Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Public Petition

2.1 Age appropriate care for teenagers and young adults with life-threatening illnesses

Ms Claire Sugden was granted leave, in accordance with Standing Order 22, to present a Public Petition on age appropriate care for teenagers and young adults with life-threatening illnesses.

3. Assembly Business

3.1 Motion: Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Mr Andy Allen replace Mr John Stewart as a member of the Business Committee; and that Mr Mike Nesbitt replace Mr John Stewart as a member of the Committee for the Economy.

Mr Robbie Butler
Mrs Rosemary Barton

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

4. Executive Committee Business

4.1 Statement: A Fair Start - The Final Report and Action Plan of the Expert Panel on Educational Underachievement

The Minister of Education, Mr Peter Weir, made a statement regarding A Fair Start - The Final Report and Action Plan of the Expert Panel on Educational Underachievement, following which he replied to questions


4.2 First Stage: The Financial Reporting (Departments and Public Bodies) Bill (NIA Bill 21/17-22)

The Minister of Finance, Mr Conor Murphy, introduced a Bill to amend the law relating to the preparation of estimates and accounts of departments and certain non-departmental public bodies; and for connected purposes.

The Financial Reporting (Departments and Public Bodies) Bill (NIA Bill 21/17-22) passed First Stage and was ordered to be printed.

4.3 First Stage: The Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Bill (NIA Bill 22/17-22)

The Minister for the Economy, Mrs Diane Dodds, introduced a Bill to make provision about leave and pay for employees whose children have died.

The Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Bill (NIA Bill 22/17-22) passed First Stage and was ordered to be printed.

4.4 Motion: The Departments (Transfer of Functions) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021

Proposed:

That the Departments (Transfer of Functions) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 be affirmed.

The Executive Office

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

4.5 Final Stage: Pension Schemes Bill (NIA 7/17-22)

Minister for Communities

The Pension Schemes Bill (NIA Bill 7/17-22) passed Final Stage.

5. Committee Business

5.1 Motion: Un-adopted Roads

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the systemic failures in the current process for adopting roads and services in new developments; notes with concern the Department for Infrastructure's inability to quantify the precise number of those households and developments affected; further recognises the resourcing constraints within the Department that exacerbate the problem, and is concerned by the lack of progress made in addressing these failures since they were highlighted in a Regional Development Committee report in 2012; acknowledges the impact these failings are having on communities living in affected developments; calls on the Minister for Infrastructure to take steps to reduce the backlog of un-adopted roads and services as a matter of urgency and to work with Executive colleagues to identify areas where cross-departmental working can be used to alleviate the impact of resource constraints; and further calls on the Minister, in line with the 2012 report recommendations, to formulate and implement a more robust and time-constrained package of guidance and enforcement that includes ensuring appropriate bond levels to complete works and a review of the main statutory instruments.

Chairperson, Committee for Infrastructure

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 12.50pm.
The sitting resumed at 2.00pm, with the Speaker in the Chair.

6. Question Time

6.1 The Executive Office

Questions were put to, and answered by, the deputy First Minister, Mrs Michelle O'Neill. The junior Minister, Mr Declan Kearney, also answered a number of questions.

6.2 Communities

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Communities, Ms Deirdre Hargey.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair.

7. Committee Business (cont'd)

7.1 Motion: Un-adopted Roads (cont'd)

Debate resumed.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair.

8. Private Members' Business

8.1 First Stage: The Integrated Education Bill (NIA Bill 23/17-22)

Ms Kellie Armstrong introduced a Bill to make provision about integrated education; and for connected purposes.

The Integrated Education Bill (NIA Bill 23/17-22) passed First Stage and was ordered to be printed.

9. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

Ms Emma Sheerin spoke to her topic regarding Street Lighting in the Rural Areas of Mid Ulster.

The Assembly adjourned at 5.32pm.

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
1 June 2021

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 26 May 2021 to 1 June 2021.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

The Financial Reporting (Departments and Public Bodies) Bill (NIA Bill 21/17-22)

The Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Bill (NIA Bill 22/17-22)

The Integrated Education Bill (NIA Bill 23/17-22)

3. Orders in Council

4. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Commissioner for Standards Annual Report 2020-21 (Commissioner for Standards)

Legislative Consent Memorandum: The Compensation (London Capital & Finance plc and Fraud Compensation Fund) Bill (Department for Communities)

Northern Ireland Main Estimates 2021-2022 (Department of Finance)

5. Assembly Reports

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Fortieth Report of Session 2020 – 2021 (NIA 106/17-22) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2021/133 The Agriculture (Student fees) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021(Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

SR 2021/134 The Rates (Social Sector Value) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Finance)

SR 2021/136 The Motor Vehicles (Driving Instruction) (Trainee Licence) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2021/137 The Motor Vehicles (Driving Instruction) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2021/138 The Parole Commissioners' (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Justice)

SR 2021/139 The Renewables Obligation (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for the Economy)

SR 2021/141 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Amendment No. 5) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Health)

For information only

SR 2021/135 (C.3) The Crime and Security Act 2010 (Commencement No.1) (Northern Ireland) Order 2021 (Department of Justice)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Decisions of the Executive on COVID-19, 27 May 2021 (The Executive Office)

8. Consultation Documents

Consultation on Proposed amendments to The Marine Licensing (Exempted Activities) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

Consultation on the Carrier Bag Levy (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

9. Departmental Publications

Statutory Guidance on Abusive Behaviour in an Intimate or Family Relationship (Department of Justice)

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 June 2021

2017-2022 Mandate
Executive Bills

2017-2022 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills

/ Bills progressing by accelerated passage

PROXY VOTING NOTICES – TUESDAY 1 JUNE 2021

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 June 2021: