Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Public Petition

2.1 Extend the Covid Disruption Payment

Mr John O'Dowd was granted leave, in accordance with Standing Order 22, to present a Public Petition to Extend the Covid Disruption Payment.

3. Assembly Business

Motion: Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Ms Paula Bradley replace Mr Gary Middleton as a member of the Committee on Procedures.

Mr Keith Buchanan
Mrs Pam Cameron

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

4. Executive Committee Business

4.1 Motion: The draft Direct Payments to Farmers (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021

Proposed:

That the draft Direct Payments to Farmers (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 be approved.

Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

Motion: The draft Direct Payments to Farmers (Simplifications) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021

Proposed:

That the draft Direct Payments to Farmers (Simplifications) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 be approved.

Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

A single debate ensued on both motions.

The Question being put, the motion on the draft Direct Payments to Farmers (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 was carried.

The Question being put, the motion on the draft Direct Payments to Farmers (Simplifications) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 was carried.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair.

5. Private Members' Business

5.1 Motion: Recovery and Investment Strategy

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the deep and lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on people, communities and businesses across Northern Ireland; further recognises the severe impact that restrictions have had on our society and economy and the devastating impact that the conclusion of the furlough scheme will have on jobs; regrets that the Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance have failed to produce a comprehensive COVID-19 recovery plan prioritising employment and efforts to build back better; expresses concern that the Minister for the Economy has failed to outline a strategy for maximising the potential for job creation and growth as a result of dual market access guaranteed under the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland; and calls on both Ministers to work with their Executive colleagues to establish a comprehensive recovery and investment strategy that will transform public services, create more jobs and help build back better from the crisis.

Mr Matthew O'Toole
Mr Colin McGrath
Ms Sinéad McLaughlin
Mrs Dolores Kelly

Amendment

Proposed:

Leave out all after 'will have on jobs;' and insert:

'agrees that all Executive Ministers must contribute towards delivering a comprehensive economic recovery strategy; and calls on the Executive to develop a comprehensive recovery and investment strategy that will transform public services, create more jobs and help build back better from the crisis.'

Dr Caoimhe Archibald
Mr John O'Dowd
Mr Philip McGuigan
Ms Jemma Dolan

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 1.48pm.

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

6. Question Time

6.1 The Executive Office

Questions were put to, and answered by, the deputy First Minister, Mrs Michelle O'Neill. The junior Minister, Mr Declan Kearney, also answered a number of questions.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair.

6.2 Finance

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

7. Private Members' Business (cont'd)

7.1 Motion: Recovery and Investment Strategy (cont'd)

Debate resumed.

The Question being put, the Amendment 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 4.12pm.

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
22 February 2021

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 17 February 2021 to 22 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

Special EU Programmes Body Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 31 December 2019 (Department of Finance)

Funds in Court in Northern Ireland - Statement of Accounts 2019-2020 (Department of Justice)

North West Regional College Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2020 (Department for the Economy)

South Eastern Regional College Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2020 (Department for the Economy)

5. Assembly Reports

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Twenty-sixth Report of Session 2020 – 2021 (NIA 80/17-22) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2021/39 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Amendment No. 7) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Health)

For information only

Approved version of SR 2020/331 The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (Coronavirus) (Amendment of Relevant Period for Meetings of Registered Societies and Credit Unions No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for the Economy)

Explanatory Memorandum for SR 2021/32 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Amendment No. 6) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Health)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Connect2 Regional Hubs (Minister of Finance)

Review of Health Protection Regulations (Minister of Health)

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

Prison Grades Pay Settlement 2020 (Department of Justice)
 

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

Audit Committee Position on the 2021-22 Draft Budgets for the Northern Ireland Audit Office, Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman and Northern Ireland Assembly Commission (Audit Committee)

PROXY VOTING NOTICES – MONDAY 22 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 22 February 2021: