Minutes of Proceedings
Session: Session currently unavailable
Date: 03 August 2022
The Assembly met at noon, the Acting Speaker, Mr Chambers, in the Chair.
1. Speaker's Business
Assembly proceedings
The Acting Speaker advised the Assembly that the Speaker had received correspondence from Mr Roy Beggs tendering his resignation as Deputy Speaker effective from 1 June 2022.
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 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 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 1.29pm.
Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
3 August 2022
Northern Ireland Assembly
3 August 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: 18
Noes: 21
AYES
UNIONIST:
Dr Aiken, Mr Beattie, Mr Butler, Mr Nesbitt.
OTHER:
Ms Armstrong, Mr Blair, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Brown, Mr Carroll, Mr Dickson, Mr Donnelly, Ms Eastwood, Mr Honeyford, Miss McAllister, Mr McReynolds, Mr Muir, Ms Nicholl, Mr Tennyson.
Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Butler, Dr Aiken.
NOES
UNIONIST:
Mr Allister, Mr Bradley, Mr Brett, Mr Brooks, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mrs Cameron, Mr Dunne, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Middleton, Mr Poots.
Tellers for the Noes: Mr K Buchanan, Mr Bradley.
The following Members voted in both Lobbies and are therefore not counted in the result: Mr Durkan, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McNulty, Mr O'Toole.
Total Votes 39 Total Ayes 18 [46.2%]
Nationalist Votes 0 Nationalist Ayes 0 [0.0%]
Unionist Votes 25 Unionist Ayes 4 [16.0%]
Other Votes 14 Other Ayes 14 [100.0%]
The motion was negatived by cross-community vote.
Northern Ireland Assembly
3 August 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: 39
Noes: 21
AYES
NATIONALIST:
Dr Archibald, Mr Boylan, Miss Brogan, Mr Delargy, Mrs Dillon, Miss Dolan, Mr Durkan, Mrs Ferguson, Miss Flynn, Miss Hargey, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Mrs Mason, Mr McAleer, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McNulty, Miss Á Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Ms O'Neill, Mr O'Toole.
OTHER:
Ms Armstrong, Mr Blair, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Brown, Mr Carroll, Mr Dickson, Mr Donnelly, Ms Eastwood, Mr Honeyford, Miss McAllister, Mr McReynolds, Mr Muir, Ms Nicholl, Mr Tennyson.
Tellers for the Ayes: Mr McGrath, Mr M Durkan.
NOES
UNIONIST:
Mr Allister, Mr Bradley, Mr Brett, Mr Brooks, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mrs Cameron, Mr Dunne, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Middleton, Mr Poots.
Tellers for the Noes: Mr K Buchanan, Mr Bradley.
Total Votes 60 Total Ayes 39 [65.0%]
Nationalist Votes 25 Nationalist Ayes 25 [100.0%]
Unionist Votes 21 Unionist Ayes 0 [0.0%]
Other Votes 14 Other Ayes 14 [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 on Wednesday 3 August 2022 for the purpose of electing a Speaker and Deputy Speakers and to debate the following motion:
Cost of Living Crisis
That this Assembly recognises the immense hardship facing people and families across Northern Ireland caused by rising energy, fuel and food bills; expresses concern at the latest information from the Office for National Statistics which places inflation at 9.4 per cent and suggests that real terms pay has retreated by 2.8 per cent over the last 12 months; rejects the stated approach of all Conservative Party leadership candidates to oppose inflation-matching pay increases for public sector workers who guided us through the Covid-19 pandemic; declares a cost of living emergency requiring immediate intervention from Ministers; and calls on Ministers to work collectively to introduce direct support schemes to assist every household in Northern Ireland affected by the cost of living crisis.
