Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Matter of the Day

2.1 Death of George Floyd

Mr Gerry Carroll made a statement, under Standing Order 24, in relation to the Death of George Floyd. Other Members were also called to speak on the matter.

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Consideration Stage – Budget (No. 2) Bill (NIA Bill 05/17-22)

The Minister of Finance, Mr Conor Murphy, moved the Consideration Stage of the Budget (No. 2) Bill.

No amendments were tabled to the Bill.

Clauses

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clauses 1 to 4 stand part of the Bill.

Schedules

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Schedules 1 and 2 stand part of the Bill.

Long Title

The question being put, the Long Title was agreed without division.

The Budget (No. 2) Bill (NIA Bill 05/17-22) stood referred to the Speaker.

3.2 Motion: Accelerated Passage – The Housing (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 06/17-22)

Proposed:

That the Housing (Amendment) Bill proceed under the accelerated passage procedure.

Minister for Communities

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried with cross-community support (Division).

3.3 Second Stage: The Housing (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 06/17-22)

The Minister for Communities, Ms Deirdre Hargey, moved the Second Stage of the Housing (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 06/17-22).

Debate ensued.

The Housing (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 06/17-22) passed Second Stage.

Deputy Speaker Beggs took the Chair

3.4 Motion: The Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments No. 3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019

Proposed:

That the Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments No. 3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019 be approved.

Minister for Communities

Motion: The Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments No. 4) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019

Proposed:

That the Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments No. 4) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019 be approved.

Minister for Communities

A single debate ensued on the two motions.

The Question being put, the motion on the Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments No. 3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019 was carried.

The Question being put, the motion on the Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments No. 4) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019 was carried.

3.5 Legislative Consent Motion: Pension Schemes Bill

Proposed:

That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension of the provisions of the Pension Schemes Bill dealing with collective money purchase benefits, the Pensions Regulator, pensions dashboards and further provision relating to pension schemes as contained in clauses 52 to 102, 117, 120 and 128 of, and Schedules 4 to 6, 8, 9 and 11 to, the Bill as introduced in the House of Lords, to Northern Ireland.

Minister for Communities

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Motion was carried.

4. Private Members' Business

4.1 Motion: Planning a Just Economic Recovery after the COVID-19 Crisis

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the unprecedented impact the COVID-19 global pandemic is having on our society and economy; commends the invaluable contribution made by our front-line workers who have provided vital service, selflessly, throughout this pandemic; believes that a fair and just economic recovery strategy is required in the aftermath of this crisis; agrees that an economic recovery strategy must not only recognise but also demonstrate that we value our front-line workers and want to protect them, and the most vulnerable, through any impending recession; understands that workers' rights, and public services must be protected; and commits to existing economic challenges being tackled by a just transition to a more high-skilled, regionally balanced and sustainable economy which works for workers, their families, and businesses; and calls on the Executive to ensure that these principles underpin an economic and society-wide recovery.

Dr Caoimhe Archibald
Mr Colm Gildernew
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín
Mr Declan McAleer

Amendment

Proposed:

Leave out all after 'fair' and insert:

", just and green economic recovery strategy is required in the aftermath of this crisis; agrees that an economic recovery strategy must not only recognise but also demonstrate that we value our front-line workers and want to protect them, and the most vulnerable, through any impending recession; understands that workers' rights and public services must be protected; commits to existing economic challenges being tackled by a just and green transition to a more high-skilled, regionally balanced and sustainable economy which works for workers, their families, and businesses; and calls on the Executive to ensure that these principles underpin an economic and society-wide recovery guided by a social partnership approach involving government, Trade Unions, businesses and the Third Sector."

Mr Andrew Muir
Mr John Blair

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Amendment was made.

The Question being put, the motion, as amended, was carried.

5. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 4.37pm.

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker

1 June 2020

Northern Ireland Assembly

1 June 2020
Division

Motion: Accelerated Passage – The Housing (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 06/17-22)

Proposed:

That the Housing (Amendment) Bill proceed under the accelerated passage procedure.

Minister for Communities

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 68
Noes: 15

AYES

NATIONALIST:

Ms Anderson, Dr Archibald, Mr Boylan, Ms Dillon, Ms Dolan, Ms Ennis, Ms Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Ms Hargey, Mr Kearney, Ms C Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mr Lynch, Mr McAleer, Mr McCann, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Ms Mullan, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Ms Rogan, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin

UNIONIST:

Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Mrs Barton, Mr Beattie, Mr Beggs, Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Middleton, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Newton, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson, Mr Stewart, Mr Storey, Mr Swann, Mr Weir

OTHER:

Ms Armstrong, Mr Blair, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Dickson, Mrs Long, Mr Lyttle, Mr Muir

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Buckley, Mr Gildernew

NOES

NATIONALIST:

Ms S Bradley, Mr Catney, Mr Durkan, Ms Hunter, Mrs D Kelly, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McNulty, Mr O'Toole

UNIONIST:

Mr Allister

OTHER:

M Ms Bailey, Mr Carroll, Miss Woods

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Durkan, Ms McLaughlin

Total Votes           83                    Total Ayes            68 [81.9%]

Nationalist Votes  37                    Nationalist Ayes   26 [70.3%]

Unionist Votes      36                    Unionist Ayes       35 [97.2%]

Other Votes           10                    Other Ayes             7 [70.0%]

The motion was carried with cross-community support.

The following Members' votes were cast by their notified proxy in this division:

Ms Armstrong voted for Mr Blair, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Dickson, Mrs Long, Mr Lyttle and Mr Muir.

Mr K Buchanan voted for Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley [Teller, Ayes], Ms Bunting, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Newton, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson, Mr Storey and Mr Weir.

Mr Butler voted for Mr Swann.

Mr McGrath voted for Ms S Bradley, Mr Catney, Mr Durkan [Teller, Noes], Ms Hunter, Mrs D Kelly, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Ms McLaughlin [Teller, Noes], Mr McNulty and Mr O'Toole.

Mr O'Dowd voted for Ms Anderson, Dr Archibald, Mr Boylan, Ms Dillon, Ms Dolan, Ms Ennis, Ms Flynn, Mr Gildernew [Teller, Ayes], Ms Hargey, Mr Kearney, Ms C Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mr Lynch, Mr McAleer, Mr McCann, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Ms Mullan, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mrs O'Neill, Ms Rogan, Mr Sheehan and Ms Sheerin.

Miss Woods voted for Ms Bailey.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 27 May 2020 – 1 June 2020

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

Medicines and Medical Devices Bill - Legislative Consent Memorandum (Department of Health)

Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill – Legislative Consent Memorandum (Department for the Economy)

The Northern Ireland Criminal Injuries Compensation (Amendment 2020) Scheme (2009) (Department of Justice)

5. Assembly Reports

Committee for the Economy Report on the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill Legislative Consent Memorandum (NIA 23/17-22) (Committee for the Economy)

Committee for Justice Report on the Birmingham Commonwealth Games Bill Legislative Consent Memorandum (NIA 26/17-22) (Committee for Justice)

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2020/88 The Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2020/89 The Statutory Sick Pay (General) (Coronavirus Amendment) (No..4) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Communities)

For Information only

SR 2020/31 The Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles (Construction and Use) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (for information only) (Department for Infrastructure)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

Consultation on Further Education Support and Charging Policy at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

PROXY VOTING NOTICES – MONDAY 1 JUNE 2020

The following Members notified the Speaker, under Standing Order 112, that they wished to avail of proxy voting arrangements for the sitting on Monday 1 June 2020: