Minutes of Proceedings
Session: Session currently unavailable
Date: 20 January 2020
The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair.
1. Prayers
Members observed two minutes' silence.
2. Speaker's Business
2.1 Assembly Commission
The Speaker informed the House that, as required by Standing Order 79(4) and in accordance with Standing Order 79(5), two vacancies exist on the Assembly Commission that must be filled within 28 days.
3. Assembly Business
3.1 Suspension of Standing Order 20(1)
Proposed:
That Standing Order 20(1) be suspended for 20 January 2020.
Mr Gordon Lyons
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín
Mr Colin McGrath
Mr Robbie Butler
Ms Kellie Armstrong
Ms Clare Bailey
The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support.
3.2 Motion - Business Committee Membership
Proposed:
That Mr Keith Buchanan replace Mr Gordon Lyons as a member of the Business Committee.
Mr Gordon Lyons
Mr George Robinson
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
3.3 Motion - Business Committee Membership
Proposed:
That Mr John O'Dowd and Ms Sinéad Ennis replace Ms Carál Ní Chuilín and Mr Declan McAleer as members of the Business Committee.
Mr Carál Ní Chuilín
Mr Declan McAleer
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
3.4 Suspension of Standing Order 49(2)(a) and Standing Order 52(2)(a)
Proposed:
That Standing Order 49(2)(a) and Standing Order 52(2)(a) be suspended.
Mr Gordon Lyons
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín
Mr Colin McGrath
Mr Robbie Butler
Ms Kellie Armstrong
Ms Clare Bailey
The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support.
3.5 Membership of Statutory Committees
Proposed:
That, in accordance with Standing Order 49(3), the membership of the Statutory Committees as detailed in NIA 5/17-22 be approved.
Mr Gordon Lyons
Ms Caral Ní Chuilín
Mr Colin McGrath
Mr Robbie Butler
Ms Kellie Armstrong
Ms Clare Bailey
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
3.6 Membership of Standing Committees
Proposed:
That, in accordance with Standing Order 52(3), the membership of the Standing Committees as detailed in NIA 6/17-22 be approved.
Mr Gordon Lyons
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín
Mr Colin McGrath
Mr Robbie Butler
Ms Kellie Armstrong
Ms Clare Bailey
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
4. Executive Committee Business
4.1 Motion: European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill 2019-20
Proposed:
That the Assembly notes the request from the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union for the consent of the Assembly for the provisions of the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill which affect its competence; and affirms that the Assembly does not agree to give its consent.
The Executive Office
Debate ensued.
The debate was suspended.
The sitting was suspended at 12.18pm and resumed at 12.29pm.
5. Private Members' Business
5.1 Motion to Delay
Proposed:
That this Assembly, in accordance with Standing Order 16, adjourns the debate on the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill 2019-20 for seven days.
Mr Jim Allister
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the Motion fell (Division 1).
6. Executive Committee Business (cont'd)
6.1 Motion: European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill 2019-20 (cont'd)
Debate resumed on the motion.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
7. Adjournment
Proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
The Speaker
The Assembly adjourned at 3.00pm.
Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
20 January 2020
Northern Ireland Assembly
20 January 2020 Division 1
Motion: Motion to Delay
Proposed:
That this Assembly, in accordance with Standing Order 16, adjourns the debate on the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill 2019-20 for seven days.
Mr Jim Allister
The Question was put and the Assembly divided.
Ayes: 14
Noes: 62
AYES
Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Mr Allister, Ms Bailey, Mrs Barton, Mr Beattie, Mr Beggs, Mr Butler, Mr Carroll, Mr Chambers, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Stewart, Ms Sugden, Miss Woods.
Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Allister, Ms Sugden.
NOES
Dr Archibald, Ms Armstrong, Mr Blair, Mr Boylan, Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Ms S Bradley, Ms Bradshaw, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Mrs Cameron, Mr Catney, Mr Clarke, Ms Dillon, Ms Dolan, Mr Dunne, Mr Durkan, Mr Easton, Ms Ennis, Ms Flynn, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Gildernew, Mr Givan, Ms Hargey, Mr Harvey, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Ms C Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Mr Lynch, Mr Lyons, Mr McAleer, Mr McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Miss McIlveen, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McNulty, Ms Mallon, Mr Middleton, Mr Muir, Ms Mullan, Mr Murphy, Mr Newton, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr O'Toole, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson, Mr Sheehan, Miss Sheerin, Mr Stalford, Mr Storey, Mr Weir.
Tellers for the Noes: Ms Ennis, Mr Robinson.
The motion fell.
Northern Ireland Assembly
Papers Presented to the Assembly on
15 January 2020 – 20 January 2020
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
Arts Council of Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 31 March 2019 (Department for Communities)
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2019 (Department for Communities)
Special Adviser Codes (Department of Finance)
5. Assembly Reports
Membership of Statutory Committees (NIA 5/17-22)
Membership of Standing Committees (NIA 6/17-22)
6. Statutory Rules
7. Written Ministerial Statements
Minister of Finance – Special Adviser Appointments
8. Consultation Documents
9. Departmental Publications
Historic Monuments Council for Northern Ireland: 3rd Report 2012-2019 (Department for Communities)
