Minutes of Proceedings

Session: Session currently unavailable

Date: 23 June 2020

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Speaker's Business

Royal Assent

2.1 The Deputy Speaker informed the Assembly that the Budget (No. 2) Bill had received Royal Assent. The Budget (No. 2) Act (Northern Ireland) 2020 became law on 17 June 2020.

Committee on Procedures

2.2 The Deputy Speaker informed Members that the Speaker had been notified that Ms Linda Dillon had been nominated to fill the vacancy of Chairperson of the Committee on Procedures with effect from 18 June 2020, and that the Speaker was satisfied that the requirements of Standing Orders had been met.

Temporary Speakers

2.3 The Deputy Speaker referred Members to recent correspondence from the Speaker detailing the current unavailability of the Principal Deputy Speaker to chair Assembly proceedings, and the continuing unavailability of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker Mr McGlone. The Deputy Speaker informed Members that in the weeks ahead, the Assembly would need to rely on its arrangements for Temporary Speakers and that the Speaker had approached Mr Kelly and Mr Wells, as the eldest of the longest-serving eligible Members, and both had confirmed their willingness to assist the Assembly, if required, over the next few weeks.

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Statement – NSMC Institutional Meeting

The Junior Minister, Mr Declan Kearney, made a statement to the Assembly regarding the North/South Ministerial Council institutional meeting of 11 March 2020, following which he replied to questions.

3.2 Statement – Green Growth Strategy and Delivery Framework

The Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Mr Edwin Poots, made a statement to the Assembly regarding the Green Growth Strategy and Delivery Framework, following which he replied to questions.

The Temporary Speaker, Mr G Kelly, took the Chair.

3.3 Statement – Major Capital Works Programme

The Minister of Education, Mr Peter Weir, made a statement to the Assembly regarding the Major Capital Works Programme, following which he replied to questions.

The sitting was suspended at 12.58pm.

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

4. Question Time

4.1 Communities

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Communities, Ms Carál Ní Chuilín.

4.2 Economy

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for the Economy, Mrs Diane Dodds.

5. Question for Urgent Oral Answer

5.1 Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) Resignations

The Minister for Health, Mr Robin Swann, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer tabled by Mr Colin McGrath.

The Temporary Speaker, Mr G Kelly, took the Chair.

6. Executive Committee Business (cont'd)

6.1 Statement – Major Capital Works Programme (cont'd)

6.2 Further Consideration Stage: Housing (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 6/17-22)

The Minister for Communities, Ms Carál Ní Chuilín, moved the Further Consideration Stage of the Housing (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 6/17-22).

No amendments were tabled to the Bill.

Housing (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 06/17-22) stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with Section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

6.3 First Stage: Pension Schemes Bill (NIA Bill 7/17-22)

The Minister for Communities, Ms Carál Ní Chuilín, introduced a Bill to make provision about pension schemes.

The Pension Schemes Bill (NIA Bill 7/17-22) passed First Stage and was ordered to be published.

6.4 Legislative Consent Motion: Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Bill

Proposed:

That this Assembly agrees the extension to Northern Ireland of certain provisions within the Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Bill, relating to the interference with unmanned aircraft (drones) over places of detention.

Minister of Justice

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

6.5 Legislative Consent Motion: Domestic Abuse Bill

Proposed:

That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension to Northern Ireland of the relevant provisions of the Domestic Abuse Bill, introduced in the House of Commons on 3 March 2020, relating to the provisions to extend the power of the courts in Northern Ireland to try in the home jurisdiction certain sexual and violent offences that have been committed abroad, so far as these matters fall within the legislative competence of the Assembly.

Minister of Justice

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

The Temporary Speaker, Mr Wells, took the Chair.

7. Private Members' Business

7.1 Motion: Mental Health and Wellbeing after COVID-19

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the importance of prioritising mental health and well-being as part of the COVID-19 recovery; notes that the long-term impact of the pandemic on working practices, everyday social interaction and hospital or care home visiting will present new and substantive challenges to individual mental well-being, especially among the most vulnerable; stresses, therefore, the need for refreshed and reformed mental health and well-being service provision that is fit for purpose; further notes, to this end, the transformative role played by community and voluntary providers whose services are subject to increasing demand; and calls on the Minister of Health to outline plans to tackle COVID-19-related mental illness moving forward.

Mrs Pam Cameron
Mr Alex Easton

Amendment 1

Proposed:

Leave out all after 'interaction' and insert:

', individual coping strategies, and hospital or care home visiting will present new and substantive challenges to individual mental wellbeing, especially among the most vulnerable; stresses, therefore, the need for refreshed and reformed mental health and wellbeing service provision that recognises the structural barriers to addressing a dual diagnosis of mental illness and an addiction; further notes, to this end, the transformative role played by community and voluntary providers whose services are subject to increasing demand; and calls on the Minister of Health to outline plans to tackle mental health problems, mental illness and addictions related to COVID-19 moving forward.'

Ms Órlaithi Flynn
Mr Pat Sheehan
Mr Philip McGuigan
Mr Colm Gildernew

Amendment 2

Proposed:

At end insert:

'; and further calls on the Executive to support a cross-cutting and outcomes based approach to providing the funding and resources needed to maximise the Health and Social Care and the community and voluntary sectors' capacity to contribute to addressing poor mental health and promoting wellbeing.'

