Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Speaker's Business

Disabled People's Parliament 2021

The Speaker advised Members that the first Disabled People's Parliament had met on Friday 3 December and that it was not only the first on these islands but there was no record of any parliamentary institution ever having held a disabled persons' parliament. The Speaker noted that feedback from participants and their representatives had been very positive and commended all of those involved in making the event a success.

3. Members' Statements

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

Ms Carál Ní Chuilín
Mrs Pam Cameron
Mr Daniel McCrossan
Ms Ciara Ferguson
Mr Jonathan Buckley
Mr Mark Durkan
Ms Linda Dillon
Mr Christopher Stalford
Ms Sinéad Bradley

4 Public Petition

4.1 Fairness for Caravan Owners

Mr Jim Allister was granted leave, in accordance with Standing Order 22, to present a Public Petition on Fairness for Caravan Owners.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair.

5. Executive Committee Business

5.1 Further Consideration Stage: Criminal Justice (Committal Reform) Bill (NIA Bill 11/17-22)

The Minister of Justice, Mrs Naomi Long, moved the Further Consideration Stage of the Criminal Justice (Committal Reform) Bill (NIA Bill 11/17-22).

No amendments were tabled to the Bill.

The Criminal Justice (Committal Reform) Bill (NIA Bill 11/17-22) stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

5.2 Motion: The draft Smoke-Free (Private Vehicles) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021

Proposed:

That the draft Smoke-Free (Private Vehicles) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 be approved.

Minister of Health

Motion: The draft Nicotine Inhaling Products (Age of Sale and Proxy Purchasing) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021

Proposed:

That the draft Nicotine Inhaling Products (Age of Sale and Proxy Purchasing) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 be approved.

Minister of Health

Motion: The draft Tobacco Retailer (Fixed Penalty) (Amount) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021

Proposed:

That the draft Tobacco Retailer (Fixed Penalty) (Amount) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 be approved.

Minister of Health

A single debate ensued on all three motions.

The Question being put, the motion on the draft Smoke-Free (Private Vehicles) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 was carried.

The Question being put, the motion on the draft Nicotine Inhaling Products (Age of Sale and Proxy Purchasing) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 was carried.

The Question being put, the motion on the draft Tobacco Retailer (Fixed Penalty) (Amount) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 was carried.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair.

6. Private Members' Business

6.1 Second Stage: Hunting of Wild Mammals Bill (NIA Bill 43/17-22)

Mr John Blair moved the Second Stage of the Hunting of Wild Mammals Bill (NIA Bill 43/17-22).

Debate ensued.

The debate stood suspended for Question Time.
The Speaker took the Chair.

7. Question Time

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

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

7.2 Education
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Education, Miss Michelle McIlveen.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair.

8. Private Members' Business (cont'd)

8.1 Second Stage: Hunting of Wild Mammals Bill (NIA Bill 43/17-22) (cont'd)

Debate resumed.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair.

The Hunting of Wild Mammals Bill (NIA Bill 43/17-22) fell at Second Stage (Division).

9. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.
The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 5.31pm.

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker

6 December 2021

Northern Ireland Assembly

6 December 2021 - Division

Second Stage: Hunting of Wild Mammals Bill (NIA Bill 43/17-22)

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 38
Noes: 45

AYES
Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Ms Armstrong, Ms Bailey, Mrs Barton, Mr Beattie, Mr Blair, Ms P Bradley, Ms S Bradley, Ms Bradshaw, Ms Bunting, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Carroll, Mr Catney, Mr Chambers, Mr Dickson, Mr Durkan, Mr Easton, Ms Hunter, Mrs D Kelly, Mrs Long, Mr Lunn, Mr Lyttle, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McNulty, Mr Muir, Mr Nesbitt, Mr O'Toole, Mr Stalford, Mr Stewart, Ms Sugden, Mr Swann, Mr Weir, Mr Wells, Miss Woods.
Tellers for the Ayes: Ms Bradshaw, Mr Lyttle.

NOES
Mr Allister, Dr Archibald, Mr Boylan, Mr M Bradley, Ms Brogan, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Mr Clarke, Mr Delargy, Ms Dillon, Mrs Dodds, Ms Dolan, Mr Dunne, Ms Ennis, Ms Ferguson, Ms Flynn, Mr Frew, Mr Gildernew, Mr Givan, Ms Hargey, Mr Harvey, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kearney, Mr G Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mr Lyons, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Miss McIlveen, Mr Middleton, Ms A Murphy, Mr C Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr Poots, Miss Reilly, Mr Robinson, Ms Rogan, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Storey.
Tellers for the Noes: Mr Boylan, Mr Harvey.

The Hunting of Wild Mammals Bill (NIA Bill 43/17-22) fell at Second Stage.

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

Mr Blair voted for Mr Lunn.

Mrs S Bradley voted for Mr Catney.

Mr Buckley voted for Mr Allister.

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

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

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

Mr G Kelly voted for Dr Archibald, Mr Boylan [Teller, Noes], Ms Brogan, Mr Delargy, Ms Dillon, Ms Dolan, Ms Ennis, Ms Ferguson, Ms Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Ms Hargey, Mr Kearney, Ms Kimmins, Mr McAleer, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Ms A Murphy, Mr C Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Miss Reilly, Ms Rogan, Mr Sheehan and Ms Sheerin.

Mr McGrath voted for Mr McCrossan and Mr O'Toole.

Miss Woods voted for Ms Bailey.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 1 December 2021 to 6 December 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

Child Maintenance Service Annual Report on Decision Making 2020-2021 (Department for Communities)
Safefood Annual Report 2020 (Department of Health)
Competition and Markets Authority Annual Plan Consultation 2022/23 (Competition and Markets Authority)
Annual Report and Accounts 2020/21 for the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)
Assembly Members Pension Scheme (NI) 2016 Triennial Actuarial Valuation as at 31 March 2020 (Trustees of the Northern Ireland Assembly Members' Pension Scheme)
Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman Draft Statement of Complaint Handling Principles (Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman)
Commission for Victims and Survivors Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 31 March 2021 (The Executive Office)

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2021/319 The High Street (Coronavirus, Financial Assistance) Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for the Economy)
SR 2021/317 The State Pension Revaluation for Transitional Pensions Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Communities)
SR 2021/318 The State Pension Debits and Credits (Revaluation) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Communities)
SR 2021/321 The Spring Traps Approval (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)
SR 2021/322 The Health Protection (Coronavirus International Travel) (2021 Consolidation) (Amendment No. 11) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Health)

For information only
SR 2021/320 The Pensions (2005 Order) (Code of Practice) (Contribution Notices: Circumstances in Relation to the Material Detriment Test, the Employer Insolvency Test and the Employer Resources Test) (Appointed Day) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Communities)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Report from the Commission on Flags, Identity, Culture and Tradition (First Minister and deputy First Minister)

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

Ulster Supported Employment Limited Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 (Department for Communities)
DFI Roads Eastern Division Report to Belfast City Council Autumn 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)
DFI Roads Eastern Division Report to Belfast City Council Spring 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)
DFI Roads Eastern Division Report to Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council Autumn 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)
DFI Roads Eastern Division Report to Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council Spring 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

PROXY VOTING NOTICES – MONDAY 6 DECEMBER 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 6 December 2021:

*Jim Allister stipulated that he wished to avail of proxy voting arrangements for the Second Stage: Hunting of Wild Mammals Bill (NIA Bill 43/17-22) on 6 December 2021.

**Trevor Lunn stipulated that he wished to avail of proxy voting arrangements for the Second Stage: Hunting of Wild Mammals Bill (NIA Bill 43/17-22) on 6 December 2021.

***Jim Wells stipulated that he wished to rescind his proxy voting arrangements for the Second Stage: Hunting of Wild Mammals Bill (NIA Bill 43/17-22) on 6 December 2021.