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 The Princess of Wales

The Speaker informed the Assembly that he had written to the Princess of Wales to convey the Assembly’s best wishes following the announcement of her cancer diagnosis.

2.2 Deputy Chairpersons Resignations and Appointments

The Speaker informed Members that, with effect from 21 March 2024, Mr Keith Buchanan had resigned as the Deputy Chairperson of the Audit Committee. The Speaker also informed Members that he had received notification from the nominating officer for the DUP that Ms Diane Forsythe had been appointed Deputy Chairperson of the Audit Committee, with effect from 21 March 2024.

2.3 Assembly Written Questions

The Speaker informed the Assembly that he would be writing to all Executive Ministers about answers to written questions following the ruling made on 12 March 2024.

2.4 Assembly Business – Ministerial Statements

The Speaker informed Members that he expects Executive Ministers to make significant announcements to the Assembly first, rather than making them outside the Chamber.

3. Matter of the Day

3.1 Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales - Cancer Diagnosis

Mr Stephen Dunne, under Standing Order 24, made a Statement on Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales - Cancer Diagnosis. Other Members were also called to speak on the matter.

4. Members’ Statements

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

Miss Nuala McAllister
Ms Liz Kimmins
Mrs Deborah Erskine
Mr Tom Elliott
Mr Matthew O'Toole
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín
Mr Eóin Tennyson
Mr Danny Baker
Mr Mark Durkan
Mr Pádraig Delargy
Mr Justin McNulty
Mr Jim Allister
Mr Gerry Carroll

5. Assembly Business

5.1 Motion: Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Mr William Irwin replace Mr Gary Middleton as a member of the Committee on Procedures; and that Mr Brian Kingston replace Mr Stephen Dunne as a member of the Committee on Standards and Privileges.

Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr David Brooks
Mr Gary Middleton
Mr Harry Harvey

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

6. Private Members’ Business

6.1 Motion: Strategic Framework for a Shared Future

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the ongoing need to build a genuinely shared future; expresses concern at the ongoing and severe costs, both social and financial, of continued social and economic segregation; notes the value of increasing numbers of people now enjoying educational, sporting and career opportunities free from the confines of traditional community divisions; further recognises the need to expand these opportunities to the entire community, including by ensuring that public money is spent on delivery of public services that are open to all rather than on maintaining or further embedding division; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to bring forward a strategic framework for a shared future delivering public sector reform to tackle the costs of division while building on good relations work already undertaken.

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Ms Connie Egan
Ms Kate Nicholl
Mr David Honeyford

Debate ensued

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

7. Question Time

7.1 The Executive Office

Questions were put to, and answered by, the First Minister, Ms Michelle OʹNeill. The junior Minister, Miss Aisling Reilly, also answered a number of questions.

7.2 Education

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Education, Mr Paul Givan.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

8. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)

8.1 Motion: Strategic Framework for a Shared Future (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

8.2 Motion: Addressing NI Water Challenges

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the failure of existing water and waste infrastructure to meet current and future demand; further recognises that existing funding models have restricted NI Water’s ability to meet commitments to maintain and develop services for residential and business needs; and calls on the Minister for Infrastructure to provide a detailed options paper on restructuring NI Water to include consideration of mutualisation.

Mr John Stewart
Mr Tom Elliott
Mr Mike Nesbitt
Dr Steve Aiken

Amendment:

Proposed:

After ‘needs,’ insert:
‘believes additional investment in water and sewerage capacity throughout Northern Ireland is critical to driving economic growth, ending regional inequalities in provision and protecting the environment;’

Mrs Deborah Erskine
Mr Keith Buchanan
Mr Stephen Dunne

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the amendment was made.

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

9. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 5.11pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
8 April 2024

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 20 March 2024 to 8 April 2024.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

SR 2024/000 Draft SR - The Period Products (the Department for the Economy Specified Public Service Bodies) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for the Economy)

SR 2024/58 The Benefit Cap (Annual Limit) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Communities)

SR 2024/62 The Gilmore Street, Ballymena (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2024/69 The Social Security (2023 Benefits Up-rating) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Communities)

SR 2024/70 The Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (2023 Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Communities)

SR 2024/71 The Social Security (2023 Benefits Up-rating) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Communities)

SR 2024/72 The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Extension of Provisions Relating to Live Links for Courts and Tribunals) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department of Justice)