Mr Mike Nesbitt
Mr Robbie Butler

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, Amendment 1 was made.

The Question being put, Amendment 2 was made.

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

8. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 6.59pm.

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker

23 June 2020

 

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 17 June 2020 – 23 June 2020

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Budget (No. 2) Act (Northern Ireland) 2020

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Pension Schemes Bill (NIA Bill 7/17-22)

3. Orders in Council

4. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Human Rights Guidance for the Public Prosecution Service and the Police Service of Northern Ireland on the application of section 5 of the Criminal Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1967 to victims of serious sexual offences and those to whom they make disclosures (Attorney General for Northern Ireland)

Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill - Legislative Consent Memorandum (Department of Communities)

Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties Notice (No.8) 2020 (Department of Education)

Report on the Operation of the 2019/20 Voluntary Buy-Out Arrangements (Department for the Economy)

5. Assembly Reports

Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Report on the Legislative Consent Memorandum on the UK Government Environment Bill 2019-2020 (NIA 12/17-22) (Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Thirteenth Report of Session 2019 – 2020 (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2020/105 The Direct Payments to Farmers (Controls and Checks) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

SR 2020/106 The Mental Capacity (Deprivation of Liberty) (Amendment) (Revocation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

SR 2020/109 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Amendment No. 7) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

SR 2020/110 The Rates (Exemption for Automatic Telling Machines in Rural Areas) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Finance)

SR 2020/111 The Business Tenancies (Coronavirus) (Restriction on Forfeiture: Relevant Period) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2020 (Department of Finance)

For Information Only

SR 2020/41 The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Communities)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Commencement of the Criminal Finance Act 2017 and the Crime (Overseas Production Orders) Act 2019 in respect of relevant provisions relating to Northern Ireland (Minister of Justice)

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

General Dental Council Annual Report and Accounts 2019 (For Information only) (General Dental Council)

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 23 June 2020

2017-2022 Mandate
Executive Bills      

  

Title &
   NIA Bill Number

  
  

First
   Stage

  
  

Second Stage

  
  

Comm. Stage to Conclude

  
  

Report Ordered to be Printed

  
  

CS

  
  

FCS

  
  

Final Stage

  
  

Royal Assent

  

Budget   Bill (NIA Bill 02/17-22)

24/02/20

25/02/20

/

/

02/03/20

03/03/20

09/03/20

26/03/20

Domestic   Abuse and Family Proceedings Bill (NIA Bill 03/17-22)

31/03/20

28/04/20

15/10/20

 

 

 

 

 

Private   Tenancies (Coronavirus Modifications) Bill (NIA 04/17-22

21/04/20

21/04/20

/

/

28/04/20

/

28/04/20

04/05/20

Budget   (No. 2) Bill (NIA 5/17-22)

26/05/20

26/05/20

/

/

01/06/20

02/06/20

02/06/20

17/06/20

Housing   Amendment Bill (NIA 6/17-22)

26/05/20

01/06/20

/

/

16/06/20

23/06/20

 

 

Pension   Schemes Bill (NIA 7/17-22)

23/06/20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017-2022 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills              

  

Title &
   NIA Bill Number

  
  

First
   Stage

  
  

Second Stage

  
  

Comm. Stage to Conclude

  
  

Report Ordered to be Printed

  
  

CS

  
  

FCS

  
  

Final Stage

  
  

Royal Assent

  

Functioning   of Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill (NIA Bill 01/17-22)

03/02/20

16/03/20

02/12/20

 

 

 

 

 

/ Bills progressing by accelerated passage

PROXY VOTING NOTICES – TUESDAY 23 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 Tuesday 23 June 2020:

Martina Anderson

Catherine Kelly

Caoimhe Archibald

Dolores Kelly

Clare Bailey

Gerry Kelly

John Blair

Liz Kimmins

Cathal Boylan

Naomi Long

Maurice Bradley

Gordon Lyons

Paula Bradley

Séan Lynch

Sinéad Bradley

Chris Lyttle

Paula Bradshaw

Nichola Mallon

Thomas Buchanan

Declan McAleer

Jonathan Buckley

Fra McCann

Joanne Bunting

Daniel McCrossan

Pat Catney

Patsy McGlone

Trevor Clarke

Philip McGuigan

Stewart Dickson

Maolíosa McHugh

Linda Dillon

Michelle McIlveen

Diane Dodds

Sinead McLaughlin

Jemma Dolan

Justin McNulty

Gordon Dunne

Andrew Muir

Mark Durkan

Karen Mullan

Alex Easton

Conor Murphy

Sinéad Ennis

Robin Newton

Arlene Foster

Carál Ní Chuilín

Paul Frew

Michelle O’Neill

Órlaithí Flynn

Matthew O’Toole

Colm Gildernew

Edwin Poots

Paul Givan

George Robinson

Deirdre Hargey

Emma Rogan

Harry Harvey

Pat Sheehan

David Hilditch

Emma Sheerin

William Humphrey

Christopher Stalford

Cara Hunter

Mervyn Storey

William Irwin

Robin Swann

Declan Kearney

Peter Weir