Minutes of Proceedings
Session: Session currently unavailable
Date: 07 September 2020
The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair.
1. Prayers
Members observed two minutes' silence.
2. Speaker's Business
Royal Assent
The Speaker advised Members that Royal Assent had been signified on 25 August 2020 to The Executive Committee (Functions) Act, and that Royal Assent had been signified on 28 August 2020 to The Housing (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2020.
Assembly Business
The Speaker recorded formally his gratitude to the Principal Deputy Speaker, Deputy Speaker Beggs, and the Temporary Speakers for conducting Assembly Business during his period of shielding.
Accelerated Passage for Executive Bills
The Speaker advised Members that, after discussion with the First Minister and deputy First Minister, he had made a new ruling that if Ministers seek to shorten the passage of a Bill through the Assembly, separate to the accelerated passage procedure for Committee consideration, they are required to provide a statement when submitting the Bill for introduction.
Ad-Hoc Committee on COVID-19 Response
The Speaker informed Members that, as the Assembly intends to resume two sittings each week, it should provide sufficient opportunity for Ministers to make statements and, therefore, there would be less need for sessions of the Ad Hoc Committee on COVID-19 response. He also indicated that the Ad Hoc Committee will continue to be available in emergency circumstances.
Correspondence
The Speaker informed the Assembly that he had written to all Members setting out the issues he had raised with the Executive, including the courtesies and conventions expected from Ministers towards the Assembly, and their being available on sitting days and bringing major announcements to the Chamber to take questions from Members as appropriate.
3. Matter of the Day
Implementation of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland
Mr Matthew O'Toole, under Standing Order 24, made a statement on the Implementation of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland. Other Members were also called to speak on the matter.
The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.
4. Assembly Business
4.1 Motion: Appointment of the Northern Ireland Assembly Commissioner for Standards
Proposed:
That this Assembly, in accordance with Section 19(1) of the Assembly Members (Independent Financial Review and Standards) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, appoints Dr Melissa McCullough as the Northern Ireland Assembly Commissioner for Standards.
Mr John Blair
Mr Keith Buchanan
Mr Robbie Butler
Mrs Dolores Kelly
Mr John O'Dowd
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the motion was carried without division.
5. Private Members' Business
5.1 Motion: Custodial Sentences for Attacks Against Emergency Workers
Proposed:
That this Assembly supports tougher custodial sentences for those convicted of attacks against emergency workers in Northern Ireland, including police officers, prison officers, firefighters, search and rescue workers and frontline health care staff; welcomes the campaign led by the courageous widow of PC Andrew Harper in favour of whole life sentences, which reflects widespread public frustration with the current outcomes in such cases; acknowledges the recent UK Government commitment to increase penalties applicable under the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018; notes that in the Republic of Ireland there exists a set tariff of forty years for the murder of a police officer, whilst, in Northern Ireland, the starting tariff in equivalent circumstances is between fifteen and sixteen years; and calls on the Minister of Justice to bring forward, as a matter of urgency, a revised sentencing framework which better reflects the seriousness of these crimes.
Mr Paul Givan
Mr Mervyn Storey
Amendment
Proposed:
Leave out all after 'Assembly' and insert:
'recognises the seriousness of attacks against emergency workers in Northern Ireland, including police officers, prison officers, firefighters, search and rescue workers and frontline health care staff; further recognises the important contributions by victims, campaigners and respondents to the Sentencing Review Consultation which closed in February of this year; and calls on the Minister of Justice to bring forward proposals for a revised sentencing framework after consideration both of the outcome of that important consultation and sentences available for equivalent offences in other jurisdictions in these islands.'
Mr Stewart Dickson
Mr John Blair
Debate ensued
The debate stood suspended for Question Time.
The sitting was suspended at 1.48pm.
The sitting resumed at 2.00pm, with the Speaker in the Chair.
6. Question Time
6.1 Infrastructure
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Infrastructure, Ms Nichola Mallon.
6.2 Justice
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Justice, Mrs Naomi Long.
7. Question for Urgent Oral Answer
7.1 COVID-19 at Craigavon Area Hospital
The Minister of Health, Mr Robin Swann, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer tabled by Mr John O'Dowd.
The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair.
8. Private Members' Business (cont'd)
8.1 Motion: Custodial Sentences for Attacks Against Emergency Workers (cont'd)
Debate resumed.
The Question being put, the Amendment was made.
The Question being put, the motion, as amended, was carried without division.
8.2 Motion: Future Support for Businesses and Workers during COVID-19
Proposed:
That this Assembly recognises the significant impact that the COVID-19 crisis has had on the public; notes that Department for the Economy projections show more than 100,000 people could be unemployed by the end of 2020; acknowledges that COVID-19 has continued to spread and may result in further restrictions on workers and businesses; expresses deep concern at the political decision to end the furlough scheme in October; and calls on the British Government to extend the furlough scheme to provide future support to businesses and workers during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic as a critical lever to economic recovery.
Mr Colin McGrath
Mr Matthew O'Toole
Ms Sinead McLaughlin
Ms Nichola Mallon
Amendment
Proposed:
Leave out all after second 'workers' and insert:
', and to amend the scheme deadlines to allow for new entries to the scheme including where businesses are forced to close as a result of clusters or further lockdowns.'
Dr Caoimhe Archibald
Mr John O'Dowd
Mr Maolíosa McHugh
Debate ensued
The Question being put, the Amendment was made.
The Question being put, the motion, as amended, was carried without division.
9. Adjournment
Proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
The Speaker
The Assembly adjourned at 6.10pm.
Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
07 September 2020
Northern Ireland Assembly
Papers Presented to the Assembly on 19 August 2020 to 7 September 2020
1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly
The Executive Committee (Functions) Act (Northern Ireland) 2020
The Housing (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2020
2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly
3. Orders in Council
4. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly
HSC Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (BHSCT) Charitable Trust Fund Accounts 2019-20 (Department of Health)
Charity Commission Northern Ireland (CCNI) Annual Report and Accounts 2019-20 (Department for Communities)
Overview of the Northern Ireland Executive's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic (Northern Ireland Audit Office)
Office of the Discretionary Support Commissioner Annual Report 2019/20 (Department for Communities)
5. Assembly Reports
Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees First Report of Session 2020 - 2021 (NIA 40/17-22) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)
6. Statutory Rules
SR 2020/185 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Amendment No. 7) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)
SR 2020/186 The Statutory Sick Pay (General) (Coronavirus Amendment) (No. 6) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Communities)
SR 2020/187 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)
SR 2020/188 The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Infrastructure)
SR 2020/189 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Amendment No. 8) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Health)
SR 2020/190 The Taxi Licensing (Amendment No. 2) (Coronavirus) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for Infrastructure)
SR 2020/191 The Agricultural Commodities (Coronavirus) (Income Support) Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)
7. Written Ministerial Statements
8. Consultation Documents
Consultation on Public Services Pensions: Changes to the Transitional Arrangements of the 2015 Scheme (Department of Finance)
Transposition of the EU Electricity (Recast) Directive 2019 – Consultation (Department for Economy)
9. Departmental Publications
Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No.10) Cancellation Notice (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Education)
Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Disapplication of Education Duties (No.11) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Education)
Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No.12) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Education)
10. Agency Publications
11. Westminster Publications
12. Miscellaneous Publications
PROXY VOTING NOTICES – MONDAY 7 SEPTEMBER 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 7 September 2020:
Martina Anderson |
Liz Kimmins |
Caoimhe Archibald |
Naomi Long |
Kellie Armstrong |
Gordon Lyons |
Clare Bailey |
Séan Lynch |
Roy Beggs * |
Chris Lyttle |
Cathal Boylan |
Nichola Mallon |
Sinéad Bradley |
Declan McAleer |
Paula Bradley |
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 |
Robin Swann |
Dolores Kelly |
Peter Weir |
Gerry Kelly |
|
*Roy Beggs indicated that his proxy was in place up until 3pm on 7 September 2020.