SR 2024/73 The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Communities)

SR 2024/74 The Occupational Pension Schemes (Governance and Registration) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Communities)

SR 2024/75 The Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Communities)

SR 2024/76 The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Communities)

SR 2024/78 The Occupational Pension Schemes (Master Trusts) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Communities)

SR 2024/79 The Occupational Pension Schemes (Administration, Investment, Charges and Governance) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Communities)

SR 2024/80 The Packaging Waste (Data Reporting) (No. 2) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

SR 2024/81 The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Application of Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department of Justice)

SR 2024/87 The Rates (Temporary Rebate) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department of Finance)

SR 2024/88 The Rates (Exemption for Automatic Telling Machines in Rural Areas) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department of Finance)

SR 2024/90 The Occupational Pension Schemes (Funding and Investment Strategy and Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Communities)

For information only

SR 2024/59 The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Banbridge) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2024/60 The Road Races (Croft Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2024/61 The Schools (Part-Time 20mph Speed Limit) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2024/63 The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Londonderry) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2024/64 The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Omagh) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2024/65 The Prohibition of Right-Hand Turn (Enniskillen) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2024/66 The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Banbridge) (Amendment No. 2) Order 2024 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2024/67 The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Banbridge) (Amendment No. 3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2024/68 The Human Medicines (Amendments Relating to Coronavirus and Influenza) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department of Health)

SR 2024/77 The Pensions Increase (Review) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department of Finance)

SR 2024/82 (C.2) The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2024 (Commencement No. 1) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department of Justice)

SR 2024/83 The Road Races (Cookstown 100 Motor Cycle Road Race) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2024/84 The Road Races (Maiden City Stages Rally) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2024/85 The Road Races (Craigantlet Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2024/86 The Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for the Economy)

SR 2024/89 (C.3) The Pension Schemes Act 2021 (Commencement No. 7 and Transitional Provisions) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Communities)

Letter to withdraw SR 2023/000 Draft SR - The Period Products (the Department for the Economy Specified Public Service Bodies) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 (Department for the Economy)

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill (Department of Health)

6. Assembly Reports

Report on Excess Votes (Northern Ireland) 2022-23 and late accounts/corrections from prior years (Public Accounts Committee)

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Sixth Report 22 March 2024 (Northern Ireland Assembly)

Report on Legislative Consent Memorandum on The Pensions (Special Rules for End of Life) Bill 2024 (Committee for Communities)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Secondment of a Permanent Secretary to Post of Chief Executive Office of the Education Authority for Northern Ireland (Minister of Education)

Outcome of the Normalisation Pilot Process (Minister of Education)

Funding Available for Budget 2024-25 (Minister of Finance)

Changes to the Ukraine Visa Schemes by Home Office (First Minister and deputy First Minister)

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Annual Report on the Operation of the UK Internal Market 2023-24 (Office for the Internal Market)

Northern Ireland Spring Supplementary Estimates 2023-24 (Department of Finance)

Northern Ireland Estimates Vote on Account 2024-2025 (Department of Finance)

Report on Water Quality in Northern Ireland’s Rivers and Lakes (Northern Ireland Audit Office)

Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) for Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

Prison Service Pay Review Body Fourteenth Report on Northern Ireland 2023 (Department of Justice)

Department for the Economy Annual Report and Accounts 2022-2023 (For the year ended 31 March 2023) (Department for the Economy)

Department for the Economy Annual Report and Accounts 2022-2023 (For the year ended 31 March 2023) (Revised) (Department for the Economy)

The Insolvency Service Annual Report and Account 2021-2022 (For the year ended 31 March 2022) (Department for the Economy)

The Sports Council for Northern Ireland (known as Sport NI) Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23 (For the year ended 31 March 2023) (Department for Communities)

Funding Water Infrastructure in Northern Ireland (Northern Ireland Audit Office)

Northern Regional College Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 July 2023 (Department for the Economy)

Partnership Agreement between the Department for the Economy and Invest NI (Department for the Economy)

9. Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland’s (CJI’s) Report on an inspection of Community Safety and Local Policing Arrangements in Northern Ireland (Including a Follow-Up Review of ‘Working Together for Safer Communities - A Review of Policing and Community Safety Partnerships in Northern Ireland’) (Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland)

Consultation on a Proposed Bill to Amend Legacy EU Common Market Organisation (CMO) Schemes (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)