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MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS MONDAY 2 JULY 2001 The Assembly met at 12.00 noon, the Speaker in the Chair 1. Personal Prayer or Meditation 1.1 Members observed two minutes’ silence. 2. The Speaker’s Business 2.1 Resignation of the First Minister The Speaker notified Members that The Rt Hon David Trimble MP had resigned as First Minister in a letter dated 1 July 2001. Under Section 16(7)(a) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 the Deputy First Minister, Mr Séamus Mallon MP, also ceased to hold Office from that date, but would continue to exercise the functions of his Office until the election of a new First Minister and a new Deputy First Minister. The Speaker reported that he had been notified by the then First Minister that he had designated Sir Reg Empey to exercise the functions of the Office of First Minister under Section 16(5)(b) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 with effect from 1 July 2001. 2.2 Mr Séamus Mallon MP made a personal statement to the Assembly. 3. Executive Committee Business 3.1 Statement – North/South Ministerial Council – Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Sector The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms Bríd Rodgers, made a statement to the Assembly on the meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council for the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights sector held on 22 June 2001, following which she replied to questions. Deputy Speaker (Sir John Gorman) in the Chair. 3.2 Statement – June Monitoring Round The Minister of Finance and Personnel, Mr Mark Durkan, made a statement to the Assembly on public spending allocations in 2001-02 in the light of the June Monitoring round, following which he replied to questions. 4. Question Time The Speaker in the Chair. 4.1 Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment Questions were put to and answered by the Minister, Sir Reg Empey. 4.2 Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment Questions were put to and answered by the Minister, Dr Séan Farren. 4.3 Minister for Social Development Deputy Speaker (Mr Donovan McClelland) in the Chair. Questions were put to and answered by the Minister, Mr Maurice Morrow. 5. Executive Committee Business (Cont’d) 5.1 First Stage – Local Government (Best Value) Bill (NIA Bill 19/00) Mr Sam Foster, the Minister of the Environment, introduced a Bill to make provision imposing on district councils requirements relating to economy, efficiency and effectiveness; and for connected purposes. Bill passed First Stage and ordered to be printed (NIA Bill 19/00). 5.2 Budget (No.2) Bill (NIA Bill 17/00) Consideration Stage Mr Mark Durkan, the Minister of Finance and Personnel, moved that the Consideration Stage of the Budget (No.2) Bill be agreed. Clauses The Question being put, it was agreed without division that Clauses 1-6 stand part of the Bill. Schedules The Question being put, it was agreed without division that Schedules 1-3 stand part of the Bill. Long Title The Question being put, the Long Title was agreed without division. NIA Bill 17/00 passed Consideration Stage with cross-community support (nemine contradicente) and stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with Section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. 5.3 Motion – Suspend Standing Orders Proposed: That Standing Order 10(6) be suspended for Monday 2 July 2001. [Minister for Regional Development] The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community consent (nemine contradicente). 5.4 Motion – Regional Development Strategy Proposed: That this Assembly takes note of progress on the formulation of the Regional Development Strategy. [Minister for Regional Development] Following debate, the Question being put, the Motion was carried without division. [Minister for Regional Development] 6. Adjournment 6.1 Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn. [The Speaker] The Assembly adjourned at 6.08 pm. THE LORD ALDERDICE The Speaker 2 July 2001 NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY FROM 27 JUNE 2001 to 2 JULY 2001
Northern Ireland Child Support Agency Annual Report and Accounts 2000–2001 (NIA 56/00) Health Estates Annual Report and Accounts 2000/2001 (NIA 67/00) The Management of Social Security Debt Collection (NIAO) (NIA 71/00) Northern Ireland Audit Office Reports on Belfast Action Teams: Investigations into Suspected Fraud within the Former Suffolk Action Team and Building Maintenance in the Education and Library Boards (NIA 72/00) Public Record Office of Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2000–2001 (NIA 80/00) (The department identified after each rule is for reference purposes only.) SR No 241 Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment No. 3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 (DOE) SR No 243 Road Races (Eagles Rock Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001 (DRD) SR No 244 Public Service Vehicles (Licence Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 (DOE) SR No 245 Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (Test Fees) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 (DOE) SR No 246 Motor Vehicle Testing (Amendment) (Fees) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 (DOE) SR No 247 Goods Vehicles (Testing) (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 (DOE) SR No 249 The Child Support, Pensions and Social Security (2000 Act) (Commencement No. 6) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001 (DSD) SR No 261 The Social Security (Discretionary Housing Payments Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 (DSD) Proposal for a Draft Criminal Injuries Compensation (Northern Ireland) Order 2001 (NIO) DETI and Its Agencies / NDPBs: A Statistical Synopsis Shaping Our Future: Draft Regional Development Strategy for Northern Ireland 2025 (DRD) Drinking Water Quality Report 2000 (Water Service) Parades Commission Third Annual Report 2000–2001 (HC 55) Royal Ulster Constabulary: Report of the Chief Constable 2000–2001 FOR INFORMATION – WESTMINSTER PROCEEDINGS NORTHERN IRELAND LEGISLATION: PROCEEDINGS AS AT 2 JULY 2001 Delegated legislation dealing with certain reserved matters, and some Bills or Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly, are subject to Parliamentary procedure. The Parliamentary stages of any such legislation are detailed below. MAP-Motion against presentation of Assembly Bill for Royal Assent. MCE-Motion that Act of Assembly shall cease to have effect.
For an explanation of Parliamentary consideration of Northern Ireland Legislation, see HCIO Factsheet L8 Legislation of the Northern Ireland Assembly (s. 15 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998) Some Northern Ireland Assembly Bills which include provisions dealing with exempted or reserved matters are required to be laid before Parliament for a period of 20 sitting days before being presented for Royal Assent. If a motion, signed by not less than 20 Members, disapproving of the Bill is tabled in either House during the 20-day period , the Bill shall not be presented for Royal Assent unless the motion is rejected or withdrawn. The date of tabling of any such motion will be shown below. Assembly Bills of this type which the Secretary of State deems urgent (U) may be presented for Royal Assent before being laid before Parliament. Such Acts of the Assembly are then required to be laid before Parliament for 20 sitting days. If a motion, signed by not less than 20 Members, praying that the Act shall cease to have effect is tabled in either House during the 20-day period the Act and is agreed to, the Act of the Assembly may be repealed by Order in Council. The date of tabling of any such motion will be shown below.
Delegated Legislation relating to Northern Ireland (s. 85 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998) Proposals for Orders in Council (other than Orders in Council made without Parliamentary approval by reason of urgency (U)) dealing with certain reserved matters must be laid for a period of 60 days to allow for consultation. The Government has indicated that it will normally refer such proposals to the Northern Ireland Grand Committee for debate. The subsequent draft Orders in Council must be approved by resolution of both Houses before being made (affirmative procedure). Draft Orders in Council (other than Orders in Council made without Parliamentary approval by reason of urgency (U)) dealing with matters within the competence of a suspended Assembly under Schedule 1 of the Northern Ireland Act 2000 must be approved by resolution of both Houses before being made (affirmative procedure). Orders in Council made before Parliamentary approval by reason of urgency (U) must be approved by both Houses within 40 days of being made.
NORTHERN IRELAND LEGISLATION: EXECUTIVE BILLS PROCEEDINGS AS AT 2 JULY 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 2 JULY 2001
THE NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY LIST OF MOTIONS NO DAY NAMED Items marked † are new or have been altered 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] Fluoridation of Drinking Water That this Assembly note the absence of legislation to prevent the fluoridation of drinking water and calls on the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to address this issue. [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] [Ms M Gildernew MP] 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] 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] Prevention of Bullying in the Workplace That this Assembly believes that current levels of legislation aimed at the prevention of bullying in the workplace are inadequate to address the issue; and that increased effort needs to be directed towards drafting and enforcing legislation which will minimise the occurrence of bullying in the workplace. [Mr J Shannon] 26 June 2001 / Menu / 3 July |
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