Minutes of Proceedings

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2.   Speaker’s Business

1,000th Plenary Sitting of the Assembly

The Speaker announced that the sitting would be the 1,000^th sitting of the Assembly since 1998 and wished to acknowledge all those who played their part in bringing the Assembly to that point. The Speaker offered his thanks to Members past and present for their public service, and to the many officials whose work had directly or indirectly supported Assembly business since 1998.

3.   Members’ Statements

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

Mr Maolíosa McHugh

Mr Gary Middleton

Ms Sinead McLaughlin

Ms Paula Bradshaw

Miss Rachel Woods

Mr Gerry Carroll

Mr Pádraig Delargy

Mr Paul Frew

Mr Matthew O’Toole

Mr Andrew Muir

Ms Liz Kimmins

4.   Ministerial Statement

4.1      COVID-19: Omicron Variant

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

         
The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair.

5.   Executive Committee Business

5.1     First Stage: Social Security (Terminal Illness) Bill (NIA Bill 47/17-22)

The Minister for Communities, Ms Deirdre Hargey, introduced a Bill to provide that special social security rules which apply where life expectancy is six months or less are instead to apply where life expectancy is 12 months or less.

The Social Security (Terminal Illness) Bill (NIA Bill 47/17-22) passed First Stage and was ordered to be printed.

5.2     Further Consideration Stage: Health and Social Care Bill (NIA Bill 18/17-22)

The Minister of Health, Mr Robin Swann, moved the Further Consideration Stage of the Health and Social Care Bill (NIA Bill 18/17-22).

No amendments were tabled to the Bill.

The Health and Social Care Bill (NIA Bill 18/17-22) stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with Section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

5.3     Further Consideration Stage: Damages (Return on Investment) Bill (NIA Bill 16/17-22)

The Minister of Justice, Mrs Naomi Long, moved the Further Consideration Stage of the Damages (Return on Investment) Bill (NIA Bill 16/17-22).

No amendments were tabled to the Bill.

The Damages (Return on Investment) Bill (NIA Bill 16/17-22) stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with Section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

5.4     Further Consideration Stage: Horse Racing (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 20/17-22)

The Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Mr Edwin Poots, moved the Further Consideration Stage of the Horse Racing (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 20/17-22).

No amendments were tabled to the Bill.

The Horse Racing (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 20/17-22) stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with Section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

The sitting was suspended at 1.34pm.

The sitting resumed at 1.38pm with the Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, in the Chair.

6    Committee Business

6.1     Motion:  Report of the Committee for Infrastructure Inquiry into the Decarbonisation of Road Transport in Northern Ireland

Proposed:

That this Assembly approves the Report of the Committee for Infrastructure on its Inquiry into
the Decarbonisation of Road Transport in Northern Ireland (NIA 136/17-22); and calls on the Minister for Infrastructure and her Executive colleagues to implement the recommendations contained in the Report.

Chairperson, Committee for Infrastructure

Debate ensued.

      
The debate stood suspended for Question Time.

The Speaker took the Chair.

7.   Question Time

7.1     The Executive Office

Questions were put to, and answered by, the First Minister, Mr Paul Givan.
 

7.2     Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Mr Edwin Poots.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair.

8.   Committee Business (cont’d)

8.1     Motion:  Report of the Committee for Infrastructure Inquiry into the Decarbonisation of Road Transport in Northern Ireland (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

9.   Assembly Business

9.1     Motion: Extension of Sitting on Monday 29 November 2021 under Standing Order 10(3A)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 10(3A), the sitting on Monday 29 November 2021 be extended to no later than 8:00pm.

Mr John O’Dowd
Ms Joanne Bunting
Mrs Dolores Kelly
Mr Robbie Butler
Mr Andrew Muir
Ms Clare Bailey

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

10.   Private Members’ Business

10.1   First Stage: Onshore Fracking (Prohibition) Bill (NIA Bill 48/17-22)

Ms Jemma Dolan introduced a Bill to prohibit onshore hydraulic fracturing.

The Onshore Fracking (Prohibition) Bill (NIA Bill 48/17-22) passed First Stage and was ordered to be printed.

10.2   Second Stage: Domestic Abuse (Safe Leave) Bill (NIA Bill 41/17-22)

Miss Rachel Woods moved Second Stage of the Domestic Abuse (Safe Leave) Bill (NIA Bill 41/17-22).

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair.

The Domestic Abuse (Safe Leave) Bill (NIA Bill 41/17-22) passed Second Stage.

11.   Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 6.20pm.
        

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
29 November 2021

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 24 November 2021 to 29 November 2021.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Social Security (Terminal Illness) Bill (NIA Bill 47/17-22)

Onshore Fracking (Prohibition) Bill (NIA Bill 48/17-22)

3.   Orders in Council

4.   Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service Investment Account - Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 (Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service)

Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman Report 2020-21 (Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman)

Legislative Consent Memorandum – Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill (Department for the Economy)
                      

5.   Assembly Reports

Correction slip for Committee for Infrastructure Report on its Inquiry into the Decarbonisation of Road Transport in Northern Ireland (NIA 136/17-22) (Committee for Infrastructure)

Report on a Complaint against Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA (NIA 142/17-22) (Committee on Standards and Privileges)

Report on a Complaint against Mr Jim Wells (NIA 143/17-22) (Committee on Standards and Privileges)

Report on the Integrated Education Bill (NIA 146/17-22) (Committee for Education)

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Sixth Report of Session 2021 – 2022 (NIA 147/17-22) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

6.   Statutory Rules

SR 2021/310 The Rockfield Park, Portaferry (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2021/311 The Magistrates’ Courts and County Court Appeals (Criminal Legal Aid) (Costs) (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Justice)

SR 2021/312 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (2021 Consolidation) (Amendment No. 9) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Health)

SR 2021/313 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (2021 Consolidation) (Amendment No. 10) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Health)

SR 2021/314 The Occupational Pensions (Revaluation) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Communities)

SR 2021/315 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Amendment No. 19) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Health)

SR 2021/316 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel, Operator Liability and Information to Passengers) (Amendment No. 10) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Health)

                       
For information only

SR 2021/304 The Insolvency Practitioners (Recognised Professional Bodies) (Revocation of Recognition) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for the Economy)

SR 2021/306 The Parking Places (Disabled Persons’ Vehicles) (Amendment No. 8) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2021/307 The Roads (Speed Limit) (No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2021/308 The Roads (Speed Limit) (No. 3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2021/309 The Road Races (Targa Rally) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)
                         

7.   Written Ministerial Statements

8.   Consultation Documents

9.   Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

PROXY VOTING NOTICES – MONDAY 29 NOVEMBER 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 29 November 2021: