Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Speaker's Business

Royal Assent

The Speaker advised Members that Royal Assent had been signified on 7 March 2022 to the Criminal Justice (Committal Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022.

3. Assembly Business

3.1 Consideration of business not concluded on Wednesday 2 March 2022

The Speaker informed the Assembly that all the business on the Order Paper for Wednesday 2 March 2022 had been considered. The Speaker moved on to the business scheduled on the Order Paper for Monday 7 March 2022.

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

Proposed:

That Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4) be suspended for 7 March 2022.

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 with cross-community support.

4. Executive Committee Business

4.1 Further Consideration Stage: Budget Bill (NIA Bill 55/17-22)

The Minister of Finance, Mr Conor Murphy, moved the Further Consideration Stage of the Budget Bill (NIA Bill 55/17-22).

No amendments were tabled to the Bill.

The Budget Bill (NIA Bill 55/17-22) stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

4.2 Motion: The Occupational Pension Schemes (Climate Change Governance and Reporting) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021

Proposed:

That the Occupational Pension Schemes (Climate Change Governance and Reporting) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 be approved.

Minister for Communities

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

4.3 Further Consideration Stage: Private Tenancies Bill (NIA Bill 32/17-22)

The Minister for Communities, Ms Deirdre Hargey, moved the Further Consideration Stage of the Private Tenancies Bill (NIA Bill 32/17-22).

Ten amendments were tabled to the Bill and selected for debate.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair.

After debate, Amendment 1 to Clause 7 was made without division.

As Amendment 1 was made, Amendment 2 was not called.

As Amendment 1 was made, Amendment 3 was not called.

After debate, Amendment 4 to Clause 7 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 5 to Clause 11 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 6 to Clause 11 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 7 to Clause 11 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 8 to Clause 11 was made without division.

As Amendment 1 was made, Amendment 9 was not called.

After debate, Amendment 10 to Clause 14 was made without division.

The Private Tenancies Bill (NIA Bill 32/17-22) stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

4.4 Final Stage: Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) Bill (NIA Bill 53/17-22)

The Minister for Infrastructure, Ms Nichola Mallon, moved the Final Stage of the Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) Bill (NIA Bill 53/17-22).

Debate ensued.

The Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) Bill (NIA Bill 53/17-22) passed final stage.

4.5 Motion: The draft Human Medicines (Coronavirus and Influenza) (Amendment) Regulations 2022

Proposed:

That the draft Human Medicines (Coronavirus and Influenza) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 be approved.

Minister of Health

Debate ensued.

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

5. Question Time

5.1 Communities

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Communities, Ms Deirdre Hargey.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair.

6. Executive Committee Business (cont'd)

6.1 Motion: The draft Human Medicines (Coronavirus and Influenza) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (cont'd)

Debate resumed.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

6.2 Motion: The draft Human Medicines (Amendments Relating to the Early Access to Medicines Scheme) Regulations 2022

Proposed:

That the draft Human Medicines (Amendments Relating to the Early Access to Medicines Scheme) Regulations 2022 be approved.

Minister of Health

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

6.3 Further Consideration Stage: Adoption and Children Bill (NIA Bill 37/17-22)

The Minister of Health, Mr Robin Swann moved the Further Consideration Stage of the Adoption and Children Bill (NIA Bill 37/17-22).

Five amendments were tabled to the Bill and selected for debate.

After debate, Amendment 1 to Clause 119 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 2 to Clause 122 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 3 to Clause 155 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 4 to Clause 158 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 5 to Clause 158 was made without division.

The Adoption and Children Bill (NIA Bill 37/17-22) stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

6.4 Further Consideration Stage: Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Bill (NIA Bill 29/17-22)

The Minister of Justice, Mrs Naomi Long, moved the Consideration Stage of the Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Bill (NIA Bill 29/17-22).

Forty-seven amendments were tabled to the Bill and selected for debate.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair.

Clauses

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

After debate, Amendment 2 to Clause 1 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 3 to Clause 1 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 4 to Clause 1 was made without division.

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

After debate, Amendment 6 to Clause 1 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 7 to Clause 1 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 8 to Clause 1 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 9 to Clause 1 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 10 to Clause 1 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 11 to Clause 1 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 12 inserting new clause 'Sending etc an unwanted sexual image' was made without division and it was agreed that the new clause stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 13 inserting new clause 'Amendments consequential on sections 1 and 1A' was made without division and it was agreed that the new clause stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 14 was not moved.

After debate, Amendment 15 was not moved.

As neither Amendment 14 or 15 was moved, Amendment 16 was not called.

As neither Amendment 14 or 15 was moved, Amendment 17 was not called.

As neither Amendment 14 or 15 was moved, Amendment 18 was not called.

After debate, Amendment 19 to Clause 3, was negatived without division.

After debate, Amendment 20 to Clause 3 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 21 to Clause 11 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 22 to Clause 11 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 23 to Clause 18 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 24 to Clause 18 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 25 to Clause 18 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 26 to Clause 18 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 27 to Clause 18 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 28 to Clause 18 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 29 to Clause 18 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 30 to Clause 18 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 31 to Clause 19 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 32 to Clause 19 was made without division.

As Amendment 32 was made, Amendment 33 was not called.

After debate, Amendment 34 to Clause 19 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 35 to Clause 21 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 36 to Clause 21 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 37 to Clause 21 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 38 to Clause 21 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 39 to Clause 21 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 40 to Clause 21 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 41 to Clause 21 was made without division.

Schedules

After debate, Amendment 42 to Schedule 1 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 43 to Schedule 1 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 44 to Schedule 1 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 45 to Schedule 1 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 46 to Schedule 1 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 47 to Schedule 1 was made without division.

The Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Bill (NIA Bill 29/17-22) stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

6.5 Legislative Consent Motion: Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

Proposed:

That this Assembly agrees in principle to the extension to Northern Ireland of the provisions in Chapter 3 of Part 2 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, in so far as they relate to Northern Ireland, and agrees that commencement of those provisions would be conditional on Assembly agreement to consider whether the Code of Practice, following the public consultation, complies with protected rights and requirements.

Minister of Justice

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

7. Committee Business

7.1 Motion: Committee for Finance and Northern Ireland Fiscal Council Reports on the 2022-25 Draft Budget

Proposed:

That this Assembly takes note of the Committee for Finance and the Northern Ireland Fiscal Council reports on the 2022-25 Draft Budget; and calls on the Minister of Finance to give due regard to their findings.

Chairperson, Committee for Finance

Debate ensued.

The Speaker took the Chair.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

8. Private Members' Business

8.1 Final Stage: Autism (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 31/17-22)

Mrs Pam Cameron, the Bill Sponsor, moved the Final Stage of the Autism (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 31/17-22).

Debate ensued.

The Autism (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 31/17-22) passed final stage.

9. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 9.13pm.

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
7 March 2022

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 3 March 2022 to 7 March 2022.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Criminal Justice (Committal Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

5. Assembly Reports

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Seventeenth Report of the Session 2021 – 2022 (NIA 194/17-22) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2022/78 The Licensing (Sample) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Communities)

SR 2022/79 The Licensing (Notice Relating to Restaurants and Guest Houses) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Communities)

SR 2022/80 The Rates (Coronavirus) (Emergency Relief) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department of Finance)

SR 2022/81 The Rates (Coronavirus) (Emergency Relief) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department of Finance)

SR 2022/82 The Public Service Pensions Revaluation Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department of Finance)

SR 2022/83 The Occupational Pension Schemes (Charges and Governance) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Communities)

SR 2022/84 The Social Security (Industrial Injuries) (Prescribed Diseases) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Communities)

Information Only

Approved version of SR 2022/24 The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Extension of Provisions Related to Courts, Tribunals and Inquests) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department of Justice)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

2021-22 Further Allocations (Minister of Finance)

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

Statutory Guidance on Abusive Behaviour in an Intimate or Family Relationship - Domestic Abuse Offence (Department of Justice)

Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No.40) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department of Education)

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

PROXY VOTING NOTICES – MONDAY 7 MARCH 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 7 March 2022:

*Sinéad Ennis stipulated that she wished to avail of proxy voting arrangements before 6:00pm on 7 March 2022.

**John O'Dowd stipulated that he wished to avail of proxy voting arrangements after 6:00pm on 7 March 2022.