Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at 10.30am, Deputy Speaker Beggs in the Chair.

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Assembly Business

2.1 Motion: Suspension of Standing Order 20(1)

Proposed:

That Standing Order 20(1) be suspended for 21 July 2020.

Mr Keith Buchanan
Mr John O'Dowd
Mrs Dolores Kelly
Mr Robbie Butler
Ms Kellie Armstrong
Ms Clare Bailey

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

2.2 Motion: Appointment of the Northern Ireland Assembly Commissioner for Standards

Proposed:

That this Assembly, in accordance with Section 19(1) of the Assembly Members (Independent Financial Review and Standards) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, appoints Mr Paul Kennedy as the Assembly Commissioner for Standards.

Mr John Blair
Mr Keith Buchanan
Mr Robbie Butler
Mrs Dolores Kelly
Mr John O'Dowd

The Motion was not moved.

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Motion: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Amendment No. 9) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Proposed:

That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Amendment No. 9) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved.

The Executive Office

Motion: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Amendment No. 10) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Proposed:

That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Amendment No. 10) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved.

The Executive Office

A single debate on both motions ensued.

The Temporary Speaker, Mr Wells, took the Chair.

The Question being put, the motion on the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Amendment No. 9) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 was carried.

The Question being put, the motion on the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Amendment No. 10) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 was carried.

3.2 Consideration Stage – Executive Committee (Functions) Bill (NIA Bill 8/17-22)

The junior Minister, Mr Declan Kearney, moved the Consideration Stage of the Executive Committee (Functions) Bill (NIA Bill 8/17-22).

No amendments were tabled to the Bill.

Clauses

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

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

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 3 stand part of the Bill.

Long Title

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

The Executive Committee (Functions) Bill (NIA Bill 8/17-22) stood referred to the Speaker.

The Assembly took its ease from 11.41 am to 11.42 am.

4. Committee Business

4.1 Motion: Climate Change and the Introduction of a Climate Change Act

Proposed:

That this Assembly acknowledges the ongoing climate and biodiversity emergency and calls by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for rapid decarbonisation; reiterates the Assembly's declaration of a climate and biodiversity emergency, the Assembly's demands for the urgent introduction of a Climate Change Act, the all-party New Decade, New Approach commitment to delivering a Climate Change Act, and the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs' commitment to a Green Growth Strategy; recognises climate change as a human rights issue that risks deepening existing inequalities; further recognises the need for a stimulus-led, just and green recovery to restart economic activity following the economic disruption arising from COVID-19; calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to introduce a Climate Change Act with legally binding and ambitious sectoral emission-reduction targets, and to ensure that any economic recovery strategy is underpinned by rapid decarbonisation and a just transition to protect jobs through upskilling people in carbon intensive sectors; and further calls on the Minister to introduce this Act in the Assembly within three months.

Chairperson, Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

Amendment

Proposed:

Leave out all after 'delivering a Climate Change Act' and insert:

'; recognises the all-party commitment to a Green Growth Strategy and the calls for this to be at the centre of the Northern Ireland COVID-19 recovery plan; and calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to introduce a consultation on plans for a Climate Change Act.'

Mr John Stewart
Mrs Rosemary Barton

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair.

The Question being put, the amendment was negatived (Division).

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

The sitting was suspended at 1.35pm.

The sitting resumed at 1.50pm, with the Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, in the Chair.

5. Question for Urgent Oral Answer

5.1 Waste Storage at Edenderry Industrial Estate

The Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Mr Edwin Poots, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer tabled by Mr William Humphrey.

6. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 2.06pm.

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker

21 July 2020

Northern Ireland Assembly

21 July 2020
Division

Motion: Climate Change and the Introduction of a Climate Change Act (Amendment)

Proposed:

Leave out all after 'delivering a Climate Change Act' and insert:

'; recognises the all-party commitment to a Green Growth Strategy and the calls for this to be at the centre of the Northern Ireland COVID-19 recovery plan; and calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to introduce a consultation on plans for a Climate Change Act.'

Mr John Stewart
Mrs Rosemary Barton

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 36
Noes: 47

AYES

Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Mrs Barton, Mr Beattie, Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, 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 Stalford, Mr Stewart, Mr Storey, Mr Swann, Mr Weir.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mrs Barton, Mr Stewart

NOES

Ms Anderson, Dr Archibald, Ms Armstrong, Ms Bailey, Mr Blair, Mr Boylan, Ms S Bradley, Mr Carroll, Mr Catney, Mr Dickson, Ms Dillon, Ms Dolan, Mr Durkan, Ms Ennis, Ms Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Ms Hargey, Ms Hunter, Mr Kearney, Ms C Kelly, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mrs Long, Mr Lynch, Mr Lyttle, Mr McAleer, Mr McCann, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McNulty, Ms Mallon, Mr Muir, Ms Mullan, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr O'Toole, Ms Rogan, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Miss Woods.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr McAleer, Mr McGuigan

The Amendment fell.

