Minutes of Proceedings
Session: Session currently unavailable
Date: 23 March 2020
The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair.
1. Prayers
Members observed two minutes' silence.
2. Speaker's Business
2.1 The Speaker made some remarks on the effect that the COVID-19 virus will have on Assembly Business.
2.2 The late Mr Ivan Davis.
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The Speaker announced the death of Mr Ivan Davis, a former Member for the Lagan Valley constituency. Members paid tribute to Mr Davis on behalf of their parties. |
3. Assembly Business
3.1 Motion: Committee Membership
Proposed:
That Mr Colin McGrath replace Ms Sinead Bradley as a member of the Committee for Health.
Mrs Dolores Kelly
Mr Patsy McGlone
The Question being put, the Motion was carried.
3.2 Motion: Suspension of Standing Order 10(2)(a) and Standing Orders 20 and 20A
Proposed:
That Standing Order 10(2)(a) and Standing Orders 20 and 20A be suspended until 13 May 2020.
Mr Keith Buchanan
Mr John O'Dowd
Mrs Dolores Kelly
Mr Robbie Butler
Ms Kellie Armstrong
Ms Clare Bailey
The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support.
3.3 Motion: Suspension of Standing Order 15(1)
Proposed:
That Standing Order 15(1) be suspended on Tuesday 24 March 2020, for the purposes of the Legislative Consent Motion on the Coronavirus Bill introduced at Westminster; and that amendments to the motion shall be given in writing to the Speaker not later than 9.30am on Tuesday 24 March 2020.
Mr Keith Buchanan
Mr John O'Dowd
Mrs Dolores Kelly
Mr Robbie Butler
Ms Kellie Armstrong
Ms Clare Bailey
The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support.
4. Executive Committee Business
4.1 Motion: The Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers' Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
Proposed:
That the Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers' Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be affirmed.
Minister for Communities
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried.
4.2 Statement – COVID-19 Preparations
The Minister of Justice, Mrs Naomi Long, made a statement regarding COVID-19 Preparations, following which she replied to questions.
The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.
4.3 Statement – Response to COVID-19
The deputy First Minister, Mrs Michelle O'Neill, made a statement regarding the Executive Office's Response to COVID-19, following which she replied to questions.
5. Committee Business
Motion: Amend Standing Orders 49(2)(a) and 52(2)(a)
Proposed:
That the Standing Orders of the Assembly be amended as follows:
In Standing Order 49(2)(a), for '11' is substituted '9'; and in Standing Order 52(2)(a), for '11' is substituted '9'.
Chairperson, Committee on Procedures
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support.
6. Adjournment
Proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
The Speaker
The Assembly adjourned at 2.42pm.
Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
23 March 2020
Northern Ireland Assembly
Papers Presented to the Assembly on 16 March 2020 – 23 March 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
Criminal Justice Inspection NI: Driving Change Follow-up Review – A Follow-up Review of the 2016 Enforcement of Road Traffic Legislation in Northern Ireland Inspection (Department of Justice).
Press Recognition Panel - Annual Report on the Recognition System March 2020 (Department for Communities).
Legislative Consent Memorandum - Coronavirus Bill (Department of Health).
5. Assembly Reports
Report on Legislative Consent Memorandum on the UK Government Agriculture Bill 2019-2020 – NIA 11/17-22 (Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs).
6. Statutory Rules
SR 2020/36 The Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Communities).
SR 2020/37 The Statutory Sick Pay (General) (Coronavirus Amendment) (No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Communities).
SR 2020/39 The Motorways Traffic (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Infrastructure).
SR 2020/40 The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Communities).
SR 2020/41 The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Communities).
SR 2020/42 The Employment Rights (Increase of limits) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020.
SR 2020/43 The Whole of Government Accounts (Designation of Bodies) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Finance)
For Information Only
SR 2020/38 The Parking Places (Disabled Persons' Vehicles) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Infrastructure).
7. Written Ministerial Statements
Minister of Finance – Budget 2020-21 Funding Available.
Minister of Finance – Transparency, Accountability and the Functioning of the Executive.
Minister of Justice – Response to Coronavirus.
The Minister of Health – Health and Social Care Planning for the period Mid-March to Mid-April 2020 during the delay phase for Coronavirus.
8. Consultation Documents
9. Departmental Publications
10. Agency Publications
11. Westminster Publications
12. Miscellaneous Publications
