Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at 10.30am, the Speaker in the Chair.

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Speaker’s Business

2.1 Royal Assent

The Speaker informed Members that Royal Assent was signified the Budget Act (Northern Ireland) 2024 on 14 March 2024.

3. Members’ Statements

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

Mr Maolíosa McHugh
Mr Phillip Brett
Ms Paula Bradshaw
Ms Aisling Reilly
Mr Jonathan Buckley
Mrs Ciara Ferguson
Mr Robbie Butler
Ms Cara Hunter
Ms Sian Mulholland
Mr Paul Frew
Mr Tom Elliott
Mr Jim Allister
Mr Matthew O’Toole

4. Executive Committee Business

4.1 Motion: The Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024

Proposed:

That the Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 be affirmed.

Minister for Communities

Motion: The Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers’ Compensation) (Specified Diseases and Prescribed Occupations) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024

Proposed:

That the Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers’ Compensation) (Specified Diseases and Prescribed Occupations) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 be affirmed.

Minister for Communities

The motions were moved by the Minister of Education, Mr Paul Givan, on behalf of the Minister for Communities, Mr Gordon Lyons.

A single debate ensued on the two motions.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

The Question being put, the motion on the Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 was carried.

The Question being put, the motion on the Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers’ Compensation) (Specified Diseases and Prescribed Occupations) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 was carried.

4.2 Motion: The draft Human Medicines (Amendments Relating to Coronavirus and Influenza) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024

Proposed:

That the draft Human Medicines (Amendments Relating to Coronavirus and Influenza) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 be approved.

Minister of Health

Debate ensued

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

4.3 Motion: The Parental Bereavement Leave (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023

Proposed:

That the Parental Bereavement Leave (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 be approved.

Minister for the Economy

Motion: The Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay (General) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023

Proposed:

That the Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay (General) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 be approved.

Minister for the Economy

Motion: The Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay (Consequential Amendments to Subordinate Legislation) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023

Proposed:

That the Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay (Consequential Amendments to Subordinate Legislation) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 be approved.

Minister for the Economy

A single debate ensued on all three motions.

The Question being put, the motion on the Parental Bereavement Leave (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 was carried.

The Question being put, the motion on the Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay (General) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 was carried.

The Question being put, the motion on the Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay (Consequential Amendments to Subordinate Legislation) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 was carried.

The Speaker took the Chair.

5. Private Members’ Business

5.1 Applicability Motion: Regulation (EU) 2023/2411

Proposed:

That Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 October 2023 on the protection of geographical indications for craft and industrial products and amending Regulations (EU) 2017/1001 and (EU) 2019/1753 should be added to the Windsor Framework by the United Kingdom and the European Union within the Joint Committee in accordance with Article 13(4) of that Framework.

Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr David Brooks
Ms Joanne Bunting
Mr Jonathan Buckley

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 12.53 pm.

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

6. Question Time

6.1 Economy

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for the Economy, Mr Conor Murphy.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

6.2 Assembly Commission

Questions were put to, and answered by, Members of the Assembly Commission.

The Speaker took the Chair.

7. Assembly Business

7.1 Adjournment Debate

The Speaker informed Members that Mr Doug Beattie had informed him that he did not intend to speak to the Adjournment Debate scheduled in his name that evening, and that he would seek to reschedule it through the Business Committee.

8. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)

8.1 Applicability Motion: Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

The Question being put, the motion was negatived by cross-community vote (Division).

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

8.2 Motion: End Holiday Hunger

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the high levels of child poverty and the increasing costs associated with sending children and young people to school; further recognises that the rising cost of food is putting many families under huge financial pressure; acknowledges the importance of children and young people receiving a nutritious meal and the role that plays in their learning and development; agrees that the cut to the School Holiday Food Grant scheme has had the most impact on disadvantaged and vulnerable children and young people; and calls on the Minister of Education to bring forward a plan to end holiday hunger.

Mr Pat Sheehan
Mrs Cathy Mason
Mr Danny Baker

Amendment:

Proposed:

After ‘plan to end holiday hunger’ insert:

‘and urgently progress and publish the review of the eligibility criteria for free school meals.’

Ms Kate Nicholl
Ms Sorcha Eastwood
Ms Sian Mulholland
Ms Connie Egan

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the amendment was made.

