Marshalled list of amendments
Thursday 14 November 2024
Item 4: Order Paper 64/22-27 – Monday 18 November 2024
Motion: Future EU Relationship
That this Assembly notes the beginning of the democratic consent process; calls for the Executive to continue their efforts to operate the Protocol/Windsor Framework as smoothly as possible; further calls on the Secretary of State to ensure that any independent review into the functioning of the Windsor Framework, as provided for under Schedule 6a of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, investigates and makes proposals to the UK and EU on other related post Brexit issues affecting all communities in Northern Ireland, including, but not limited to, disruptions to cross-border trade in services and provision of public services, improved access to Erasmus for Northern Ireland-based students and institutions, increased participation for Northern Ireland residents and community organisations in the fullest possible range of EU programmes, increased support for Northern Ireland businesses to maximise the advantages of dual market access, options for Northern Ireland representation in the European Parliament reflecting our rights as EU citizens and obligations under EU law, and any other measures which could bring economic or social benefits to this region befitting its unique post-Brexit status.
Leader of the Opposition
Amendment
After ‘under EU law’ insert:
‘urgent delivery of a comprehensive and ambitious UK-EU veterinary and sanitary and phytosanitary agreement, an electronic travel authorisation tourist exemption for international visitors coming to Northern Ireland from Ireland,’
[Mr Éoin Tennyson]
[Ms Kate Nicholl]
[Mr David Honeyford]
[Mr John Blair]
Motion: Universal, Affordable Child-centred Childcare
That this Assembly recognises the provision of affordable and child-centred childcare as a key piece of social and economic infrastructure; acknowledges the impact that rising childcare costs are having on families; further acknowledges the funding challenges faced by providers; notes that the existing free hours childcare model is insufficient in addressing these challenges; calls on the Minister of Education to prioritise the publication of an Early Learning and Childcare Strategy, including an ambition to reduce costs for all families by 50 per cent by 2030; and further calls on the Minister to work with the Minister of Finance to ensure that any additional Barnett consequential funding, resulting from increased funding for childcare in England, will be ring-fenced for the same purposes in Northern Ireland.
Leader of the Opposition
Amendment 1
Leave out all after ‘providers;’ and insert:
‘‘welcomes progress toward addressing these challenges, and the expansion and stabilisation of existing early years and childcare provision, through the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme and transitioning all funded pre-school education places to 22.5 hours per week; stresses the need for the Department for the Economy to advance a market assessment of childcare providers in order to expedite delivery of the targeted business support scheme agreed by the Executive; calls on the Minister of Education, building on ongoing work to build the evidence base necessary to inform development of long-term measures, to prioritise the publication of an Early Learning and Childcare Strategy, including meaningful actions to support child development, improve the affordability of childcare for families and support parents, including women, to work; and further calls on the Minister to work with the Minister of Finance to secure a commitment that the allocation of any additional Barnett consequential funding, including that resulting from increased funding for childcare in England, will reflect the need to deliver more affordable childcare as an immediate and standalone priority of the draft Programme for Government.’’
[Mr David Brooks]
[Mr Peter Martin]
Amendment 2 (Mutually Exclusive to Amendment 1)
Leave out ‘reduce costs for all families by 50 per cent’ and insert:
‘provide universal free childcare’
[Mr Gerry Carroll]
Motion: Belfast City Centre Dereliction
That this Assembly expresses deep concern over dereliction in Belfast City Centre, particularly the Tribeca Belfast site, which has contributed to a growing sense of squalor and decay; recognises the consequences of prolonged dereliction, including lost revenue from unpaid rates on vacant properties, reduced footfall and lower community morale; calls on the Minister of Finance to address city centre dereliction through the introduction of a vacant land tax to discourage long-term land banking, and to ensure that land in prime locations is used effectively for the benefit of the economy and community, including options to reflect the historic significance of the Assembly Rooms in the enlightenment of Belfast; and further calls on the Minister to work with Land and Property Services to conduct a full review of rates due across the Tribeca Belfast site, and to work with the Minister for Communities and the Minister for the Economy to engage proactively with Belfast City Council on their proposals for the site.
Leader of the Opposition
Amendment
Leave out all after first ‘dereliction’ and insert:
‘in parts of Belfast City Centre, which has contributed to a growing sense of squalor and decay; expresses frustration at delays in the proposed urban regeneration of the Tribeca Belfast site, as well as dilapidation on a number of main arterial routes into the City Centre, including the Newtownards Road, Peter's Hill and Sandy Row; recognises the consequences of prolonged dereliction, including lost revenue from unpaid rates on vacant properties, reduced footfall, anti-social behaviour and lower community morale; opposes long-term land banking but is concerned that the introduction of a vacant land tax could create a chill factor for investment and unfairly penalise land owners in circumstances where developments stall for reasons beyond their control; calls on the Minister of Finance to address city centre dereliction and to ensure that publicly and privately owned land in prime locations is used effectively for the benefit of the economy and community, including through options to reflect the historic significance of the Assembly Rooms in the enlightenment of Belfast; and further calls on the Minister to work with Land and Property Services to regularly review rates due across the Tribeca Belfast site, and to work alongside Executive colleagues to engage proactively with land owners and Belfast City Council on their proposals for the site.’
[Ms Diane Forsythe]
[Mr Paul Frew]
[Mr David Brooks]
[Mr Brian Kingston]
