Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Matters of the Day

2.1 Inquest into Ballymurphy Massacre

Mr Pat Sheehan, under Standing Order 24, made a statement on the Inquest into the Ballymurphy Massacre. Other Members were also called to speak on the matter.

2.2 Breaches of International Law in Palestine by Israel

Ms Emma Sheerin, under Standing Order 24, made a statement on Breaches of International Law in Palestine by Israel. Other Members were also called to speak on the matter.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Statement: Awarding Arrangements for CCEA Qualifications in Academic Year 2021-22

The Minister of Education, Mr Peter Weir, made a statement regarding Awarding Arrangements for CCEA Qualifications in Academic Year 2021-22, following which he replied to questions.

3.2 Further Consideration Stage: Pension Schemes Bill (NIA Bill 7/17-22)

The Minister for Communities, Ms Deirdre Hargey, moved the Further Consideration Stage of the Pension Schemes Bill (NIA Bill 7/17-22).

No amendments were tabled to the Bill.

NIA Bill 7/17-22 stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with Section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

3.3 Motion: The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (Coronavirus) (Suspension of Liability for Wrongful Trading) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021

Proposed:

That the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (Coronavirus) (Suspension of Liability for Wrongful Trading) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 be approved.

Minister for the Economy

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

The Speaker took the Chair.

4. Question Time

4.1 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.

4.2 Finance

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

5. Committee Business

5.1 Motion: Extension of Committee Stage: Horse Racing (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 20/17-22)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 28 January 2022, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Horse Racing (Amendment) Bill.

Chairperson, Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair.

6. Private Members' Business

6.1 Motion: Unfettered Access to Medicines and Medical Devices

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the importance of retaining unfettered access to the United Kingdom internal market for medicines and medical devices; notes that 98 per cent of the medicines used in Northern Ireland are supplied from Great Britain; recalls that the barriers to trade in this area, imposed by the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, are yet another reason why the Protocol should be replaced; rejects the establishment of regulatory and customs controls on medicines moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland; highlights that, if established, these arrangements would add cost for businesses and public services, restrict supply and jeopardise patient care across Northern Ireland; regrets that some GB firms have already severed ties with the Northern Ireland market; expresses grave concern that existing grace periods are due to end on 1 October 2021 and 1 January 2022 in the absence of a solution; and calls on the Minister of Health to work with his Executive colleagues to resist strongly disruption to East-West trade for medicines and medical products in all circumstances.

Mrs Pam Cameron
Mr Jonathan Buckley

Debate ensued

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

The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair.

7. Assembly Business

7.1 Motion: Extension of Sitting on Monday 17 May 2021 under Standing Order 10(3A)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 10(3A), the sitting on Monday 17 May 2021 be extended to no later than 7:30pm.

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.

8. Private Members' Business (cont'd)

8.1 Motion: Ending Religious Discrimination in Teaching Appointments

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the exemption in fair employment law allowing discrimination on the grounds of religious belief when appointing teachers; acknowledges that it is unacceptable that teachers should be excluded from protection from discrimination in employment on the grounds of religious belief; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to repeal urgently this exemption to ensure equal opportunities in employment are afforded to all without exception.

Mr Mike Nesbitt
Mr Robbie Butler

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

9. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 6.26pm.

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
17 May 2021

Northern Ireland Assembly

17 May 2021 - Division

Motion: Unfettered Access to Medicines and Medical Devices

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the importance of retaining unfettered access to the United Kingdom internal market for medicines and medical devices; notes that 98 per cent of the medicines used in Northern Ireland are supplied from Great Britain; recalls that the barriers to trade in this area, imposed by the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, are yet another reason why the Protocol should be replaced; rejects the establishment of regulatory and customs controls on medicines moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland; highlights that, if established, these arrangements would add cost for businesses and public services, restrict supply and jeopardise patient care across Northern Ireland; regrets that some GB firms have already severed ties with the Northern Ireland market; expresses grave concern that existing grace periods are due to end on 1 October 2021 and 1 January 2022 in the absence of a solution; and calls on the Minister of Health to work with his Executive colleagues to resist strongly disruption to East-West trade for medicines and medical products in all circumstances.

