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

His Majesty King Charles III
2.1 The Speaker informed the Assembly that he had written to His Majesty the King to convey the Assembly’s best wishes following the announcement of his cancer diagnosis.

Assembly Business
2.2 The Speaker informed the Assembly that the Business Committee had agreed that Question Time should begin a week sooner than is normal after Ministers are appointed.

3. Matter of the Day

3.1 Recent Cancer Diagnosis of His Majesty King Charles III
Ms Sorcha Eastwood, under Standing Order 24, made a Statement on the Recent Cancer Diagnosis of His Majesty King Charles III. Other Members were also called to speak on the matter.

4. Assembly Business

4.1 Motion – Suspension of Standing Order 20(1)

Proposed:

That Standing Order 20(1) be suspended for Tuesday 6 February 2024.

Mrs Sinéad Ennis
Mr Trevor Clarke
Ms Paula Bradshaw
Mr John Stewart
Mr Colin McGrath

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

4.2 Motion – Establishment of Statutory Committees

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Orders 46 and 47, this Assembly determines that nine Statutory Committees shall be established, as follows.

 the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs;
 the Committee for Communities;
 the Committee for the Economy;
 the Committee for Education;
 the Committee for the Executive Office;
 the Committee for Finance;
 the Committee for Health;
 the Committee for Infrastructure; and
 the Committee for Justice.

Terms of reference, quorum and composition of the Committees shall be as prescribed in Standing Orders 48 and 49.

Mrs Sinéad Ennis
Mr Trevor Clarke
Ms Paula Bradshaw
Mr John Stewart
Mr Colin McGrath

The Question being put, the Motion was carried.

The sitting was suspended at 10.58am and resumed at 11.15am.
The sitting was suspended at 11.15am and resumed at 11.46am.
The sitting was suspended at 11.47am and resumed at 12.18pm.


4.3 Appointment of Chairpersons and Deputy Chairpersons of Statutory Committees

The nominating officer for Sinn Féin nominated Ms Liz Kimmins to be Chairperson of the Committee for Health. Ms Kimmins indicated her agreement to accept the nomination.
The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Ms Liz Kimmins as Chairperson of the Committee for Health.

The nominating officer for the Democratic Unionist Party nominated Ms Joanne Bunting to be Chairperson of the Committee for Justice. Ms Bunting indicated her agreement to accept the nomination.
The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Ms Joanne Bunting as Chairperson of the Committee for Justice.

The nominating officer for the Alliance Party nominated Mr Nick Mathison to be Chairperson of the Committee for Education. Mr Mathison indicated his agreement to accept the nomination.
The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Mr Nick Mathison as Chairperson of the Committee for Education.

The nominating officer for Sinn Féin nominated Mr Colm Gildernew to be Chairperson of the Committee for Communities. Mr Gildernew indicated his agreement to accept the nomination.
The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Mr Colm Gildernew as Chairperson of the Committee for Communities.

The nominating officer for the Democratic Unionist Party nominated Mr Phillip Brett to be Chairperson of the Committee for the Economy. Mr Brett indicated his agreement to accept the nomination.
The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Mr Phillip Brett as Chairperson of the Committee for the Economy.

The nominating officer for the Ulster Unionist Party nominated Mr Tom Elliott to be Chairperson of the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. Mr Elliott indicated his agreement to accept the nomination.
The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Mr Tom Elliott as Chairperson of the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

The nominating officer for Sinn Féin nominated Mr Pat Sheehan to be Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Education.
The Speaker informed the Assembly that he had received written confirmation from Mr Sheehan indicating his agreement to accept the nomination.
The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Mr Pat Sheehan as Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Education.

The nominating officer for the Alliance Party nominated Ms Paula Bradshaw to be Chairperson of the Committee for the Executive Office. Ms Bradshaw indicated her agreement to accept the nomination.
The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Ms Paula Bradshaw as Chairperson of the Committee for the Executive Office.

The nominating officer for the Democratic Unionist Party nominated Mrs Deborah Erskine to be Chairperson of the Committee for Infrastructure. Mrs Erskine indicated her agreement to accept the nomination.
The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Mrs Deborah Erskine as Chairperson of the Committee for Infrastructure.

The nominating officer for the Social Democratic and Labour Party nominated Mr Matthew O’Toole to be Chairperson of the Committee for Finance. Mr O’Toole indicated his agreement to accept the nomination.
The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Mr Matthew O’Toole as Chairperson of the Committee for Finance.

The nominating officer for Sinn Féin nominated Mr Declan McAleer to be Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. Mr McAleer indicated his agreement to accept the nomination.
The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Mr Declan McAleer as Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

The nominating officer for the Democratic Unionist Party nominated Ms Diane Forsythe to be Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Finance. Ms Forsythe indicated her agreement to accept the nomination.
The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Ms Diane Forsythe as Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Finance.

The nominating officer for the Alliance Party nominated Miss Nuala McAllister to be Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Health. Miss McAllister indicated her agreement to accept the nomination.
The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Miss Nuala McAllister as Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Health.

The nominating officer for Sinn Féin nominated Ms Deirdre Hargey to be Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Justice. Ms Hargey indicated her agreement to accept the nomination.
The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Ms Deirdre Hargey as Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Justice.

The nominating officer for the Democratic Unionist Party nominated Mr Gary Middleton to be Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for the Economy. Mr Middleton indicated his agreement to accept the nomination.
The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Mr Gary Middleton as Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for the Economy.

The nominating officer for the Ulster Unionist Party nominated Mr John Stewart to be Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Infrastructure. Mr Stewart indicated his agreement to accept the nomination.
The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Mr John Stewart as Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Infrastructure.

The nominating officer for Sinn Féin nominated Mrs Ciara Ferguson to be Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Communities. Mrs Ferguson indicated her agreement to accept the nomination.
The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Mrs Ciara Ferguson as Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Communities.

The nomination officer for the Alliance Party nominated Ms Connie Egan to be Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for the Executive Office. Ms Egan indicated her agreement to accept the nomination.
The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Ms Connie Egan as Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for the Executive Office.

4.4 Appointment of Chairpersons and Deputy Chairpersons of Standing Committees

The nominating officer for Sinn Féin nominated Mr Declan Kearney to be Chairperson of the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee. Mr Kearney indicated his agreement to accept the nomination.
The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Mr Declan Kearney as Chairperson of the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee.

The nominating officer for the Democratic Unionist Party nominated Mr Jonathan Buckley to be Chairperson of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee. Mr Buckley indicated his agreement to accept the nomination.
The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Mr Jonathan Buckley as Chairperson of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee.

The nominating officer for the Alliance Party nominated Ms Kellie Armstrong to be Chairperson of the Committee on Procedures. Ms Armstrong indicated her agreement to accept the nomination.
The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Ms Kellie Armstrong as Chairperson on Procedures.

The nominating officer for Sinn Féin nominated Mr Philip McGuigan to be Chairperson of the Committee on Standards and Privileges. Mr McGuigan indicated his agreement to accept the nomination.
The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Mr Philip McGuigan as Chairperson on Standards and Privileges.

The nominating officer for the Democratic Unionist Party nominated Mr David Brooks to be Deputy Chairperson of the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee. Mr Brooks indicated his agreement to accept the nomination.
The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Mr David Brooks as Deputy Chairperson of the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee

The nominating officer for the Ulster Unionist Party nominated Mr Alan Chambers to be Chairperson of the Audit Committee. Mr Chambers indicated his agreement to accept the nomination.
The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Mr Alan Chambers as Chairperson of the Audit Committee.

The nominating officer for Sinn Féin nominated Mr Pádraig Delargy to be Deputy Chairperson of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee. Mr Delargy indicated his agreement to accept the nomination.
The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Mr Pádraig Delargy as Deputy Chairperson of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee.

The nominating officer for the Alliance Party nominated Mr Danny Donnelly to be Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on Standards and Privileges. Mr Donnelly indicated his agreement to accept the nomination.
The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Mr Danny Donnelly as Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on Standards and Privileges.

The nominating officer for the Democratic Unionist Party nominated Ms Cheryl Brownlee to be Deputy Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee. Ms Brownlee indicated her agreement to accept the nomination.
The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Ms Cheryl Brownlee as Deputy Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee.

The nominating officer for the Social Democratic and Labour Party nominated Mr Daniel McCrossan to be Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee. Mr McCrossan indicated his agreement to accept the nomination.
The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Mr Daniel McCrossan as Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee.

The nominating officer for Sinn Féin nominated Mrs Sinéad Ennis to be Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on Procedures. Mrs Ennis indicated her agreement to accept the nomination.
The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Mrs Sinéad Ennis as Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on Procedures.

The nominating officer for the Democratic Unionist Party nominated Mr Keith Buchanan to be Deputy Chairperson of the Audit Committee. Mr Buchanan indicated his agreement to accept the nomination.
The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Mr Keith Buchanan as Deputy Chairperson of the Audit Committee.

5. Election of Principal Deputy Speaker

The Speaker outlined the procedure for the election of a Principal Deputy Speaker under Standing Order 5(A).

Mrs Michelle O'Neill nominated Ms Carál Ní Chuilín as a candidate for the position of Principal Deputy Speaker of the Assembly. Ms Ní Chuilín indicated her agreement to accept the nomination.

Debate Ensued.

The Question being put that Ms Carál Ní Chuilín be Principal Deputy Speaker, the Motion was carried with cross-community support.

6. Private Members’ Business

6.1 Motion: Public Finances

Proposed:

That this Assembly endorses the letter sent to Prime Minister Sunak by all Executive Ministers calling for our public finances to be placed on a sustainable footing and for the Executive to have the resources that it needs to deliver effective public services.

Mrs Sinéad Ennis
Mr Trevor Clarke
Ms Paula Bradshaw
Mr John Stewart
Mr Colin McGrath

Amendment:

Proposed:

At end insert:

‘; and calls on the Minister of Finance to work with all Executive Ministers to produce and publish costed plans for revitalising public services and addressing immediate priorities, including public sector pay awards, hospital waiting lists and delivering affordable childcare in line with a comprehensive programme for government.’

Mr Matthew O’Toole
Ms Sinéad McLaughlin
Mr Daniel McCrossan
Mr Colin McGrath

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the amendment was made.

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

7. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 2.21pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
6 February 2024

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 4 February – 6 February 2024

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

5. Consent Memorandums

6. Assembly Reports

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Statutory Review of the Debt and Fraud Powers of the Digital Economy Act 2017 (Department of Finance)

9. Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly