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;

Dr Steve Aiken
Mrs Cathy Mason
Miss Michelle McIlveen
Ms Paula Bradshaw
Mr Matthew O’Toole
Mr Pádraig Delargy
Mr Phillip Brett
Ms Emma Sheerin
Mr Paul Frew
Mr Daniel McCrossan
Mrs Deborah Erskine
Mr Jim Allister
Mr Tom Elliott

3. Public Petition

3.1 Commission Adult ADHD services in Northern Ireland

Mr Peter McReynolds was granted leave, in accordance with Standing Order 22, to present a Public Petition on the Commission Adult ADHD services in Northern Ireland.

4. Executive Committee Business

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

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

Four amendments were tabled to the Bill.

Clauses

After debate, Amendment 1 to Clause 1 was negatived without division.

After debate, Amendment 2 to Clause 1 was negatived on division (Division).

As Amendment 1 was not made, Amendment 3 was not called.

As Amendment 2 was not made, Amendment 4 was not called.

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

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

Long Title

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

The Hospital Parking Charges Bill (NIA Bill 02/22-27) stood referred to the Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.

5. Private Members’ Business

5.1 Motion: Addiction and Drug-related Deaths

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes with concern NISRA's 2024 report on Drug-Related and Drug Misuse Deaths, which found a significant increase in the number of deaths attributed to drugs and alcohol; further notes the intrinsic connection between social deprivation, poverty, isolation, mental health and addiction issues; acknowledges with concern the NISRA figures which show that drug related deaths are highest among 25-34 year olds, are five and a half times more likely in areas of highest deprivation and that opioids are consistently the most common form of drug listed as cause of deaths; and calls on the Minister of Health, in co-operation with the Executive Ministerial Committee for Public Health, to urgently implement the provisions aimed at harm prevention, harm reduction and tackling addiction within the Substance Use Strategy 2021-31, including developing plans for a new residential rehabilitation unit in Belfast.

Miss Órlaithí Flynn
Ms Liz Kimmins
Mrs Linda Dillon

Amendment:

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘including’ and insert:
‘plans to develop a residential rehabilitation service in a regionally strategic location; and further calls on the Executive to commit to providing appropriate subsequent resources in the 2024-25 budget for the Department of Health.

Mr Alan Chambers
Mr Tom Elliott

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 1.01 pm.

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

6. Question Time

6.1 Communities

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

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.

7. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)

7.1 Motion: Addiction and Drug-related Deaths (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

The Question being put, the amendment was made.

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

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

7.2 Motion: Increasing the Number of Foster Carers

Proposed:

That this Assembly commends the vital contribution of foster carers throughout Northern Ireland; believes that the provision of a safe, loving and nurturing home can transform the lives of children and young people in care, helping them to reach their full potential; is deeply alarmed that whilst the number of children and young people in care in Northern Ireland is at its highest level since 1995, there are fewer people willing to foster; expresses regret at the finding of a poll commissioned by Barnardo’s Northern Ireland indicating that just 2 per cent of respondents in Northern Ireland would consider fostering a child in the next five years; stresses the need to address the many misconceptions about fostering; reiterates the fact that fostering can be a hugely beneficial experience for the entire family, including birth children; stresses the importance of providing greater financial support for foster/kinship foster carers in order to cover the costs of caring for children and young people; and calls on the Minister of Health to launch a new, ambitious and fully resourced recruitment programme.

Mrs Diane Dodds
Mr Alan Robinson
Mrs Deborah Erskine

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

8. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

Ms Sorcha Eastwood spoke to her topic regarding Maze/Long Kesh Redevelopment and Investment.

The Assembly adjourned at 5.32pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
23 April 2024

Northern Ireland Assembly

23 April 2024 – Division

Consideration Stage: Hospital Parking Charges Bill (NIA Bill 02/22-27) Amendment 2

Proposed:

Clause1, Page 1, Line 6
Leave out ‘2026’ and insert ‘2025’

Mr Colin McGrath

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 28
Noes: 48

AYES

Mr Allister, Mr Brett, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mr Carroll, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mr Durkan, Mr Easton, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Harvey, Ms Hunter, Mr Irwin, Mr Kingston, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGrath, Miss McIlveen, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McNulty, Mr Middleton, Mr O'Toole, Mr Robinson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Ms Hunter, Mr McGrath.

NOES

Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Dr Archibald, Ms Armstrong, Mr Baker, Mr Blair, Mr Boylan, Ms Bradshaw, Miss Brogan, Mr Brown, Mr Chambers, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dillon, Mr Donnelly, Ms Eastwood, Ms Egan, Mr Elliott, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Ferguson, Miss Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Miss Hargey, Mr Honeyford, Mr Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mrs Long, Mr McAleer, Miss McAllister, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Mr McReynolds, Mrs Mason, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Miss Á Murphy, Mr C Murphy, Mr Nesbitt, Ms Ní Chuilín, Ms Nicholl, Mr O'Dowd, Ms O'Neill, Ms Reilly, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Stewart, Mr Swann, Mr Tennyson.

Tellers for the Noes: Dr Aiken, Mr Nesbitt.

The amendment was negatived.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 23 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 Committees Tenth 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 23 April 2024
2022-2027 Mandate
Executive Bills