Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Members' Statements

Under Standing Order 24A, the following Members made a statement to the Assembly;

Ms Órlaithí Flynn

Mrs Pam Cameron

Mr Mark Durkan

Mr Doug Beattie

Ms Paula Bradshaw

Miss Rachel Woods

Ms Linda Dillon

Mrs Deborah Erskine

Mr Mike Nesbitt

Ms Cara Hunter

Mr Jim Allister

Ms Jemma Dolan

The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair.

3. Ministerial Statement

3.1 January Monitoring

The Minister of Finance, Mr Conor Murphy, made a statement regarding January Monitoring, following which he replied to questions.

4. Executive Committee Business

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

Proposed:

That Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4) be suspended for 24 January 2022.

Minister of Finance

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

4.2 Consideration Stage: Non-domestic Rates Valuations (Coronavirus) Bill (NIA Bill 44/17-22)

The Minister of Finance, Mr Conor Murphy, moved the Consideration Stage of the Non-domestic Rates Valuations (Coronavirus) Bill (NIA Bill 44/17-22).

No amendments were tabled to the Bill.

Clauses

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clauses 1 and 2 stand part of the Bill.

Long Title

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

The Non-domestic Rates Valuations (Coronavirus)Bill NIA 44/17-22 stood referred to the Speaker.

4.3 Motion: The draft Grants to Water and Sewerage Undertakers Order (Northern Ireland) 2022

Proposed:

That the draft Grants to Water and Sewerage Undertakers Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 be approved.

Minister for Infrastructure

Debate ensued.

The debate stood suspended for Question Time.

The Speaker took the chair.

5. Question Time

5.1 The 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.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair.

5.2 Economy

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for the Economy, Mr Gordon Lyons.

The Speaker took the Chair.

6. Executive Committee Business (cont'd)

6.1 Motion: The draft Grants to Water and Sewerage Undertakers Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 (cont'd)

Debate resumed.

The question being put, the motion was carried.

6.2 Consideration Stage: Organ and Tissue Donation (Deemed Consent) Bill (NIA Bill 30/17-22)

The Minister of Health, Mr Robin Swann, moved the Consideration Stage of the Organ and Tissue Donation (Deemed Consent) Bill (NIA Bill 30/17-22).

No amendments were tabled to the Bill.

Clauses

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clauses 1 and 2 stand part of the Bill.

Long Title

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

The Organ and Tissue Donation (Deemed Consent) Bill (NIA 30/17-22) stood referred to the Speaker.

6.3 Further Consideration Stage: Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Bill (NIA Bill 22/17-22)

The Minister for the Economy, Mr Gordon Lyons, moved the Further Consideration Stage of the Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Bill (NIA Bill 22/17-22).

Twenty-five amendments were tabled to the Bill and selected for debate.

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

After debate, Amendment 2 to Clause 2 was not moved.

After debate, Amendment 3 to Clause 2 was made without division.

As Amendment 3 was made, Amendment 4 was not called.

After debate, Amendment 5 to Clause 2 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 6 to Clause 2 was made without division.

As Amendment 6 was made, Amendment 7 was not called.

After debate, Amendment 8 to Clause 2 was made without division.

As Amendment 2 was not moved and Amendment 4 was not called, Amendment 9 was not called.

Amendment 10 to Clause 2 was not moved.

After debate, Amendment 11 to Clause 2 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 12 to Clause 2 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 13 to Clause 2 was made without division.

As Amendment 13 was made, Amendment 14 was not called.

After debate, Amendment 15 to Clause 2 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 16 to Clause 2 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 17 to Clause 2 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 18 inserting new clause 'Temporary provision for qualifying employment period for parental bereavement pay' was not moved.

After debate, Amendment 19 inserting new clause 'Temporary provision: qualifying employment period for paternal pay' was made without division and added to the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 21, as an amendment to Amendment 20, was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 20, as amended, to Clause 4, was made without division.

As Amendment 20 was made, Amendment 22 was not called.

After debate, Amendment 23 to the Schedule was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 24 to the Schedule was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 25 to the Long Title was made without division.

The Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Bill (NIA 22/17-22) stood referred to the Speaker in accordance with Section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

6.4 Final Stage: Social Security (Terminal Illness) Bill (NIA Bill 47/17-22)

The Minister for Communities, Ms Deirdre Hargey, moved that the Final Stage of the Social Security (Terminal Illness) Bill (NIA Bill 47/17-22) do now pass.

Debate ensued.

The Social Security (Terminal Illness) Bill (NIA Bill 47/17-22) passed Final Stage.

6.5 Final Stage: Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Bill (NIA Bill 45/17-22)

The Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Mr Edwin Poots, moved that the Final Stage of the Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Bill (NIA Bill 45/17-22) do now pass.

Debate ensued.

The Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Bill (NIA Bill 45/17-22) passed Final Stage.

6.6 Legislative Consent Motion: Pension Schemes (Conversion of Guaranteed Minimum Pensions) 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 Pension Schemes (Conversion of Guaranteed Minimum Pensions) Bill relating to the conversion of Guaranteed Minimum Pensions as contained in clause 2 of the Bill, which was introduced in the House of Commons on 16 June 2021.

Minister for Communities

Debate ensued.

The question being put, the motion was carried.

7. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 5.55pm.

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
24 January 2022

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 20 January 2022 to 24 January 2022.

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

Legislative Consent Memorandum - The Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Bill (Department of Finance)

5. Assembly Reports

Report on the Climate Change (No.2) Bill (NIA 138/17-22) (Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Ninth Report of Session 2021 – 2022 (NIA 163/17-22) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2022/000 Draft SR – The Single Use Carrier Bags Charge (Amendment and Revocation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

SR 2022/00 Draft SR - The Welfare Supplementary Payment (Extension) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Communities)

SR 2022/09 The Mines (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for the Economy)

SR 2022/11 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department of Health)

SR 2022/12 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department of Health)

SR 2022/13 The Rates (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department of Finance)

For information only

SR 2022/10 (C.1) The Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (2016 Act) Commencement No. 3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department of Health)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Historical Institutional Abuse Public Apology (First Minister and deputy First Minister)

2021-22 January Monitoring (Minister of Finance)

Decisions of the Executive on COVID-19, 20 January 2022 (First Minister and deputy First Minister)

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

Council Roads Report - Derry and Strabane Autumn Report 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

Council Roads Report - Fermanagh and Omagh Autumn Report 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

Council Roads Report - Mid Ulster Autumn Report 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

PROXY VOTING NOTICES – MONDAY 24 JANUARY 2022

The following Members notified the Speaker, under Standing Order 112, that they wished to avail of proxy voting arrangements for the sitting on Monday 24 January 2022: