Minutes of Proceedings
Session: Session currently unavailable
Date: 19 April 2021
The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair.
1. Prayers
Members observed two minutes' silence.
2. Speaker's Business
Procedures and Conventions.
The Speaker made some remarks about the standards of debate that he expects in the Chamber, highlighting correspondence he issued to all Members detailing 10 principles which provide details on what courtesy, good temper, moderation and respect mean in practice.
3. Matter of the Day
3.1 NI Senior Women's Football Team Qualification for European Championships
Mr Mike Nesbitt, under Standing Order 24, made a statement on the NI Senior Women's Football Team Qualification for European Championships. Other Members were also called to speak on the matter.
4. Committee Business
4.1 Motion: Extension of Committee Stage: Damages (Return on Investment) Bill (NIA Bill 16/17-22)
Proposed:
That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 28 October 2021, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Damages (Return on Investment) Bill (NIA 16/17-22).
Chairperson, Committee for Justice
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the motion was carried.
4.2 Motion: Extension of Committee Stage: The Severe Fetal Impairment Abortion (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 15/17-22)
Proposed:
That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 19 November 2021, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Severe Fetal Impairment Abortion (Amendment) Bill (NIA 15/17-22).
Chairperson, Committee for Health
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the motion was carried.
4.3 Motion: Extension of Committee Stage: The Health and Social Care Bill (NIA Bill 18/17-22)
Proposed:
That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 1 October 2021, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Health and Social Care Bill (NIA 18/17-22).
Chairperson, Committee for Health
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the motion was carried.
The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair.
5. Private Members' Business
5.1 Motion: Brexit and Card Fees
Proposed:
That this Assembly regrets the decision of Visa and Mastercard to increase, drastically, their fees for EU card transactions; notes that these increases are only possible because of Brexit and the subsequent loss of EU consumer protections; condemns this cynical exploitation of working people and small and medium-sized enterprises by big banks and card companies during a global pandemic; further notes that this extortionate increase will disproportionately impact border communities, who have already borne the brunt of Brexit; and urges the British government to reverse these increases through legislation to regulate interchange fees on EU transactions.
Dr Caoimhe Archibald
Mr John O'Dowd
Ms Jemma Dolan
Ms Liz Kimmins
Amendment
Proposed:
Leave out all after the second 'Brexit;' and insert:
'recognises that the United Kingdom's ability to regulate charges on cross-border transactions is limited; calls on the UK Government to reinstate the previous cap on interchange fees within its regulatory authority; and further calls on the UK Government to engage with the European Union to reach an agreement on interchange fee caps on UK-EU and EU-UK card transactions as part of wider efforts to ease the trading frictions caused by Brexit.'
Mr Stewart Dickson
Mr Andrew Muir
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.
The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.
6.2 Education
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Education, Mr Peter Weir.
The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair.
7. Private Members' Business (cont'd)
7.1 Motion: Brexit and Card Fees (cont'd)
Debate resumed.
The Question being put, the amendment was made.
The Question being put, the motion as amended was carried.
8. Adjournment
Proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
The Speaker
The Assembly adjourned at 4.49pm.
Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
19 April 2021
Northern Ireland Assembly
Papers Presented to the Assembly on 14 April 2021 to 19 April 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
Royal Ulster Constabulary George Cross Foundation Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2020 (Royal Ulster Constabulary George Cross Foundation)
Retention and Disposal Schedule for the Victims and Survivors Service (Public Records Office of Northern Ireland)
Retention and Disposal Schedule for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Public Records Office of Northern Ireland)
5. Assembly Reports
6. Statutory Rules
SR 2021/99 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Health)
SR 2021/101 The Mental Health (1986 Order) (Amendment No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Health)
SR 2021/102 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel, Operator Liability and Information to Passengers) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Health)
SR 2021/103 The Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (Protection from Detriment in Health and Safety Cases) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for the Economy)
For information only
SR 2021/98 The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Suspension) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Health)
7. Written Ministerial Statements
8. Consultation Documents
The Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No.31) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Education)
9. Departmental Publications
10. Agency Publications
11. Westminster Publications
12. Miscellaneous Publications
PROXY VOTING NOTICES – MONDAY 19 APRIL 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 19 April 2021:
Steve Aiken |
Gerry Kelly |
Andy Allen |
Liz Kimmins |
Martina Anderson |
Naomi Long |
Caoimhe Archibald |
Gordon Lyons |
Rosemary Barton |
Séan Lynch |
Roy Beggs |
Chris Lyttle |
John Blair |
Nichola Mallon |
Cathal Boylan |
Declan McAleer |
Paula Bradley |
Fra McCann |
Sinead Bradley |
Daniel McCrossan |
Paula Bradshaw |
Patsy McGlone |
Nicola Brogan |
Colin McGrath |
Thomas Buchanan |
Philip McGuigan |
Pat Catney |
Maolíosa McHugh |
Alan Chambers |
Sinead McLaughlin |
Stewart Dickson |
Justin McNulty |
Linda Dillon |
Gary Middleton |
Diane Dodds |
Andrew Muir |
Jemma Dolan |
Karen Mullan |
Gordon Dunne |
Conor Murphy |
Mark Durkan |
Mike Nesbitt |
Alex Easton |
Robin Newton |
Sinead Ennis |
Carál Ní Chuilín |
Arlene Foster |
Michelle O’Neill |
Órlaithí Flynn |
Edwin Poots |
Colm Gildernew |
George Robinson |
Paul Givan |
Emma Rogan |
Deirdre Hargey |
Pat Sheehan |
Harry Harvey |
Emma Sheerin |
David Hilditch |
Christopher Stalford |
Cara Hunter |
John Stewart |
William Irwin |
Mervyn Storey |
Declan Kearney |
Robin Swann |
Dolores Kelly |
Peter Weir |