Minutes of Proceedings

Session: Session currently unavailable

Date: 01 December 2020

The Assembly met at 10.30am, the Speaker in the Chair.

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Matter of the Day

Public Inquiry into the Murder of Human Rights Solicitor, Pat Finucane

Mr John O'Dowd, under Standing Order 24, made a statement on the Public Inquiry into the Murder of Human Rights Solicitor, Pat Finucane.

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Statement: The Procurement Board

The Minister of Finance, Mr Conor Murphy, made a statement regarding the Procurement Board, following which he replied to questions.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

3.2 Motion: Accelerated Passage – The Harbours (Grants and Loans Limit) Bill (NIA Bill 12/17-22)

Proposed:

That the Harbours (Grants and Loans Limit) Bill (NIA Bill 12/17-22) proceed under the accelerated passage procedure.

Minister for Infrastructure

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried with cross-community support.

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

Minister for Infrastructure, Mrs Nichola Mallon, moved the Second Stage of the Harbours (Grants and Loans Limit) Bill (NIA Bill 12/17-22).

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

The sitting was suspended at 12.44pm.

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

4. Question Time

4.1 Infrastructure

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Infrastructure, Ms Nichola Mallon.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair.

4.2 Justice

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Justice, Mrs Naomi Long.

5. Question for Urgent Oral Answer

5.1 Collapse of the Retailers Debenhams and Arcadia

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.

6. Private Members' Business

Proposed: Preparations for a COVID-19 Vaccine

That this Assembly welcomes the recent breakthrough in efforts to establish a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine; highlights the importance of Northern Ireland retaining full access to the UK Government's supply network, including national distribution plans; stresses that this approach provides the best means of protecting the wider public as soon as possible; believes a professional expert should be appointed to lead on the vaccination programme in order to ensure it is available to frontline staff and those most vulnerable in Northern Ireland at the same time as the rest of the UK; and calls on the Minister of Health to outline a clear action plan for the roll-out, starting before the end of December 2020, of a COVID-19 vaccine in Northern Ireland.

Mrs Pam Cameron
Mr Jonathan Buckley
Ms Paula Bradley

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

7. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 5.26pm.

 

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
1 December 2020

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 1 December 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

Managing Children who Offend Report (Northern Ireland Audit Office)

5. Assembly Reports

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Fifteenth Report of Session 2020 - 2021 (NIA 65/17-22) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2020/293 The Plant Health (Official Controls and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

SR 2020/294 The Marketing of Fruit Plant and Propagating Material (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

SR 2020/295 The Education (Student Fees and Support) (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (Department for the Economy)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Budget 2021-22: Funding Available (Minister of Finance)

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

Northern Ireland Assembly Legislation:

Stages in Consideration of Public Bills

First Stage: Introduction of Bill.

Second Stage: General debate of the Bill with an opportunity for Members to vote on its general principles.

Committee Stage (Comm. Stage): Detailed investigation by a Committee which concludes with the publication of a report for consideration by the Assembly.

Consideration Stage (CS): Consideration by the Assembly of, and an opportunity for Members to vote on, the details of the Bill including amendments proposed to the Bill.

Further Consideration Stage (FCS): Consideration by the Assembly of, and an opportunity for Members to vote on, further amendments to the Bill.

Final Stage: Passing or rejecting of Bill by the Assembly, without further amendment.

Royal Assent.

Proceedings as 1 December 2020

2017-2022 Mandate
Executive Bills          

  

Title &
   NIA Bill Number

  
  

First
   Stage

  
  

Second Stage

  
  

Comm. Stage to Conclude

  
  

Report Ordered to be Printed

  
  

CS

  
  

FCS

  
  

Final Stage

  
  

Royal Assent

  

Budget   Bill (NIA Bill 02/17-22)

24/02/20

25/02/20

/

/

02/03/20

03/03/20

09/03/20

26/03/20

Domestic   Abuse and Family Proceedings Bill (NIA Bill 03/17-22)

31/03/20

28/04/20

15/10/20

 

17/11/20

 

 

 

Private   Tenancies (Coronavirus Modifications) Bill (NIA Bill 04/17-22)

21/04/20

21/04/20

/

/

28/04/20

/

28/04/20

04/05/20

Budget   (No. 2) Bill (NIA Bill 05/17-22)

26/05/20

26/05/20

/

/

01/06/20

02/06/20

02/06/20

17/06/20

Housing   Amendment Bill (NIA Bill 06/17-22)

26/05/20

01/06/20

/

/

16/06/20

23/06/20

30/06/20

28/08/20

Pension   Schemes Bill (NIA Bill 07/17-22)

23/06/20

07/07/20

29/01/21

19/11/20

 

 

 

 

Executive   Committee (Functions) Bill (NIA Bill 08/17-22)

06/07/20

06/07/20

/

/

21/07/20

27/07/20

28/07/20

25/08/20

Budget   (No. 3) Bill

(NIA   Bill 09/17-22)

19/10/20

20/10/20

/

/

02/11/20

09/11/20

10/11/20

25/11/20

The   Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill

(NIA   Bill 10/17-22)

19/10/20

03/11/20

 

 

 

 

 

 

The   Criminal Justice (Committal Reform) Bill (NIA Bill 11/17-22)

03/11/20

16/11/20

 

 

 

 

 

 

The   Harbours (Grants and Loans Limit) Bill (NIA Bill 12/17-22)

23/11/20

01/12/20

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017-2022 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills               

  

Title &
   NIA Bill Number

  
  

First
   Stage

  
  

Second Stage

  
  

Comm. Stage to Conclude

  
  

Report Ordered to be Printed

  
  

CS

  
  

FCS

  
  

Final Stage

  
  

Royal Assent

  

Functioning   of Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill (NIA Bill 01/17-22)

03/02/20

16/03/20

02/12/20

11/11/20

24/11/20

 

 

 

/ Bills progressing by accelerated passage

PROXY VOTING NOTICES – TUESDAY 1 DECEMBER 2020

The following Members notified the Speaker, under Standing Order 112, that they wished to avail of proxy voting arrangements for the sitting on Tuesday 1 December 2020:

Andy Allen

Dolores Kelly

Martina   Anderson

Gerry Kelly

Caoimhe Archibald

Liz Kimmins

Kellie   Armstrong

Naomi Long

Rosemary   Barton

Gordon Lyons

Roy Beggs

Séan Lynch

John Blair

Nichola   Mallon

Cathal Boylan

Declan   McAleer

Paula Bradley

Fra McCann

Sinead   Bradley

Daniel   McCrossan

Paula   Bradshaw

Patsy McGlone

Nicola Brogan

Colin McGrath

Jonathan   Buckley

Philip   McGuigan

Pat Catney

Maolíosa   McHugh

Alan Chambers

Sinead   McLaughlin

Stewart   Dickson

Justin   McNulty

Linda Dillon

Andrew Muir

Diane Dodds

Karen Mullan

Jemma Dolan

Conor Murphy

Gordon Dunne

Mike Nesbitt

Mark Durkan

Robin Newton

Alex Easton

Carál Ní   Chuilín

Sinéad Ennis

Michelle   O’Neill

Arlene Foster

Edwin Poots

Órlaithí   Flynn

George   Robinson

Colm   Gildernew

Emma Rogan

Paul Givan

Pat Sheehan

Deirdre   Hargey

Emma Sheerin

Harry Harvey

Christopher   Stalford

David   Hilditch

John Stewart

Cara Hunter

Mervyn Storey

William Irwin

Robin Swann

Declan   Kearney

Peter Weir