Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Assembly Business

2.1 Motion: Suspension of Standing Order 20A

Proposed:

That Standing Order 20A be suspended until 4 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.

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Statement – Rebuilding HSC Services

The Minister of Health, Mr Robin Swann, made a statement regarding Rebuilding HSC Services, following which he replied to questions.

3.2 Motion: The draft Northern Ireland Criminal Injuries Compensation (Amendment 2020) Scheme (2009)

Proposed:

That the draft Northern Ireland Criminal Injuries Compensation (Amendment 2020) Scheme (2009) be approved.

Minister of Justice

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

3.3 Legislative Consent Motion: Birmingham Commonwealth Games Bill

Proposed:

That this Assembly agrees to the extension to Northern Ireland of a number of provisions within the Birmingham Commonwealth Games Bill relating to the creation of a new offence which prohibits the unauthorised sale or resale of Games tickets.

Minister of Justice

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Motion was carried.

4. Private Members' Business

4.1 Motion: Support for Sheep and Beef Farmers through the COVID-19 Pandemic

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the important role that sheep and beef farmers play in ensuring a safe and secure supply of food for the population; acknowledges that a significant portion of sheep and beef farmers, such as hill farmers, are situated in areas of natural constraint and severely disadvantaged areas and face considerable challenges in running their farms; recognises that COVID-19 has had a huge impact on the sheep and beef sector with the closure of restaurants, hotels and the wider food services industry; further recognises that due to low incomes and the minimal support from other COVID-19-related schemes that sheep and beef farmers in areas of natural constraint have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic; and calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to ensure that equality and fairness underpins the allocation of the £25 million Agri-Food Sector Market Intervention Fund and that sheep and beef farmers from areas of natural constraint receive the support they need through the distribution of this funding.

Mr Declan McAleer
Mr Philip McGuigan
Ms Emma Sheerin
Ms Jemma Dolan

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 12.50pm.

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

5. Question for Urgent Oral Answer

5.1 Police Enforcement of Belfast Mass Gathering

The Minister of Justice, Mrs Naomi Long, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer tabled by Mr Paul Givan.

5.2 Job Losses at Thompson Aero Seating

The Minister for the Economy, Mrs Diane Dodds, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer tabled by Mr John O'Dowd.

6. Private Members' Business (cont'd)

6.1 Motion: Support for Sheep and Beef Farmers through the COVID-19 Pandemic (cont'd)

Debate resumed.

The Question being put, the Motion was carried (Division 1).

6.2 Motion: Stress Experienced by Northern Ireland Prison Service staff

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the stress experienced by members of the Northern Ireland Prison Service in the course of their duties; calls on the Minister of Finance to ensure that the Northern Ireland Civil Service Human Resources policy on Inefficiency Sickness Absence Management takes into account the stress experienced by Northern Ireland Prison Service staff; and further calls on the Minister to cease the issuing of written warnings to members of the Northern Ireland Prison Service who are suffering from diagnosed mental health conditions and instead to manage the needs of these individuals through positive engagement and compassionate management which focuses on their needs.

Mr Doug Beattie
Mr Robbie Butler

Debate ensued.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

The Question being put, the motion fell (Division 2).

7. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 6.10pm.

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker

9 June 2020

Northern Ireland Assembly

9 June 2020
Division 1

Support for Sheep and Beef Farmers through the COVID-19 Pandemic
Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the important role that sheep and beef farmers play in ensuring a safe and secure supply of food for the population; acknowledges that a significant portion of sheep and beef farmers, such as hill farmers, are situated in areas of natural constraint and severely disadvantaged areas and face considerable challenges in running their farms; recognises that COVID-19 has had a huge impact on the sheep and beef sector with the closure of restaurants, hotels and the wider food services industry; further recognises that due to low incomes and the minimal support from other COVID-19-related schemes that sheep and beef farmers in areas of natural constraint have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic; and calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to ensure that equality and fairness underpins the allocation of the £25 million Agri-Food Sector Market Intervention Fund and that sheep and beef farmers from areas of natural constraint receive the support they need through the distribution of this funding.

Ms Declan McAleer
Mr Philip McGuigan
Ms Emma Sheerin
Ms Jemma Dolan

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 55
Noes: 27

AYES

Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Ms Anderson, Dr Archibald, Ms Armstrong, Ms Bailey, Mrs Barton, Mr Beattie, Mr Blair, Mr Boylan, Ms S Bradley, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Carroll, Mr Catney, Mr Chambers, 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, Mr Nesbitt, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr O'Toole, Ms Rogan, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Stewart, Miss Woods.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr McAleer, Mr McGuigan.

NOES

Mr Allister, Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, 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 Newton, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson, Mr Storey, Mr Weir.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Buckley, Mr Irwin.

The Motion was carried.

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, Noes], Ms Bunting, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin [Teller, Noes], Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Newton, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson, Mr Storey and Mr Weir.

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

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, Ayes], Mr McCann, Mr McGuigan [Teller, Ayes], 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

9 June 2020
Division 2

Stress Experienced by Northern Ireland Prison Service staff
Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the stress experienced by members of the Northern Ireland Prison Service in the course of their duties; calls on the Minister of Finance to ensure that the Northern Ireland Civil Service Human Resources policy on Inefficiency Sickness Absence Management takes into account the stress experienced by Northern Ireland Prison Service staff; and further calls on the Minister to cease the issuing of written warnings to members of the Northern Ireland Prison Service who are suffering from diagnosed mental health conditions and instead to manage the needs of these individuals through positive engagement and compassionate management which focuses on their needs.

Mr Doug Beattie
Mr Robbie Butler

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 37
Noes: 46

AYES

Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Ms Bailey, 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 Stewart, Mr Storey, Mr Swann, Mr Weir, Miss Woods.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Beattie, Mr Givan.

NOES

Ms Anderson, Dr Archibald, Ms Armstrong, Mr Blair, Mr Boylan, Ms S Bradley, Ms Bradshaw, 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.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Catney, Ms Dillon.

The Motion fell.

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, Ms Bunting, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Givan [Teller, Ayes], 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 O'Toole voted for Ms S Bradley, Mr Catney [Teller, Noes], Mr Durkan, Ms Hunter, Mrs D Kelly, Ms Mallon, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Ms McLaughlin and Mr McNulty.

Mr O'Dowd voted for Ms Anderson, Dr Archibald, Mr Boylan, Ms Dillon [Teller, Noes], 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, 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 3 June 2020 – 9 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

Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry Report (The Executive Office)

Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties Notice (No.7) 2020 (Department of Education)

Reports of unannounced inspections of Ash House Women's Prison and Hydebank Wood Secure College (Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland)

5. Assembly Reports

Committee for Justice Report on the Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Bill Legislative Consent Motion (NIA 27/17-22) (Committee for Justice)

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Twelfth Report of Session 2019 – 2020 (NIA 29/17-22) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2020/90 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

SR 2020/93 The Sexual Offences Act 2003 (Prescribed Police Stations) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Justice)

SR 2020/95 The Sea Fish Industry (Coronavirus) (Fixed Costs) (Amendment) Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

SR 2020/96 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Amendment No. 5) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

SR 2020/97 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Public Health Advice for Persons Travelling to Northern Ireland) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

SR 2020/98 The Student Fees (Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for the Economy)

For Information Only

SR 2020/75 The Direct Payments to Farmers (Crop Diversification Derogation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (for information only) (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

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 9 June 2020

2017-2022 Mandate
Executive Bills

2017-2022 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills                

/ Bills progressing by accelerated passage

PROXY VOTING NOTICES – TUESDAY 9 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 9 June 2020: