Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair.

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Matter of the Day

Outcome of EU Trade Talks

Dr Caoimhe Archibald, under Standing Order 24, made a statement on the Outcome of EU Trade Talks.

3. Public Petition

3.1 Lucy's Law for Northern Ireland

Ms Rachel Woods was granted leave, in accordance with Standing Order 22, to present a Public Petition relating to Lucy's Law for Northern Ireland.

4. Assembly Business

4.1 Motion: Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Ms Cara Hunter replace Mr Colin McGrath as a member of the Committee for Health.

Mrs Dolores Kelly
Mr Colin McGrath

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

4.2 First Stage: Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill (NIA Bill 13/17-22)

Mr Robbie Butler, on behalf of the Assembly Commission, introduced a Bill to amend the Assembly Members (Independent Financial Review and Standards) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 to make provision about the name, functions and membership of the Independent Financial Review Panel and for connected purposes.

The Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill (NIA Bill 13/17-22) passed First Stage and was ordered to be printed.

5. Executive Committee Business

5.1 Statement: North/South Ministerial Council Health and Food Safety Sectoral Meeting

The Minister of Health, Mr Robin Swann, made a statement regarding the recent North/South Ministerial Council Health and Food Safety Sectoral Meeting, following which he replied to questions.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair.

5.2 Statement: Dormant Accounts Fund Strategic Plan

The Minister of Finance, Mr Conor Murphy, made a statement regarding the Dormant Accounts Fund Strategic Plan, following which he replied to questions.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

5.3 Motion: The draft Alien and Locally Absent Species (Aquaculture) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Proposed:

That the draft Alien and Locally Absent Species (Aquaculture) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved.

The Executive Office

Debate ensued.

The debate stood suspended for Question Time.

The Speaker took the Chair.

6. Question Time

6.1 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.

6.2 Finance

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

7. Assembly Business (cont'd)

7.1 Motion: Extension of Sitting on Monday 14 December 2020 under Standing Order 10(3A)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 10(3A), the sitting on Monday 14 December 2020 be extended to no later than 11.00pm.

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.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

8. Executive Committee Business (cont'd)

8.1 Motion: The draft Alien and Locally Absent Species (Aquaculture) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (cont'd)

Debate resumed.

The Question being put, the motion was carried (Division).

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair.

8.2 Motion: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 17) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Proposed:

That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 17) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved.

Minister of Health

Motion: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 18) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Proposed:

That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 18) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved.

Minister of Health

A single debate ensued on both motions.

The Question being put, the motion on the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 17) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 was carried.

The Question being put, the motion on the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 18) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 was carried.

8.3 Motion: The Maximum Number of Judges Order (Northern Ireland) 2020

Proposed:

That the Maximum Number of Judges Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 be affirmed.

Minister of Justice

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

8.4 Motion: The Draft Carriage of Explosives (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Proposed:

That the draft Carriage of Explosives (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved.

Minister of Justice

Debate ensued.

The Speaker took the Chair.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

8.5 Consideration Stage: The Harbours (Grants and Loans Limit) Bill (NIA Bill 12/17-22)

Minister for Infrastructure

The Minister for Infrastructure, Ms Nichola Mallon, moved the Consideration Stage of the Harbours (Grants and Loans Limit) Bill.

No amendments were tabled to the Bill.

Clauses

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clauses 1 to 3 stand part of the Bill.

Long Title

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

The Harbours (Grants and Loans Limit) Bill (NIA Bill12/17-22) stood referred to the Speaker.

9. Committee Business

9.1 Motion: Extension of Committee Stage: Criminal Justice (Committal Reform) Bill (NIA Bill 11/17-22)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 11 June 2021, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Criminal Justice (Committal Reform) Bill (NIA Bill 11/17-22).

Chairperson, Committee for Justice

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

10. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 6.31pm.

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
14 December 2020

Northern Ireland Assembly

14 December 2020
Division

Motion: The draft Alien and Locally Absent Species (Aquaculture) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Proposed:

That the draft Alien and Locally Absent Species (Aquaculture) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved.

The Executive Office

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 74
Noes: 11

AYES

Ms Anderson, Dr Archibald, Ms Armstrong, Ms Bailey, Mr Blair, Mr Boylan, Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Ms S Bradley, Ms Bradshaw, Ms Brogan, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mrs Cameron, Mr Carroll, Mr Catney, Mr Clarke, Mr Dickson, Ms Dillon, Mrs Dodds, 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, Ms Hunter, Mr Irwin, Mr Kearney, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mrs Long, Mr Lynch, Mr Lyons, Mr Lyttle, Mr McAleer, Mr McCann, 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, Ms Rogan, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Miss Woods.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Harvey, Mr McGuigan.

NOES

Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Mr Allister, Mrs Barton, Mr Beattie, Mr Beggs, Mr Butler, Mr Chambers, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Stewart, Mr Wells.

Tellers for the Noes: Mrs Barton, Mr Wells.

The motion was carried.

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

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

Mr K Buchanan voted for Ms P Bradley, Mr Buckley, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mrs Foster, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Mr Lyons, Mr Newton, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson, Mr Storey and Mr Weir.

Mr Butler voted for Mr Allen, Mrs Barton, Mr Beggs, Mr Chambers, Mr Nesbitt, and Mr Stewart.

Mr O'Dowd voted for Ms Anderson, Dr Archibald, Mr Boylan, Ms Brogan, Ms Dillon, Ms Dolan, Ms Ennis, Ms Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Ms Hargey, Mr Kearney, 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.

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

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 9 December 2020 to 14 December 2020

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill (NIA Bill 13/17-22)

3. Orders in Council

4. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Child Maintenance Service Annual Report on Decision Making 2019-2020 (Department for Communities)

Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute 2019-20 Annual Report and Accounts (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

Report on the Second Independent Review of the PIP Assessment Process (Department for Communities)

Strategic Action Plan for Dormant Accounts Fund NI (Department of Finance)

Rural Needs Annual Monitoring Report April 2019-March 2020 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

5. Assembly Reports

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Sixteenth Report of Session 2020 – 2021 (NIA 66/17-22) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2020/310 The Addition of Vitamins, Minerals and Other Substances (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

SR 2020/318 The Pension Protection Fund (State Aid) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Communities)

SR 2020/319 The Seed Marketing and Fertilisers (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

SR 2020/323 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 19) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

SR 2020/322 The Seed Marketing (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

SR 2020/320 The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (Coronavirus) (Suspension of Liability for Wrongful Trading) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for the Economy)

SR 2020/321 The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (Amendment of Certain Relevant Periods) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for the Economy)

SR 2020/324 The Agriculture, Animals and Aquaculture, Health ID, Welfare Trade etc.) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

SR 2020/325 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Public Health Advice for Persons Travelling to Northern Ireland) (No.2) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

SR 2020/326 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Amendment No. 25) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

SR 2020/327 The Plant Health and Diseases of Animals (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

SR 2020/328 The Horses (Free Access to Competitions) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

For information only

SR 2020/309 The Special Educational Needs and Disability (2016 Act) (Commencement No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Education)

SR 2020/311 The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Donaghmore) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2020/312 The Parking Places on Roads and Waiting Restrictions (Cookstown) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2020/313 The Parking Places on Roads and Waiting Restrictions (Newry) (Amendment No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2020/314 The Waiting Restrictions (Lisburn) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2020/315 The Parking Places on Roads (Coaches) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2020/316 The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Londonderry) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Infrastructure)

Explanatory Memorandum for SR 2020/261 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Travel from Denmark) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

Explanatory Memorandum for SR 2020/323 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 19) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

COVID-19 Charities Fund (Minister for Communities)

Additional Support for Vulnerable People (Minister for Communities)

Neurology Independent Inquiry and Terms of Reference (Minister of Health)

Changes to the Blood Donor Deferral Rules for Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) (Minister of Health)

COVID Temporary Time Limited Financial Support for Belfast International Airport and Belfast City Airport (Minister of Finance)

8. Consultation Documents

Consultation on the Introduction of a Statutory Opt-out System for Organ Donation (Department of Health)

9. Departmental Publications

Domestic Homicide Reviews Commencement Order (Department of Justice)

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

Amendment of numbering of Reports of the Examiner of Statutory Rules (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

PROXY VOTING NOTICES – MONDAY 14 DECEMBER 2020

The following Members notified the Speaker, under Standing Order 112, that they wished to avail of proxy voting arrangements for the sitting on Monday 14 December 2020: