Minutes of Proceedings
Session: Session currently unavailable
Date: 14 February 2023
The Assembly met at noon, the Acting Speaker, Mr Chambers, in the Chair.
1. Speaker's Business
Assembly proceedings
The Acting Speaker confirmed that the sitting had been convened following receipt of a valid notice (Appendix 1). The notice was signed by not less than 30 Members, in accordance with Standing Order 11.
2. Election of Speaker
The Acting Speaker outlined the procedure for the election of a Speaker under Standing Order 4.
Mr Doug Beattie nominated Mr Mike Nesbitt as a candidate for the Office of Speaker and Mr Robbie Butler seconded the nomination.
Mr Mike Nesbitt indicated his agreement to accept the nomination.
Mr Colin McGrath nominated Mr Patsy McGlone as a candidate for the Office of Speaker and Mr Matthew O'Toole 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 Speaker, the Acting Speaker informed the Assembly that the next item of business would be the adjournment.
3. Adjournment
Proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
The Speaker
The Assembly adjourned at 12.58pm.
Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
14 February 2023
Northern Ireland Assembly
14 February 2023 - Division 1
Question put, That Mr Mike Nesbitt be appointed as Speaker of this Assembly.
The Question was put and the Assembly divided.
Ayes: 25
Noes: 26
AYES
UNIONIST:
Mr Allen, Mr Beattie, Mr Butler, Mr Elliott, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Stewart, 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, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Middleton, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson.
Tellers for the Noes: Mrs Erskine, Mr Kingston.
The following Members voted in both Lobbies and are therefore not counted in the result: Mr Durkan, Ms Hunter, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McNulty, Mr O'Toole.
Total Votes 51 Total Ayes 25 [49.0%]
Nationalist Votes 0 Nationalist Ayes 0 [0.0%]
Unionist Votes 33 Unionist Ayes 7 [21.2%]
Other Votes 18 Other Ayes 18 [100.0%]
The Motion was negatived by cross-community vote.
Northern Ireland Assembly
14 February 2023 - Division 2
Question put, That Mr Patsy McGlone be appointed as Speaker of this Assembly.
The Question was put and the Assembly divided.
Ayes: 49
Noes: 28
AYES
NATIONALIST:
Dr Archibald, Mr Baker, Mr Boylan, Miss Brogan, Mr Delargy, Mr Durkan, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Ferguson, Mr Gildernew, Miss 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, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Ms O'Neill, Mr O'Toole, Ms Reilly, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin.
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, Mr McNulty.
NOES
UNIONIST:
Mr Allister, Mr Bradley, Mr Brett, Mr Brooks, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Middleton, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson, Mr Swann.
Tellers for the Noes: Mrs Erskine, Mr Kingston.
The following Members voted in both Lobbies and are therefore not counted in the result: Mr Beattie, Mr Butler, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Stewart.
Total Votes 77 Total Ayes 49 [63.6%]
Nationalist Votes 31 Nationalist Ayes 31 [100.0%]
Unionist Votes 28 Unionist Ayes 0 [0.0%]
Other Votes 18 Other Ayes 18 [100.0%]
The Motion was negatived by cross-community vote.
Appendix 1
Northern Ireland Assembly
Notice of an Earlier Meeting Under Standing Order 11
The undersigned Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly give notice to the Speaker, under Standing Order 11, that the Assembly should meet urgently to elect a Speaker and Deputy Speakers and to debate the following motion:
Commencement of section 1 of the Organ and Tissue Donation (Deemed Consent) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022
That this Assembly calls for the commencement of section 1 of the Organ and Tissue Donation (Deemed Consent) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022.
Dr Caoimhe Archibald Mr Gerry Kelly
Ms Kellie Armstrong Ms Liz Kimmins
Mr Danny Baker Mrs Naomi Long
Mr John Blair Mrs Cathy Mason
Mr Cathal Boylan Mr Nick Mathison
Ms Paula Bradshaw Mr Declan McAleer
Miss Nicola Brogan Mr Colin McGrath
Mr Patrick Brown Mr Philip McGuigan
Mr Gerry Carroll Mr Maolíosa McHugh
Mr Pádraig Delargy Mr Justin McNulty
Mr Stewart Dickson Mr Peter McReynolds
Mrs Linda Dillon Mr Andrew Muir
Miss Jemma Dolan Miss Áine Murphy
Mr Danny Donnelly Mr Conor Murphy
Ms Sorcha Eastwood Ms Carál Ní Chuilín
Ms Connie Egan Ms Kate Nicholl
Mrs Sinéad Ennis Mr John O'Dowd
Mrs Ciara Ferguson Dr Patricia O'Lynn
Miss Órlaithí Flynn Ms Michelle O'Neill
Mr Colm Gildernew Ms Aisling Reilly
Miss Deirdre Hargey Mr Pat Sheehan
Mr David Honeyford Ms Emma Sheerin
Mr Declan Kearney Mr Eoin Tennyson
Northern Ireland Assembly
Papers Presented to the Assembly on 8 December 2022 – 14 February 2023
1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly
2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly
3. Orders in Council
4. Statutory Rules
SR 2022/302 The Environmental Offences (Fixed Penalties) (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)
SR 2022/303 The Marine Protected Areas (Prohibited Methods of Fishing) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)
SR 2023/1 The Rates (Making and Levying of Different Rates) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 (Department of Finance)
SR 2023/2 The Housing Renovation etc. Grants (Grant Limit) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2023 (Department for Communities)
SR 2023/3 The Universal Credit (Administrative Earnings Threshold) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 (Department for Communities)
SR 2023/4 The Housing Benefit and Universal Credit Housing Costs (Executive Determinations) (Modification) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 (Department for Communities)
SR 2023/5 The Edible Crabs (Conservation) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)
SR 2023/6 The Packaging Waste (Data Reporting) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)
SR 2023/7 The Occupational Pension Schemes (Collective Money Purchase Schemes) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 (Department for Communities)
SR 2023/8 The Level Crossing (Cullybackey South) Order (Northern Ireland) 2023 (Department for Infrastructure)
SR 2023/9 The Level Crossing (Cullybackey North) Order (Northern Ireland) 2023 (Department for Infrastructure)
SR 2023/10 The Level Crossing (Cullybackey Station) Order (Northern Ireland) 2023 (Department for Infrastructure)
SR 2023/11 The Children's Court Guardian Agency for Northern Ireland (Establishment and Constitution) Order (Northern Ireland) 2023 (Department of Health)
SR 2023/12 The Adoption and Children (2022 Act) (Commencement No. 1) Order (Northern Ireland) 2023 (Department of Health)
SR 2023/13 The Guardians Ad Litem (Panel) (Revocation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 (Department of Health)
Draft SR 2023 No.0000 The Human Tissue (Permitted Material) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 (Department of Health)
For Information Only
SR 2023 No.14 (C. 2) The Organ and Tissue Donation (Deemed Consent) (2022 Act) (Commencement) Order (Northern Ireland) 2023 (Department of Health)
5. Legislative Consent Memorandums
6. Assembly Reports
7. Written Ministerial Statements
8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly
South Eastern Regional College Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2022 (Department for the Economy)
Land and Property Services – Trust Statement - Rate Levy Accruals Account Annual Report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March 2022 (Department of Finance)
Belfast Metropolitan College Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2022 (Department for the Economy)
Northern Regional College Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2022 (Department for the Economy)
North West Regional College Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2022 (Department for the Economy)
Commissioner for Older People Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 (Department for Communities)
Competition and Markets Authority Annual Plan consultation 2023-24 (Department for the Economy)
South West College Annual Report and Financial Statements Year Ended 31 July 2022 (Department for the Economy)
Census 2021 Main Statistics for Northern Ireland Phase 2 (NISRA)
NIEA Regulatory Fees and Charges 2022-2023 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)
Department for Infrastructure Council Roads Report (Department for Infrastructure)
Northern Ireland Police Fund Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 (Department of Justice)
Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland Annual Report 2021-2022 (Department of Health)
Rural Needs Annual Monitoring Report 1 April 2021 - 31 March 2022 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)
Commission for Victims and Survivors NI Annual Report & Accounts 2021/22 (The Executive Office)
CJINI Report on the Operation of Bail and Remand in Northern Ireland (Department of Justice)
Tourism Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2021 (Department for the Economy)
Report on the 2022 Review of the Public Service Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 (Department of Finance)
Education Authority Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 (Department of Education)
Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)
Maze Long Kesh Development Corporation (MLKDC) Annual Report and Accounts 2021/22 (The Executive Office)
Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service Trust Statement 2021-22 (Department of Justice)
Tourism Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 (Department for the Economy)
Victims and Survivors Service Annual Report and Accounts 1 March 2022 (The Executive Office)
Construction Industry Training Board NI Annual Report 2021-22 (Department for the Economy)
Arts Council of Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 31 March 2022 (Department for Communities)
9. Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly
Community Relations Council Annual Report and Accounts 2021-2022 (The Executive Office)
NI Screen Annual Report and Annual Accounts 2021-22 (Department for the Economy)
