Minutes of Proceedings
Session: Session currently unavailable
Date: 01 February 2021
The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair.
1. Prayers
Members observed two minutes' silence.
2. Matter of the Day
2.1 EU Proposal to Invoke Article 16
Mr Jim Allister, under Standing Order 24, made a statement on the EU proposal to invoke Article 16. Other Members were also called to speak on the matter.
3. Public Petition
3.1 Save Barnish Primary School
Mr Philip McGuigan was granted leave, in accordance with Standing Order 22, to present a Public Petition to Save Barnish Primary School.
4. Assembly Business
4.1 Motion: Committee Membership
Proposed:
That Ms Linda Dillon be appointed as a member of the Committee on Procedures; that Ms Karen Mullan replace Ms Carál Ní Chuilín as a member of the Committee for Communities; and that Ms Carál Ní Chuilín replace Mr Pat Sheehan as a member of the Committee for Health.
Mr John O'Dowd
Ms Sinéad Ennis
The Question being put, the motion was carried.
5. Committee Business
5.1 Motion: Report of the Committee for Health on its Inquiry into the Impact of COVID-19 in Care Homes
Proposed:
That this Assembly approves the Report of the Committee for Health on its Inquiry into the impact of COVID-19 in care homes [NIA 59/17-22]; and calls on the Minister of Health to implement the recommendations contained in the Report as part of the ongoing response to protect care home residents during future surges of the pandemic.
Chairperson, Committee for Health
Debate ensued.
The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair.
The sitting was suspended at 1.48pm.
The sitting resumed at 2.00pm, with the Speaker in the Chair.
6. Question Time
6.1 Finance
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Finance, Mr Conor Murphy.
6.2 Health
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Health, Mr Robin Swann.
7. Committee Business (cont'd)
7.1 Motion: Report of the Committee for Health on its Inquiry into the Impact of COVID-19 in Care Homes (cont'd)
Debate resumed.
The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair.
The Question being put, the motion was carried.
7.2 Motion: Amend Standing Order 110
Proposed:
After Standing Order 110 insert:
110A: Hybrid Proceedings
(1) Hybrid proceedings are proceedings of the Assembly in which one or more members of the Assembly are present remotely by a video-link hosted on such platform as may be provided by the Assembly Commission.
(2) The Speaker may make provision for hybrid proceedings of the Assembly.
(3) The provision which may be made under paragraph (2) includes—
a. provision for remote participation in debates and in the passage of legislation;
b. provision for remote questions to Ministers and the Assembly Commission;
c. provision for remote statements by Ministers;
d. provision for matters under standing orders 22 and 24;
e. provision for the purposes of preserving order and preventing conduct which could constitute a contempt of court.
(4) Subject to paragraph (5), references in standing orders to "proceedings", "meetings", "sittings", "speaking", "rising to speak", "the chamber", "present in the chamber", and like terms, shall be construed so as to give effect to any provision made by the Speaker under paragraph (2).
(5) Members participating remotely—
a. are not present for the purposes of standing order 9 (quorum); and
b. may not vote remotely, but may vote by proxy (see standing order 112).
(6) In this standing order, "proceedings" do not include committee proceedings.
(7) Save as provided by or under this standing order, hybrid proceedings shall be governed by the practice and standing orders of the Assembly.
Chairperson, Committee on Procedures
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the motion was carried with cross-community support.
8. Adjournment
Proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
The Speaker
The Assembly adjourned at 4.43pm.
Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
1 February 2021
Northern Ireland Assembly
Papers Presented to the Assembly on 27 January 2021 to 1 February 2021
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
UK Anti-Doping Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2020 (UK Anti-Doping Limited)
5. Assembly Reports
6. Statutory Rules
SR 2021/14 The Housing Benefit and Universal Credit Housing Costs (Executive Determinations) (Modification) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Communities)
SR 2021/15 The Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payment (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Communities)
SR 2021/17 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel, Operator Liability and Public Health Advice) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Health)
For information only
Explanatory Memorandum for SR 2021/3 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)
SR 2021/16 The Crown Court (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Justice)
7. Written Ministerial Statements
A1 Junctions Phase 2 Road Improvement Scheme (Minister for Infrastructure)
8. Consultation Documents
9. Departmental Publications
10. Agency Publications
11. Westminster Publications
12. Miscellaneous Publications
PROXY VOTING NOTICES – MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2021
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 February 2021:
Andy Allen |
Declan Kearney |
Martina Anderson |
Dolores Kelly |
Caoimhe Archibald |
Gerry Kelly |
Kellie Armstrong |
Liz Kimmins |
Rosemary Barton |
Naomi Long |
Roy Beggs |
Gordon Lyons |
John Blair |
Séan Lynch |
Cathal Boylan |
Chris Lyttle |
Paula Bradley |
Nichola Mallon |
Sinead Bradley |
Declan McAleer |
Paula Bradshaw |
Fra McCann |
Nicola Brogan |
Daniel McCrossan |
Thomas Buchanan |
Patsy McGlone |
Jonathan Buckley |
Colin McGrath |
Pam Cameron |
Philip McGuigan |
Pat Catney |
Maolíosa McHugh |
Alan Chambers |
Sinead McLaughlin |
Stewart Dickson |
Justin McNulty |
Linda Dillon |
Karen Mullan |
Diane Dodds |
Conor Murphy |
Jemma Dolan |
Mike Nesbitt |
Gordon Dunne |
Robin Newton |
Mark Durkan |
Carál Ní Chuilín |
Alex Easton |
Michelle O’Neill |
Sinéad Ennis |
Edwin Poots |
Arlene Foster |
George Robinson |
Órlaithí Flynn |
Emma Rogan |
Colm Gildernew |
Pat Sheehan |
Paul Givan |
Emma Sheerin |
Deirdre Hargey |
Christopher Stalford |
Harry Harvey |
John Stewart |
David Hilditch |
Mervyn Storey |
Cara Hunter |
Robin Swann |
William Irwin |
Peter Weir |