Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair.

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Speaker's Business

Committee Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson Resignations and Appointments

The Speaker informed Members that, with effect from 6 July, Mrs Pam Cameron had resigned as the Chairperson of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee. The Speaker also informed Members that he had received notification from the nominating officer for the Democratic Unionist Party that Mr Peter Weir had been nominated to fill the vacancy of the Chairperson of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee, also with effect from 6 July.

3. Private Members' Business

3.1 Motion: British Government Proposal for Troubles Amnesty

Proposed:

That this Assembly believes that victims and survivors should have a full, material and central role and input into the content and design of structures to address the legacy of the past; rejects the proposals contained in the British Government's Command Paper 498 'Addressing the Legacy of Northern Ireland's Past' for a statute of limitations in relation to criminal investigations and prosecutions and its further proposals in relation to 'current and future civil cases and inquests'; further believes that these proposals do not serve the interests, wishes or needs of victims and survivors nor the requirements of truth, justice, accountability, acknowledgement and reconciliation; recalls the approach to dealing with the legacy of the past agreed at Stormont House which also forms the basis of an international treaty between the UK and Irish Governments; calls on the British Government to withdraw its Command Paper 498; further calls for a commitment by all parties and the British and Irish Governments to truth, justice, acknowledgement, accountability and reconciliation as essential to address the requirements of victims and to demonstrate how these requirements will be addressed in legacy arrangements; and calls for this Assembly to renew its commitment to address the legacy of the past, fulfil the requirements of truth, justice, acknowledgement, accountability and reconciliation and to oppose the British Government introducing legislation to impose its proposals.

Ms Nichola Mallon
Mr Matthew O'Toole
Ms Sinéad McLaughlin
Mr Patsy McGlone

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

4. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 1.59pm.

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
20 July 2021

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly 7 July until 20 July 2021

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

South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 (Department of Health)

Northern Health and Social Care Trust Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 (Department of Health)

Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 (Department of Justice)

Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 (Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland)

Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service Annual Report and Accounts 2020/21 (Department of Justice)

Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission Annual Report and Accounts 2016/17 (The Executive Office)

Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission Annual Report and Accounts 2017/18 (The Executive Office)

Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission Annual Report and Accounts 2018/19 (The Executive Office)

Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission Annual Report and Accounts 2019/20 (The Executive Office)

Youth Justice Agency Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 (Department of Justice)

Department of Justice Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 (Department of Finance)

Northern Ireland Audit Office Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 (Department of Finance)

Legal Services Agency 2020-21 Annual Report and Accounts (Department of Justice)

Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 (Department of Finance)

Director of Legal Aid Casework Annual Report 2020-2021 (Department of Justice)

Northern Ireland Policing Board Annual Report 2020-21 (Department of Justice)

Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 (Department of Finance)

Probation Board for Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31st March 2021 (Department of Justice)

Forest Service Agency Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

Health and Social Care Pension Scheme Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 (Department of Finance)

Driver and Vehicle Agency Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 (Department for Infrastructure)

Northern Ireland Public Service Ombudsman Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 (Department of Finance)

Labour Relations Agency Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 (Department for the Economy)

2020-21 Annual Report and Accounts for the DoF Superannuation and Other Allowances Pension Scheme (Department of Finance)

Police Service Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts and Pension Accounts 2020-21 (Department of Justice)

Department of Health 2020-21 Annual Report and Accounts (Department of Finance)

Northern Ireland Judicial Pension Scheme 2020-21 Annual Report and Accounts (Department of Finance)

Department for Infrastructure 2020-21 Annual Report and Accounts (Department of Finance)

Charity Commission for Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 (Department for Communities)

British Library Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 (British Library)

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 (Department of Health)

National Heritage Memorial Fund Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 (National Lottery Heritage Fund)

National Lottery Heritage Fund Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 (National Lottery Heritage Fund)

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (BHSCT) Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 (Department of Health)

2020-21 Financial Reporting Advisory Board Annual Report (Department of Finance)

British Wool Annual Report and Accounts 2019-20 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 (The Executive Office)

UK Statistics Authority Annual Report and Accounts 2020/21 (UK Statistics Authority)

Public Prosecution Service (Northern Ireland) Annual Report and Resource Accounts 2020/21 (Office of the Attorney General for Northern Ireland)

Northern Health and Social Care Trust Charitable Trust Fund Accounts 2020/21 (Department of Health)

Southern Health and Social Care Trust Charitable Trust Fund Accounts 2020/21 (Department of Health)

South Eastern Health and Social Care Charitable Trust Fund Accounts 2020/21 (Department of Health)

Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioners Annual Report 2020/21 (Department of Justice)

Business Services Organisation Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 (Department of Health)

Annual Report and Accounts for the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland for the year ended 31 March 2021 (Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland)

5. Assembly Reports

Report on an Independent Fiscal Council for Northern Ireland (NIA 113/17-22) (Committee for Finance)

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2021/201 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Amendment No. 10) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Health)

SR 2021/202 The Further Education (Student Support) (Eligibility) (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for the Economy)

SR 2021/204 The Trunk Road T6 (A4 Enniskillen Southern Bypass) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2021/205 The River Sillees Bridge Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2021/206 The River Erne Bridge Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2021 207 The Social Security (Reciprocal Agreements) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2021/208 The River Erne (Diversion of Navigable Watercourse and Extinguishment of Public Rights of Navigation Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2021/209 The Universal Credit (Coronavirus) (Restoration of the Minimum Income Floor) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Communities)

SR 2021/211 The Northern Ireland Police Fund (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (Department of Justice)

SR 2021/212 The Police Rehabilitation and Retraining Trust (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Justice)

SR 2021/213 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel, Operator Liability and Information to Passengers) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Health)

SR 2021 214 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel, Operator Liability and Information to Passengers) (Amendment No. 3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Health)

SR 2021 215 The Social Security (Fines) (Deductions from Benefits) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Communities)

For information only

Affirmed version of SR 2021/203 The Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 (Relevant Benefits) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Justice)

Explanatory Memorandum for SR 2021/199 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Amendment No. 9) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Health)

Explanatory Memorandum for SR 2021/201 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Amendment No. 10) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Health)

Explanatory Memorandum for SR 2021/172 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Amendment No. 7) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Health)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Independent Review Into RQIA Board Resignations Published (Minister of Health)

8. Consultation Documents

Consultation on the Department's Proposed Implementation and Next Steps of the bTB Eradication Strategy for Northern Ireland (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

Effective Penalty Enforcement (Criminal Justice Inspection)

Correction slip for Public Prosecution Service (Northern Ireland) Annual Report and Resource Accounts 2020/21 (Office of the Attorney General for Northern Ireland)

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

PROXY VOTING NOTICES – TUESDAY 20 JULY 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 20 July 2021: