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 Pádraig Delargy
Mrs Deborah Erskine
Mr Nick Mathison
Mr Doug Beattie
Mr Justin McNulty
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín
Ms Sian Mulholland
Mrs Linda Dillon
Mr Jim Allister
Miss Nicola Brogan
Mr Patrick Brown

3. Public Petition

3.1 Funding the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice

Mr Phillip Brett was granted leave, in accordance with Standing Order 22, to present a Public Petition on Funding the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice.

4. Assembly Business

4.1 Motion: Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Mr Robbie Butler replace Mr John Stewart as a member of the Committee on Procedures; and that Mr John Stewart replace Mr Robbie Butler as a member of the Public Accounts Committee.

Mr John Stewart
Mr Tom Elliott

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

5. Ministerial Statement

5.1 Statement: XL Bully Dogs

The Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Mr Andrew Muir, made a statement regarding XL Bully Dogs, following which he replied to questions.

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.

6. Private Members’ Business

6.1 Motion: Making School Uniforms More Affordable

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the findings of the 2023 Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) survey on back to school costs which shows that 41 per cent of parents in this jurisdiction go into debt due to back to school costs, with the largest expense for parents being school uniforms; is deeply concerned that the high cost of school uniforms is a source of financial stress for many families; recognises that the support provided through the uniform grant locally is the lowest in these islands; believes that the benefits of school uniforms, is at risk of being undermined by unaffordable costs; calls on the Minister of Education to make school uniforms more affordable by introducing statutory guidance requiring schools to have competitive tendering processes, to remove the use of unnecessary branded items and to permit the use of cheaper high street alternatives; and further calls on the Minister to conclude the review into eligibility criteria for, and consider an increase in, the school uniform grant.

Mr Pat Sheehan
Mrs Cathy Mason
Mr Danny Baker

Amendment:

Proposed:

After ‘make school uniforms more affordable by’ insert:

‘implementing an annual price cap on total school uniform costs and’

Mr Nick Mathison
Ms Kate Nicholl
Ms Connie Egan
Miss Nuala McAllister

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 12.56 pm.

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

7. Question Time

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

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the chair.

8. Speaker’s Business

8.1 Availability Monday 11 March 2024

The Speaker notified that he would not be in the Chamber on Monday 11 March as he would be representing the Assembly at a summit for Commonwealth Speakers in London to mark the 75th anniversary of the Commonwealth.

9. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)

9.1 Motion: Making School Uniforms More Affordable (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.

9.2 Motion: Expanding Support for Apprenticeships

Proposed:

That this Assembly believes apprenticeships offer an opportunity for everyone, regardless of age or sector, to upskill or reskill as part of their lifelong learning journey; welcomes the commitment in the Skills Strategy for Northern Ireland Skills for a 10x Economy to introduce all age apprenticeships across key sectors of our economy; further welcomes the intention to improve entry routes and career progression in our health system and wider public sector by establishing a new Nursing Higher Level Apprenticeship Framework and expanding public sector apprenticeships; and calls on the Minister for the Economy to set ambitious targets for increasing Northern Ireland’s apprenticeship offer by the end of this Assembly mandate.

Mr Phillip Brett
Mr Gary Middleton
Mr Jonathan Buckley

Amendment:

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘public sector apprenticeships;’ and insert:

‘recognises the crucial role our further education sector has in delivering many apprenticeship programmes; notes the need to have a dedicated skills fund to help expand apprenticeship provision; and calls on the Minister for the Economy to set ambitious targets for increasing Northern Ireland’s apprenticeship offering and the number of people starting apprenticeships by the end of this Assembly mandate.’

Ms Sorcha Eastwood
Mr David Honeyford
Mr Stewart Dickson

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.

10. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

Miss Nicola Brogan spoke to her topic regarding the Delivery of the A5.

The Assembly adjourned at 5.11pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
5 March 2024

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 5 March 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

Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Pensions (Special Rules for End of Life) Bill (Department for Communities)

6. Assembly Reports

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

9. Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Signed Partnership Agreement between the Department for the Economy and South West 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 5 March 2024
2022-2027 Mandate
Executive Bills