Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair.

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Speaker’s Business

2.1 Resignations and Appointments

The Speaker informed Members that he had been notified by the Nominating Officer of the Alliance Party that Mr Danny Donnelly had replaced Miss Nuala McAllister as Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Health, and that Mr Stewart Dickson had replaced Mr Danny Donnelly as Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on Standards and Privileges. The appointments took effect from 7 February 2024.

The Speaker informed Members that he had been notified by the Nominating Officer of Sinn Féin that Mr Philip McGuigan had replaced Mr Declan Kearney as the Chairperson of the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee with effect from 9 February 2024, that Mr Declan McAleer had replaced Mr Pádraig Delargy as Deputy Chairperson of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee, and that Ms Carál Ní Chuilín had been appointed as Chairperson of the Committee on Standards and Privileges, with effect from 12 February 2024.

2.2 Royal Assent

The Speaker advised Members that Royal Assent had been signified on 30 March 2022 to the following Acts: Social Security (Terminal Illness) Act, Chapter 7; Financial Reporting (Departments and Public Bodies) Act, Chapter 8; Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Act, Chapter 9; Organ and Tissue Donation (Deemed Consent) Act, Chapter 10; Charities Act, Chapter 11; and Non-domestic Rates Valuations (Coronavirus) Act, Chapter 12.

The Speaker advised Members that Royal Assent had been signified on 26 April 2022 to the following Acts: Autism (Amendment) Act, Chapter 13; Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Amendment) Act, Chapter 14; Integrated Education Act, Chapter 15; Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) Act, Chapter 16; and Protection from Stalking Act, Chapter 17.

The Speaker advised Members that Royal Assent had been signified on 27 April 2022 to the following Acts: Adoption and Children Act, Chapter 18; Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Act, Chapter 19; Private Tenancies Act, Chapter 20; School Age Act, Chapter 21; and Welfare Supplementary Payments (Amendment) Act, Chapter 22.

The Speaker advised Members that Royal Assent had been signified on 12 May 2022 to the following Acts: Fair Employment (School Teachers) Act, Chapter 23; Hospital Parking Charges Act, Chapter 24; Period Products (Free Provision) Act, Chapter 25; Preservation of Documents (Historical Institutions) Act, Chapter 26; and Domestic Abuse (Safe Leave) Act, Chapter 27.

The Speaker advised Members that Royal Assent had been signified on 6 June 2022 to the following Acts: Support for Mortgage Interest etc (Security for Loans) Act, Chapter 28; General Teaching Council (Directions) Act, Chapter 29; Defamation Act, Chapter 30; and Climate Change Act, Chapter 31.
The Speaker advised Members that Royal Assent had been signified on 6 February 2023 to the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act, Chapter 1.

3. Members’ Statements

Under Standing Order 24A, the following Members made a statement to the Assembly:

Mr Jonathan Buckley
Mr Colm Gildernew
Ms Paula Bradshaw
Mr John Stewart
Ms Sinead McLaughlin
Miss Nicola Brogan
Mr Stephen Dunne
Ms Emma Sheerin
Mr Paul Frew
Mr Jim Allister
Mr Declan McAleer
Mr Gerry Carroll

4. Assembly Business

4.1 Motion: Suspension of Standing Order 20(1)

Proposed:

That Standing Order 20(1) be suspended for Monday 12 February 2024.

Mrs Sinéad Ennis
Mr Trevor Clarke
Ms Paula Bradshaw
Mr John Stewart
Mr Colin McGrath

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

4.2 Membership of Statutory Committees

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 49(3), the membership of the Statutory Committees as detailed in NIA 3/22-27 be approved.

Mrs Sinéad Ennis
Mr Trevor Clarke
Ms Paula Bradshaw
Mr John Stewart
Mr Colin McGrath

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

4.3 Membership of Standing Committees

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 52(3), the membership of the Standing Committees as detailed in NIA 4/22-27 be approved.

Mrs Sinéad Ennis
Mr Trevor Clarke
Ms Paula Bradshaw
Mr John Stewart
Mr Colin McGrath

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

4.4 Motion: Suspension of Standing Order 79(2)

Proposed:

That Standing Order 79(2) be suspended for Monday 12 February 2024.

Mrs Sinéad Ennis
Mr Trevor Clarke
Ms Paula Bradshaw
Mr John Stewart
Mr Colin McGrath

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

4.5 Motion: Appointments to the Assembly Commission

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 79, the following shall be appointed to be Members of the Assembly Commission:

The Speaker (ex officio);
Mr Trevor Clarke;
Mr Robbie Butler;
Mrs Sinéad Ennis;
Miss Nuala McAllister; and
Mr Colin McGrath.

Mrs Sinéad Ennis
Mr Trevor Clarke
Ms Paula Bradshaw
Mr John Stewart
Mr Colin McGrath

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

5. Ministerial Statements

5.1 Statement: Sustainable Investment in Education Infrastructure
The Minister of Education, Mr Paul Givan, made a statement regarding Sustainable Investment in Education Infrastructure, following which he replied to questions.

5.2 Statement: Provision of Additional Investment to Address Potholes
The Minister for Infrastructure, Mr John O’Dowd, made a statement on Provision of Additional Investment to Address Potholes, following which he replied to questions.

6. Private Members’ Business

6.1 Motion: High Quality Affordable Childcare

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises that the costs of childcare are unaffordable for many and that hard-working families are struggling every month to meet these costs; further recognises that the childcare sector is in need of urgent and significant investment in order to put the sector on a sustainable footing, to improve terms and conditions for workers and to deliver the high quality and accessible provision that families and children deserve; notes that without affordable childcare provision many people, particularly women, are unable to take up or return to employment; agrees that affordable childcare would have a hugely positive impact on our local economy; acknowledges that high quality childcare and early years education can help to give children the best start in life, support children with Special Educational Needs to help address educational disadvantage and promote emotional health and well-being amongst children; and calls on the Executive to work collectively to deliver a strategy which makes high quality childcare affordable for all families a priority.

Ms Cathy Mason
Ms Nicola Brogan
Mr Danny Baker
Ms Liz Kimmins

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

Amendment:

Proposed:

Leave out all after the last ‘help’ and insert:

‘prevent educational disadvantage and promote emotional health and well-being amongst children: calls on the Minister of Education to listen to the views of parents and businesses by way of a deliberate consultation; and further calls on the Executive to work collectively to deliver a strategy which makes high quality childcare affordable for all families a priority.’

Mr Robbie Butler

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the amendment was made.

The Question being put, the motion as amended was carried.

The Speaker took the Chair.

6.2 Motion: Fundamental Appraisal of Planning System

Proposed:

That this Assembly acknowledges the importance of the planning process towards growing the Northern Ireland economy and creating places that people want to work, live and invest in; expresses alarm at lengthy delays in determining major applications as well as the often disjointed and ineffective approach to taking forward major projects that have been approved; highlights the need to support thriving rural communities by opposing policies that further constrain development in the countryside; believes the planning process must have the needs of our ageing population and those living with disabilities embedded as first principles; notes that planning and design processes must enable delivery of key Programme for Government outcomes as well as promote green solutions; and calls on the Minister for Infrastructure to commission an urgent and fundamental appraisal of the planning system, including a review of the Strategic Investment Board and its functions.

Mrs Deborah Erskine
Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr David Brooks

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

7. Questions for Urgent Oral Answer

7.1 Children's Hospice
The Minister of Health, Mr Robin Swann, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer tabled by Mr Colin McGrath.

7.2 Job Losses: BT
The Minister for the Economy, Mr Conor Murphy, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer tabled by Mrs Deborah Erskine.

8. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 5.58pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
12 February 2024

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 7 February 2024 to 12 February 2024.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

6. Assembly Reports

NI Assembly Report 3/22-27 Membership of Statutory Committees (Northern Ireland Assembly)

NI Assembly Report 4/22-27 Membership of Standing Committees (Northern Ireland Assembly)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Teachers’ Pension Annual Scheme Statements for the year ended 31 March 2022 (Department of Education)
Press Recognition Panel - Annual Report on the Recognition System - 8 February 2024

9. Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland’s (CJI’s) Reports on an Independent Review of Progress at Maghaberry Prison and Magilligan Prison (Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland)