Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Assembly Business

2.1 Motion: Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Mr Pat Catney replace Mr John Dallat as a member of the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

Mrs Dolores Kelly
Mr Colin McGrath

The Question being put, the Motion was carried.

2.2 Motion: Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Mr Fra McCann replace Ms Emma Sheerin as a member of the Committee for Communities; that Ms Martina Anderson replace Mr Fra McCann as a member of the Committee for the Executive Office; and that Ms Emma Rogan replace Ms Martina Anderson as a member of the Committee for Justice.

Mr John O'Dowd
Ms Sinéad Ennis

The Question being put, the Motion was carried.

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Final Stage – Budget Bill (NIA Bill 02/17-22)

The Minister of Finance, Mr Conor Murphy, moved that the Final Stage of the Budget Bill (NIA Bill 2/17-22) do now pass.

Debate ensued.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

The Budget Bill (NIA Bill 2/17-22) passed Final Stage with cross-community support (Division).

3.2 Motion: The Bereavement Support Payment (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019

Proposed:

That the Bereavement Support Payment (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019 be approved.

Minister for Communities

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

3.3 Motion: The Social Security Benefits Up-rating (No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2019

Proposed:

That the Social Security Benefits Up-rating (No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2019 be approved.

Minister for Communities

Motion: The Social Security Benefits Up-rating (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019

Proposed:

That the Social Security Benefits Up-rating (No. 2) 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 Social Security Benefits Up-rating (No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2019 was carried.

The Question being put, the motion on the Social Security Benefits Up-rating (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019 was carried.

3.4 Motion: The Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019

Proposed:

That the Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019 be approved.

Minister for Communities

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

The sitting was suspended at 1.51pm.

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

4. Question Time

4.1 Communities

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Communities, Ms Deirdre Hargey.

4.2 Economy

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Education, Mr Peter Weir, on behalf of the Minister for the Economy Mrs Diane Dodds.

The Speaker took the Chair

5. Question for Urgent Oral Answer

5.1 Coronavirus Advice to Schools

The Minister of Education, Mr Peter Weir, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer tabled by Mr Chris Lyttle.

6. Executive Committee Business (cont'd)

6.1 Statement – Response to the Emergence of Coronavirus

The Minister of Health, Mr Robin Swann, made a statement regarding the novel Coronavirus COVID-19, following which he replied to questions.

7. Matter of the Day

7.1 Flybe Administration

Mr Andrew Muir made a statement, under Standing Order 24, in relation to Flybe entering administration on 5 March 2020. Other Members were also called to speak on the matter.

8. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 5.25pm.

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
9 March 2020

Northern Ireland Assembly

9 March 2020
Division

Final Stage – Budget Bill (NIA Bill 02/17-22)
Minister of Finance

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 66
Noes: 4

AYES

NATIONALIST:

Ms Anderson, Dr Archibald, Mr Boylan, Ms S Bradley, Mr Catney, Ms Dillon, Ms Dolan, Mr Durkan, Ms Ennis, Ms Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Ms Hargey, Mr Kearney, Ms C Kelly, Mrs D Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mr Lynch, Mr McAleer, Mr McCann, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGuigan, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McNulty, Ms Mallon, Ms Mullan, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr O'Toole, Ms Rogan, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin

UNIONIST:

Mr Allen, Mrs Barton, Mr Beattie, Mr Beggs, Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Mr Butler, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Frew, Mr Harvey, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Middleton, Mr Newton, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson, Mr Swann, Mr Weir

OTHER:

Ms Armstrong, Mr Blair, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Lyttle, Mr Muir

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Boylan, Ms Kimmins

NOES

UNIONIST:

Mr Allister

OTHER:

Ms Bailey, Mr Carroll, Miss Woods

Tellers for the Noes: Ms Bailey, Mr Carroll

Total Votes                  70          Total Ayes             66       [94.3%]

Nationalist Votes         34         Nationalist Ayes     34       [100.0%]

Unionist Votes             28         Unionist Ayes         27       [96.4%]

Other Votes                   8         Other Ayes               5        [62.5%]

The motion was carried with cross-community support.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 4 March 2020 – 9 March 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

5. Assembly Reports

Committee Report on the Draft Budgets 2020-21 of the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Northern Ireland Audit Office and the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman (NIA 10/17-22) (Audit Committee)

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2020/24 The Food Information (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

SR 2020/25 The Provision of Health Services to Persons Not Ordinarily Resident (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

SR 2020/26 The Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers' Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Communities)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications