Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Speaker's Business

Assembly Business

The Principal Deputy Speaker recorded formally the Assembly's condolences to those families bereaved by COVID-19 since its last meeting, and recorded the Assembly's admiration and appreciation for all who are working on the front line to try to prevent further loss of life.

Committee Business

The Principal Deputy Speaker advised Members that the Speaker had received notification of the resignation of Mr Mike Nesbitt as Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for the Executive Office with immediate effect, and that the nominating officer for the Ulster Unionist Party had informed the Speaker that Mr Doug Beattie had been nominated as Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for the Executive Office, also with immediate effect. Mr Beattie accepted the nomination, and the Speaker was satisfied that the requirements of Standing Orders had been met.

Royal Assent

The Principal Deputy Speaker advised Members that Royal Assent had been signified on 4 May 2020 to the Private Tenancies (Coronavirus Modifications) Act (Northern Ireland) 2020.

3. Assembly Business

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 10 June 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 Statement – COVID-19

The Minister for Infrastructure, Ms Nichola Mallon, made a statement regarding COVID-19, following which she replied to questions.

4.2 Statement – School Enhancement Programme

The Minister of Education, Mr Peter Weir, made a statement regarding the School Enhancement Programme, following which he replied to questions.

4.3 Motion: The draft Census Order (Northern Ireland) 2020

Proposed:

That the draft Census Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved.

The Executive Office

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 12.58pm.

The sitting resumed at 2.01pm, with Deputy Speaker Beggs in the Chair.

5. Speaker's Business

John Dallat MLA

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, informed Members of the passing of Mr John Dallat MLA and, on behalf of the Assembly, expressed condolences to Mr Dallat's family. The Deputy Speaker also informed Members that arrangements would be set in place for formal tributes to be paid to Mr Dallat at the start of the next sitting.

6. Executive Committee Business (cont'd)

6.1 Motion: The draft Census Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (cont'd)

Debate resumed.

The Question being put, the Motion was carried.

6.2 Motion: The Rates (Regional Rates) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020

Proposed:

That the Rates (Regional Rates) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 be affirmed.

Minister of Finance

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support.

6.3 Motion: Budget 2020 - 21

Proposed:

That this Assembly approves the programme of expenditure proposals for 2020-2021 as set out in the Budget laid before the Assembly on 31 March 2020 and the further detailed information laid on 30 April 2020.

Minister of Finance

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 4.18pm.

The sitting resumed at 4.35pm, with the Principal Deputy Speaker in the Chair.

Debate resumed.

The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support (Division).

7. Committee Business

7.1 Motion: Extension of Committee Stage – Functioning of Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill (NIA Bill 1/17-22)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 02 December 2020, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Functioning of Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill (NIA Bill 1/17-22).

Chairperson, Committee for Finance

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Motion was carried.

8. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 7.10pm.

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker

5 May 2020

Northern Ireland Assembly

5 May 2020
Division

Budget 2020 - 21

Proposed:

That this Assembly approves the programme of expenditure proposals for 2020-2021 as set out in the Budget laid before the Assembly on 31 March 2020 and the further detailed information laid on 30 April 2020.

Minister of Finance

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 76
Noes: 4

AYES

NATIONALIST:

Ms Anderson, Dr Archibald, Mr Boylan, Ms S Bradley, Mr Catney, Ms Dillon, Ms Dolan, Mr Durkan, Ms Ennis, Ms Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Ms Hargey, Mr Kearney, Ms C Kelly, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mr Lynch, Mr McAleer, Mr McCann, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McNulty, Ms Mallon, Ms Mullan, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr O'Toole, Ms Rogan, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin

UNIONIST:

Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Mrs Barton, Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, 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 Middleton, Mr Newton, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson, Mr Stewart, Mr Storey, Mr Swann, Mr Weir

OTHER:

Ms Armstrong, Mr Blair, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Dickson, Mr Lyttle, Mr Muir

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Lynch, Mr McAleer

NOES

UNIONIST:

Mr Allister

OTHER:

Ms Bailey, Mr Carroll, Miss Woods

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Carroll, Miss Woods

Total Votes                         80              Total Ayes               76     [95.0%]

Nationalist Votes                37              Nationalist Ayes      37     [100.0%]

Unionist Votes                    34              Unionist Ayes          33     [97.1%]

Other Votes                           9              Other Ayes                6     [66.7%]

The motion was carried with cross-community support.

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

Ms Armstrong voted for Mr Blair, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Dickson, 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 Storey and Mr Weir.

Mr Butler voted for Mr Allen, Mr Stewart and Mr Swann.

Mr McGrath voted for Ms S Bradley, Mr Catney, Mr Durkan, Mrs D Kelly, Ms Mallon, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McNulty and Mr O'Toole.

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

Ms Bailey voted for Miss Woods [Teller, Noes].

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 29 April 2020 – 5 May 2020

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Private Tenancies (Coronavirus Modifications) Act (Northern Ireland) 2020

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

2020-21 Budget (Department of Finance)

5. Assembly Reports

Report on the Legislative Consent Motion – Private International Law (Implementation of Agreements) Bill (NIA 18/17-22) (Committee for Justice)

Report on the Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Pensions Schemes Bill (NIA 19/17-22) (Committee for Communities)

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Eighth Report of Session 2019 – 2020 (NIA 20/17-22) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2020/73 The Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

SR 2020/74 The Local Government (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of District Council Meetings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Communities)

SR 2020/75 The Direct Payments to Farmers (Crop Diversification Derogation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

SR 2020/76 The Sea Fish Industry (Coronavirus) (Fixed Costs) Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

SR 2020/77 The Local Government Pension Scheme (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 5 May 2020

2017-2022 Mandate
Executive Bills     

2017-2022 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills          

/ Bills progressing by accelerated passage

Proxy Voting Notices

The following Members notified the Speaker, under Standing Order 112, that they wished to avail of proxy voting arrangements for the sitting on Tuesday 5 May 2020: