Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at noon, the Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, in the Chair.

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Speaker's Business

New Member

The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, informed Members of notification from the Chief Electoral Officer that Mr Stephen Dunne had been returned as a Member for the North Down constituency.

Mr Dunne gave the undertaking, signed the Roll of Membership and entered his designation in the presence of the Principal Deputy Speaker and the Clerk/Chief Executive on the morning of 28 June 2021.

3. Matter of the Day

3.1 Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman's Report: Personal Independence Payments and the Value of Further Evidence

Mr Gerry Carroll, under Standing Order 24, made a statement on the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman's Report: Personal Independence Payments and the Value of Further Evidence. Other Members were also called to speak on the matter.

4. Public Petitions

4.1 Animal Cruelty Register

Mrs Dolores Kelly was granted leave, in accordance with Standing Order 22, to present a Public Petition on the Animal Cruelty Register.

4.2 Acute Mental Health facility in Omagh

Ms Nicola Brogan was granted leave, in accordance with Standing Order 22, to present a Public Petition on an Acute Mental Health facility in Omagh.

The sitting was suspended at 12.40pm.
The sitting resumed at 12.45pm.

5. Executive Committee Business

5.1 Statement: 2020-21 Provisional Outturn and 2021-22 June Monitoring

The Minister of Finance, Mr Conor Murphy, made a statement regarding the 2020-21 Provisional Outturn and 2021-22 June Monitoring, following which he replied to questions.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair.

5.2 Statement: North South Ministerial Council Health and Food Safety Sectoral Meeting

The Minister of Health, Mr Robin Swann, made a statement regarding the North South Ministerial Council Health and Food Safety Sectoral Meeting, following which he replied to questions.

5.3 Consideration Stage: Local Government (Meetings and Performance) Bill (NIA Bill 26/17-22)

The Minister for Communities, Ms Deirdre Hargey, moved the Consideration Stage of the Local Government (Meetings and Performance) Bill.

One amendment was tabled to the Bill and selected for debate.

Debate ensued.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 1 stand part of the Bill.

The debate was suspended for Question Time.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair.

6. Question Time

6.1 Executive Office

Questions were put to, and answered by, the deputy First Minister, Mrs Michelle O'Neill. The junior Minister, Mr Declan Kearney, also answered a number of questions.

6.2 Economy

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for the Economy, Mr Paul Frew.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the chair.

7. Executive Committee Business (cont'd)

7.1 Consideration Stage: Local Government (Meetings and Performance) Bill (NIA Bill 26/17-22 (cont'd)

Debate resumed.

After debate, the question that Clause 2 stand part of the Bill was negatived without division.

After debate, the question that Clause 3 stand part of the Bill was negatived without division.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 4 stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 1 to Clause 5 was made without division.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 5, as amended, stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 6 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 7 stand part of the Bill.

Long Title

The question being put, the Long Title was agreed without division.

NIA Bill 26/17-22 stood referred to the Speaker.

7.2 Legislative Consent Motion: The Compensation (London Capital & Finance plc and Fraud Compensation Fund) Bill

Proposed:

That this Assembly agrees, in line with section 87 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, the principle of the extension to Northern Ireland of the provisions of the Compensation (London Capital & Finance plc and Fraud Compensation Fund) Bill relating to the Fraud Compensation Fund as contained in Clause 2 of the Bill, which was introduced in the House of Commons on 12 May 2021.

Minister for Communities

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

7.3 Motion: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Amendment No. 6) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021

Proposed:

That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Amendment No. 6) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 be approved.

Minister of Health

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

8. Committee Business

8.1 Motion: Extension of Committee Stage: The Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Bill (NIA Bill 22/17-22)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 15 November 2021, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Bill.

Chairperson, Committee for the Economy

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

9. Private Members' Business

9.1 Motion: Damp and Mould in Housing Executive Properties

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the serious issue of damp and mould existing in many Northern Ireland Housing Executive properties; expresses concern that this poses a substantive risk to the health and wellbeing of tenants and is a contributor to fuel poverty; highlights the need to examine the causes of damp and mould and identify viable solutions to resolve these issues; notes that particular consideration should be given to property cavity wall insulation; notes with regret the inability of the Housing Executive to address the situation thus far; and calls on the Minister for Communities to take firm action, finally, to resolve the issue of damp and mould within the current Housing Executive stock as a matter of urgency.

Mr Alex Easton
Ms Paula Bradley
Mrs Pam Cameron
Ms Joanne Bunting

Debate ensued.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

10. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 6.07pm.

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
28 June 2021

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 23 June 2021 to 28 June 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

Professional Standards Authority for Health & Social Care Annual Report and Accounts 2020/21 (Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care)

Professional Standards Authority for Health & Social Care: Business Plan 2021/22 (Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care)

Investigation Report into Personal Independence Payment (Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman)

Police Rehabilitation and Retraining Trust (PRRT) Annual Report and Accounts for Year Ended 31 March 2021 (Police Rehabilitation and Retraining Trust)

Progress in Adapting to Climate Change – 2021 Report to Parliament (Climate Change Committee)

Progress in Reducing Emissions – 2021 Report to Parliament (Climate Change Committee)

Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 31 March 2021 (Department of Finance)

Code of Practice issued under section 195T of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, Search, Seizure and Detention of Property (Northern Ireland) (Department of Justice)

Code of Practice issued under section 293A of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, Recovery of Cash: Search Powers (Northern Ireland) (Department of Justice)

Code of Practice issued under section 377ZA of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, Investigations (Northern Ireland) (Department of Justice)

Code of Practice issued under section 303I of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, Recovery of Listed Assets: Search Powers (Northern Ireland) (Department of Justice)

5. Assembly Reports

Report on Members' Statements (NIA 109/17-22) (Committee on Procedures)

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2021/173 The Disclosure of Victims' and Witnesses' Information (Prescribed Bodies) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Justice)

SR 2021/181 The Direct Payments to Farmers (Controls and Checks) (Coronavirus) Regulations (Northern Ireland) (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

SR 2021/182 The Waste (Fees and Charges) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

SR 2021/183 The Criminal Justice (Sentencing) (Licence Conditions) (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Rules 2021 (Department of Justice)

SR 2021/185 The Business Tenancies (Coronavirus) (Restriction on Forfeiture Relevant Period) (Northern Ireland) (No. 2) Regulations 2021 (Department of Finance)

SR 2021/184 The Water and Sewerage Services (Electronic Communications) Order 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

For information only

SR 2021/168 The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Search, Seizure and Detention of Property: Code of Practice) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Justice)

SR 2021/169 The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Cash Searches: Code of Practice) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Justice)

SR 2021/170 The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Investigations: Code of Practice) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Justice)

SR 2021/171 The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Recovery of Listed Assets: Code of Practice) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Justice)

SR 2021/175 The Road Races (Garron Point Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2021/176 The Waiting Restrictions (Newtownhamilton) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2021/177 The Parking Places on Roads and Waiting Restrictions (Cookstown) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2021/178 The Parking Places (Disabled Persons' Vehicles) (Amendment No. 6) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2021/179 The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Ballynahinch) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2021/180 The One-Way Traffic (Belfast) (Amendment No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

Approved version of 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)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

2020-21 Provisional Outturn and 2021-22 June Monitoring (Minister of Finance)

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

COVID-19 Vulnerable Children and Young People's Plan Consultation Analysis Report (Department of Health)

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

PROXY VOTING NOTICES – MONDAY 28 JUNE 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 28 June 2021: