Order Paper

1. Prayers

2. Members’ Statements

3. Assembly Business

Motion: Suspension of Standing Order 20(1)

Proposed:

That Standing Order 20(1) be suspended for Monday 12 February 2024.

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

Membership of Statutory Committees

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 49(3), the membership of the Statutory Committees as detailed in NIA 3/22-27 be approved.

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

Motion: Membership of Standing Committees

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 52(3), the membership of the Standing Committees as detailed in NIA 4/22-27 be approved.

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

Motion: Suspension of Standing Order 79(2)

Proposed:

That Standing Order 79(2) be suspended for Monday 12 February 2024.

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

Motion: Appointments to the Assembly Commission

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 79, the following shall be appointed to be Members of the Assembly Commission:
The Speaker (ex officio); Mr Trevor Clarke; Mr Robbie Butler; Mrs Sinéad Ennis; Miss Nuala McAllister; and Mr Colin McGrath.

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

4. Private Members’ Business

Motion: High Quality Affordable Childcare

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises that the costs of childcare are unaffordable for many and that hard-working families are struggling every month to meet these costs; further recognises that the childcare sector is in need of urgent and significant investment in order to put the sector on a sustainable footing, to improve terms and conditions for workers and to deliver the high quality and accessible provision that families and children deserve; notes that without affordable childcare provision many people, particularly women, are unable to take up or return to employment; agrees that affordable childcare would have a hugely positive impact on our local economy; acknowledges that high quality childcare and early years education can help to give children the best start in life, support children with Special Educational Needs to help address educational disadvantage and promote emotional health and well-being amongst children; and calls on the Executive to work collectively to deliver a strategy which makes high quality childcare affordable for all families a priority.

Ms Cathy Mason
Ms Nicola Brogan
Mr Danny Baker
Ms Liz Kimmins

Motion: Fundamental Appraisal of Planning System

Proposed:

That this Assembly acknowledges the importance of the planning process towards growing the Northern Ireland economy and creating places that people want to work, live and invest in; expresses alarm at lengthy delays in determining major applications as well as the often disjointed and ineffective approach to taking forward major projects that have been approved; highlights the need to support thriving rural communities by opposing policies that further constrain development in the countryside; believes the planning process must have the needs of our ageing population and those living with disabilities embedded as first principles; notes that planning and design processes must enable delivery of key Programme for Government outcomes as well as promote green solutions; and calls on the Minister for Infrastructure to commission an urgent and fundamental appraisal of the planning system, including a review of the Strategic Investment Board and its functions.

Mrs Deborah Erskine
Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr David Brooks

5. Adjournment

Statements by Ministers may also be taken at any time subject to the Speaker’s approval.

Notice of Statements will appear on the Annunciator. *Subject to the necessary consents.