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 Former Principal Deputy Speaker Mr Christopher Stalford
The Speaker remarked that it was two year since the Assembly’s former Principal Deputy Speaker, Mr Stalford, passed away. The Speaker commented that the thoughts of the Assembly were with the Stalford family.

2.2 Assembly Business
The Speaker highlighted the importance of effective scrutiny, and informed Members that while he understood the context in which the Budget Bill was being taken forward, he had underlined to the Minister of Finance the fact that, in future, the Assembly would expect to have proper time to consider such legislation.

The Speaker said he intended to ensure that Members could submit proposals for Private Members’ Bills but that he wanted to take some time to review the arrangements to ensure that, as much as possible, they encourage robust, well-developed legislation.
The Speaker made Ministers and Members aware of his expectations for how Question Time should operate.

3. Members’ Statements

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

Mr Danny Baker
Mr Daniel McCrossan
Mr Robbie Butler
Mr David Honeyford
Mr Mike Nesbitt
Mr Jonathan Buckley
Mr Danny Donnelly
Mr Philip McGuigan
Mr Jim Allister

4. Assembly Business

4.1 Motion: Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Ms Claire Sugden be appointed as a member of the Business Committee.

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

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

4.2 Motion: Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Ms Cara Hunter replace Mr Mark H Durkan as a member of the Business Committee.

Mr Colin McGrath
Mr Matthew O’Toole

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

5. Executive Committee Business

5.1 First Stage: Budget Bill (NIA Bill 01/22-27)

A Bill to authorise the use for the public service of certain resources for the years ending 31 March 2024 and 2025 (including, for the year ending 31 March 2024, income); to authorise the issue out of the Consolidated Fund of certain sums for the service of those years; to authorise the use of those sums for specified purposes; and to authorise the Department of Finance to borrow on the credit of those sums.

The Budget Bill (NIA 01/22-27) passed First Stage and was ordered to be printed.

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.

6. Ministerial Statement

6.1 Statement: Economic Vision
The Minister for the Economy, Mr Conor Murphy, made a statement regarding his Economic Vision, following which he replied to questions.

The Speaker took the Chair.

7. Executive Committee Business (cont’d)

7.1 Motion: Suspension of Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4)

Proposed:

That Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4) be suspended for 19 February 2024.

Minister of Finance

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

7.2 Motion: Suspension of Standing Order 42(5)

Proposed:

That Standing Order 42(5) be suspended in respect of the passage of the Budget Bill.

Minister of Finance

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried with cross-community support (Division 1).

8. Question Time

8.1 The Executive Office
Questions were put to, and answered by, the First Minister, Ms Michelle O’Neill. The junior Minister, Ms Aisling Reilly, also answered a number of questions.

8.2 Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Mr Andrew Muir.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

9. Executive Committee Business (cont’d)

9.1 Second Stage Budget Bill (NIA Bill 01/22-27)

Minister of Finance

The Principal Deputy Speaker informed the Assembly that the Office of the Speaker had received correspondence from the Committee for Finance stating that the Committee was satisfied that the consultation with it on the public expenditure proposals contained in the Bill had been appropriate, as required under Standing Order 42(2), and that the Bill could therefore proceed under accelerated passage.

The Minister of Finance, Dr Caoimhe Archibald, moved the Second Stage of the Budget Bill (NIA Bill 01/22-27).

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

The Speaker took the Chair.

The sitting was suspended at 7.14 pm and resumed at 7.29 pm, the Speaker in the Chair.

The Budget Bill (NIA 01/22-27) passed Second Stage. (Division 2).

10. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 9.05pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
19 February 2024

Northern Ireland Assembly

19 February 2024 - Division 1

Motion: Suspension of Standing Order 42(5) - Budget Bill

Proposed:

That Standing Order 42(5) be suspended in respect of the passage of the Budget Bill (NIA Bill 01/22-27).

Minister of Finance

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 74
Noes: 2

AYES

NATIONALIST:

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

UNIONIST:

Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Mr Beattie, Mr Bradley, Mr Brett, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mr Elliott, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kingston, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Middleton, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Robinson, Mr Stewart, Ms Sugden, Mr Swann.

OTHER:

Ms Armstrong, Mr Blair, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Dickson, Mr Donnelly, Ms Eastwood, Ms Egan, Mr Honeyford, Mrs Long, Miss McAllister, Mr McReynolds, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Ms Nicholl, Mr Tennyson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr McGuigan, Ms Sheerin.

NOES

UNIONIST:

Mr Allister.

OTHER:

Mr Carroll.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Allister, Mr Carroll.

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

Total Votes                76     Total Ayes             74 [97.4%]
Nationalist Votes       25     Nationalist Ayes   25 [100.0%]
Unionist Votes           34     Unionist Ayes       33 [97.1%]
Other Votes               17      Other Ayes           16 [94.1%]

The Motion was carried by cross-community vote.

Northern Ireland Assembly

19 February 2024 - Division 2

Motion - Second Stage Budget Bill (NIA Bill 01/22-27)

Minister of Finance

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 62
Noes: 2

AYES

Dr Aiken, Dr Archibald, Ms Armstrong, Mr Baker, Mr Beattie, Mr Bradley, Ms Bradshaw, Miss Brogan, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Ms Bunting, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Mr Delargy, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dillon, Miss Dolan, Mr Donnelly, Mr Easton, Ms Eastwood, Ms Egan, Mr Elliott, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Erskine, Mrs Ferguson, Miss Flynn, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Gildernew, Miss Hargey, Mr Harvey, Mr Honeyford, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mrs Long, Mr Lyons, Mr McAleer, Miss McAllister, Mr McGuigan, Miss McIlveen, Mr McReynolds, Mrs Mason, Mr Mathison, Mr Middleton, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Miss Á Murphy, Mr Nesbitt, Mr O'Dowd, Ms Reilly, Mr Robinson, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Stewart, Mr Swann, Mr Tennyson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mrs Ferguson, Miss Á Murphy

NOES

Mr Allister, Mr Carroll.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Allister, Mr Carroll.

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.

The motion was carried.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 14 February 2024 to 19 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

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Public Expenditure: 2023-24 Final Plan (Minister of Finance)
Funding for A4 Enniskillen Bypass Which Forms Part of the Mid South West Growth Deal (Minister of Finance)

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

The Annual Report of the Lay Observer for Northern Ireland 2022-23 (Department of Finance)

9. Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Ards & North Down Council Area Roads Annual Report 2023-24 (Department for Infrastructure)