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 Royal Assent

The Speaker advised Members that Royal Assent had been signified on 25 November 2020 to The Budget (No. 3) Act.

3. Assembly Business

3.1 Motion: Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Ms Nicola Brogan be appointed as a member of the Committee for Education and as a member of the Committee on Procedures.

Mr John O'Dowd
Ms Sinéad Ennis

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

4. Executive Committee Business

4.1 Statement: North/South Ministerial Council Languages Sector Meeting

The Minister for Communities, Ms Carál Ní Chuilín, made a statement regarding the recent North/South Ministerial Council Languages Sector Meeting, following which she replied to questions.

4.2 Motion: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 11) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Proposed:

That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 11) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved.

Minister of Health

Motion: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 12) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Proposed:

That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 12) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved.

Minister of Health

Motion: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings) (Amendment No. 3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Proposed:

That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings) (Amendment No. 3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved.

Minister of Health

A single debate ensued on all three motions.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

The debate stood suspended for Question Time.

The Speaker took the Chair.

5. Question Time

5.1 The Executive Office

Questions were put to, and answered by, the deputy First Minister, Mrs Michelle O'Neill.

5.2 Health

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

6. Executive Committee Business (cont'd)

6.1 Motion: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 11) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (cont'd)

Motion: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 12) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (cont'd)

Motion: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings) (Amendment No. 3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (cont'd)

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair.

Debate resumed on all three motions.

The Question being put, the motion on the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 11) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 was carried.

The Question being put, the motion on the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 12) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 was carried.

The Question being put, the motion on the Health Protection ((Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings) (Amendment No. 3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 was carried.

6.2 Legislative Consent Motion: Medicines and Medical Devices Bill

Proposed:

That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension to Northern Ireland of the provisions within the Medicines and Medical Devices Bill dealing with human medicines, veterinary medicines and information systems as amended at Committee Stage in the House of Lords.

Minister of Health

The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

7. Committee Business

7.1 Motion: Extension of Committee Stage: Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 10/17-22)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 15 May 2021, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 10/17-22).

Chairperson, Committee for Communities

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

8. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 5.02pm.

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
30 November 2020

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 25 November 2020 to 30 November 2020

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

5. Assembly Reports

Report on the Evidence Received from Local Councils on the Impact of the United Kingdom's Exit from the European Union (NIA 58/17-22) (The Committee for the Executive Office)

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Thirteenth Report of Session 2020 - 2021 (NIA 63/17-22) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Fourteenth Report of Session 2020 - 2021 (NIA 64/17-22) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2020/The Draft Plant Health and Diseases of Animals (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Agriculture, Environment of Rural Affairs)

SR 2020/279 The Gas (Internal Markets) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for the Economy)

SR 2020/280 The Administration of Estates (Small Payments) (Increase of Limit) Order 2020 (Department of Finance)

SR 2020/281 The Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (Coronavirus, Calculation of a Week's Pay) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for the Economy)

SR 2020/282 The Bus Operator (Coronavirus, Financial Assistance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2020/283 The Occupational Pensions (Revaluation) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Communities)

SR 2020/284 The Waste (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

SR 2020/285 The Waste (Circular Economy) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

SR 2020/286 The Food (Miscellaneous Amendments etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

SR 2020/287 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 17) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

Correction slip for SR 2020/272 The Organic Products Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

SR 2020/288 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Travel from Denmark) (Revocation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

SR 2020/289 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Amendment No. 24) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

SR 2020/The Draft Carriage of Explosives (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Justice)

SR 2020/290 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 18) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

SR 2020/291 The Food and Feed Hygiene and Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

SR 2020/292 The Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Infrastructure)

For information only

Explanatory Memorandum for SR 2020/241 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Amendment No. 18) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

Explanatory Memorandum for SR 2020/243 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Amendment No. 19) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

Explanatory Memorandum for SR 2020/244 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Amendment No. 20) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

Explanatory Memorandum for SR 2020/247 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Travel from Denmark) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

COVID-19 Update (Minister of Health)

Interim Head of the Civil Service (The Executive Office)

8. Consultation Documents

Clean Air Strategy for Northern Ireland – A Public Discussion Document November 2020 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

9. Departmental Publications

Organised Crime Task Force Annual Report and Threat Assessment 2019/20 (Department of Justice)

10. Agency Publications

Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland Business Crime Follow-up Review (Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland)

The Northern Ireland Community Relations Council Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2020 (Northern Ireland Community Relations Council)

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

PROXY VOTING NOTICES – MONDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2020

The following Members notified the Speaker, under Standing Order 112, that they wished to avail of proxy voting arrangements for the sitting on Monday 30 November 2020: