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MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS TUESDAY 19 JUNE 2001 The Assembly met at 10.30 am, the Speaker in the Chair 1. Personal Prayer or Meditation 1.1 Members observed two minutes’ silence. 2. Executive Committee Business 2.1 Statement – Budget The Minister of Finance and Personnel, Mr Mark Durkan, made a statement to the Assembly on issues affecting budgetary planning and preparation for the financial year 2002/03, following which he replied to questions. 2.2 First Stage – Budget (No.2) Bill (NIA Bill 17/00) Mr Mark Durkan, the Minister of Finance and Personnel, introduced a Bill to authorise the issue out of the Consolidated Fund of certain sums for the service of the year ending 31 March 2002; to appropriate those sums for specified purposes; to authorise the Department of Finance and Personnel to borrow on the credit of the appropriated sums; to authorise the use for the public service of certain resources (including accruing resources) for the year ending 31 March 2002; and to repeal certain spent enactments. Bill passed First Stage and ordered to be printed (NIA Bill 17/00). 2.3 Family Law Bill (NIA Bill 4/00) Final Stage Mr Mark Durkan, Minister of Finance and Personnel, moved that the Final Stage of the Family Law Bill be agreed. After debate NIA Bill 4/00 passed Final Stage. 3. Committee Business 3.1 Motion – Amend Standing Orders Proposed: In Standing Order 47(7) after ‘five’ insert: ‘and such quorum shall be deemed to be present where Members are linked by a video conferencing facility.’ [Chairperson, Committee on Procedures] After debate, the Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support. (Division 1). 3.2 Motion – Amend Standing Orders Proposed: In Standing Order 72 delete all and insert: ‘Subject to the requirements of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, a Member may move a motion for the suspension of one or more Standing Orders in whole or in part. A motion under this Standing Order shall require cross-community support within the meaning of Section 4(5) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.’ [Chairperson, Committee on Procedures] After debate, the Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support (nemine contradicente). The Sitting was, by leave, suspended at 12.28 pm. The Sitting resumed at 2.30 pm. Deputy Speaker (Ms Jane Morrice) in the Chair. 4. Question Time 4.1 Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister Questions were put to, and answered by, the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister, Rt Hon David Trimble MP and Mr Séamus Mallon MP. 4.2 Minister for Regional Development Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Mr Gregory Campbell MP. Deputy Speaker (Mr Donovan McClelland) in the Chair. 4.3 Minister of the Environment Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Mr Sam Foster. 5. Adjournment 5.1 Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn. [The Speaker] The Assembly adjourned at 4.03 pm. THE LORD ALDERDICE 19 June 2001 NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY 19 JUNE 2001 DIVISIONS Division No.1 Proposed: In Standing Order 47(7) after ‘five’ insert: ‘and such quorum shall be deemed to be present where Members are linked by a video conferencing facility.’ [Chairperson, Committee on Procedures] The Question was put and the Assembly divided on a cross-community basis. Ayes : 49 Noes : 16 Ayes Nationalist: Alex Attwood, P J Bradley, Joe Byrne, Annie Courtney, John Dallat, Baírbre de Brun, Mark Durkan, John Fee, Tommy Gallagher, Joe Hendron, Patricia Lewsley, Alban Maginness, Alex Maskey, Alasdair McDonnell, Gerry McHugh, Mitchel McLaughlin, Eugene McMenamin, Pat McNamee, Conor Murphy, Mick Murphy, Mary Nelis, Dara O'Hagan, Eamonn ONeill, Sue Ramsey, John Tierney. Unionist: Ian Adamson, Pauline Armitage, Billy Armstrong, Billy Bell, Esmond Birnie, Joan Carson, Fred Cobain, Ivan Davis, Sam Foster, John Gorman, Derek Hussey, James Leslie, David McClarty, Alan McFarland, Ken Robinson, George Savage, David Trimble, Peter Weir, Jim Wilson. Other: Eileen Bell, Séamus Close, David Ford, Jane Morrice, Sean Neeson. Noes Unionist: Paul Berry, Gregory Campbell, Mervyn Carrick, Wilson Clyde, Boyd Douglas, Oliver Gibson, William Hay, Roger Hutchinson, Gardiner Kane, Maurice Morrow, Ian Paisley Jnr, Ian R K Paisley, Edwin Poots, Peter Robinson, Denis Watson, Jim Wells. Total Votes 65 Total Ayes 49 ( 75.4%) Nationalist Votes 25 Nationalist Ayes 25 (100.0%) Unionist Votes 35 Unionist Ayes 19 ( 54.3%) The Motion was carried. NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY ON 19 JUNE 2001
Department of Employment and Learning Bill (as amended at Consideration Stage) (NIA Bill 12/00)
Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development: Minutes of Evidence: (I) Inquiry into Certain Aspects of the Livestock and Meat Commission: (II) Fisheries Issues: (III) Pig Industry Restructuring Scheme – Outgoers Schemes (09/00/E) (The department identified after each rule is for reference purposes only.) Preparing for 2002–2003: The Executive’s Position Report to the Assembly: Developing the Programme for Government and the Budget for 2002–2003 (OFMDFM) FOR INFORMATION – WESTMINSTER PROCEEDINGS NORTHERN IRELAND LEGISLATION: PROCEEDINGS AS AT 19 JUNE 2001
Only legislation laid under Paragraph 2 (1) of the Northern
Ireland Act 2000 is included in this Section.
For an explanation of Parliamentary consideration of Northern Ireland Legislation, see HCIO Factsheet No. 15
Reproduced from House of Commons Weekly Information Bulletin 12 May 2001. Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2000. NORTHERN IRELAND LEGISLATION: EXECUTIVE BILLS PROCEEDINGS AS AT 19 JUNE 2001
(Cont’d over)
* Leave granted for Bill to carry over from last Session. ** Bills which are granted accelerated passage do not pass through a Committee Stage. # At Consideration Stage the title of this Bill was amended to Department for Employment and Learning Bill. NORTHERN IRELAND LEGISLATION: PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BILLS PROCEEDINGS AS AT 19 JUNE 2001
THE NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY LIST OF MOTIONS NO DAY NAMED Items marked † are new or have been altered EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE BUSINESS MOTION Statutory Rule Subject to Affirmative Resolution That the Lands Tribunal (Salaries) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001 be approved. [Minister of Finance and Personnel] Statutory Rule Subject to Affirmative Resolution That the Departments (Transfer of Functions) Order (Northern Ireland) (SR 229/2001) 2001 be approved. [First Minister] COMMITTEE BUSINESS MOTION Report of the Committee of the Centre – Commissioner for Children That this Assembly approves the Report of the Committee of the Centre on their inquiry into the proposal for a Commissioner for Children for Northern Ireland (2/00R) and calls on the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to take full account of the recommendations. [Chairperson, Committee of the Centre] Statutory Rule Subject to Negative Resolution That the Seed Potatoes (Crop Fees) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 (SR 228/2001) be annulled. [Chairperson, Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development] Audit Committee † In Standing Order 58 delete all and insert: "(1) There shall be a Standing Committee of the Assembly to be known as the Audit Committee which shall: (a) exercise the functions laid upon the Assembly by Section 66 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998; (b) recommend to the Assembly the annual salary payable to the holder of the office of Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland in accordance with Article 4(1) of the Audit (Northern Ireland) Order 1987; and (c) recommend to the Assembly a person to be nominated for appointment to the office of Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland in accordance with Section 65(1) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. (2) In discharging its functions under this Standing Order the Committee shall have regard to the advice of the Public Accounts Committee and the Department of Finance and Personnel. (3) In accordance with Section 66(2) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, no more than one member of the Committee may be a member of the Public Accounts Committee. (4) The Committee shall have a membership of five and a quorum of two." [Chairperson, Committee on Procedures] PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BUSINESS MOTION 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] 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] Councillors That this Assembly calls upon the Minister of the Environment to bring forward proposals to reward financially 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] 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] 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 MP] 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] 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 MP] 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 debate in the Assembly or the Health Committee, and calls on the Minister to reverse her decision. [Mrs I Robinson MP] 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] 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] 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 to review urgently 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 Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment, 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] 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] 7th Report of Community Attitudes Survey That this Assembly welcomes the publication of the 7th 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, 7th Report, December 2000) [Mr R Beggs] Terrorist Attacks on Northern Ireland Railways That this Assembly condemns the ongoing terrorist attacks on the railway infrastructure throughout Northern Ireland. [Mr W Hay] 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] Sellafield Nuclear Plant That this Assembly calls for the run-down and closure at the earliest possible date of nuclear processing activities carried out at Sellafield. [Mr K McCarthy] Single European Currency That this Assembly congratulates the European Movement on its efforts to generate interest in the debate on a Single European Currency and calls on the Assembly to support its efforts. [Ms J Morrice] GAA That this Assembly condemns the anti-British ethos of the Gaelic Athletic Association, particularly Rule 21 within its written constitution which discriminates against members of the Security Forces from participation, and calls on Government funding to the GAA to be stopped with immediate effect until such discriminatory rules are removed from the GAA’s constitution. [Mr N Boyd] Organic Farming That this Assembly calls on the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to bring forward plans for environmental enhancement schemes, incentives and support to ensure that targets for organic farming of 3% are increased towards 20%. [Mr G McHugh] Function and Funding of Training Organisations That this Assembly calls on the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to review the function and funding of Training Organisations. [Mr A Maskey] Financial Assistance to the Agribusiness Sector That this Assembly notes the serious impact of foot-and-mouth disease on the agribusiness sector, and calls on the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to consider giving financial assistance to those most affected, in particular the livestock marts which play a vital role in the agricultural sector. [Mr G Kane] Financial Assistance for Foster Carers That this Assembly calls on the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to bring forward legislative proposals to address the inconsistencies in the arrangements at Board and Trust level for providing financial assistance to those offering foster care for young people in the community. [Ms S Ramsey] Processing of Incapacity Benefit and Disability Living Allowance That this Assembly calls on the Minister for Social Development to review the process involved in respect of claims for Incapacity Benefit and Disability Living Allowance, in the light of its impact on the chronically sick and disabled. [Mrs M Nelis] Plastic Bullets That this Assembly calls on the British Government to impose an immediate and total ban on the use of plastic bullets. [Mrs M Nelis] Assistance for Hepatitis ‘C’ Sufferers That this Assembly notes the financial help given to HIV sufferers in the rest of the United Kingdom and elsewhere, notes the recent legal challenge for similar assistance for Hepatitis ‘C’ sufferers, and accordingly calls on the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to take steps to provide financial assistance to Hepatitis ‘C’ sufferers in Northern Ireland. [Mrs I Robinson MP] European Court of Human Rights That this Assembly believes the European Court of Human Rights should consider the cases of innocent victims created by the activities of illegal paramilitary groups. It further deplores the award of compensation to the families of unashamed armed terrorists. [Mr D Kennedy] Voluntary Play Group Sector That this Assembly values the work of the Voluntary Play Group sector and calls on the Minister of Education to re-assess the current funding criteria so that high quality play groups will not be jeopardised by the removal of financial support by the Department of Education. [Mr R Beggs] Statutory Rule Subject to Negative Resolution That the Seed Potato Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 (SR 188/2001) be annulled. [Mr D Ford] Lagan Valley Hospital † That this Assembly notes with concern the current underfunding of the Lagan Valley Hospital within the Down/Lisburn Trust. [Mr E Poots] Townland Names That this Assembly calls on each Government Department to adopt a policy of using and promoting townland names in all Government correspondence and official documents. [Mr K McCarthy] Crimes Tribunal That this Assembly calls for the establishment of a crimes tribunal to examine the activities of terrorist organisations in Northern Ireland over the past three decades. [Mr I Paisley Jnr] Report by the Simon Community on Homelessness – ‘An Agenda for Action’ That this Assembly notes the report by the Simon Community on homelessness called ‘An Agenda for Action’ (published June 2001) and calls on the Minister for Social Development to respond positively to the needs of the homeless in Northern Ireland. [Mr I Paisley Jnr] Threshold Assessment (Northern Ireland) That this Assembly believes that the ‘Threshold Assessment (Northern Ireland)’ does not provide equality of opportunity for all members of the teaching profession. [Mr B Hutchinson] The Future of the Children’s Hospice † That this Assembly notes the ongoing dispute surrounding the future of the Children’s Hospice and calls for an early resolution of the issues. [Mr I Paisley Jnr] 19 June 2001 / Menu / 25 June 2001 |
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