Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at 10.30am, 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:

Mr Alex Easton
Mr Philip McGuigan
Mr Gary Middleton
Ms Sian Mulholland
Mr Daniel McCrossan
Mrs Ciara Ferguson
Mrs Deborah Erskine
Mr Tom Elliott
Mr Jim Allister
Miss Nicola Brogan

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.
 

3. Opposition Business

3.1 Motion: Removing the Universal Credit Two-Child Limit

Proposed:

That this Assembly acknowledges the findings of the recent Northern Ireland Audit Office report on Child Poverty that nearly half of all children living in relative poverty come from families with three or more children; recognises the pernicious role that the Universal Credit two-child limit has played in increasing the number of children in poverty; understands that the majority of those negatively impacted by the two-child limit are working families; notes that removing this limit is within the powers of the Northern Ireland Executive; believes that the consequences of childhood poverty far outweigh the cost of removing the cap; and calls on the Minister for Communities to present a plan before this Assembly to remove the two-child limit before the end of 2024.

Leader of the Opposition

Amendment:

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘Executive’ and insert:
‘but would place serious and recurring constraints on public spending; further notes the recommendations of the Independent Advisory Panel Report Welfare Mitigations Review, including the proposal to offset the two-child limit by introducing a Better Start Larger Families payment; and calls on the Minister for Communities to consider the merits of this proposal when meeting his statutory obligation to produce a report on the current, and future, operation of welfare mitigation schemes by the end of this financial year.’

Mr Maurice Bradley
Mr Brian Kingston

Debate ensued.

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

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

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

3.2 Motion: Eradicating Fuel Poverty

Proposed:

That this Assembly believes it is unacceptable that 290 people in Northern Ireland die each winter due to cold homes; accepts that the Warmer Healthier Homes Fuel Poverty Strategy is over a decade old and is no longer fit for purpose; calls on the Executive to include a clear target for eradicating fuel poverty in the next Programme for Government; and further calls on the Minister for Communities to work with his Executive colleagues to establish a fuel poverty task force and to present an updated fuel poverty strategy before the end of this year with specific commitments to introduce a cap on energy prices, system price protections for home heating oil customers and proposals for social tariffs to protect the most vulnerable.

Leader of the Opposition

The sitting was suspended at 12.56 pm.

The sitting resumed at 2.00pm, the Speaker in the Chair.

4. Question Time

4.1 Infrastructure

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Infrastructure, Mr John O’Dowd.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

5. Opposition Business (cont’d)

5.1 Motion: Eradicating Fuel Poverty (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

5.2 Motion: Banning No-Fault Evictions

Proposed:

That this Assembly declares a housing crisis; expresses its concern that social housing waiting lists have almost doubled in the past 20 years with a clear long-term trend towards longer waiting times; acknowledges the findings of the 2023 report by the Office for National Statistics on Private Rental Affordability that median rent in Northern Ireland’s private rented sector accounts for 25 per cent of household income; regrets that the loss of private rented accommodation continues to drive homelessness; and calls on the Minister for Communities to provide an immediate update on the Housing Supply Strategy and bring forward legislation to ban no-fault evictions in Northern Ireland.

Leader of the Opposition

Amendment:

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘Strategy’ and insert:
‘and, as a matter of priority, meet the duty to bring forward regulations to put in place much longer notice to quit periods, as provided for in section 11 of the Private Tenancies Act (Northern Ireland) 2022.’

Mr Maurice Bradley
Mr Brian Kingston

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the amendment was negatived.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

The Speaker took the Chair.

6. Executive Committee Business

6.1 Motion: Accelerated Passage – Hospital Parking Charges Bill (NIA Bill 02/22-27)

Proposed:

That the Hospital Parking Charges Bill proceed under the accelerated passage procedure.

Minister of Health

Debate ensued.

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

6.2 Second Stage: Hospital Parking Charges Bill (NIA Bill 02/22-27)

The Minister of Health, Mr Robin Swann, moved the Second Stage of the Hospital Parking Charges Bill (NIA Bill 02/22-27).

Debate ensued.

The Hospital Parking Charges Bill (NIA Bill 02/22-27) passed Second Stage (Division 2).

7. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 6.04pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
16 April 2024

Northern Ireland Assembly

16 April 2024 – Division 1

Amendment: Removing the Universal Credit Two-Child Limit

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘Executive’ and insert:

‘but would place serious and recurring constraints on public spending; further notes the recommendations of the Independent Advisory Panel Report Welfare Mitigations Review, including the proposal to offset the two-child limit by introducing a Better Start Larger Families payment; and calls on the Minister for Communities to consider the merits of this proposal when meeting his statutory obligation to produce a report on the current, and future, operation of welfare mitigation schemes by the end of this financial year.’

Mr Maurice Bradley
Mr Brian Kingston

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 69
Noes: 10

AYES

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

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Brooks, Mr Kingston.

NOES

Mr Carroll, Mr Durkan, Mr Easton, Ms Hunter, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McNulty, Mr O'Toole.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr McCrossan, Mr McGrath.

The amendment was made.

Northern Ireland Assembly

16 April 2024 – Division 2

Second Stage: Hospital Parking Charges Bill (NIA Bill 02/22-27)

Minister of Health

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 57
Noes: 7

AYES

Mr Allister, Dr Archibald, Ms Armstrong, Mr Baker, Mr Beattie, Mr Blair, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Brett, Miss Brogan, Mr Brooks, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dillon, Mrs Dodds, Mr Donnelly, Mr Dunne, Ms Egan, Mr Elliott, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Erskine, Miss Flynn, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Miss Hargey, Mr Harvey, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Mr McAleer, Miss McAllister, Mr McGuigan, Miss McIlveen, Mr McReynolds, Mrs Mason, Mr Middleton, Mr Muir, Miss Á Murphy, Mr Nesbitt, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Ms Reilly, Mr Robinson, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Stewart, Mr Swann, Mr Tennyson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Chambers, Mr Nesbitt.

NOES

Mr Carroll, Mr Easton, Ms Hunter, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McNulty, Mr O'Toole.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Carroll, Mr Easton.

The Hospital Parking Charges Bill (NIA Bill 02/22-27) passed Second Stage. 

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 16 April 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

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committee Ninth Report of Session 2023 – 2024 (Northern Ireland Assembly)

7. Written Ministerial Statements


8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly


9. Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Northern Ireland Assembly Legislation:

Stages in Consideration of Public Bills
First Stage: Introduction of Bill.
Second Stage: General debate of the Bill with an opportunity for Members to vote on its general principles.
Committee Stage (Comm. Stage): Detailed investigation by a Committee which concludes with the publication of a report for consideration by the Assembly.
Consideration Stage (CS): Consideration by the Assembly of, and an opportunity for Members to vote on, the details of the Bill including amendments proposed to the Bill.
Further Consideration Stage (FCS): Consideration by the Assembly of, and an opportunity for Members to vote on, further amendments to the Bill.
Final Stage: Passing or rejecting of Bill by the Assembly, without further amendment.
Royal Assent.

Proceedings as 16 April 2024

2022-2027 Mandate
Executive Bills