Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Speaker's Business

2.1 Committee on Procedures

The Speaker informed Members that on Wednesday 20 January 2021, he had received notification of the resignation of Ms Linda Dillon as Chairperson of the Committee on Procedures with immediate effect, that he had also received notification that Ms Carál Ní Chuilín had been nominated to fill the vacancy of Chairperson of the Committee on Procedures with effect from the same date, and that he was satisfied that the requirements of Standing Orders had been met.

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Statement: Review of Support Services for Serving and Retired Prison Staff

The Minister of Justice, Mrs Naomi Long, made a statement regarding the Review of Support Services for Serving and Retired Prison Staff, following which she replied to questions.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair.

3.2 Statement: 2020-21 January Monitoring Round and Covid Funding Position

The Minister of Finance, Mr Conor Murphy, made a statement regarding the 2020-21 January Monitoring Round and Covid Funding Position, following which he replied to questions.

The Speaker took the Chair.

3.3 Final Stage: Harbours (Grants and Loans Limit) Bill (NIA Bill 12/17-22)

The Minister for Infrastructure, Ms Nichola Mallon, moved that the Final Stage of the Harbours (Grants and Loans Limit) Bill (NIA Bill 12/17-22) do now pass.

Debate ensued.

The Harbours (Grants and Loans Limit) Bill (NIA Bill 12/17-22) passed Final Stage.

The sitting was suspended at 1.50pm.

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

4. Question Time

4.1 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.

4.2 Economy

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for the Economy, Mrs Diane Dodds.

5. Assembly Business

5.1 Motion: Extension of Sitting on Monday 25 January 2021 under Standing Order 10(3A)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 10(3A), the sitting on Monday 25 January 2021 be extended to no later than 8:00pm.

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.

6. Question for Urgent Oral Answer

6.1 Private Healthcare

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

The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair.

7. Executive Committee Business (cont'd)

7.1 Motion: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 19) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Proposed:

That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 19) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved.

The Executive Office

Motion: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 20) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Proposed:

That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 20) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved.

The Executive Office

Motion: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 21) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Proposed:

That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 21) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved.

The Executive Office

Motion: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 22) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Proposed:

That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 22) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved.

The Executive Office

Motion: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 23) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Proposed:

That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 23) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved.

The Executive Office

Motion: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 24) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Proposed:

That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 24) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved.

The Executive Office

Motion: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 25) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Proposed:

That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 25) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved.

The Executive Office

A single debate ensued on all seven motions.

The Question being put, the motion on the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 19) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 was carried.

The Question being put, the motion on the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 20) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 was carried.

The Question being put, the motion on the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 21) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 was carried.

The Question being put, the motion on the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 22) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 was carried.

The Question being put, the motion on the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 23) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 was carried.

The Question being put, the motion on the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 24) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 was carried.

The Question being put, the motion on the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 25) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 was carried.

8. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 7.09pm.

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
25 January 2021

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 20 January 2021 to 25 January 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

The Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland Annual Report 2019-2020 (Department of Health)

2019/20 Welfare Supplementary Payments Annual Report (Department for Communities)

5. Assembly Reports

Report on the Committee's Inquiry into the impact of COVID-19 on Care Homes (NIA 59/17-22) (Committee for Health)

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Twentieth Report of Session 2020 – 2021 (NIA 72/17-22) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2021/11 The Alexandra Square, Lurgan (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2021/13 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Amendment No. 5) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Health)

For information only

Explanatory Memorandum for SR 2020/254 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Amendment No. 21) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

Explanatory Memorandum for SR 2020/275 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Amendment No. 22) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

SR 2021/12 The Prohibition of Waiting (Schools) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Education)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

January Monitoring (Minister of Finance)

8. Consultation Documents

Public Consultation on the Northern Ireland Environment Agency's Regulatory Charging Policy for 2021–2023 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

Equality Impact Assessment for the Draft Mental Health Strategy 2021-2031 Consultation (Department of Health)

2021-2022 Draft Budget (Department of Finance)

Programme for Government Draft Outcomes Framework Consultation (The Executive Office)

9. Departmental Publications

The Children and Young People's Strategy 2020-2030 (Department of Education)

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

PROXY VOTING NOTICES – MONDAY 25 JANUARY 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 25 January 2021: