert:

'and the publication of an Executive Action Plan; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister and the Minister of Justice to ensure the full and robust implementation of all forty-three recommendations in a manner that aligns resources with needs, is prompt and innovative, engages and empowers communities, builds unequivocal commitment to the rule of law, supports transition, tackles criminality and that addresses the systemic issues that perpetuate paramilitarism, criminality and organised crime.'

Mr G Kelly
Ms J McCann
Mr P McGuigan

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 56
Noes: 36

AYES

Mr Anderson, Ms Archibald, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Ms Bunting, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Ms Dillon, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Ms Fearon, Mr Frew, Ms Gildernew, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hamilton, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Mrs Little Pengelly, Ms Lockhart, Mr Logan, Mr Lynch, Mr Lyons, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McCausland, Mr McElduff, Mr McGuigan, Mr McMullan, Mr McQuillan, Mr Maskey, Mr Middleton, Mr Milne, Lord Morrow, Mr Murphy, Mr Ó Muilleoir, Mrs O'Neill, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson, Mr Ross, Ms Ruane, Ms Seeley, Mr Sheehan, Mr Stalford, Mr Storey, Ms Sugden, Mr Weir.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Kelly, Ms J McCann.

NOES

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

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Dickson, Mr Lyttle.

Amendment 2 was made.

 

Northern Ireland Assembly

8 November 2016
Division 3

Motion – Legacy Inquests (Amendment 1)

Proposed:

Leave out all after 'Assembly' and insert:

'notes the five-year plan, advanced by the Lord Chief Justice in consultation with victims' families, to deal with the backlog in legacy inquests; cautions against a continued hierarchy of investigations; further notes that the closure of the Historical Enquiries Team has left a large number of people without access to any review or investigation into their loved one's murder; and calls on the Executive to bring forward proposals that are fair, balanced, impartial and proportionate.'

Mr M Nesbitt
Mr D Kennedy
Mr D Beattie

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 15
Noes: 73

AYES

Mr Aiken, Mr Allen, Mr Allister, Mrs Barton, Mr Beattie, Mr Beggs, Mr Butler, Mr Chambers, Mrs Dobson, Mr Kennedy, Mr McKee, Mrs Overend, Mrs Palmer, Mr Smith, Mr Swann.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Aiken, Mr Kennedy.

NOES

Mr Agnew, Mr Anderson, Ms Archibald, Ms Armstrong, Mr Attwood, Ms Bailey, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Ms S Bradley, Ms Bradshaw, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Ms Bunting, Mrs Cameron, Mr Carroll, Mr Clarke, Mr Dickson, Ms Dillon, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Durkan, Mr Easton, Dr Farry, Ms Fearon, Mr Ford, Mr Frew, Ms Gildernew, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mr Hamilton, Ms Hanna, Mr Hazzard, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Mrs Little Pengelly, Ms Lockhart, Mr Logan, Mr Lunn, Mr Lynch, Mr Lyons, Mr Lyttle, Mr E McCann, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McCausland, Mr McElduff, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McMullan, Mr McNulty, Mr McPhillips, Mr McQuillan, Ms Mallon, Mr Maskey, Mr Middleton, Mr Milne, Lord Morrow, Mr Mullan, Mr Ó Muilleoir, Mrs O'Neill, Mr Poots, Mr Ross, Ms Seeley, Mr Sheehan, Mr Stalford, Mr Storey, Ms Sugden, Mr Wells.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Kearney, Mr Sheehan.

Amendment 1 fell.

 

Northern Ireland Assembly

8 November 2016
Division 4

Motion – Legacy Inquests (Amendment 2)

Proposed:

Insert after 'inquests;':

'notes the call of the Lord Chief Justice that the local Executive, legislature and the British Government should, as a matter of urgency, play their part in the release of monies; further notes that the Executive has failed to agree a request to the British Government to release funding further to the Stormont House Agreement proposals;'

Mr A Attwood
Mr D McCrossan

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 20
Noes: 68

AYES

Mr Agnew, Ms Armstrong, Mr Attwood, Ms Bailey, Ms S Bradley, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Carroll, Mr Dickson, Mr Durkan, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Ms Hanna, Mr Lunn, Mr Lyttle, Mr E McCann, Mr McGrath, Mr McNulty, Mr McPhillips, Ms Mallon, Mr Mullan.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr McGrath, Mr Mullan.

NOES

Mr Aiken, Mr Allen, Mr Allister, Mr Anderson, Ms Archibald, Mrs Barton, Mr Beattie, Mr Beggs, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Ms Bunting, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Ms Dillon, Mrs Dobson, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Ms Fearon, Mr Frew, Ms Gildernew, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hazzard, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Mr Kennedy, Mrs Little Pengelly, Ms Lockhart, Mr Logan, Mr Lynch, Mr Lyons, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McCausland, Mr McElduff, Mr McGuigan, Mr McKee, Mr McMullan, Mr McQuillan, Mr Maskey, Mr Middleton, Mr Milne, Lord Morrow, Mr Ó Muilleoir, Mrs O'Neill, Mrs Overend, Mrs Palmer, Mr Poots, Mr Ross, Ms Seeley, Mr Sheehan, Mr Smith, Mr Stalford, Mr Storey, Ms Sugden, Mr Swann, Mr Wells.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Kearney, Mr Sheehan.

Amendment 2 fell.

 

Northern Ireland Assembly

8 November 2016
Division 5

Motion – Legacy Inquests

Proposed:

That this Assembly endorses the five-year plan, advanced by the Lord Chief Justice in consultation with victims' families, to deal with the backlog in legacy inquests; and calls on the British Government, in recognition of its obligations under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, to provide the funding required.

Mr D Kearney
Ms M Boyle
Mr P Sheehan
Ms J McCann

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 43
Noes: 45

AYES

Mr Agnew, Ms Archibald, Ms Armstrong, Mr Attwood, Ms Bailey, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Ms S Bradley, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Carroll, Mr Dickson, Ms Dillon, Mr Durkan, Dr Farry, Ms Fearon, Mr Ford, Ms Gildernew, Ms Hanna, Mr Hazzard, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Mr Lunn, Mr Lynch, Mr Lyttle, Mr E McCann, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McElduff, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McMullan, Mr McNulty, Mr McPhillips, Ms Mallon, Mr Maskey, Mr Milne, Mr Mullan, Mr Ó Muilleoir, Mrs O'Neill, Ms Seeley, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sugden.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Kearney, Mr Sheehan.

NOES

Mr Aiken, Mr Allen, Mr Allister, Mr Anderson, Mrs Barton, Mr Beattie, Mr Beggs, Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Ms Bunting, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dobson, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Frew, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mr Hamilton, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kennedy, Mrs Little Pengelly, Ms Lockhart, Mr Logan, Mr Lyons, Mr McCausland, Mr McKee, Mr McQuillan, Mr Middleton, Lord Morrow, Mrs Overend, Mrs Palmer, Mr Poots, Mr Ross, Mr Smith, Mr Stalford, Mr Storey, Mr Swann, Mr Wells.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Aiken, Mr McQuillan.

The motion fell.

 

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
8 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

Legislative Consent Memorandum: Savings (Government Contributions) Bill (DfC).

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2016/394 The Public Use of the Records (Management and Fees) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2016 (DfC).

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

Managing Emergency Hospital Admissions (NIAO).

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 8 November 2016

2016-2021 Mandate
Executive Bills               

  

Title &
   NIA Bill Number

  
  

First
   Stage

  
  

Second Stage

  
  

Comm. Stage to Conclude

  
  

Report Ordered to be Printed

  
  

CS

  
  

FCS

  
  

Final Stage

  
  

Royal Assent

  

Budget   (No.2) Bill          1/16-21

13.06.16

14.06.16

/

/

20.06.16

21.06.16

27.06.16

29.07.16

Assembly   Members (Reduction of Numbers) Bill 76/11-16

12/01/16

25/01/16

/

/

02.02.16

16.02.16

23.02.16

22.07.16

Licensing   and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill 2/16-21

19/09/16

27/09/16

15/11/16

 

 

 

 

 

2016-2021 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills                     

  

Title &
   NIA Bill Number

  
  

First
   Stage

  
  

Second Stage

  
  

Comm. Stage to Conclude

  
  

Report Ordered to be Printed

  
  

CS

  
  

FCS

  
  

Final Stage

  
  

Royal Assent

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/ Bills progressing by accelerated passage

 

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