Dr Caoimhe Archibald Mrs Naomi Long
Ms Kellie Armstrong Mrs Cathy Mason
Mr Danny Baker Mr Nick Mathison
Mr John Blair Mr Declan McAleer
Mr Cathal Boylan Miss Nuala McAllister
Ms Paula Bradshaw Mr Daniel McCrossan
Miss Nicola Brogan Mr Patsy McGlone
Mr Patrick Brown Mr Colin McGrath
Mr Pádraig Delargy Mr Philip McGuigan
Mr Stewart Dickson Mr Maolíosa McHugh
Mrs Linda Dillon Ms Sinead McLaughlin
Miss Jemma Dolan Mr Justin McNulty
Mr Danny Donnelly Mr Peter McReynolds
Mr Mark Durkan Mr Andrew Muir
Ms Sorcha Eastwood Miss Áine Murphy
Ms Connie Egan Mr Conor Murphy
Mrs Sinéad Ennis Ms Carál Ní Chuilín
Mrs Ciara Ferguson Ms Kate Nicholl
Miss Órlaithí Flynn Mr John O'Dowd
Mr Colm Gildernew Dr Patricia O'Lynn
Miss Deirdre Hargey Ms Michelle O'Neill
Mr David Honeyford Mr Matthew O'Toole
Ms Cara Hunter Ms Aisling Reilly
Mr Declan Kearney Mr Pat Sheehan
Mr Gerry Kelly Ms Emma Sheerin
Ms Liz Kimmins Mr Eoin Tennyson
Northern Ireland Assembly
Papers Presented to the Assembly on 31 May 2022 – 3 August 2022
1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly
2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly
3. Orders in Council
4. Statutory Rules
SR 2022/179 The Social Fund (Child Funeral Fund) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Communities)
SR 2022/181 The Public Health (Notifiable Diseases) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department of Health)
SR 2022/182 The Social Security (Medical Evidence) and Statutory Sick Pay (Medical Evidence) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Communities
SR 2022/183 The Further Education (Student Support) (Amendment etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for the Economy)
SR 2022/184 The Industrial Training Levy (Construction Industry) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for the Economy)
SR 2022/191 The Occupational Pension Schemes (Collective Money Purchase Schemes) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Communities)
SR 2022/192 The Occupational Pension Schemes (Collective Money Purchase Schemes) (Modifications and Consequential and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Communities)
SR 2022/193 The Direct Payments to Farmers (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)
SR 2022/194 The Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Communities)
SR 2022/195 The Provision of Health Services to Persons Not Ordinarily Resident (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department of Health)
SR 2022/196 The Health and Social Care Pension Schemes, Additional Voluntary Contributions and Injury Benefits (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department of Health)
For Information Only
SR 2022/180 The Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) (2021 Act) (Commencement No. 4) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Communities)
SR 2022/185 The Road Races (Armoy Motorcycle Road Race) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Infrastructure)
SR 2022/186 The Road Races (Garron Point Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Infrastructure)
SR 2022/187 The Road Races (Eagles Rock Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Infrastructure)
SR 2022/188 The Road Races (Mid-Antrim 150) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Infrastructure)
SR 2022/189 The Road Races (Knockagh Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Infrastructure)
SR 2022/190 The Road Races (Down Rally) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Infrastructure)
SR 2022/197 (C.22) The Pension Schemes Act 2021 (Commencement No. 5 and Transitional Provision) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Communities)
SR 2022/98 The Road Races (Ulster Rally) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Infrastructure)
5. Legislative Consent Memorandums
6. Assembly Reports
7. Written Ministerial Statements
Cost of Living Crisis (Minister for Communities)
Child Funeral Fund (Minister for Communities)
Neurology Recall Cohort 3 (Minister of Health)
Social Security (Additional Payments) (Minister for Communities)
Reshaping Stroke Care Consultation and Stroke Action Plan, Orthopaedics Rebuild and Future of the Republic of Ireland Reimbursement Scheme (Minister of Health)
Awarding Arrangements for CCEA Qualifications in 2022/23 (Minister of Education)
Final Report A Landscape Review of the Education Authority (June 2022) (Minister of Education)
Publication of the Review of General Surgery (Minister of Health)
Marriage Law (Minister of Finance)
Changes to Testing and Isolation for COVID-19 (Minister of Health)
Decision on Capital Allocations in 2022-23 in the Absence of an Executive Agreed Budget (Minister for Infrastructure)
Update on Rebuilding, Reform and Budget (Minister of Health)
2021-22 Provisional Outturn (Minister of Finance)
A Fair Start – Progress Report as at 30 June 2022 (Minister of Education)
8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly
The RUC GC Foundation Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31st March 2021 (Department of Justice)
Independent Monitoring Authority's (IMA) Annual Report to the Specialised Committee on Citizens' Rights established under the Withdrawal Agreement and the Joint Committee established under the EEA EFTA Separation Agreement (The Executive Office)
Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) Annual Report and Accounts (ARA) 2020-21 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)
An inspection of Criminal Legal Aid Processing: The effectiveness of the Legal Aid Management System in supporting the achievement of strategic business objectives and improved service delivery (Department of Justice)
Press Recognition Panel Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2022
Annual Report and Accounts for the Northern Ireland Certification Office on its activities during the 12-month period ending 31 March 2021 (Department for the Economy)
Our Food 2021: An Annual Review of Food Standards Across the UK (Food Standards Agency)
Police Rehabilitation & Retraining Trust Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022
Translink Annual Report and Accounts 2021/22
Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care Annual Report and Accounts 2021/22 (Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care)
Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care Business Plan for 2022/23 (Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care)
Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 (Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta)
NISRA Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 (Department of Finance)
Annual Report and Accounts For the year ended 31 March 2022 (Department of Finance)
Northern Ireland Environment Agency Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)
Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 (Department of Justice)
Forensic Science Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 (Department of Justice)
Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (NICCEA) Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 (Department of Education)
Council for Catholic Maintained School Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 (Department of Education)
Northern Ireland Audit Office Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 (Department of Finance)
Department for Infrastructure Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 (Department of Finance)
Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 (Department of Finance)
Driver and Vehicle Agency Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 (Department for Infrastructure)
Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 (Department of Justice)
Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 (Department of Health)
Public Health Agency (PHA) Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 (Department of Health)
Youth Justice Agency Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 (Department of Justice)
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)
PSNI Police Pension Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March 2022 (Department of Justice)
Director of Legal Aid Casework Annual Report for 2021-2022 (Department of Justice)
Legal Services Agency NI Annual Report and Accounts for Year Ended 31 March 2022 (Department of Justice)
Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service Investment Account Annual Report for Year Ended 31 March 2022 (Department of Justice)
Forest Service Agency's Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)
Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) Directors' report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31March 2022 (Department of Education)
Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation Annual Report 2021-22 (Department for the Economy)
Southern Health and Social Care Trust (SHSCT) Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 (Department of Health)
PSNI Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 (Department of Justice)
Northern Health and Social Care Trust (NHSCT) Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 (Department of Health)
South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (SEHSCT) Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 (Department of Health)
South Eastern Health and Social Care (SEHSCT) Charitable Trust Fund Accounts 2021-22 (Department of Health)
Historical Institutional Abuse Redress Board Annual Report 2020/21 (The Executive Office)
Northern Ireland Prison Service Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 (Department of Justice)
Labour Relations Agency's Annual Report and Accounts for 2021-22 (Department for the Economy)
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (BHSCT) Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 (Department of Health)
Department of Education Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 (Department of Education)
2021-22 Annual Report and Accounts for the Department of Finance Superannuation and Other Allowances Pension Schemes (Department of Finance)
2021-22 Financial Reporting Advisory Board Annual Report (Department of Finance)
Northern Health and Social Care Trust (NHSCT) Charitable Trust Fund Accounts 2021-22 (Department of Health)
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (BHSCT) Charitable Trust Fund Accounts 2021-22 (Department of Health)
Accounts 2020-21 of the Assembly Contributory Pension Fund for the year ended 31 March 2021 (Northern Ireland Audit Office)
Accounts of the Members' Contributory Pension Fund for the year ended 31 March 2021 (Northern Ireland Audit Office)
Business Services Organisation Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 (Department of Health)
Criminal Justice Inspection Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 (Criminal Justice Inspection)
Health and Social Care Pension Scheme Statement for the year ended 31 March 2022 (Department of Finance)
Southern Health and Social Care Trust (SHSCT) Annual Report and Accounts of the Charitable Trust Funds Held by the Southern Health and Social Care Trust Year Ended 31 March 2022 (Department of Health)
2021-22 Annual Report and Accounts for the Department for Communities (Department for Communities)
Northern Ireland Judicial Pension Scheme Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 (Department of Finance)
Department of Justice Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 (Department of Finance)
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 (Department of Health)
2021-22 Annual Report and Accounts for the Department of Health (Department of Health)
Probation Board for Northern Ireland – Annual Report and Accounts 2020/21 (Department of Justice)
BBC Annual Report and Accounts 2021/22 (Department for Communities)
Strategic Investment Board Limited (SIB) Annual Review and Financial Statements 2021/22 (The Executive Office)
Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's Annual Report & Accounts 2021/22 (Department for Communities)
UK Statistics Authority Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 (UK Statistics Authority)
Climate Change Committee's (CCC) Annual Report and Accounts 2021/22 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)
Disposal of Documents Order 1925 – Northern Ireland Policing Board (NIPB) - Retention and Disposal Schedule (Public Records Office Northern Ireland)
Equality Commission Northern Ireland Report and Accounts for 2021/22 (The Executive Office)
Invest Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts for 2021-22 (Department for the Economy)
National Heritage Memorial Fund annual report and accounts for year ending 31 March 2022 (The National Lottery Heritage Fund)
National Heritage Memorial Fund Lottery distribution annual report and accounts for year ending 31 March 2022 (The National Lottery Heritage Fund)
Security Industry Authority Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 (Department of Justice)
Competition and Markets Authority Annual Report and Accounts for 2021/22 (Competition and Markets Authority)
Ofcom Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 (OFCOM)
Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 (Northern Ireland Audit Office)
Corrected Advancing Shared Education 3rd Report to the Assembly March 2022 (Department of Education)
Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 (Department of Health)
Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency (NIMDTA) Annual Report and Accounts 2021-21 (Department of Health)
Western Health and Social Care Trust (WHSCT) Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 (Department of Health)
Western Health and Social Care (WHSCT) Charitable Trust Fund Accounts 2021-22 (Department of Health)
Northern Ireland Central Investment Fund for Charities Annual Report & Accounts September 2020 (Department for Communities)
Northern Ireland Patient Client Council (PCC) Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 (Department of Health)
Parole Commissioners Annual Report 2021-22 (Department of Justice)
Northern Ireland Guardian Ad Litem Agency (NIGALA) Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 (Department for Health)
Northern Ireland Assembly Commission Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 (Department of Finance)
Waterways Ireland Annual Report & Accounts 2020 (Waterways Ireland)
Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service (NIBTS) Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 (Department of Health)
Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service Charitable Trust Fund Annual Report and accounts 2021-22 (Department of Health)
NIAO review of NI Water's sale of Portavoe Reservoir (Northern Ireland Audit Office)
NIAO review of Continuous Improvement in Policing (Northern Ireland Audit Office)
9. Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly
Construction Industry Training Board NI Annual Reports and Accounts 2019-20 (Department for the Economy)
Construction Industry Training Board NI Annual Reports and Accounts 2020-21 (Department for the Economy)
The National Lottery Community Fund Annual Report 2020/21 (Department of Finance)
Independent Neurology Inquiry Report June 2022 (Department of Health)
Sickness Absence in the Northern Ireland Civil Service 2021/22 (Department of Finance)
Strategic Investment Board Annual Review and Financial Statements 2021/22 (The Executive Office)
Statistical Review of Northern Ireland Agriculture 2021 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)
Tourism Northern Ireland (TNI) Pension Scheme Letter of Comfort (Department for the Economy)
Consultation - Draft Gas (Designation of Pipe-lines) Order (NI) 2022 (Department for the Economy)
Bedford Street Developments Limited (BSDL) - Accounts 2021-22 (Department for the Economy)
McAleer & Rushe and Dunloe Ewart (MRDE) Limited - Accounts 2021-22 (Department for the Economy)
British Library Annual Report and Accounts for 2021-22 (The British Library)
