Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Matter of the Day

2.1 Death of Barney Eastwood

Mr Patsy McGlone made a statement, under Standing Order 24, in relation to the death of Barney Eastwood on 9 March 2020. Other Members were also called to speak on the matter.

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Motion: The Pension Schemes Act 2015 (Transitional Provisions and Appropriate Independent Advice) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019

Proposed:

That the Pension Schemes Act 2015 (Transitional Provisions and Appropriate Independent Advice) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019 be approved.

Minister for Communities

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

4. Private Members' Business

4.1 Motion: Independent Review of Education

Proposed:

That this Assembly calls on the Minister of Education to implement urgently the New Decade, New Approach commitment to establish an external, independent review of education provision with a focus on greater efficiency in delivery costs, raising standards, access to the curriculum for all pupils, and an inclusive single education system.

Mr Chris Lyttle
Ms Kellie Armstrong

Deputy Speaker McGlone took the Chair.

Amendment 1

Proposed:

Leave out all after 'calls on' and insert:

'the Executive to implement urgently the New Decade, New Approach commitment to establish an external, independent review of education provision, with a focus on securing greater efficiency in delivery costs, raising standards, access to the curriculum for all pupils, and the prospects of moving towards a single education system.'

Ms Karen Mullan
Ms Catherine Kelly

Amendment 2

Proposed:

Leave out all between 'greater' and 'raising' and insert:

'expansion of public funding to support the delivery costs identified within the review, addressing pay disputes with teaching unions,'

Mr Gerry Carroll

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, Amendment 1 was made.

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

4.2 Motion: Childcare Strategy

Proposed:

That this Assembly believes that access to good quality and affordable childcare can help empower those parents who want to stay and progress in paid work; accepts that this, in turn, will contribute to the local economy; recognises the transformative role that good childcare can play in supporting the educational, social and physical development of a child; supports the aim of providing 30 hours of free childcare for 38 weeks a year for 3 to 4 year olds, in line with the rest of the United Kingdom; further recognises that there are significant pressures already on the budget of the Department of Education; and calls upon the Executive to implement a childcare strategy and any legislation required to enable this to proceed.

Mr Robin Newton
Mr Maurice Bradley

Amendment 1

Proposed:

Leave out all between 'help' and 'accepts' and insert:

'tackle disadvantage and poverty by closing the educational gap between the most and least advantaged children, can empower parents who want to stay and progress in paid work, and those who want to return to education or training;'

Ms Catherine Kelly
Ms Jemma Dolan
Mr Pat Sheehan

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 12.55pm.

The sitting resumed at 2.00pm, with the Principal Deputy Speaker in the Chair.

4. Question Time

4.1 Education

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

The Speaker took the Chair.

4.2 Finance

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Finance, Mr Conor Murphy.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

5. Private Members' Business (cont'd)

5.1 Motion: Childcare Strategy (cont'd)

Debate resumed.

The Question being put, Amendment 1 was made.

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

5.2 Motion: Mental Health in the Workplace

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises that mental health problems affect one in six workers each year, and that poor mental health is the leading cause of sickness absence; further recognises that Northern Ireland records the highest instance of mental ill health across the UK and has an on-going mental health crisis; welcomes warmly the partnership between the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium, Time to Change, and the Retail Trust to address mental health in the retail industry; notes the important role that the retail industry plays as Northern Ireland's largest private sector employer; supports the initiatives being progressed, including a mental health toolkit and mental health first aid training; and recommends that other industries follow this lead.

Mr Robbie Butler
Ms Órlaithí Flynn
Mr John Blair
Mr Keith Buchanan
Mr Mark Durkan

The Motion was not moved.

6. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 4.36pm.

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
10 March 2020

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 10 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

Northern Ireland Audit Office Report – Injury on Duty Schemes for Officers in the Police Service Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Prison Service. (Northern Ireland Audit Office)

Base 2: Working to Support Individuals Under Threat - An Inspection of the Role of Base 2 in Threat Verification (Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland)

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2020/29 The Public Service Pension Revaluation Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Finance)

SR 2020/30 The Occupational and Personal Pensions Schemes (General Levy) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Communities)

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 10 March 2020

2017-2022 Mandate
Executive Bills  

2017-2022 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills

/ Bills progressing by accelerated passage