Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at 10.30am, the Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, in the Chair.

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Speaker's Business

Ministerial Resignations and Appointments

The Deputy Speaker informed Members that the Speaker's Office had received notification of the resignation of Mr Paul Frew as Minister for the Economy with effect from 9.30am on Tuesday 6 July 2021. The Speaker further informed Members that Mr Jeffrey Donaldson, the nominating Officer for the Democratic Unionist Party, nominated Mr Gordon Lyons as Minister for the Economy, and that Mr Lyons accepted the nomination and affirmed the Pledge of Office in the presence of the Principal Deputy Speaker and that of the Chief Executive at 10.15am on Tuesday 6 July 2021.

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Statement: British Irish Council Summit Meeting

The deputy First Minister, Mrs Michelle O'Neill, made a statement regarding the recent British Irish Council Summit Meeting, following which she replied to questions.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

3.2 Statement: North South Ministerial Council Education Sectoral Meeting

The Minister of Education, Miss Michelle McIlveen, made a statement regarding the recent North South Ministerial Council Education Sector Meeting, following which she replied to questions.

3.3 First Stage: Private Tenancies Bill (NIA Bill 32/17-22)

The Minister for Communities, Ms Deirdre Hargey, introduced a Bill to amend the law relating to private tenancies.

The Private Tenancies Bill (NIA Bill 32/17-22) passed First Stage and was ordered to be printed.

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

The Minister for Communities, Ms Deirdre Hargey, moved that the Final Stage of the Local Government (Meetings and Performance) Bill (NIA Bill 26/17-22) do now pass.

Debate ensued.

The Local Government (Meetings and Performance) Bill (NIA Bill 26/17-22) passed Final Stage.

4. Committee Business

4.1 Motion: Extension of Committee Stage - Financial Reporting (Departments and Public Bodies) Bill (NIA Bill 21/17-22)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 17 December 2021, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Financial Reporting (Departments and Public Bodies) Bill.

Chairperson, Committee for Finance

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

4.2 Motion: Support for the Taxi Sector

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes with concern the falling number of taxi drivers in the industry and the impact this will have on post-COVID-19 economic recovery; recognises the impact that the delay in reviewing fare structures has had in exacerbating this decline; and calls on the Minister for Infrastructure to implement measures to address the fall in driver numbers, to expedite the review of fare structures, to work with her Executive colleagues to identify a suite of measures that can be initiated to make the sector more attractive to new entrants, and to review her decision not to issue sector-specific support to operators.

Chairperson, Committee for Infrastructure

Amendment:

Leave out all after the first 'fare structures' and insert:

'and the complexity of taxi driver testing have had in exacerbating this decline; and calls on the Minister for Infrastructure to implement measures to address the fall in driver numbers, to expedite the review of fare structures and to work with her Executive colleagues to identify a suite of measures that can be initiated to make the sector more attractive to new entrants, including a review of sector-specific support to operators.'

Chairperson, Committee for Infrastructure

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair

The Question being put, the amendment was made.

The Question being put, the motion as amended was carried.

5. Private Members' Business

5.1 First Stage: Small-Scale Green Energy Bill (NIA Bill 33/17-22)

Mr John O'Dowd introduced a bill to make provision for the establishment of a scheme to promote the micro-generation of renewable electricity; and for connected purposes.

The Small-Scale Green Energy Bill (NIA Bill 33/17-22) passed First Stage and was ordered to be printed.

5.2 First Stage: Political Appointments Bill (NIA Bill 34/17-22)

Mr Jim Allister introduced a bill to amend the law on public appointments in Northern Ireland and amend the Commissioner for Public Appointments (Northern Ireland) Order 1995.

The Political Appointments Bill (NIA Bill 34/17-22) passed First Stage and was ordered to be printed.

5.3 Second Stage: Integrated Education Bill (NIA Bill 23/17-22)

Ms Kellie Armstrong moved the Second Stage of the Integrated Education Bill (NIA Bill 23/17-22).

Debate ensued.

The debate was suspended for Question Time.

6. Question Time

6.1 Infrastructure

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Infrastructure, Ms Nichola Mallon.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair

7. Private Members' Business (cont'd)

7.1 Second Stage: Integrated Education Bill (NIA Bill 23/17-22) (cont'd)

Debate resumed.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair

The sitting was suspended at 4.29pm.
The sitting resumed at 4.47pm

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair

The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair

The Integrated Education Bill (NIA Bill 23/17-22) passed Second Stage (Division).

8. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 8.27pm.

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
6 July 2021

Northern Ireland Assembly

6 July 2021 - Division

Second Stage: Integrated Education Bill (NIA Bill 23/17-22)

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 56
Noes: 27

AYES

Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Ms Anderson, Dr Archibald, Ms Armstrong, Ms Bailey, Mrs Barton, Mr Blair, Mr Boylan, Ms S Bradley, Ms Bradshaw, Ms Brogan, Mr Butler, Mr Carroll, Mr Catney, Mr Chambers, Mr Dickson, Ms Dillon, Ms Dolan, Mr Durkan, Ms Ennis, Ms Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Ms Hargey, Ms Hunter, Mr Kearney, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mrs Long, Mr Lyttle, Mr McAleer, Mr McCann, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McNulty, Ms Mallon, Mr Muir, Ms Mullan, Ms Á Murphy, Mr C Murphy, Mr Nesbitt, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr O'Toole, Ms Rogan, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Stewart, Ms Sugden, Mr Swann, Miss Woods.

Tellers for the Ayes: Ms Bailey, Mr Lyttle.

NOES

Mr Allister, Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Frew, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Middleton, Mr Newton, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson, Mr Stalford, Mr Storey, Mr Weir.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Harvey, Mr Weir.

The Integrated Education Bill (NIA Bill 23/17-22) passed Second Stage.

The following Members' votes were cast by their notified proxy in this division:

Ms Armstrong voted for Mr Blair, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Dickson, Mrs Long, Mr Lyttle [Teller, Ayes] and Mr Muir.

Mr Humphrey voted for Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Frew, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey [Teller, Noes], Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Middleton, Mr Newton, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson, Mr Stalford, Mr Storey and Mr Weir [Teller, Noes].

Mr Butler voted for Mr Aiken, Mr Allen, Mrs Barton, Mr Chambers, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Stewart and Mr Swann.

Mr O'Dowd voted for Ms Anderson, Dr Archibald, Mr Boylan, Ms Brogan, Ms Dillon, Ms Dolan, Ms Ennis, Ms Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Ms Hargey, Mr Kearney, Mr G Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mr McAleer, Mr McCann, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Ms Mullan, Ms A Murphy, Mr C Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mrs O'Neill, Ms Rogan, Mr Sheehan and Ms Sheerin.

Mr O'Toole voted for Ms S Bradley, Mr Catney, Mr Durkan, Ms Hunter, Mrs D Kelly, Ms Mallon, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGrath, Ms McLaughlin and Mr McNulty.

Ms Bailey [Teller, Ayes] voted for Ms Sugden and Miss Woods.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 6 July 2021

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Private Tenancies Bill (NIA Bill 32/17-22)

Small-Scale Green Energy Bill (NIA Bill 33/17-22)

Political Appointments Bill (NIA Bill 34/17-22)

3. Orders in Council

4. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Forensic Science Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2020/21 (Department of Justice)

Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation 2020-21 Annual Report and Accounts (Department of Finance)

HSC Southern Health and Social Care Trust (SHSCT) Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 (Department of Health)

BBC Group Annual Report and Accounts 2020/21 (BBC Northern Ireland)

Western Health and Social Care Trust Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 (Department of Health)

Northern Ireland Assembly Commission Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 (Department of Finance)

Northern Ireland Environment Agency Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

5. Assembly Reports

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Forty-fifth Report of Session 2020 – 2021 (NIA 116/17-22) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

6. Statutory Rules

Explanatory Memorandum for SR 2021/189 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel and Operator Liability and Information to Passengers) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Health)

Affirmed Version of SR 2021 161 The Sea Fish Industry (Coronavirus) (Fixed Costs) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Introduction of the Adoption and Children Bill into the Assembly (Minister of Health)

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

Northern Ireland Assembly Legislation:

Stages in Consideration of Public Bills

First Stage: Introduction of Bill.

Second Stage: General debate of the Bill with an opportunity for Members to vote on its general principles.

Committee Stage (Comm. Stage): Detailed investigation by a Committee which concludes with the publication of a report for consideration by the Assembly.

Consideration Stage (CS): Consideration by the Assembly of, and an opportunity for Members to vote on, the details of the Bill including amendments proposed to the Bill.

Further Consideration Stage (FCS): Consideration by the Assembly of, and an opportunity for Members to vote on, further amendments to the Bill.

Final Stage: Passing or rejecting of Bill by the Assembly, without further amendment.

Royal Assent.

Proceedings as 6 July 2021

2017-2022 Mandate
Executive Bills              

2017-2022 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills                

/ Bills progressing by accelerated passage

PROXY VOTING NOTICES – TUESDAY 6 JULY 2021

The following Members notified the Speaker, under Standing Order 112, that they wished to avail of proxy voting arrangements for the sitting on Tuesday 6 July 2021: