Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Speaker's Business

Ministerial Resignations and Appointments

The Speaker informed Members that he had received notification from the First and deputy First Minister that Mrs Diane Dodds had resigned the office of Minister for the Economy and Mr Peter Weir had resigned the office of Minister of Education with effect from 10.15am on Monday 14 June 2021. The Speaker also informed Members that he had received notification from the nominating officer for the Democratic Unionist Party that Mr Paul Frew had been nominated as Minister for the Economy and Miss Michelle McIlveen had been nominated as Minister of Education. Mr Frew and Miss McIlveen each accepted the nomination and affirmed the Pledge of Office in the presence of the Speaker and the Clerk/Chief Executive at 11.00am on Monday 14 June 2021.

Committee Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson Resignations

The Speaker informed Members that he had received notification of the resignations of Mr Paul Givan as Chairperson of the Committee for Justice; Ms McIlveen as Chairperson of the Committee for Infrastructure; Mr Mervyn Storey as Chairperson of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee; Mr Paul Frew as Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Finance; Ms Pam Cameron as Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Health; Mr William Irwin as Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Standards and Privileges; and Ms Joanne Bunting as Deputy Chairperson of the Audit Committee, with immediate effect.

Committee Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson Appointments

The Speaker informed Members that he had received notification that Mr Mervyn Storey had been nominated to fill the vacancy of Chairperson of the Committee for Justice; Mr Jonathan Buckley had been nominated to fill the vacancy of Chairperson of the Committee for Infrastructure; Ms Pam Cameron had been nominated to fill the vacancy of Chairperson of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee; Mr Christopher Stalford had been nominated to fill the vacancy of Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Standards and Privileges; and Mr William Irwin has been nominated to fill the vacancy of Deputy Chairperson of the Audit Committee, with immediate effect. The Speaker also informed Members that he had received notification that Mr Keith Buchanan had been nominated to fill the vacancy of Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Finance, with effect from 3.30pm on Tuesday 15 June 2021.

Ministerial Resignation

The Speaker informed that he had received notice of the resignation of the Rt Hon Arlene Foster as First Minister to take effect from 1pm on Monday 14 June 2021. The Rt Hon Arlene Foster made a statement and this was followed by comments from Members from the following parties: DUP, Sinn Féin, SDLP, UUP, Alliance, Green Party and TUV.

3. Matter of the Day

3.1 Undermining the Public Health Message

Mr Colm Gildernew, under Standing Order 24, made a statement on Undermining the Public Health Message. Other Members were also called to speak on the matter.

4. Assembly Business

4.1 Motion: Suspension of Standing Order 20(1)

Proposed:

That Standing Order 20(1) be suspended for 14 June 2021.

Ms Joanne Bunting
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.
The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

5. Executive Committee Business

5.1 First Stage: Local Government (Meetings and Performance) Bill (NIA Bill 26/17-22)

The Minister for Communities, Ms Deirdre Hargey, introduced a Bill to make provision relating to requirements as to meetings and performance of district councils.

The Local Government (Meetings and Performance) Bill (NIA Bill 26/17-22) passed First Stage and was ordered to be printed.

5.2 Consideration Stage: Budget (No. 2) Bill (NIA Bill 24/17-22)

The Minister of Finance, Mr Conor Murphy, moved the Consideration Stage of the Budget (No. 2) Bill (NIA Bill 24/17-22).

No amendments were selected for debate.

Clauses

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clauses 1 to 7 stand part of the Bill.

Schedules

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Schedules 1 to 3 stand part of the Bill.

Long Title

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

The Budget (No. 2) Bill (NIA Bill 24/17-22) stood referred to the Speaker.

5.3 Second Stage: Financial Reporting (Departments and Public Bodies) Bill (NIA Bill 21/17-22)

Minister of Finance

The Minister of Finance, Mr Conor Murphy, moved the Second Stage of the Financial Reporting (Departments and Public Bodies) Bill (NIA Bill 21/17-22).

Debate ensued.

The Financial Reporting (Departments and Public Bodies) Bill (NIA Bill 21/17-22) passed Second Stage.

5.4 Motion: The Rates (Exemption for Automatic Telling Machines in Rural Areas) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021

Proposed:

That the Rates (Exemption for Automatic Telling Machines in Rural Areas) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 be affirmed.

Minister of Finance

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

5.5 Motion: The Official Statistics (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021

Proposed:

That the Official Statistics (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 be affirmed.

Minister of Finance

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

The sitting was suspended at 2.30pm.
The sitting resumed at 2.45pm, with the Speaker in the Chair.

6. Question Time

6.1 Health

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Health, Mr Robin Swann.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair.

7. Question for Urgent Oral Answer

7.1 Stobart Air

The Minister for the Economy, Mr Paul Frew, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer tabled by Mr Mike Nesbitt.

8. Executive Committee Business (cont'd)

8.1 Second Stage: Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Bill (NIA Bill 22/17-22)

Minister for the Economy

The Minister for the Economy, Mr Paul Frew, moved the Second Stage of the Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Bill (NIA Bill 22/17-22).

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair.

The Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Bill (NIA Bill 22/17-22) passed Second Stage.

9. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 5.36pm.

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
14 June 2021

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 9 June 2021 to 14 June 2021.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Local Government (Meetings and Performance) Bill (NIA Bill 26/17-22)

3. Orders in Council

4. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Executive's Child Poverty Strategy Annual Report 2020-21 (Department for Communities)
Assembly Members (Independent Financial Review and Standards) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (General Procedures) Direction 2021 (Committee on Standards and Privileges)

5. Assembly Reports

Report on the Criminal Justice (Committal Reform) Bill (NIA 105/17-22) (Committee for Justice)

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2021/147 The Domestic Energy Efficiency Grants (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Communities)

SR 2021/152 The Trunk Road T4 (Loughbrickland to Hillsborough) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

For information only

SR 2021/157 The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Ballymena) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2021/158 The Control of Traffic (Londonderry) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2021/159 The Parking Places (Disabled Persons' Vehicles) (Amendment No. 4) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

Correction slip for SR 2021/125 The Common, Markethill Road, Newtownhamilton (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Appointment of the new Head of the Civil Service (First Minister and deputy First Minister)
Decisions of the Executive on COVID-19 (First Minister and deputy First Minister)

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

PROXY VOTING NOTICES – MONDAY 14 JUNE 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 14 June 2021: