Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Members’ Statements

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

Mrs Linda Dillon
Mr Jonathan Buckley
Mr Peter McReynolds
Dr Steve Aiken
Mrs Ciara Ferguson
Mr Matthew O'Toole
Mr Phillip Brett
Mr Nick Mathison
Mr Tom Elliott
Mr Daniel McCrossan
Ms Kate Nicholl
Mr Jim Allister
Mr Paul Frew

3. Assembly Business

3.1 Motion: Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Mr Eóin Tennyson replace Ms Sorcha Eastwood as a member of the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee.

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Miss Nuala McAllister

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.

4. Executive Committee Business

4.1 Motion: The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Registration of deaths and still-births) (Extension) (No.2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024

Proposed:

That the Coronavirus Act 2020 (Registration of deaths and still-births) (Extension) (No.2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 be approved.

Minister of Finance

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

4.2 Legislative Consent Motion: Pensions (Special Rules for End of Life) Bill

Proposed:

That this Assembly agrees, in line with section 87 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, the principle of the extension to Northern Ireland of the provisions of the Pensions (Special Rules for End of Life) Bill as it relates to the definition of terminal illness contained in clause 1 of the Bill, which was introduced in the House of Commons on 6 December 2023.

Minister for Communities

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

5. Private Members’ Business

5.1 Motion: Ramming of Police Vehicles in South Armagh

Proposed:

That this Assembly condemns those who resort to ramming police vehicles in an attempt to evade criminal enforcement action, including arrest; believes it is reprehensible that seventy-seven PSNI officers were injured as a result of their vehicles being deliberately rammed in 2023; notes with concern that this was a 50 per cent increase on 2022; highlights that the spate of such attacks in South Armagh has coincided with far-reaching and politically-motivated policing reforms in the area; stresses the need to assess the impact of the roll-out of additional non-armoured and liveried vehicles in Slieve Gullion on local crime trends; further notes the impact ramming incidents have on operational policing resources, including through sickness absence and rising repair bills; and calls on the Minister of Justice to consider stronger custodial sentencing for those who weaponise their vehicles to attack police officers; and further calls on the Minister of Justice to prioritise a visible and effective police service by bringing forward a fair and ambitious budget settlement for the PSNI in the next financial year.

Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr Keith Buchanan
Ms Cheryl Brownlee
Mr William Irwin

Amendment:

Proposed:

Leave out:
‘highlights that the spate of such attacks in South Armagh has coincided with far-reaching and politically-motivated policing reforms in the area;’

Miss Deirdre Hargey
Mr Cathal Boylan

Debate ensued.

The debate stood suspended for Question Time, the Speaker took the Chair.

6. Question Time

6.1 Justice

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Justice, Mrs Naomi Long.

6.2 Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

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

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.

7. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)

7.1 Motion: Ramming of Police Vehicles in South Armagh (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

The Question being put, the amendment was made (Division 1).

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

The Speaker took the Chair.

7.2 Motion: Relationships and Sexuality Education

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the value of compulsory, standardised, inclusive, high-quality, evidence-based and age-appropriate Relationships and Sexuality Education as a means of empowering and preparing our children and young people for life; regrets that children and young people in Northern Ireland have not had access to such a curriculum; acknowledges that teachers and school staff must have the support, training and resources they require to feel confident in delivering Relationships and Sexuality Education in schools; further recognises that Relationships and Sexuality Education has a vital role to play in tackling violence against women and girls; and calls on the Minister of Education to bring forward a plan which enshrines the right of children and young people to access Relationships and Sexuality Education and which values their voice in the development of a curriculum that will deliver a standardised, inclusive, high-quality, evidence-based, and age-appropriate Relationships and Sexuality Education.

Ms Kate Nicholl
Mr Nick Mathison
Ms Connie Egan
Miss Nuala McAllister

Amendment:

Proposed:

After ‘against women and girls’ insert:
‘, teaching consent, educating against coercive control and highlighting the importance of nurturing positive relationships’

Ms Cara Hunter
Mr Colin McGrath

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the amendment was made.

The Question being put, the motion as amended was carried (Division 2).

8. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 6.14pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
22 April 2024

Northern Ireland Assembly

22 April 2024 – Division 1

Amendment: Ramming of Police Vehicles in South Armagh

Proposed:

Leave out:

‘highlights that the spate of such attacks in South Armagh has coincided with far-reaching and politically-motivated policing reforms in the area;’

Miss Deirdre Hargey
Mr Cathal Boylan

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 49
Noes: 32

AYES

Dr Archibald, Ms Armstrong, Mr Baker, Mr Blair, Mr Boylan, Ms Bradshaw, Miss Brogan, Mr Delargy, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dillon, Mr Donnelly, Mr Durkan, Ms Eastwood, Ms Egan, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Ferguson, Miss Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Miss Hargey, Mr Honeyford, Ms Hunter, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mrs Long, Mr McAleer, Miss McAllister, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McNulty, Mr McReynolds, Mrs Mason, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Miss Á Murphy, Mr C Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Ms Nicholl, Mr O'Dowd, Ms O'Neill, Mr O'Toole, Ms Reilly, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Tennyson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Boylan, Miss Á Murphy.

NOES

Mr Allen, Mr Allister, Mr Beattie, Mr Bradley, Mr Brett, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Middleton, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Robinson, Mr Stewart, Ms Sugden.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr K Buchanan, Mr Clarke.

The amendment was made.

Northern Ireland Assembly

22 April 2024 – Division 2

Motion: Relationships and Sexuality Education

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the value of compulsory, standardised, inclusive, high-quality, evidence-based and age-appropriate Relationships and Sexuality Education as a means of empowering and preparing our children and young people for life; regrets that children and young people in Northern Ireland have not had access to such a curriculum; acknowledges that teachers and school staff must have the support, training and resources they require to feel confident in delivering Relationships and Sexuality Education in schools; further recognises that Relationships and Sexuality Education has a vital role to play in tackling violence against women and girls, teaching consent, educating against coercive control and highlighting the importance of nurturing positive relationships; and calls on the Minister of Education to bring forward a plan which enshrines the right of children and young people to access Relationships and Sexuality Education and which values their voice in the development of a curriculum that will deliver a standardised, inclusive, high-quality, evidence-based, and age-appropriate Relationships and Sexuality Education.

Ms Kate Nicholl
Mr Nick Mathison
Ms Connie Egan
Miss Nuala McAllister

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 49
Noes: 33

AYES

Dr Archibald, Ms Armstrong, Mr Baker, Mr Blair, Mr Boylan, Ms Bradshaw, Miss Brogan, Mr Carroll, Mr Delargy, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dillon, Mr Donnelly, Mr Durkan, Ms Eastwood, Ms Egan, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Ferguson, Miss Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Miss Hargey, Mr Honeyford, Ms Hunter, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mrs Long, Mr McAleer, Miss McAllister, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McNulty, Mr McReynolds, Mrs Mason, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Miss Á Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Ms Nicholl, Mr O'Dowd, Mr O'Toole, Ms Reilly, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Ms Sugden, Mr Tennyson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Mathison, Mr McReynolds.

NOES

Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Mr Allister, Mr Beattie, Mr Bradley, Mr Brett, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, 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 Nesbitt, Mr Robinson, Mr Stewart.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Clarke, Mr Middleton.

The motion, as amended, was carried.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 17 April 2024 to 22 April 2024.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

SR 2024/99 The Registered Rents (Increase) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Communities)

For information only

SR 2024/94 The Period Products (Department of Education Specified Public Service Bodies) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department of Education)

SR 2024/95 The Period Products (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Specified Public Service Bodies) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

SR 2024/96 The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Carrickfergus) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2024/97 The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Larne) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2024/98 The Waiting Restrictions (Ballygally) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Infrastructure)

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

Legislative Consent Memorandum – Pet Abduction Bill (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

6. Assembly Reports

7. Written Ministerial Statements

2023 Civil Service Pay Award (Department of Finance)

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Waterways Ireland Annual Report & Accounts 2022 (Waterways Ireland)

Loughs Agency Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2020 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

Loughs Agency Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

Report on amendments to The Human Medicines Regulations 2012 made under Section 2 (1) of the Medicines and Medical Devices Act 2021 (Department of Health)

9. Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Department of Finance Memorandum on the Fourteenth Report from the Public Accounts Committee Mandate 2017-2022 – Planning in Northern Ireland (Department of Finance)

Department of Finance Memorandum on the Tenth Report from the Public Accounts Committee Mandate 2017-2022 - Closing the Gap – social deprivation and links to educational attainment (Department of Finance)