Minutes of Proceedings

Session: Session currently unavailable

Date: 23 November 2020

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Speaker's Business

2.1 New Member

The Speaker informed Members of notification from the Chief Electoral Officer that Ms Nicola Brogan had been returned as a Member for the West Tyrone constituency.

Ms Brogan gave the undertaking, signed the Roll of Membership and entered her designation in the presence of the Speaker and the Clerk/Chief Executive on 23 November 2020.

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Statement: COVID-19 Decisions

The Minister of Health, Mr Robin Swann, made a statement regarding the recent COVID-19 Decisions, following which he replied to questions.

3.2 Statement: 2020-21 November COVID-19 funding

The Minister of Finance, Mr Conor Murphy, made a statement regarding 2020-21 November COVID-19 funding, following which he replied to questions.

The sitting was suspended at 1.53pm.

The sitting resumed at 2.00pm, with the Principal Deputy Speaker in the Chair.

4. Question Time

4.1 Communities

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Communities, Ms Carál Ní Chuilín.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair.

4.2 Economy

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for the Economy, Mrs Diane Dodds.

The Speaker took the Chair.

5. Executive Committee Business (cont'd)

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

The Minister for Infrastructure, Ms Nichola Mallon, introduced a Bill to amend the Harbours Act (Northern Ireland) 1970 to increase the statutory limit on certain grants and loans for harbour works etc.

The Harbours (Grants and Loans Limit) Bill (NIA Bill 12/17-22) passed First Stage and was ordered to be printed.

6. Committee Business

6.1 Motion: Committee for the Economy Energy Strategy Micro Inquiry

Proposed:

That this Assembly welcomes the special report of the Committee for the Economy on considerations for the forthcoming energy strategy; supports the development of an ambitious, target-driven energy strategy that will decarbonise the energy sector by 2050, while minimising the cost to the consumer; and recognises the strategy's potential to boost our economic, health and social wellbeing into the future.

Chairperson, Committee for the Economy

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

7. Assembly Business

7.1 Motion: Extension of Sitting on Monday 23 November 2020 under Standing Order 10(3A)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 10(3A), the sitting on Monday 23 November 2020 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. Committee Business (cont'd)

8.1 Motion: Negative Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Health and Social Care services, staff and patients; further recognises the impact on the physical and mental wellbeing of staff, patients and the public; acknowledges that restrictions are a consequence of the inability to suppress transmission rates; urges and encourages every member of the public to exercise individual responsibility by adhering to guidance, washing hands thoroughly and regularly, maintaining social distance and wearing face coverings; further acknowledges recent progress and commitments from the Minister of Health to increase testing and contact-tracing capacity; and calls on the Minister of Health to bring forward a robust, scaled-up Find, Test, Trace, Isolate and Support (FTTIS) strategy, based on international best practice, as part of a wider Executive strategy, to help avoid a cycle of lockdowns and the particular negative impacts on mental health and wellbeing.

Chairperson, Committee for Health

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

9. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 6.52pm.

 

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
23 November 2020

 

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 18 November 2020 to 23 November 2020

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

The Harbours (Grants and Loans Limit) Bill (NIA Bill 12/17-22)

3. Orders in Council

4. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Capacity and Capability in the Northern Ireland Civil Service Report (Northern Ireland Audit Office)

Probation Board for Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2019-20 (Department of Justice)

5. Assembly Reports

Report on the Pension Schemes Bill (NIA 62/17-22) (Committee for Communities)

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Eleventh Report of Session 2020 - 2021 (NIA 57/17-22) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Twelfth Report of Session 2020 - 2021 (NIA 61/17-22) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2020/258 The Killyvally Road, Garvagh (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Revised version) (Department for Infrastructure)

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

SR 2020/262 The Financial Assistance (Coronavirus) (No. 2) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Finance)

SR 2020/265 The Seagoe Industrial Estate, Craigavon (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2020/267 The Food Hygiene Rating Act (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

SR 2020/268 The Pesticides and Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

SR 2020/269 The Genetically Modified Organisms (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Agriculture, Environment of Rural Affairs)

SR 2020/271 The Mount Pleasant, Townhill Road, Portglenone (Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2020/272 The Organic Products Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

SR 2020/273 The A26 Crankill Road Central Reservation, Ballymena (Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2020/274 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 16) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

SR 2020/275 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Amendment No. 22) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

SR 2020/276 The Port Services (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2020/277 The Railways (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Infrastructure)

For information only

SR 2020/263 The Parking Places (Disabled Persons' Vehicles) (Amendment No. 3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2020/264 The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Dromore) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2020/266 The Roads (Speed Limit) (No. 4) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2020/270 The Parking Places (Disabled Persons' Vehicles) (Amendment No. 4) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Infrastructure)

Explanatory Memorandum for SR 2020/250 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 15) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

Explanatory Memorandum for SR 2020/253 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings) (Amendment No. 4) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

Explanatory Memorandum for SR 2020/256 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 15) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

COVID-19 Decisions (Minister of Health)

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

Republication and Extension of the Active Ageing Strategy 2016-2022 (Department for Communities)

10. Agency Publications

Correction Slip for the Capacity and Capability in the Northern Ireland Civil Service Report (Northern Ireland Audit Office)

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

PROXY VOTING NOTICES – MONDAY 23 NOVEMBER 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 23 November 2020:

Andy Allen

Gerry Kelly

Martina   Anderson

Liz Kimmins

Caoimhe Archibald

Naomi Long

Kellie   Armstrong

Gordon Lyons

Rosemary   Barton

Séan Lynch

Roy Beggs

Chris Lyttle

John Blair

Nichola   Mallon

Cathal Boylan

Declan   McAleer

Sinéad   Bradley

Fra McCann

Paula Bradley

Daniel   McCrossan

Jonathan   Buckley

Patsy McGlone

Pam Cameron

Colin McGrath

Pat Catney

Philip   McGuigan

Alan Chambers

Maolíosa   McHugh

Stewart   Dickson

Sinead   McLaughlin

Linda Dillon

Justin   McNulty

Diane Dodds

Andrew Muir

Jemma Dolan

Karen Mullan

Gordon Dunne

Conor Murphy

Mark Durkan

Mike Nesbitt

Alex Easton

Robin Newton

Sinéad 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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