Mrs Pam Cameron
Mr Jonathan Buckley

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 38
Noes: 46

AYES
Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Mr Allister, Mrs Barton, Mr Beattie, 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 Nesbitt, Mr Newton, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson, Mr Stalford, Mr Stewart, Mr Storey, Mr Swann, Mr Weir, Mr Wells.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Buckley, Mr Middleton.

NOES
Ms Anderson, Dr Archibald, Ms Armstrong, Ms Bailey, Mr Blair, Mr Boylan, Ms S Bradley, Ms Bradshaw, Ms Brogan, Mr Catney, Mr Dickson, Ms Dillon, Ms Dolan, Mr Durkan, Ms Ennis, Ms Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Ms Hargey, Ms Hunter, Mr Kearney, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mrs Long, Mr Lynch, Mr Lyttle, Mr McAleer, Mr McCann, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McNulty, Mr Muir, Ms Mullan, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr O'Toole, Ms Rogan, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Miss Woods.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Gildernew, Mr Sheehan.

The motion was negatived.

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

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

Mr K Buchanan voted for Ms P Bradley, Mr T Buchanan, Ms Bunting, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mrs Foster, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Irwin, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Middleton [Teller, Noes], Mr Newton, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson, Mr Stalford, Mr Storey and Mr Weir.

Mr Butler voted for Mr Aiken, Mr Allen, Mrs Barton, Mr Beattie, Mr Chambers, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Stewart and Mr Swann.

Mr O'Dowd voted for Ms Anderson, Dr Archibald, Mr Boylan, Ms Brogan, Ms Dillon, Ms Dolan, Ms Ennis, Ms Flynn, Mr Gildernew [Teller, Noes], 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 [Teller, Noes] and Ms Sheerin.

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

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 12 May 2021 to 17 May 2021

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

Draft Code of Practice issued under section 195T of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Department of Justice)

Draft Code of Practice issued under section 303I of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Department of Justice)

Draft Code of Practice issued under section 377ZA of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Department of Justice)

Draft Code of Practice issued under section 293A of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Department of Justice)

5. Assembly Reports

Report on the Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill (NIA 100/17-22) (Committee for Communities)

Report on Driver and Vehicle Agency 2019-20 (NIA 101/17-22) (Public Accounts Agency)

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Thirty-eighth Report of Session 2020–2021 (NIA 102/17-22) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

6. Statutory Rules

Draft SR - The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Search, Seizure and Detention of Property: Code of Practice) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Justice)

Draft SR - The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Cash Searches: Code of Practice) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Justice)

Draft SR - The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Investigations: Code of Practice) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Justice)

Draft SR - The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Recovery of Listed Assets: Code of Practice) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Justice)

Draft SR - The Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 (Relevant Benefits) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Justice)

SR 2021/124 The Lake Street, Lurgan (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2021/125 The Common, Markethill Road, Newtownhamilton (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2021/126 The Dunbar Link and Great Patrick Street, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2021/127 The Official Statistics (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Finance)

For information only

SR 2021/122 The On-Street Parking (Residents Parking Zone – Rugby Road/ College Park Avenue Area, Belfast) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2021/123 The Road Races (Croft Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2021/128 The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Crumlin) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

Explanatory Memorandum for SR 2021/121 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Health)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Decisions of the Executive on COVID-19, 13 May 2021 (The Executive Office)
An inspection into the Police Service of Northern Ireland's handling of the Bobby Storey funeral on 30 June 2020 (Minister of Justice)

8. Consultation Documents

Consultation on a proposal to revoke the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) (Northern Ireland) Order 1977 (Abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board) (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

Public Consultation on the Housing Supply Strategy (Department for Communities)

9. Departmental Publications

The Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No.32) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Education)

Correction slip for Northern Ireland Local Government Commissioner for Standards Annual Report 2019-20 (Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman)

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

PROXY VOTING NOTICES – MONDAY 17 MAY 2021

The following Members notified the Speaker, under Standing Order 112, that they wished to avail of proxy voting arrangements for the sitting on Monday 17 May 2021: