1. Minute of Proceedings
2. Papers presented to the Assembly
3. Northern Ireland Legislation (Westminister)
4. Northern Ireland Legislation (Assembly)
5. List of Motions (No Day Named)

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

1.1 Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Executive Committee Business

2.1 Statement – Foot and Mouth Disease

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Bríd Rodgers, made a statement to the Assembly on the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease, following which she replied to questions.

2.2 Statement – North/South Ministerial Council - Environment

Deputy Speaker (Sir John Gorman) in the Chair.

The Minister of the Environment, Mr Sam Foster, made a statement to the Assembly on the third Environment sectoral meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council held on 23 February 2001, following which he replied to questions.

2.3 First Stage – Trustee Bill (NIA Bill 11/00)

Mr Mark Durkan, the Minister of Finance and Personnel, introduced a Bill to amend the law relating to trustees and persons having the investment powers of trustees; and for connected purposes.

Bill passed First Stage and ordered to be printed. (NIA Bill 11/00)

3. Question Time

3.1 Minister of Education

Questions were put to and answered by, the Minister, Mr Martin McGuinness MP.

3.2 Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety

Questions were put to and answered by, the Minister, Ms Baírbre de Brún.

3.3 Minister of Finance and Personnel

Questions were put to and answered by, the Minister, Mr Mark Durkan.

4. Committee Business

4.1 Motion – Report of the Ad Hoc Committee – Life Sentences (NI) Order 2001

Proposed: That the Report of the Ad Hoc Committee set up to consider the draft Life Sentences (Northern Ireland) Order 2001 referred by the Secretary of State should be submitted to the Secretary of State as a Report of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

[Chairperson, Ad Hoc Committee – Life Sentences (NI) Order 2001]

Following debate, the Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.

5. Adjournment

5.1 Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn.

[The Speaker]

THE LORD ALDERDICE
The Speaker
March 2001

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly
2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly
3. Orders in Council
4. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly
5. Assembly Reports

Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure: Second Report: Inquiry into Inland Fisheries in Northern Ireland: Volume 1 – Report and Proceedings for the Committee (02/00/R)

Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure: Second Report: Inquiry into Inland Fisheries in Northern Ireland: Volume 2 – Minutes of Evidence Relating to the Report (02/00/R)

Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure: Second Report: Inquiry into Inland Fisheries in Northern Ireland: Volume 3 – Minutes of Evidence Relating to the Report (02/00/R)

Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure: Second Report: Inquiry into Inland Fisheries in Northern Ireland: Volume 4 – Annexes to the Minutes of Evidence (02/00/R)

Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure: Second Report: Inquiry into Inland Fisheries in Northern Ireland: Volume 5 – Annexes to the Minutes of Evidence (02/00/R)

Ad Hoc Committee on Draft Life Sentences (Northern Ireland) Order 2001: Report and Proceedings of the Committee (Ad Hoc 03/00/R)

Examiner of Statutory Rules: Report on SR No 43 Countryside Management Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 (ESR 37/01)

6. Statutory Rules

(The department identified after each rule is for reference purposes only.)

SR No 77 Education (Student Support) (Amendment No. 3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 (DHFETE)

SR No 81 Manse Road and Ballygowan Road, Castlereagh (Stopping-Up)
(Northern Ireland) Order 2001 (DRD)

SR No 82 Foot-and-Mouth Disease (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001 (DARD)

SR No 83 Foot-and-Mouth Disease (Infected Area) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001 (DARD)

SR No 85 Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 (DHSSPS)

SR No 88 The Social Security (Credits and Incapacity Benefit) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 (DSD)

SR No 89 General Dental Services (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 (DHSSPS & DFP)

SR No 90 The Pig Industry Restructuring (Capital Grant) Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2001 (DARD)

SR No 91 The Pig Industry Restructuring (Non-Capital Grant) Scheme Order (Northern Ireland) 2001 (DARD)

SR No 95 Roads (Speed Limit) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001 (DRD)

7. Consultation Documents

Partners in Protection: A Review of the Procedures for Notifying, Protecting and Managing Areas of Special Scientific Interest in Northern Ireland (DOE)

8. Departmental Publications
9. Agency Publications
10. Westminster Publications
11. Miscellaneous Publications
12. Assembly Research Papers

NORTHERN IRELAND LEGISLATION:
PROCEEDINGS AS AT 5 MARCH 2001

Only legislation laid under Paragraph 2 (1) of the Northern Ireland Act 2000 is included in this Section.

NORTHERN IRELAND LEGISLATION:
PROCEEDINGS AS AT 12 MARCH 2001

Items marked † are new or have been altered

Port of Belfast

That this Assembly takes note of the Regional Development Committee’s response to the Minister for Regional Development on the economic appraisal setting out the options for the future of the Port of Belfast.

[Chairperson, Committee for Regional Development]

Second Report of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure

Inland Fisheries in Northern Ireland

That this Assembly approves the Second Report of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure on Inland Fisheries in Northern Ireland and calls on the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to implement the Committee’s recommendations at the earliest opportunity.

[Chairperson, Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure]

Exclusion of Sinn Féin

This House resolves that Sinn Féin does not enjoy the confidence of the Assembly because it is not committed to non-violence and exclusively peaceful and democratic means and, therefore, consistent with the Northern Ireland Act 1998, determines that Members of Sinn Féin shall be excluded from holding office as Ministers for a period of 12 months from the date of this resolution.

[Mr C Wilson]
[Mr P Roche]

Mobile Phones

That this Assembly calls upon the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to ensure the complete implementation of the recommendations made by the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones as laid out in the Stewart Report and further implement a change in legislation to ensure that no telecommunications masts are constructed within three hundred yards of any dwelling without full public consultation.

[Mr J Shannon]

Local Government Elections

That this Assembly calls on the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to announce that the Local Government elections will take place in May 2001.

[Mr E Poots]

Award to RUC

This Assembly calls for an official Assembly award to be made to the RUC and its reserve in recognition of its officers’ duty, service and bravery in the face of terrorism and crime and for its impartial defence of the entire Northern Ireland community.

[Mr I Paisley Jnr]

Fireworks

That this Assembly calls on the Executive to establish an Inter-Departmental Working Group in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Office to examine ways in which the nuisance caused by fireworks can be abated.

[Mr K McCarthy]
[Mrs E Bell]

Councillors

That this Assembly calls upon the Minister of the Environment to bring forward proposals to financially reward the long-term contributions of many Councillors and to assess the work of Councillors to ensure that they are financially rewarded at an appropriate level.

[Mr O Gibson]
[Mrs E Bell]

Irish Justice System

That this Assembly notes with concern the failure of the Irish Justice system to resolve the rape/incest case of the daughter of British citizen Sarah Bland.

[Mr I Paisley Jnr]

Road Spending Plans

That this Assembly calls on the Minister for Regional Development to explain current road spending plans in the context of the recent publication of the consultation paper ‘Developing a Regional Transportation Strategy’.

[Ms M McWilliams]

Minimum Wage

That this Assembly considers the current minimum wage threshold to be too low and supports a minimum wage level of (at least) £5.00 per hour and calls for the youth exemption contained in the current legislation to be abolished so that the £5.00 per hour rate applies to all.

[Mr B Hutchinson]
[Dr D O’Hagan]

District Council Childcare Facilities

That this Assembly calls on local authorities to set themselves a common objective of providing childcare facilities for elected representatives and staff.

[Ms M Gildernew]

Morning After Pill

That this Assembly regrets the decision of the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to sign The Prescription Only Medicines (Human Use) Amendment (No.3) Order 2000.

[Dr E Birnie]
[Mr A Maginness]

United Christian Broadcasters

That this Assembly supports the award of broadcasting radio licences to United Christian Broadcasters Ltd and welcomes the decision of the European Court of Human Rights on 7 November 2000 placing no restriction on religious bodies applying for and being granted licences for local broadcasting, at the same time this Assembly deplores the decision of the Radio Authority on 26 April 2000 to refuse a local digital multiplex licence for the Northern Ireland region to United Christian Broadcasters.

[Mr G Savage]

Domestic Energy Efficiency Scheme

That this Assembly welcomes the achievement of the Department for Social Development in tackling fuel poverty through the existing Domestic Energy Efficiency Scheme (DEES) and calls on the Minister for Social Development to ensure that the DEES II Scheme will be an effective mechanism to finally eradicate this problem.

[Ms M Gildernew]

Bi-Centenary of the Act of Union 1801

That this Assembly deplores the intention of the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to preside over the commemoration of the Bi-Centenary of the Act of Union 1801.

[Mrs M Nelis]

TG4

That this Assembly calls on the relevant Irish and British Broadcasting Authorities to ensure the complete availability of TG4 throughout Ireland.

[Mr B McElduff]

Alcohol Bye-Laws

That this Assembly believes that current levels of enforcement of alcohol bye-laws are inadequate to address the problem of outdoor drinking; and that increased resources should be made available for the enforcement of the bye-laws and for a province-wide education programme to alert younger people to the dangers of under-age drinking.

[Mrs J Carson]

Morning After Pill

That this Assembly expresses concern at the decision by the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety making the ‘morning after pill’ available to 16 year olds without any debate in the Assembly or the Health Committee, and calls on the Minister to reverse her decision.

[Mrs I Robinson]

Security Policy

That this Assembly calls on Her Majesty’s Government, in the absence of actual decommissioning, to implement an effective security policy to recover all illegal weapons and explosives from the terrorist organisations.

[Mr P Roche]
[Mr N Boyd]

Child Protection

That this Assembly calls on the Ministers responsible for the protection of children, in view of the anomalies in the current vetting system, to take the necessary interim steps to improve the position on vetting those suitable to work with children.

[Ms P Lewsley]

Fluoridation of Drinking Water

That this Assembly calls on the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to discontinue the fluoridation of drinking water.

[Mr J Dallat]

Adolescent Psychiatric Services

That this Assembly notes with concern the shortage of adolescent psychiatric services throughout Northern Ireland and urges the Minister of Health to ensure that the key staff are recruited immediately with a view to meeting the community need for this vital service within 2 years in all parts of Northern Ireland.

[Dr A McDonnell]
[Mr E McMenamin]

Traceability Scheme

That this Assembly calls on the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to take all steps necessary to ensure the integrity of the Traceability Scheme for Northern Ireland Beef and to investigate the labelling and subsequent sell-on of all beef processed in Northern Ireland Meat Plants.

[Mr G Savage]

Inter-Departmental Working Group

That this Assembly calls on the Executive to establish an Inter-Departmental Working Group to make recommendations on the removal of paramilitary flags, emblems and graffiti from public property.

[Mr K McCarthy]

‘Barriers to Growth and Survival’ Report

That this Assembly notes the Report, ‘Barriers to Growth and Survival’ published by the Federation of Small Businesses in November 2000; and calls on the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to initiate an investigation into the high level of interest charges imposed by banks in Northern Ireland on small businesses.

[Mr B Armstrong]

Audit Office Report

That this Assembly notes the recent report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on ‘Road Opening by Utilities’ (NIA 35/00), published on 22 February 2001.

[Mr J Kelly]

Social Exclusion of Young People

That this Assembly calls on the Minister of Further and Higher Education, Training and Employment urgently to review those policies aimed at reducing the social exclusion of young people in Northern Ireland and to initiate programmes and initiatives which will reduce the number of young people in Northern Ireland entering long-term unemployment.

[Mr J Dallat]

Gender Equality

That this Assembly calls on the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, given the reports of skills shortages in the employment sector, to review training provision for women in Northern Ireland and to promote a more co-ordinated training service to enhance gender equality in the training sector.

[Mrs P Lewsley]

Nursery Schools Admissions

That this Assembly recognises the problems caused by the current admissions criteria for Nursery Schools and calls upon the Minister of Education to review the criteria in order to remove the disadvantage which it causes for working parents.

[Mr S Wilson]

Foot and Mouth Disease

That this Assembly expresses grave concern about the impact of the Foot and Mouth Disease on the agricultural industry in Northern Ireland; calls on the government to provide compensation for those who have suffered loss of livelihood as a consequence, and urges the Northern Ireland Executive to seek substantial and special funding from the Treasury in London to deal with this matter.

[Mr E McGrady MP]

Funding for Childcare Provision

That this Assembly calls upon the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to make adequate funding available for all aspects of childcare provision in Northern Ireland.

[Mr J Shannon]
[Mr W Hay]

Hepatitis C

That this Assembly, recognising the plight of those infected with Hepatitis C contracted as a result of health service treatment with contaminated blood products, calls on the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to provide assurances about the propriety of further treatment to reduce the risks of further infection and further calls on the Minister to seek compensation for those infected during health service treatment.

[Mr J Kelly]
[Ms S Ramsey]

7^th Report of Community Attitudes Survey

That this Assembly welcomes the publication of the 7^th Report of Community Attitudes Survey by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) and welcomes its findings that 77% of those surveyed, "believed the police deal fairly with everyone." (Table 2.31, NISRA, Community Attitudes Survey, 7^th Report, December 2000)

[Mr R Beggs]
[Mr S Neeson]

Terrorist Attacks on Northern Ireland Railways

† That this Assembly condemns the ongoing terrorist attacks on the railway infrastructure throughout Northern Ireland.

[Mr W Hay]
[Mr J Wells]

Allocation of Schools Capital Spending

† That this Assembly disapproves of the unbalanced and party political allocation of schools capital spending announced in February 2001 by the Minister of Education.

[Mr S Wilson]

Award to UDR

† That this Assembly calls for an official Assembly award to be made to the UDR in recognition of its members’ duty, service, bravery and courage in the face of unrelenting terrorism and crime in Northern Ireland and for its defence of the entire community.

[Mr I Paisley Jnr]

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