Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Matter of the Day

2.1 Death of Sarah Everard

Miss Rachel Woods, under Standing Order 24, made a statement on the death of Sarah Everard. Other Members were also called to speak on the matter.

3. Assembly Business

Motion: Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Mr Gary Middleton replace Mrs Pam Cameron as a member of the Business Committee.

Mr Keith Buchanan
Mr Robin Newton

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

4. Executive Committee Business

4.1 Statement: Public Expenditure: Additional Business Support Schemes

The Minister of Finance, Mr Conor Murphy, made a statement regarding Public Expenditure: Additional Business Support Schemes, following which he replied to questions.

The Speaker took the Chair.

5. Private Members' Business

5.1 Second stage: Severe Fetal Impairment Abortion (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 15/17-22)

Mr Paul Givan moved the Second Stage of the Severe Fetal Impairment Abortion (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 15/17-22).

Debate ensued.

The Assembly was suspended for Question Time.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair.

6. Question Time

6.1 Education

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Education, Mr Peter Weir.

6.2 Finance

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Finance, Mr Conor Murphy.

7. Question for Urgent Oral Answer

7.1 Oxford-AstraZeneca Vaccine: Roll-out

The Minister of Health, Mr Robin Swann, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer tabled by Mr Colm Gildernew.

The Speaker took the Chair.

8. Assembly Business

8.1 Motion: Extension of Sitting on Monday 15 March 2021 under Standing Order 10(3A)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 10(3A), the sitting on Monday 15 March 2021 be extended to no later than 9:00pm.

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.

9. Private Members' Business (cont'd)

9.1 Second stage: Severe Fetal Impairment Abortion (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 15/17-22) (cont'd)

Debate resumed.

The sitting was suspended at 6.51pm.

The sitting resumed at 7.02pm.

The Severe Fetal Impairment Abortion (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 15/17-22) passed Second Stage (Division).

10. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 8.23pm.

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
15 March 2021

Northern Ireland Assembly

15 March 2021

Division

Second stage: Severe Fetal Impairment Abortion (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 15/17-22)

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 48
Noes: 12

AYES

Mr Allen, Mr Allister, Mrs Barton, Mr Beggs, Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Ms S Bradley, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mr Durkan, Mr Easton, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Ms Hunter, Mr Irwin, Mrs D Kelly, Mr Lunn, Mr Lyons, Mr Lyttle, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Miss McIlveen, Mr McNulty, Ms Mallon, Mr Middleton, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Newton, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson, Mr Stalford, Mr Storey, Ms Sugden, Mr Swann, Mr Weir, Mr Wells.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mrs Barton, Mrs D Kelly.

NOES

Ms Bailey, Mr Beattie, Mr Blair, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Carroll, Mr Catney, Mr Dickson, Mrs Long, Ms McLaughlin, Mr Muir, Mr O'Toole, Miss Woods.

Tellers for the Noes: Ms Bradshaw, Miss Woods.

The following Members voted in both Lobbies and are therefore not counted in the result:

Ms Anderson, Dr Archibald, Ms Armstrong, Mr Boylan, Ms Brogan, Ms Dillon, Ms Dolan, Ms Ennis, Ms Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Ms Hargey, Mr Kearney, Mr G Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mr Lynch, Mr McAleer, Mr McCann, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Ms Mullan, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Ms Rogan, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin.

The Severe Fetal Impairment Abortion (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 15/17-22) passed Second Stage.

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

Ms Armstrong voted for Mr Blair, Ms Bradshaw [Teller, Noes], Mr Dickson, Mrs Long, Mr Lyttle and Mr Muir.

Mr K Buchanan voted for Ms P Bradley, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mrs Foster, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Mr Lyons, Mr Middleton, Mr Newton, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson, Mr Stalford, Mr Storey and Mr Weir.

Mr Butler voted for Mr Allen, Mrs Barton [Teller, Ayes], Mr Chambers, Mr Nesbitt and Mr Swann.

Mr O'Dowd voted for Ms Anderson, Dr Archibald, Mr Boylan, Ms Brogan, Ms Dillon, Ms Dolan, Ms Ennis, Ms Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Ms Hargey, Mr Kearney, 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.

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

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 10 March 2021 to 15 March 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

Victims and Survivors Service Limited Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 31 March 2020 (Victims and Survivors Service)

Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service Trust Statement for the year ended 31 March 2020 (Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service)

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2021/58 The Social Security Revaluation of Earnings Factors Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Communities)

SR 2021/59 The Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Communities)

SR 2021/60 The Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (General Levy) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Communities)

SR 2021/61 The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (Coronavirus) (Amendment of Relevant Period in Schedule 8) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for the Economy)

SR 2021/62 The Bus Operator (Coronavirus, Financial Assistance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2021/63 The Agricultural Commodities (Coronavirus)(Income Support) Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

SR 2021/64 The Social Security (Claims and Payments, Employment and Support Allowance, Personal Independence Payment and Universal Credit) (Telephone and Video Assessment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Communities)

SR 2021/65 The Sea Fish Industry (Coronavirus) (Fixed Costs) Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

For information only

Explanatory memorandum for SR 2021/54 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Amendment No. 8) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Health)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Business Rates 2021/22 - COVID-19 (Minister of Finance)

Fiscal Council and Fiscal Commission (Minister of Finance)

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

PROXY VOTING NOTICES – MONDAY 15 MARCH 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 15 March 2021: