Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Speaker's Business

2.1 The Deputy Speaker informed Members that the Speaker had received notification from the First Minister and the deputy First Minister that Deirdre Hargey had resigned the office of Minister for Communities, effective from 14 June 2020. The Deputy Speaker also informed Members that the Speaker had received notification from the nominating officer for Sinn Féin that Ms Carál Ní Chuilín had been nominated as Minister for Communities. Ms Ní Chuilín accepted the nomination and affirmed the pledge of office in the presence of the Speaker, who participated remotely, and the Clerk/Chief Executive on Monday 15 June 2020.

2.2 The Deputy Speaker informed Members that the Speaker had received, on Monday 15 June 2020, notification of the resignation of Ms Ní Chuilín as Chairperson of the Procedures Committee with immediate effect, and that he was satisfied that the requirements of the relevant Standing Order had been met.

2.3 The late Mr Billy Bell.

3. Assembly Business

3.1 Motion: Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Mr Jim Allister be appointed as a member of the Audit Committee.

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.

4. Executive Committee Business

4.1 Consideration Stage: Housing (Amendment) Bill (NIA 6/17-22)

Minister for Communities

The Minister for Communities, Ms Carál Ní Chuilín, moved the Consideration Stage of the Housing (Amendment) Bill.

Three amendments were tabled to the Bill.

Clauses

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 1 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 2 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 3 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 4 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 5 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 6 stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 1 to Clause 7 was negatived (Division).

After debate, Amendment 2 was not moved.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 7 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 8 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 9 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 10 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 11 stand part of the Bill.

Schedule

The question being put, it was agreed without division that the Schedule stand part of the Bill.

Long Title

As Amendment 1 was not made, Amendment 3 to the Long Title was not called.

The question being put, the Long Title was agreed without division.

The Housing (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 06/17-22) stood referred to the Speaker.

4.2 Motion: The Social Security Benefits Up-Rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2020

Proposed:

That the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved.

Minister for Communities

4.3 Motion: The Social Security Benefits Up-Rating Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Proposed:

That the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved.

Minister for Communities

A single debate on both motions ensued.

The Question being put, the motion on the Social Security Benefits Up-Rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 was carried.

The Question being put, the motion on the Social Security Benefits Up-Rating Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 was carried.

4.4 Motion: The Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Proposed:

That the Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved.

Minister for Communities

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Motion was carried.

The sitting was suspended at 12.54pm.

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

5. Question Time

5.1 The Executive Office

Questions were put to, and answered by, the First Minister, the Rt Hon Arlene Foster. The junior Minister, Mr Gordon Lyons, also answered a number of questions.

5.2 Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Mr Edwin Poots.

6. Executive Committee Business (cont'd)

6.1 Motion: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Amendment No. 4) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Proposed:

That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Amendment No. 4) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved.

The Executive Office

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Motion was carried.

6.2 Legislative Consent Motion: Medicines and Medical Devices Bill

Proposed:

That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension to Northern Ireland of the provisions within the Medicines and Medical Devices Bill as introduced to Parliament on 13 February 2020 dealing with human medicines and veterinary medicines.

Minister of Health

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

7. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 6.47pm.

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker

16 June 2020

Northern Ireland Assembly

16 June 2020
Division

The Housing (Amendment) Bill (NIA 6/17-22) – Amendment 1
Proposed:

In page 6, line 34, leave out subsection (1) and insert:

'(1) Article 3 and Article 3A of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 are repealed (and, accordingly, the schemes under those Articles cease to have effect); but this is subject to subsection (2).'

Mr Mark Durkan

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 14
Noes: 70

AYES

Ms Bailey, Ms S Bradley, Mr Carroll, Mr Catney, Mr Durkan, Ms Hunter, Mrs D Kelly, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McNulty, Mr O'Toole, Miss Woods.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Carroll, Mr Catney.

NOES

Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Mr Allister, Ms Anderson, Dr Archibald, Ms Armstrong, Mrs Barton, Mr Beattie, Mr Blair, Mr Boylan, Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Ms Bradshaw, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Mr Dickson, Ms Dillon, Mrs Dodds, Ms Dolan, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Ms Ennis, Ms Flynn, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Gildernew, Mr Givan, Ms Hargey, Mr Harvey, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kearney, Ms C Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mrs Long, Mr Lynch, Mr Lyons, Mr Lyttle, Mr McAleer, Mr McCann, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Miss McIlveen, Mr Middleton, Mr Muir, Ms Mullan, Mr Murphy, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Newton, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson, Ms Rogan, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Stalford, Mr Stewart, Mr Storey, Mr Swann, Mr Weir.

Tellers for the Noes: Ms Ennis, Ms Flynn.

The Amendment was negatived.

The following Members' votes were cast by their notified proxy in this division:

Ms Armstrong voted for Mr Blair, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Dickson, Mrs Long, Mr Lyttle and Mr Muir.

Mr K Buchanan voted for Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Newton, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson, Mr Stalford, Mr Storey and Mr Weir.

Mr Butler voted for Mr Swann.

Mr O'Toole voted for Ms S Bradley, Mr Catney [Teller, Ayes], Mr Durkan, Ms Hunter, Mrs D Kelly, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGrath, Mr McGlone, Ms McLaughlin, and Mr McNulty.

Mr O'Dowd voted for Ms Anderson, Dr Archibald, Mr Boylan, Ms Dillon, Ms Dolan, Ms Ennis [Teller, Noes], Ms Flynn [Teller, Noes], Mr Gildernew, Ms Hargey, Mr Kearney, Ms C Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mr Lynch, Mr McAleer, Mr McCann, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Ms Mullan, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mrs O'Neill, Ms Rogan, Mr Sheehan and Ms Sheerin.

Miss Woods voted for Ms Bailey.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 10 June 2020 – 16 June 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

The LandWeb Project: An Update (Northern Ireland Audit Office)

5. Assembly Reports

Committee for Justice Report on the Domestic Abuse Bill Legislative Consent Motion (NIA 28/17-22) (Committee for Justice)

Committee for Health Report on the Medicines and Medical Devices Bill Legislative Consent Motion (NIA 30/17-22) (Committee for Health)

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2020/99 The Drumnagoon Road and Kernan Hill Road, Portadown (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2020/100 The Footpath at Mowhan Road and Bunker Hill, Markethill (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2020/101 The Kernan Road, Portadown (Footpath) (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2020/102 The Craigs Road, Carrickfergus (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2020/103 Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Amendment No. 6) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

SR 2020/104 The Misuse of Drugs (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

For Information Only

SR 2020/36 The Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (for information only) (Department for Communities)

SR 2020/40 The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (for information only) (Department of Communities)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

2020/21 Budget Settlement (Minister for Infrastructure)

Statement by the First Minister and deputy First Minister on the Attorney General (The Executive Office)

8. Consultation Documents

Consultation on Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay (Department for the Economy)

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 16 June 2020

2017-2022 Mandate
Executive Bills

2017-2022 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills                     

/ Bills progressing by accelerated passage

PROXY VOTING NOTICES – TUESDAY 16 JUNE 2020

The following Members notified the Speaker, under Standing Order 112, that they wished to avail of proxy voting arrangements for the sitting on Tuesday 16 June 2020: