Minutes of Proceedings
Session: Session currently unavailable
Date: 05 October 2020
The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair.
1. Prayers
Members observed two minutes' silence.
2. Matter of the Day
Death of Derek Mahon
Mr Matthew O'Toole, under Standing Order 24, made a statement on the Death of Derek Mahon. Other Members were also called to speak on the matter.
3. Assembly Business
3.1 Motion: Committee Membership
Proposed:
That Mr Philip McGuigan replace Mr Seán Lynch as a member of the Committee for Finance; that Ms Emma Rogan replace Ms Emma Sheerin as a member of the Audit Committee; and that Mr Seán Lynch replace Mr Colm Gildernew as a member of the Committee on Standards and Privileges.
Mr John O'Dowd
Ms Sinéad Ennis
The Question being put, the motion was carried.
4. Executive Committee Business
4.1 Motion: The Pension Protection Fund (Moratorium and Arrangements for Companies in Financial Difficulty) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
Proposed:
That the Pension Protection Fund (Moratorium and Arrangements for Companies in Financial Difficulty) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved.
Minister for Communities
The Question being put, the motion was carried.
5. Private Members' Business
5.1 Motion: Appointment of a Victims of Crime Commissioner
Proposed:
That this Assembly agrees that all victims of crime deserve to receive the same support following a criminal offence being perpetrated against them and during any judicial proceedings; and calls on the Minister of Justice to conduct a feasibility study into the appointment of a Victims of Crime Commissioner who would act as a focal point, champion and advocate and bring forward best practice in dealing with, and supporting, victims of crime.
Mr Doug Beattie
Mr Robbie Butler
Debate ensued.
The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair.
The Question being put, the motion was carried.
5.2 Motion: Consequences of the British Government Breaking International Law
Proposed:
That this Assembly is appalled that the British Government has abandoned any pretence of adherence to international law; recognises that the potential for a Trade Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom has significantly diminished as a result of the British Government reneging on key elements of the Withdrawal Agreement; acknowledges that this would be devastating for workers and families with inevitable business failures, job losses and economic damage; and calls on the British Government to respect the rule of law and honour its obligations in full as set out in the Withdrawal Agreement which it negotiated and which the British Parliament agreed.
Dr Caoimhe Archibald
Mr John O'Dowd
Ms Martina Anderson
Ms Emma Sheerin
Debate ensued.
The debate stood suspended for Question Time.
The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair.
6. Question Time
6.1 Finance
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Finance, Mr Conor Murphy.
6.2 Health
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Health, Mr Robin Swann.
The Speaker took the Chair.
7. Question for Urgent Oral Answer
7.1 Support for Businesses in the North West
The Minister for the Economy, Mrs Diane Dodds, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer tabled by Mr Gary Middleton.
The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair.
8. Private Members' Business (cont'd)
8.1 Motion: Consequences of the British Government Breaking International Law (cont'd)
Debate resumed
The Question being put, the motion was carried (Division).
9. Adjournment
Proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
The Speaker
The Assembly adjourned at 5.30pm.
Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
5 October 2020
Northern Ireland Assembly
5 October 2020
Division
Motion: Consequences of the British Government Breaking International Law
Proposed:
That this Assembly is appalled that the British Government has abandoned any pretence of adherence to international law; recognises that the potential for a Trade Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom has significantly diminished as a result of the British Government reneging on key elements of the Withdrawal Agreement; acknowledges that this would be devastating for workers and families with inevitable business failures, job losses and economic damage; and calls on the British Government to respect the rule of law and honour its obligations in full as set out in the Withdrawal Agreement which it negotiated and which the British Parliament agreed.
Dr Caoimhe Archibald
Mr John O'Dowd
Ms Martina Anderson
Ms Emma Sheerin
The Question was put and the Assembly divided.
Ayes: 46
Noes: 38
AYES
Ms Anderson, Dr Archibald, Ms Armstrong, Ms Bailey, Mr Blair, Mr Boylan, Ms S Bradley, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Catney, Mr Dickson, Ms Dillon, Ms Dolan, Mr Durkan, Ms Ennis, Ms Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Ms Hargey, Ms Hunter, Mr Kearney, Ms C Kelly, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mrs Long, Mr Lynch, Mr Lyttle, Mr McAleer, Mr McCann, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McNulty, Ms Mallon, Mr Muir, Ms Mullan, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr O'Toole, Ms Rogan, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Miss Woods.
Tellers for the Ayes: Ms Anderson, Dr Archibald.
NOES
Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Mr Allister, Mrs Barton, Mr Beattie, Mr Beggs, Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Middleton, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Newton, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson, Mr Stalford, Mr Stewart, Mr Storey, Mr Swann, Mr Weir.
Tellers for the Noes: Mr Middleton, Mr Storey.
The motion was carried.
The following Members' votes were cast by their notified proxy in this division:
Ms Bradshaw voted for Ms Armstrong, Mr Blair, Mr Dickson, Mrs Long, Mr Lyttle and Mr Muir.
Mr K Buchanan voted for Ms P Bradley, Mr Buckley, Mrs Cameron, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mrs Foster, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Mr Lyons, Mr Newton, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson, Mr Stalford and Mr Weir.
Mr Butler voted for Mr Stewart and Mr Swann.
Mr O'Dowd voted for Ms Anderson [Teller, Ayes], Dr Archibald [Teller, Ayes], Mr Boylan, Ms Dillon, Ms Dolan, Ms Ennis, Ms Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Ms Hargey, Mr Kearney, Ms C Kelly, 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 O'Toole voted for Ms S Bradley, Mr Catney, Mr Durkan, Ms Hunter, Mrs D Kelly, Ms Mallon, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGrath, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McNulty.
Northern Ireland Assembly
Papers Presented to the Assembly on 30 September 2020 to 5 October 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
Disposal of Documents Order 1925 – Renewable Heating Incentive Inquiry (RHI) Retention and Disposal Schedule (Department for Communities)
Department of Health Annual Report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March 2020 (Department of Finance)
2019-20 Annual Report and Accounts for the NI Authority for Utility Regulation (NIAUR) (Department of Finance)
5. Assembly Reports
Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Fifth Report of Session 2020 – 2021 (NIA 45/17-22) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)
6. Statutory Rules
SR 2020/208 The Planning (Development Management) (Temporary Modifications) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Infrastructure)
SR 2020/209 The Business Tenancies (Coronavirus) (Restriction on Forfeiture: Relevant Period) (Northern Ireland) (No 2) Regulations 2020 (Department of Finance)
SR 2020/210 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 7) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)
SR 2020/211 The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (Coronavirus) (Amendment of Relevant Period for Meetings of Registered Societies and Credit Unions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for the Economy)
SR 2020/212 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Amendment No. 13) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)
For information only
Explanatory Memorandum for SR 2020/204 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 6) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)
SR 2020/117 The Northern Ireland Screen Commission (Funding) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for the Economy)
7. Written Ministerial Statements
COVID-19 Restrictions in the North West (The Executive Office)
COVID-19 Update (Minister of Health)
£1.7m Further COVID-19 Support for the Sea Fish Catching Sector (Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)
8. Consultation Documents
9. Departmental Publications
Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No.13) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Education)
10. Agency Publications
11. Westminster Publications
12. Miscellaneous Publications
PROXY VOTING NOTICES – MONDAY 5 OCTOBER 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 5 October 2020:
Martina Anderson |
Liz Kimmins |
Caoimhe Archibald |
Naomi Long |
Kellie Armstrong |
Gordon Lyons |
John Blair |
Séan Lynch |
Cathal Boylan |
Chris Lyttle |
Sinéad Bradley |
Nichola Mallon |
Paula Bradley |
Declan McAleer |
Jonathan Buckley |
Fra McCann |
Pam Cameron |
Daniel McCrossan |
Pat Catney |
Patsy McGlone |
Stewart Dickson |
Colin McGrath |
Linda Dillon |
Philip McGuigan |
Diane Dodds |
Maolíosa McHugh |
Jemma Dolan |
Sinead McLaughlin |
Gordon Dunne |
Justin McNulty |
Mark Durkan |
Andrew Muir |
Sinéad Ennis |
Karen Mullan |
Arlene Foster |
Conor Murphy |
Órlaithí Flynn |
Robin Newton |
Colm Gildernew |
Carál Ní Chuilín |
Paul Givan |
Michelle O’Neill |
Deirdre Hargey |
Edwin Poots |
Harry Harvey |
George Robinson |
David Hilditch |
Emma Rogan |
Cara Hunter |
Pat Sheehan |
William Irwin |
Emma Sheerin |
Declan Kearney |
Christopher Stalford |
Catherine Kelly |
John Stewart |
Dolores Kelly |
Robin Swann |
Gerry Kelly |
Peter Weir |