Minutes of Proceedings

Session: Session currently unavailable

Date: 22 March 2022

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Speaker's Business – End of Mandate

2.1 Royal Assent

The Speaker advised Members that Royal Assent had been signified on 21 March 2022 to the Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022.

2.2 End of Mandate

The Speaker made some remarks to mark the end of the Assembly mandate. Party representatives and other Members also spoke.

 

3. Public Petition

3.1 Keep the Firs Residential Care Home Open

Mr Colm Gildernew was granted leave, in accordance with Standing Order 22, to present a Public Petition to Keep the Firs Residential Care Home Open.

 

4. Assembly Business

4.1 Consideration of business not concluded on Monday 21 March 2022

The Speaker informed the Assembly that all the business on the Order Paper for Monday 21 March 2022 had been considered. The Speaker moved on to the business scheduled on the Order Paper for Tuesday 22 March 2022.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair.

4.2 Motion: Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland

Proposed:

That this Assembly, in accordance with section 65(1) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, nominates the individual outlined in the proposal laid in the Assembly Business Office by the Assembly Commission on 21 March 2022, as the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland.

Mr John O'Dowd
Mr Trevor Clarke
Mrs Dolores Kelly
Mr Robbie Butler
Mr John Blair

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

5. Executive Committee Business

5.1 Motion: The draft Police Act 1997 (Criminal Record Certificates: Relevant Matters) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022

Proposed:

That the draft Police Act 1997 (Criminal Record Certificates: Relevant Matters) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 be approved.

Minister of Justice

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

5.2 Motion: The draft Domestic Abuse Information-sharing with Schools etc. Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022

Proposed:

That the draft Domestic Abuse Information-sharing with Schools etc. Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 be approved.

Minister of Justice

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

5.3 Motion: The draft Rehabilitation of Offenders (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022

Proposed:

That the draft Rehabilitation of Offenders (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 be approved.

Minister of Justice

The motion was not moved.

5.4 Final Stage: Support for Mortgage Interest etc. (Security for Loans) Bill (NIA Bill 42/17-22)

The Minister for Communities, Ms Deirdre Hargey, moved the Final Stage of the Support for Mortgage Interest etc. (Security for Loans) Bill (NIA Bill 42/17-22).

Debate ensued.

The Support for Mortgage Interest etc. (Security for Loans) Bill (NIA Bill 42/17-22) passed Final Stage.

 

6. Committee Business

6.1 Motion: RHI Action Plan

Proposed:

That this Assembly takes note of the Executive's RHI Action Plan and the outcome of the RHI disciplinary process; indicates its disappointment in respect of the lack of accountability and the failure of the Northern Ireland Civil Service to demonstrate that it has learned lessons from RHI and the consequent damage to public confidence; and calls on the Minister of Finance to thoroughly review the RHI Action Plan and the relevant disciplinary procedures for senior civil servants in order to improve transparency and accountability and thus prevent recurrence.

Chairperson, Committee for Finance

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair.

The question being put, the motion was agreed.

6.2 Motion: Salary of the Comptroller and Auditor General

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Article 4(1) of the Audit (Northern Ireland) Order 1987, this Assembly determines that the salary payable to the holder of the office of Comptroller and Auditor General shall be as follows: in each year from 1st April 2017 until 31st March 2021, £150,041 (excluding employer costs); and from 1st April 2021, until such time as the Assembly makes a further determination, £154,527 (excluding employer costs).

Chairperson, Audit Committee

Debate ensued.

The question being put, the motion was agreed.

 

7. Private Members' Business

7.1 Motion: Suspension of Standing Order 42(1) - Defamation Bill

Proposed:

That Standing Order 42(1) be suspended in respect of the Final Stage of the Defamation Bill (NIA Bill 25/17-22).

Mr Mike Nesbitt
Mr Robbie Butler

Debate ensued.

The question being put, the motion was agreed with cross-community support.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair.

 

8. Question Time

8.1 Justice

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Justice, Mrs Naomi Long.

8.2 Economy

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

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair.

 

9. Private Members' Business (cont'd)

9.1 FinalStage: Defamation Bill (NIA Bill 25/17-22)

The sponsor of the Bill, Mr Mike Nesbitt, moved that the Final Stage of the Defamation Bill (NIA Bill 25/17-22).

Debate ensued.

The Defamation Bill (NIA Bill 25/17-22) passed Final Stage.

9.2 Motion: Suspension of Standing Order 42(1) - Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Bill

Proposed:

That Standing Order 42(1) be suspended in respect of the Final Stage of the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Bill (NIA Bill 35/17-22).

Ms Clare Bailey
Miss Rachel Woods

Debate ensued.

The question being put, the motion was negatived on a cross-community vote (Division).

9.3 FinalStage: Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Bill (NIA Bill 35/17-22)

As cross-community support to suspend Standing Order 42(1) for the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Bill (NIA Bill 35/17-22) was not granted, the Final Stage of the Bill was unable to proceed.

 

10. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 4.27pm.

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
22 March 2022

 

Northern Ireland Assembly

22 March 2022 - Division

Motion: Suspension of Standing Order 42(1) - Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Bill

Proposed:

That Standing Order 42(1) be suspended in respect of the Final Stage of the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Bill (NIA Bill 35/17-22).

Ms Clare Bailey
Miss Rachel Woods

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 59
Noes: 29

AYES

Nationalist:

Dr Archibald, Mr Boylan, Ms S Bradley, Ms Brogan, Mr Catney, Mr Delargy, Ms Dillon, Ms Dolan, Mr Durkan, Ms Ennis, Ms Ferguson, Ms Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Ms Hargey, Ms Hunter, Mr Kearney, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mr McAleer, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McNulty, Ms Mallon, Ms Á Murphy, Mr C Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr O'Toole, Miss Reilly, Ms Rogan, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin.

Unionist:

Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Mrs Barton, Mr Beattie, Mr Butler, Mr Chambers, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Stewart, Ms Sugden, Mr Swann.

Other:

Ms Armstrong, Ms Bailey, Mr Blair, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Carroll, Mr Dickson, Mrs Long, Mr Lunn, Mr Lyttle, Mr Muir, Miss Woods.

Tellers for the Ayes: Ms McLaughlin, Miss Woods.

NOES

Unionist:

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, Mrs Erskine, Mr Frew, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Middleton, Mr Newton, Mr Poots, Mr Rankin, Mr Robinson, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wells.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Allister, Mr Harvey.

Total Votes            88      Total Ayes             59   [67.0%]

Nationalist Votes   38      Nationalist Ayes    38   [100.0%]

Unionist Votes       39      Unionist Ayes        10   [25.6%]

Other Votes            11     Other Ayes             11   [100.0%]

The motion was negatived by cross-community vote.

 

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

Ms Bailey voted for Mr Carroll and Ms Sugden.

Mr O'Toole voted for Mrs Bradley, Mr Catney, Mr Durkan, Ms Hunter, Mrs Kelly, Ms Mallon, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGrath, Ms McLaughlin [Teller, Ayes] and Mr McNulty.

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

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

Mr Blair voted for Ms Armstrong, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Dickson, Mrs Long, Mr Lyttle and Mr Muir.

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

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 22 March 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

Court Custody: The Detention of Persons in the Custody of the Court in Northern Ireland Inspection Report (Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland)

Northern Ireland Non‐Domestic RHI Scheme: Progress on the Implementation of the Public Inquiry Recommendations Report (Northern Ireland Audit Office)

5. Assembly Reports

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees: Twenty-second Report of Session 2021 – 2022 (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2022/137 The Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Communities)

SR 2022/142 The Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Consequential Provision) Regulations 2022 (Department for Communities)

SR 2022/143 The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Communities)

SR 2022/144 The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Communities)

For information only

Approved version of SR 2021/261 The Pensions Regulator (Employer Resources Test) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Communities)

SR 2022/133 (C.15) The Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) (2021 Act) (Commencement No. 3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Communities)

SR 2022/135 The Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for the Economy)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

 

PROXY VOTING NOTICES – TUESDAY 22 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 Tuesday 22 March 2022:

Steve Aiken

William Humphrey

Andy Allen

Cara Hunter

Caoimhe   Archibald

William Irwin

Kellie   Armstrong

Declan   Kearney

Rosemary   Barton

Dolores Kelly

Doug Beattie

Gerry Kelly

Roy Beggs

Liz Kimmins

Cathal Boylan

Naomi Long

Maurice   Bradley

Gordon Lyons

Paula Bradley

Chris Lyttle

Sinéad   Bradley

Nichola   Mallon

Paula   Bradshaw

Declan   McAleer

Nicola Brogan

Daniel   McCrossan

Keith   Buchanan

Colin McGrath

Thomas   Buchanan

Philip   McGuigan

Jonathan   Buckley

Maolíosa   McHugh

Joanne   Bunting*

Michelle   McIlveen

Pam Cameron

Sinead McLaughlin

Gerry Carroll

Justin   McNulty

Pat Catney

Gary   Middleton

Alan Chambers

Andrew Muir

Trevor   Clarke**

Áine Murphy

Pádraig   Delargy

Conor Murphy

Stewart   Dickson

Mike Nesbitt

Linda Dillon

Robin Newton

Diane Dodds

Carál Ní   Chuilín

Jemma Dolan

Michelle   O’Neill

Stephen Dunne

Edwin Poots

Mark Durkan

Paul Rankin

Alex Easton

Aisling   Reilly

Sinéad Ennis

George   Robinson

Deborah   Erskine

Emma Rogan

Ciara   Ferguson

Pat Sheehan

Órlaithí   Flynn

Emma Sheerin

Paul Frew

John Stewart

Colm   Gildernew

Mervyn Storey

Paul Givan

Claire Sugden

Deirdre   Hargey

Robin Swann

Harry Harvey

Peter Weir

David   Hilditch

Jim Wells

*Joanne Bunting stipulated that she wished to avail of proxy voting arrangements between 5:45pm and 7:45pm on 22 March 2022.

**Trevor Clarke stipulated that he wished to avail of proxy voting arrangements for business outside the hours of 5:45pm and 7:45pm on 22 March 2022.

 

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