Minutes of Proceedings

Session: Session currently unavailable

Date: 19 October 2020

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.


2. Assembly Business

2.1 Motion: Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Mr Steve Aiken replace Mr John Stewart as a member of the Committee for Standards and Privileges.

Mr Robbie Butler
Mr Andy Allen

The Question being put, the motion was carried.


3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Motion: Suspension of Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4)

Proposed:

That Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4) be suspended for 19 October 2020.

Minister of Finance

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

3.2 Motion: Supply Resolution for the Northern Ireland Main Estimates 2020-2021

Proposed:

That this Assembly approves that a sum, not exceeding £4,757,631,000, be granted out of the Consolidated Fund, for or towards defraying the charges for the Northern Ireland Departments, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Northern Ireland Audit Office, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation, the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman, and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2021 and that resources, not exceeding £4,791,050,000, be authorised for use by the Northern Ireland Departments, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Northern Ireland Audit Office, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation, the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman, and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2021 as summarised for each Department or other public body in Columns 3 (a) and 3 (b) of Table 1.3 in the volume of the Northern Ireland Main Estimates 2020-2021 that was laid before the Assembly on 13 October 2020.

Minister of Finance

Motion: Supply Resolution for the Northern Ireland Estimates 2016-2017 Statement of Excesses

Proposed:

That this Assembly approves that a sum, not exceeding £112,618,000, be granted out of the Consolidated Fund, for or towards defraying the charges for the Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation, and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2017 and that resources, not exceeding £183,290,000, be authorised for use by the Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation, and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2017 as summarised for each Department or other public body in Part 1 of the Northern Ireland Estimates 2016-2017 Statement of Excesses that was laid before the Assembly on 13 October 2020.

Minister of Finance

A single debate ensued on both motions.

The debate was suspended for Question Time.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.


4. Question Time

4.1 Education

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Education, Mr Peter Weir.

4.2 Finance

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

The Speaker took the Chair.


5. Executive Committee Business (cont'd)

5.1 Motion: Supply Resolution for the Northern Ireland Main Estimates 2020-2021 (cont'd)

Motion: Supply Resolution for the Northern Ireland Estimates 2016-2017 Statement of Excesses (cont'd)

Debate resumed on both motions.

The Question being put, the Motion on the Supply Resolution for the Northern Ireland Main Estimates 2020-2021 was carried with cross-community support.

The Question being put, the Motion on the Supply Resolution for the Northern Ireland Estimates 2016-2017 Statement of Excesses was carried with cross-community support.

5.2 First Stage: Budget (No. 3) Bill (NIA Bill 9/17-22)

A Bill to authorise the issue out of the Consolidated Fund of a certain sum for the service of the year ending 31 March 2021; to appropriate that sum for specified purposes; to authorise the Department of Finance to borrow on the credit of that sum; to authorise the use for the public service of certain resources (including accruing resources) for the year ending 31 March 2021; to authorise the issue out of the Consolidated Fund of an excess cash sum for the service of the year ending 31 March 2017; to authorise the use for the public service of excess resources for that year; and to repeal certain spent provisions.

The Budget (No. 3) Bill (NIA Bill 09/17-22) passed First Stage and was ordered to be printed.

The Speaker informed the Assembly that he had received correspondence from the Committee for Finance stating that the Committee was satisfied that the consultation with it on the public expenditure proposals contained in the Bill had been appropriate as required under Standing Order 42(2).

5.3 First Stage: Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 10/17-22)
The Minister of Finance, Mr Conor Murphy, on behalf of the Minister for Communities, Ms Carál Ní Chuilín, introduced a Bill to make provision about liquor licensing and the registration of clubs.

The Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 10/17-22) passed First Stage and was ordered to be printed.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair.

5.4 Motion: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 5) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Proposed:

That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 5) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved.

The Executive Office

Motion: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 6) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Proposed:

That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 6) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved.

The Executive Office

Motion: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 7) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Proposed:

That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 7) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved.

The Executive Office

A single debate ensued on all three motions.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair.

The Question being put, the motion on the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 5) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 was carried.

The Question being put, the motion on the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 6) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 was carried.

The Question being put, the motion on the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 7) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 was carried.


6. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 7.01pm.


Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
19 October 2020

 

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 15 October 2020 to 19 October 2020

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

The Budget (No. 3) Bill (NIA Bill 09/17-22)

The Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 10/17-22)

3. Orders in Council

4. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Northern Ireland Environment Agency's Annual Report and Accounts 2019-20 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

The General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2019-2020 (Department for the Economy)

Legislative Consent Memorandum - Westminster Pension Schemes Bill (Department for Communities)

5. Assembly Reports

Report on the Domestic Abuse and Family Proceedings Bill (NIA 48/17-22) (Committee for Justice)

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Seventh Report of Session 2020 - 2021 (NIA 49/17-22) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2020/219 The Ornamental Horticulture Industry (Coronavirus, Financial Assistance) Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

SR 2020/220 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

SR 2020/221 The Financial Assistance (Coronavirus) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Finance)

SR 2020/222 The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2020/223 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Amendment No. 15) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

SR 2020/224 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 9) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

SR 2020/225 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 10) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

COVID-19 Update (Minister of Health)

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

 

PROXY VOTING NOTICES – MONDAY 19 OCTOBER 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 19 October 2020:

Martina Anderson

Naomi Long

Caoimhe Archibald

Gordon Lyons

Kellie Armstrong

Séan Lynch

John Blair

Chris Lyttle

Cathal Boylan

Nichola Mallon

Sinéad Bradley

Declan McAleer

Paula Bradley

Fra McCann

Jonathan Buckley

Daniel McCrossan

Pam Cameron

Patsy McGlone

Pat Catney

Colin McGrath

Stewart Dickson

Philip McGuigan

Linda Dillon

Maolíosa McHugh

Diane Dodds

Sinead McLaughlin

Jemma Dolan

Justin McNulty

Gordon Dunne

Gary Middleton

Mark Durkan

Andrew Muir

Alex Easton

Karen Mullan

Arlene Foster

Conor Murphy

Órlaithí Flynn

Robin Newton

Colm Gildernew

Carál Ní Chuilín

Paul Givan

John O’Dowd

Deirdre Hargey

Michelle O’Neill

Harry Harvey

Edwin Poots

David Hilditch

George Robinson

Cara Hunter

Emma Rogan

William Irwin

Pat Sheehan

Declan Kearney

Emma Sheerin

Catherine Kelly

Christopher Stalford

Dolores Kelly

Mervyn Storey

Gerry Kelly

Robin Swann

Liz Kimmins

Peter Weir

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