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

Ms Armstrong voted for Mr Blair, 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, 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 Stalford, Mr Storey and Mr Weir.

Mr McGrath voted for Ms S Bradley, Mr Catney, Mr Durkan, Ms Hunter, Mrs D Kelly, Ms Mallon, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Ms McLaughlin, 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, Ms Hargey, Mr Kearney, Ms C Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mr Lynch, Mr McAleer [Teller, Noes], Mr McCann, Mr McGuigan [Teller, Noes], Mr McHugh, Ms Mullan, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mrs O'Neill, Ms Rogan, Mr Sheehan and Ms Sheerin.

Mr Butler voted for Mr Allen and Mr Swann.

Miss Woods voted for Ms Bailey.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 8July 2020 – 21 July 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

Northern Health and Social Care Trust Annual Report and Accounts 2019-20 (Department of Health)

Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company Annual Report and Accounts 2019-20 (Department for Infrastructure)

Labour Relations Agency Annual Report and Accounts 2019-20 (Department for the Economy)

Police Rehabilitation and Retraining Trust Annual Report and Accounts Year Ended 31 March 2020 (Police Rehabilitation and Retraining Trust)

The Sports Council for Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2018-19 (Department for Communities)

UK Statistics Authority's Annual Report and Accounts 2019-20 (Department of Finance)

Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board Annual Reports and Accounts 2019-20 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Order 2020 (Draft Statutory Instrument)

Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman's Report 2019-20 (The Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman)

Equality Commission for Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2019-20 (Equality Commission for Northern Ireland)

South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust Annual Report and Accounts 2019-20 (Department of Health)

Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care Annual Report and Accounts 2019-20

Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care Business Plan

Strategic Investment Board Limited's Annual Review and Financial Statements 2019-20 (The Executive Office)

Public Health Agency Annual Report and Accounts 2019-20 (Department of Health)

Health and Social Care Board Annual Report and Accounts 2019-20 (Department of Health)

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust Annual Report and Accounts 2019-20 (Department of Health)

Strategic Investment Board Limited Annual Review and Financial Statements 2019/20 (The Executive Office)

Southern Health and Social Care Trust Annual Report and Accounts 2019-20 Department of Health)

Committee on Climate Change Annual Report and Accounts 2019/20 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

Press Recognition Panel Annual Report and Financial Statements year ended 31 March 2020 (Press Recognition Panel)

Security Industry Authority Annual Report and Accounts 2019/20 (Department of Justice)

National Heritage Memorial Fund annual report and accounts for year ending 31 March 2020 (National Heritage Lottery Fund)

National Heritage Memorial Fund Lottery distribution annual report and accounts for year ending 31 March 2020 (National Heritage Lottery Fund)

5. Assembly Reports

Report on Excess Votes (Northern Ireland) 2016-2017 (NIA 34/17-22) (Public Accounts Committee)

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Sixteenth Report of Session 2019 – 2020 (NIA 37/17-22) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2020/135 The Salaries (Public Services Ombudsman) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Assembly Commission)

SR 2020/136 The Industrial Training Levy (Construction Industry) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for the Economy)

SR 2020/138 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

SR 2020/139 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Amendment No. 11) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

SR 2020/140 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

SR 2020/141 The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Suspension) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

SR 2020/142 The Mental Health (1986 Order) (Amendment No. 2) Order (NI) 2020 (Department of Health)

SR 2020/143 The Mental Health (Nurses, Guardianship, Consent to Treatment and Prescribed Forms) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

SR 2020/144 The Rates (Coronavirus) (Emergency Relief) (No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Finance)

SR 2020/145 The Education (Student Support) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for the Economy)

For Information Only

SR 2020/137 The Road Races (Garron Point Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Infrastructure)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

Consultation on Raising the Small Payment Limit Without Probate in Northern Ireland (Department of Finance)

9. Departmental Publications

Industrial Injuries Advisory Council Reports (Department for Communities)

Commissioner for Public Appointments Annual Report 2019/2020 (The Executive Office)

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

Northern Ireland Assembly Legislation:

Stages in Consideration of Public Bills

First Stage: Introduction of Bill.

Second Stage: General debate of the Bill with an opportunity for Members to vote on its general principles.

Committee Stage (Comm. Stage): Detailed investigation by a Committee which concludes with the publication of a report for consideration by the Assembly.

Consideration Stage (CS): Consideration by the Assembly of, and an opportunity for Members to vote on, the details of the Bill including amendments proposed to the Bill.

Further Consideration Stage (FCS): Consideration by the Assembly of, and an opportunity for Members to vote on, further amendments to the Bill.

Final Stage: Passing or rejecting of Bill by the Assembly, without further amendment.

Royal Assent.

Proceedings as 21 July 2020

2017-2022 Mandate
Executive Bills                     

2017-2022 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills        

/ Bills progressing by accelerated passage

PROXY VOTING NOTICES – TUESDAY 21 JULY 2020

The following Members notified the Speaker, under Standing Order 112, that they wished to avail of proxy voting arrangements for the sitting on Tuesday 21 July 2020: