Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair.

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Public Petition

2.1 Public Petition – Reconsideration of the Belmont Road proposed development along the banks of the Sixmilewater River

Mr Danny Kinahan was granted leave, in accordance with Standing Order 22, to present a Public Petition relating to reconsideration of the Belmont Road proposed development along the banks of the Sixmilewater River.

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Motion - The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2015

Proposed:

That the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 be approved.

Minister for Social Development

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.

4. Committee Business

4.1 First Stage – Ombudsman and Commissioner for Complaints (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 48/11-16)

The Chairperson of the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister, Mr Mike Nesbitt, introduced a Bill to extend the maximum period for which an acting Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and an acting Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints may hold office.

The Ombudsman and Commissioner for Complaints (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 48/11-16) passed First Stage and ordered to be printed.

4.2 Motion - Report on the Operation of the Provisions of Parts 3 and 4 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the report of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee on the Operation of the Provisions of Parts 3 and 4 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (NIA 242/11-16), made under Section 29A (3) of that Act.

Deputy Chairperson, Assembly and Executive Review Committee

Debate ensued.

The Principal Deputy Speaker (Mr Newton) took the Chair.

The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.

5. Private Members’ Business

5.1 Motion - Marriage Equality

A valid Petition of Concern was presented under Standing Order 28, on Friday 24 April 2015 in relation to the Motion (Appendix 1).

Proposed:

That this Assembly welcomes the marriage equality referendum in the south of Ireland; notes that a growing number of parliaments across the world have embraced, and legislated for, marriage equality; respects the rights of the religious institutions to define, observe and practise marriage within their beliefs; and calls on the Executive to legislate for marriage equality for same sex couples so that all citizens will have the same legal entitlement to the protections, responsibilities, rights, obligations and benefits afforded by the legal institution of marriage.

Ms C Ruáne
Mr Daíthi McKay
Mr Chris Hazzard
Ms Megan Fearon

The Speaker took the Chair.

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 13.55pm.

The sitting resumed at 2.00pm, with the Speaker in the Chair.

6. Question Time

6.1 Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister

Questions were put to, and answered by, the First Minister, Rt. Hon. Mr Peter Robinson. The junior Minister, Mr Jonathan Bell, also answered a number of questions.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) took the Chair.

6.2 Social Development

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Social Development, Mr Mervyn Storey.

The Speaker took the Chair.

7. Private Members’ Business (Cont’d)

7.1 Motion – Marriage Equality (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

The Question being put, the Motion was negatived on a cross-community vote (Division).

8. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 4.00pm.

Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
The Speaker
27 April 2015

Appendix 1  

Northern Ireland Assembly

The undersigned Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly presented a Petition of Concern, in accordance with Standing Order 28, on Friday 24 April 2015 in relation to the following motion:

Marriage Equality

That this Assembly welcomes the marriage equality referendum in the south of Ireland; notes that a growing number of parliaments across the world have embraced, and legislated for, marriage equality; respects the rights of the religious institutions to define, observe and practise marriage within their beliefs; and calls on the Executive to legislate for marriage equality for same sex couples so that all citizens will have the same legal entitlement to the protections, responsibilities, rights, obligations and benefits afforded by the legal institution of marriage.

MR SYDNEY ANDERSON

MS PAULA BRADLEY

MR THOMAS BUCHANAN

MRS PAM CAMERON

MR GREGORY CAMPBELL

MR TREVOR CLARKE

MR JONATHAN CRAIG

MR SAMMY DOUGLAS

MR GORDON DUNNE

MR ALEX EASTON

MR PAUL FREW

MR PAUL GIRVAN

MR PAUL GIVAN

MRS BRENDA HALE

MR DAVID HILDITCH

MR WILLIAM HUMPHREY

MR WILLIAM IRWIN

MR IAN MCCREA

MR DAVID MCILVEEN

MISS MICHELLE MCILVEEN

MR ADRIAN MCQUILLAN

MR GARY MIDDLETON

THE LORD MORROW

MR STEPHEN MOUTRAY

MR EDWIN POOTS

MR GEORGE ROBINSON

MR ALASTAIR ROSS

MR JIMMY SPRATT

MR PETER WEIR

MR SAMMY WILSON

Northern Ireland Assembly

27 April 2015
Division

Motion – Marriage Equality

Proposed:

That this Assembly welcomes the marriage equality referendum in the south of Ireland; notes that a growing number of parliaments across the world have embraced, and legislated for, marriage equality; respects the rights of the religious institutions to define, observe and practise marriage within their beliefs; and calls on the Executive to legislate for marriage equality for same sex couples so that all citizens will have the same legal entitlement to the protections, responsibilities, rights, obligations and benefits afforded by the legal institution of marriage.

Ms C Ruáne
Mr Daíthi McKay
Mr Chris Hazzard
Ms Megan Fearon

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 47
Noes: 49

AYES

NATIONALIST:

Mr Attwood, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr D Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Durkan, Mr Eastwood, Ms Fearon, Mr Flanagan, Mr Hazzard, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Mr Lynch, Mr McAleer, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Ms McCorley, Dr McDonnell, Mr McElduff, Ms McGahan, Mr McGlone, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McKay, Mr McKinney, Ms Maeve McLaughlin, Mr McMullan, Mr Maskey, Mr Milne, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mr Ó Muilleoir, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr Ramsey, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan.

UNIONIST:

Mr Kinahan, Mr McCallister, Mr B McCrea, Ms Sugden.

OTHER:

Mr Agnew, Mr Dickson, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Ms Lo, Mr Lyttle.

Tellers for the Ayes: Ms Fearon and Ms Ruane.

NOES

UNIONIST:

Mr Allister, Mr Anderson, Mr Beggs, Mr Bell, Ms P Bradley, Mr Buchanan, Mrs Cameron, Mr Campbell, Mr Clarke, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mrs Dobson, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Gardiner, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kennedy, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Mr D McIlveen, Miss M McIlveen, Mr McNarry, Mr McQuillan, Mr Middleton, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Newton, Mrs Overend, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Mr P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Swann, Mr Weir, Mr Wells, Mr Wilson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr McQuillan and Mr G Robinson.

Total votes 96 Total Ayes 47 [49.0 % ]

Nationalist Vote 37 Nationalist Ayes 37 [100.0 % ]

Unionist Votes 53 Unionist Ayes 4 [7.5 % ]

Other Votes 6 Other Ayes 6 [100 % ]

The following Members voted in both Lobbies and are therefore not counted in the result:

Mrs Cochrane, Mr Lunn, Mr McCarthy.

The Motion was negatived on a cross-community vote.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
22 April 2015 to 27 April 2015

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

6. Statutory Rules

S.R. 2015/223 The Health and Safety (Miscellaneous Repeals, Revocations and Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DETI).

S.R. 2015/227 The Misuse of Drugs (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DHSSPS).

S.R. 2015/228 The Misuse of Drugs (Designation) (Amendment No.2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DHSSPS).

S.R. 2015/229 The Ship Recycling Facilities Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DOE).

For Information Only

S.R. 2015/226 The Road Races (North West 200) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (DRD).

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

The Waste Management Charging (Northern Ireland) Scheme 2015 (DOE).

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications