Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Speaker's Business

2.1 Member Resignation

The Speaker informed Members that he had received a letter of resignation from Mr Edwin Poots as a Member of the Assembly for the Lagan Valley constituency, effective from 7 March 2022. Mr Poots' appointment as Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs automatically fell as a result of his resignation.

2.2 New Member

The Speaker informed Members of notification from the Chief Electoral Officer that Mr Edwin Poots had been returned as a Member for the South Belfast constituency, effective from 7 March 2022.

Mr Poots gave the undertaking, signed the Roll of Membership and entered his designation in the presence of the Speaker and the Clerk/Chief Executive on the afternoon of 7 March 2022.

2.3 Ministerial Appointment

The Speaker informed Members of notification from the nominating officer of the Democratic Unionist Party nominating Mr Edwin Poots to the post of Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

Mr Poots agreed to take up the post and affirmed the Pledge of Office as set out in schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, in the presence of the Speaker and that of the Clerk to the Assembly.

3. Assembly Business

3.1 Consideration of business not concluded on Monday 7 March 2022

The Speaker informed the Assembly that all the business on the Order Paper for Monday 7 March 2022 had been considered. The Speaker moved on to the business scheduled on the Order Paper for Tuesday 8 March 2022.

3.2 Oral Questions to the Minister for the Economy

The Speaker informed Members that the Minister for the Economy was unable to respond to questions for oral answer today, and that the Business Committee would reschedule the Economy Question Time slot when it meets later on Tuesday.

3.3 Motion: Suspension of Standing Order 20(1)

Proposed:

That Standing Order 20(1) be suspended for 8 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 Motion: The draft Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022

Proposed:

That the draft Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 be approved.

Minister of Finance

Debate ensued.

The question being put, the motion was carried.

4.2 Final Stage: Budget Bill (NIA Bill 55/17-22)

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

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair.

The Budget Bill (NIA Bill 55/17-22) passed final stage with cross-community support.

4.3 Final Stage: Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 36/17-22)

The Minister for Communities, Ms Deirdre Hargey, moved the Final Stage of the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 36/17-22).

Debate ensued.

The Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 36/17-22) passed final stage.

4.4 Further Consideration Stage: General Teaching Council (Directions) Bill (NIA Bill 53/17-22)

The Minister of Education, Miss Michelle McIlveen, moved the Further Consideration Stage of the General Teaching Council (Directions) Bill (NIA Bill 53/17-22).

No amendments were tabled to the Bill and selected for debate.

The General Teaching Council (Directions) Bill (NIA Bill 53/17-22) stood referred to the Speaker.

5. Committee Business

5.1 Motion: Challenges Experienced by Women in the Local Agricultural Sector

Proposed:

That this Assembly endorses the report of the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs on the challenges women experience in the local agriculture sector (NIA 180/17-22); recognises the practical, social and cultural barriers which women face in the industry; acknowledges the crucial and valuable role that women play in running farms and agri-businesses; and calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to put in place measures to support women in the sector, as has been done in other jurisdictions.

Chairperson, Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

6. Private Members' Business

6.1 Consideration Stage: Period Products (Free Provision) Bill (NIA Bill 39/17-22)

The sponsor of the Bill, Mr Pat Catney, moved the Consideration Stage of the Period Products (Free Provision) Bill (NIA Bill 39/17-22).

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

The debate stood suspended at 1.26pm and resumed at 2.00pm, the Speaker in the Chair.

Clauses

After debate, Amendment 1 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.

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

After debate, Amendment 3 to Clause 2 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 4 to Clause 2 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 5 to Clause 2 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 6 to Clause 2 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 7 to Clause 2 was made without division.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 2, as amended, stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 8 to Clause 3 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 9 to Clause 3 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 10 to Clause 3 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 11 to Clause 3 was made without division.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 3, as amended, stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 12 inserting new clause 'Reporting' was made without division and it was agreed that the new clause stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 13 to Clause 4 was made without division.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 4, as amended, stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 14 to Clause 5 was made without division.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 5, as amended, stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 6 stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 15 to Clause 7 was made without division.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 7, as amended, stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 16 to Clause 8 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 17 to Clause 8 was made without division.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 8, as amended, stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 18 to Clause 9 was made without division.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 9, as amended, stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 10 stand part of the Bill.

Long Title

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

The Period Products (Free Provision) Bill (NIA Bill 39/17-22) stood referred to the Speaker.

7. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 2.50pm.

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
8 March 2022

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 8 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

InterTradeIreland Annual Report and Accounts 2020 (Department for the Economy)

5. Assembly Reports

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Eighteenth Report of Session 2021 – 2022 (NIA 196/17-22) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2022/85 The Licensing (Notice Relating to Local Producer's Licence) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Communities)

SR 2022/86 The Social Security Revaluation of Earnings Factors Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Communities)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

PROXY VOTING NOTICES – TUESDAY 8 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 8 March 2022:

*Sinéad Ennis stipulated that she wished to avail of proxy voting arrangements before 5:00pm on 8 March 2022.

**John O'Dowd stipulated that he wished to avail of proxy voting arrangements after 5:00pm on 8 March 2022.