Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at noon.

1. Notice of First Meeting

In accordance with Standing Order 2(1) the Clerk to the Assembly gave notice that the Assembly would meet, as required by section 31(4) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, in Parliament Buildings on Friday 13 May 2022 at 12.00pm.

The Speaker took the Chair.

2. Speaker's Business

The Speaker advised that on Saturday 12 May, he had received a letter from the Rt Hon Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP advising of his resignation as a Member for Lagan Valley with immediate effect, and that he had subsequently been informed by the Electoral Office that Emma Little-Pengelly had been returned to serve as a Member for that constituency.

3. Undertaking and Roll of Membership

The Speaker outlined the procedure for Members to take their seats in accordance with Standing Order 3(7). Members gave the undertaking, then signed the Roll and indicated a designation of identity.

The following members designated as Nationalist:

Dr Caoimhe Archibald, Mr Danny Baker, Mr Cathal Boylan, Miss Nicola Brogan, Mr Pádraig Delargy, Mrs Linda Dillon, Miss Jemma Dolan, Mr Mark Durkan, Mrs Sinéad Ennis, Mrs Ciara Ferguson, Miss Órlaithí Flynn, Mr Colm Gildernew, Miss Deirdre Hargey, Ms Cara Hunter, Mr Declan Kearney, Mr Gerry Kelly, Ms Liz Kimmins, Miss Cathy Mason, Mr Declan McAleer, Mr Daniel McCrossan, Mr Patsy McGlone, Mr Colin McGrath, Mr Philip McGuigan, Mr Maolíosa McHugh, Ms Sinead McLaughlin, Mr Justin McNulty, Miss Áine Murphy, Mr Conor Murphy, Ms Carál Ní Chuilín, Mr John O'Dowd, Ms Michelle O'Neill, Mr Matthew O'Toole, Miss Aisling Reilly, Mr Pat Sheehan, Ms Emma Sheerin.

The following Members designated as Unionist:

Dr Steve Aiken, Mr Andy Allen, Mr Jim Allister, Mr Doug Beattie, Mr Maurice Bradley, Mr Phillip Brett, Mr David Brooks, Mr Keith Buchanan, Mr Thomas Buchanan, Mr Jonathan Buckley, Ms Joanne Bunting, Mr Robbie Butler, Mrs Pam Cameron, Mr Alan Chambers, Mr Trevor Clarke, Mrs Diane Dodds, Mr Stephen Dunne, Mr Alex Easton, Mr Tom Elliott, Mrs Deborah Erskine, Ms Diane Forsythe, Mr Paul Frew, Mr Paul Givan, Mr Harry Harvey, Mr David Hilditch, Mr William Irwin, Mr Brian Kingston, Mrs Emma Little-Pengelly, Mr Gordon Lyons, Miss Michelle McIlveen, Mr Gary Middleton, Mr Mike Nesbitt, Mr Edwin Poots, Mr Alan Robinson, Mr John Stewart, Ms Claire Sugden, Mr Robin Swann.

The following Members designated as Other:

Ms Kellie Armstrong, Mr John Blair, Ms Paula Bradshaw, Mr Patrick Brown, Mr Gerry Carroll, Mr Stewart Dickson, Mr Danny Donnelly, Ms Sorcha Eastwood, Ms Connie Egan, Mr David Honeyford, Mrs Naomi Long, Mr Nick Mathison, Miss Nuala McAllister, Mr Peter McReynolds, Mr Andrew Muir, Ms Kate Nicholl, Dr Patricia O'Lynn, Mr Eóin Tennyson.

The sitting was suspended at 12.44pm.

The sitting resumed at 2.30pm, with the Speaker in the Chair.

4. Speaker's Business – Concluding Remarks

The Speaker made some brief remarks to mark the end of his term in office.

The Speaker confirmed that he was satisfied that all Members who had signed the Roll had taken their seats in accordance with Standing Orders.

5. Election of Speaker

The Speaker outlined the procedure for the election of a new Speaker under Standing Order 4.

Mr Doug Beattie nominated Mr Mike Nesbitt as a candidate for the Office of Speaker and Mr John Stewart seconded the nomination.

Mr Mike Nesbitt indicated his agreement to accept the nomination.

Mr Matthew O'Toole nominated Mr Patsy McGlone as a candidate for the Office of Speaker and Ms Sinead McLaughlin seconded the nomination.

Mr Patsy McGlone indicated his agreement to accept the nomination.

Debate ensued.

The Question being put that Mr Mike Nesbitt be Speaker of the Assembly, the Motion was negatived by cross-community vote (Division 1).

The Question being put that Mr Patsy McGlone be Speaker of the Assembly, the Motion was negatived by cross-community vote (Division 2).

There being no successful election of a new Speaker, the Speaker informed the Assembly that the next item of business would be the adjournment.

6. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 4.11pm.

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
13 May 2022

Northern Ireland Assembly

13 May 2022 - Division 1

Question put, That Mr Mike Nesbitt be appointed as Speaker of this Assembly.

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 28
Noes: 26

AYES

UNIONIST:

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

OTHER:

Ms Armstrong, Mr Blair, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Brown, Mr Carroll, Mr Dickson, Mr Donnelly, Ms Eastwood, Ms Egan, Mr Honeyford, Mrs Long, Miss McAllister, Mr McReynolds, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Ms Nicholl, Dr O'Lynn, Mr Tennyson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Butler, Mr Stewart.

NOES

UNIONIST:

Mr Allister, Mr Bradley, Mr Brett, Mr Brooks, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Ms Bunting, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Middleton, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr K Buchanan, Mrs Little-Pengelly

The following Members voted in both Lobbies and are therefore not counted in the result:
Ms Hunter, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McNulty, Mr O'Toole.

Total Votes                  54        Total Ayes              28    [51.9%]

Nationalist Votes           0        Nationalist Ayes       0    [0.0%]

Unionist Votes             36        Unionist Ayes         10    [27.8%]

Other Votes                  18        Other Ayes             18    [100.0%]

The motion was negatived by cross-community vote.

Northern Ireland Assembly

13 May 2022 - Division 2

Question put, That Mr Patsy McGlone be appointed as Speaker of this Assembly.

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 62
Noes: 25

AYES

NATIONALIST:

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

UNIONIST:

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

OTHER:

Ms Armstrong, Mr Blair, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Brown, Mr Carroll, Mr Dickson, Mr Donnelly, Ms Eastwood, Ms Egan, Mr Honeyford, Mrs Long, Miss McAllister, Mr McReynolds, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Ms Nicholl, Dr O'Lynn, Mr Tennyson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Ms Hunter, Ms McLaughlin.

NOES

UNIONIST:

Mr Allister, Mr Bradley, Mr Brett, Mr Brooks, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Ms Bunting, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Middleton, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr K Buchanan, Mrs-Little Pengelly

Total Votes                 87         Total Ayes             62      [71.3%]

Nationalist Votes        34         Nationalist Ayes    34      [100.0%]

Unionist Votes            35         Unionist Ayes        10      [28.6%]

Other Votes                18         Other Ayes            18      [100.0%]

The motion was negatived by cross-community vote.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 25 to 27 March 2022 and 13 May 2022.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

Financial Reporting (Departments and Public Bodies) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

Non-domestic Rates Valuations (Coronavirus) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

Organ and Tissue Donation (Deemed Consent) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

Social Security (Terminal Illness) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

Autism (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

Integrated Education Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

Protection from Stalking Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

Adoption and Children Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

Private Tenancies Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

School Age Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

Welfare Supplementary Payments (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

Fair Employment (School Teachers) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

Hospital Parking Charges Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

Period Products (Free Provision) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

Preservation of Documents (Historical Institutions) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

Domestic Abuse (Safe Leave) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

SR 2022/154 The Licensing (Notice Relating to Local Producer's Premises – Authorisation for On-Sales) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Communities)

SR 2022/161 The Children's Social Care (Consequential Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department of Health)

SR 2022/164 The Medical Profession (Responsible Officers) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department of Health)

SR 2022/165 The Social Fund (Child Funeral Fund) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Communities)

SR 2022/174 The Provision of Health Services to Persons Not Ordinarily Resident (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department of Health)

For Information Only

Approved version of SR 2021/272 The Occupational Pension Schemes (Administration, Investment and Charges and Governance) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

6. Assembly Reports

Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the COVID 19 Response (Ad Hoc Committee on the COVID 19 Response) (NIA 207/17-22)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Guidance on the Use of Face Coverings by Post Primary Pupils in Corridors and Communal Areas (Minister of Education)

Award of Contracts for Asphalt Resurfacing 2015: Independent Investigation Report (Minister for Infrastructure)

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Northern Advancing Shared Education 3rd Report to the NI Assembly (Department of Education)

Commissioner for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse Annual Report and Accounts 20-21 (The Executive Office)

Social Fund Annual Report 2020-21 (Department for Communities)

Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 (Victims and Survivors Service)

Weights and Measures Report for the period 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2020 (Department for the Economy)

9. Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Memorandum of Reply to the Public Accounts Committee Report - Addiction Services in Northern Ireland (Department of Finance)

Minute on COVID-19 Indemnity Arrangements Spring 2022/Summer 2022 (Department of Health)