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

 

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