Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Executive Committee Business

2.1 Consideration Stage: Budget Bill

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

No amendments to the Bill were selected for debate.

Clauses
The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clauses 1 to 13 stand part of the Bill.

Schedules
The question being put, it was agreed without division that Schedules 1 and 2 stand part of the Bill.

Long Title
The question being put, the Long Title was agreed without division.

The Budget Bill (NIA Bill 01/22-27) stood referred to the Speaker.
 

3. Private Members’ Business

3.1 Motion: Action Plan on Waiting Lists

Proposed:

That this Assembly believes it is deplorable that none of the formal waiting time targets for health and social care services in Northern Ireland have been met since 2014; notes with concern a recent Northern Ireland Audit Office report which indicated that the number of people currently on health and social care waiting lists was equivalent to 26.3 per cent of our population, more than double the figure in England; further notes regional inequalities within Northern Ireland and the urgent need for same-time access regardless of where anyone lives; acknowledges the need to turbo-charge investment toward tackling the waiting list backlog over the remainder of this Assembly term; stresses the value of partnering on a much larger scale with national and independent providers to maximise existing capacity; and calls on the Minister of Health to publish an updated action plan to tackle the waiting time crisis within six weeks.

Mrs Diane Dodds
Mr Alan Robinson

Amendment:

Proposed:

Insert after ‘maximise existing capacity’:

‘including the immediate reinstatement of the Cross-Border Healthcare Directive;’

Mr Colin McGrath
Ms Sinéad McLaughlin
Mr Patsy McGlone

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.

3.2 Motion: Speech and Language Therapists

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises how speech, language and communication difficulties can be a contributory factor in offending and reoffending within our criminal justice system; applauds the work of speech and language therapists, while recognising the concerns of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists in respect of the impact communication difficulties can have on mental health; and calls on the Minister of Justice, in consultation with other Ministers, to examine how speech and language therapists can work with the Youth Justice Agency, and all our prison estate, to support the communication needs of prisoners and to develop training for prison officers to allow them to identify and support prisoners with communication difficulties.

Mr Doug Beattie
Mr Robbie Butler
Mr Mike Nesbitt

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 1.01 pm.

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

4. Question Time

4.1 Communities
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Communities, Mr Gordon Lyons.

5. Question for Urgent Oral Answer

5.1 Strike Action: Junior Doctors
The Minister of Health, Mr Robin Swann, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer tabled by Mr Colin McGrath.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

6. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)

6.1 Motion: Speech and Language Therapists (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

The Speaker took the Chair.

7. Executive Committee Business (cont’d)

7.1 Further Consideration Stage: Budget Bill (NIA Bill 01/22-27)

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

No amendments were tabled to the Bill.

7.2 Final Stage: Budget Bill (NIA Bill 01/22-27)

The Minister of Finance, Dr Caoimhe Archibald, moved that the Final Stage of the Budget Bill (NIA Bill 01/22-27) do now pass.

Debate ensued.

The Budget Bill (NIA Bill 01/22-27) passed Final Stage with cross-community support (Division).

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.

8. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 5.37pm.

Mrs Deborah Erskine spoke to her topic regarding a Call for Immediate Progression on the A4 Enniskillen Southern Bypass.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
20 February 2024

Northern Ireland Assembly

20 February 2024 - Division

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

Minister of Finance

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 63
Noes: 2

AYES

NATIONALIST:

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

UNIONIST:

Dr Aiken, 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, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Mr Middleton.

OTHER:

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

Tellers for the Ayes: Mrs Mason, Ms Á Murphy.

NOES

NATIONALIST:

Ms Hunter.

OTHER:

Mr Carroll.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Carroll, Ms Hunter.

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

Total Votes               65        Total Ayes             63 [96.9%]
Nationalist Votes      23        Nationalist Ayes   22 [95.7%]
Unionist Votes          25        Unionist Ayes       25 [100.0%]
Other Votes               17       Other Ayes           16 [94.1%]

The Motion was carried by cross-community vote.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 20 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

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23 (Department of Finance)

9. Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Partnership Agreement between the Department for the Economy and North West Regional College (Department for the Economy)

Partnership Agreement between the Department for the Economy and Northern Regional College (Department for the Economy)

Partnership Agreement between the Department for the Economy and Belfast Metropolitan College (Department for the Economy)

Partnership Agreement between the Department for the Economy and South West College (Department for the Economy)

Partnership Agreement between the Department for the Economy and Southern Regional College (Department for the Economy)

Partnership Agreement between the Department for the Economy and South Eastern Regional College (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 20 February 2024
2022-2027 Mandate
Executive Bills