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