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

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

8.3 Motion: Setting Ambitious Targets for Job Creation

Proposed:

That this Assembly supports an innovative and inclusive economy which provides opportunities for all; highlights the need to create more and better jobs across the skills spectrum; supports, in particular, growing key sectors such as digital, agri-tech, advanced manufacturing, life and health sciences and fintech; is clear that the benefits of new employment must encompass rural communities as well as our towns and cities; stresses the importance of understanding and addressing the needs of businesses and employers; and calls on the Minister for the Economy to set ambitious targets to grow the Northern Ireland economy in this Assembly term, including through creating 5,000 new tech jobs.

Mr Phillip Brett
Mr Gary Middleton
Mr Jonathan Buckley

Amendment:

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘Minister for the Economy to’ and insert:

‘produce ambitious, time-bound and measurable targets to grow and regionally rebalance the Northern Ireland economy, including through creating 5,000 new tech jobs, with an associated financial stimulus package.’

Ms Sinéad McLaughlin
Mr Daniel McCrossan

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 6.25pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
19 March 2024

Northern Ireland Assembly

19 March 2024 - Division

Applicability Motion: Regulation (EU) 2023/2411

Proposed:

That Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 October 2023 on the protection of geographical indications for craft and industrial products and amending Regulations (EU) 2017/1001 and (EU) 2019/1753 should be added to the Windsor Framework by the United Kingdom and the European Union within the Joint Committee in accordance with Article 13(4) of that Framework.

Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr David Brooks
Ms Joanne Bunting
Mr Jonathan Buckley

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 49
Noes: 32

AYES

NATIONALIST:

Dr Archibald, Mr Baker, Mr Boylan, Miss Brogan, Mr Delargy, Mrs Dillon, Mr Durkan, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Ferguson, Miss Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Miss Hargey, Ms Hunter, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mr McAleer, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McNulty, Mrs Mason, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O’Dowd, Ms O’Neill, Mr O’Toole, Ms Reilly, Mr Sheehan and Ms Sheerin.

OTHER:

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

Tellers for the Ayes: Mrs Mason, Mr O’Toole.

NOES

UNIONIST:

Mr Allen, Mr Allister, Mr Beattie, Mr Bradley, Mr Brett, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Mr Butler, 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 Robinson, Ms Sugden and Mr Swann.
Tellers for the Noes: Mr Harvey, Mr Middleton.

Total Votes                81     Total Ayes              49  [60.5%]
Nationalist Votes      33      Nationalist Ayes    33  [100.0%]
Unionist Votes          32      Unionist Ayes          0  [0.0%]
Other Votes               16     Other Ayes            16  [100.0%]

The Motion was negatived by cross-community vote.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 13 March 2024 to 19 March 2024.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

The Budget Act (Northern Ireland) 2024

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

SR 2024/53 The Dungannon Road, Portadown (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Infrastructure)
SR 2024/54 The Social Security and Universal Credit (Migration of Tax Credit Claimants and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Communities)
SR 2024/55 The Education (Student Loans) (Repayment) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for the Economy)
SR 2024/56 The Recovery of Health Services Charges (Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department of Health)
SR 2024/57 The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Registration of Deaths and Still-Births) (Extension) (No.2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department of Finance)

For Information Only

SR 2024/46 The Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers’ Compensation) (Specified Diseases and Prescribed Occupations) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Communities)
SR 2024/47 The Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Communities)
Letter to withdraw The Period Products (Department for Infrastructure Specified Public Service Bodies Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 and replace with the Period Products (Department for Infrastructure Specified Public Service Bodies Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

6. Assembly Reports

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

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Waterways Ireland Annual Report and Accounts for year ending 31st December 2021 (Waterways Ireland)
Competition and Markets Authority Annual Plan 2024/25 (Competition and Markets Authority)
Access to General Practice in Northern Ireland (Northern Ireland Audit Office)
British Wool Annual Reports and Accounts for the year ending 31 March 2022 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)
British Wool Annual Reports and Accounts for the year ending 31 March 2023 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

9. Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Partnership Agreement between Department for Communities and Arts Council of Northern Ireland (Department for Communities)
Memorandum on the twelfth Report from the Public Accounts Committee Mandate 2017-22 - Review of the Northern Ireland Budget Process (Department of Finance)
Partnership Agreement between Department for the Economy and Tourism Northern Ireland (Department for the Economy)

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 19 March 2024

2022-2027 Mandate
Executive Bills