Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Ministerial Statement

2.1 British-Irish Council Indigenous and Minority Languages Sectoral meeting
The Minister for Communities, Ms Deirdre Hargey, made a statement regarding the recent British-Irish Council Indigenous and Minority Languages Sectoral meeting, following which she replied to questions.

3 Executive Committee Business

3.1 Motion: Accelerated Passage – Social Security (Terminal Illness) Bill (NIA Bill 47/17-22)

Proposed:
That the Social Security (Terminal Illness) Bill proceed under the accelerated passage procedure.

Minister for Communities

Debate ensued.

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

3.2 Second Stage: Social Security (Terminal Illness) Bill (NIA Bill 47/17-22)

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

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair.

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

3.3 Motion: The draft Direct Payments to Farmers (Simplifications) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022

Proposed:
That the draft Direct Payments to Farmers (Simplifications) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 be approved.

Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

3.4 Final Stage: Horse Racing (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 20/17-22)

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

Debate ensued.

The Horse Racing (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 20/17-22) passed Final Stage.

3.5 Consideration Stage: Financial Reporting (Departments and Public Bodies) Bill (NIA Bill 21/17-22)

The Minister of Finance, Mr Conor Murphy, moved the Consideration Stage of the Financial Reporting (Departments and Public Bodies) Bill (NIA Bill 21/17-22).

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

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

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

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 1, as amended, stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clauses 2 to 4 stand part of the Bill.

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

The Financial Reporting (Departments and Public Bodies) Bill (NIA Bill 21/17-22) stood referred to the Speaker.

The sitting was suspended at 1.02pm.
The sitting resumed at 2.00pm, with the Speaker in the Chair.

4. Question Time

4.1 Finance

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Finance, Mr Conor Murphy.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

4.2 Assembly Commission

Questions were put to, and answered by, Members of the Assembly Commission.

5. Executive Committee Business (cont'd)

5.1 Final Stage: Damages (Return on Investment) Bill (NIA Bill 16/17-22)

The Minister of Justice, Mrs Naomi Long, moved that the Final Stage of the Damages (Return on Investment) Bill (NIA Bill 16/17-22) do now pass.

Debate ensued.

The Damages (Return on Investment) Bill (NIA Bill 16/17-22) passed Final Stage.

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

The Minister of Health, Mr Robin Swann, moved that the Final Stage of the Health and Social Care Bill (NIA Bill 18/17-22) do now pass.

Debate ensued.

The Health and Social Care Bill (NIA Bill 18/17-22) passed Final Stage.

The Speaker took the Chair.

5.3 Legislative Consent Motion: Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill

Proposed:

That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension to Northern Ireland of the provisions of the Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill relating to the establishment of the Advanced Research and Invention Agency and powers for the Secretary of State to make grants to that body.

Minister for the Economy

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

6. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.
The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 4.55pm.

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
7 December 2021

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 7 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

UK Anti-Doping Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 (UK Anti-Doping Limited)

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2021/323 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel, Operator Liability and Information to Passengers) (Amendment No. 11) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Health)
SR 2021/000 Draft SR - The Grants to Water and Sewerage Undertakers Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Infrastructure)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

Independent Reporting Commission Fourth Report (Independent Reporting Commission)

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

Northern Ireland Assembly Legislation:

Stages in Consideration of Public Bills

First Stage: Introduction of Bill.
Second Stage: General debate of the Bill with an opportunity for Members to vote on its general principles.
Committee Stage (Comm. Stage): Detailed investigation by a Committee which concludes with the publication of a report for consideration by the Assembly.
Consideration Stage (CS): Consideration by the Assembly of, and an opportunity for Members to vote on, the details of the Bill including amendments proposed to the Bill.
Further Consideration Stage (FCS): Consideration by the Assembly of, and an opportunity for Members to vote on, further amendments to the Bill.
Final Stage: Passing or rejecting of Bill by the Assembly, without further amendment.
Royal Assent.

Proceedings as 7 December 2021

2017-2022 Mandate
Executive Bills

2017-2022 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills

/ Bills progressing by accelerated passage

PROXY VOTING NOTICES – TUESDAY 7 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 Tuesday 7 December 2021: