Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Executive Committee Business

2.1 Statement: 2021 – 22 Final Budget

The Minister of Finance, Mr Conor Murphy, made a statement regarding the 2021 – 22 Final Budget, following which he replied to questions.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

3. Private Members' Business

3.1 Motion: The Inclusion of End of Life Outcomes in the Programme for Government

Proposed:

That this Assembly believes everyone impacted by death, dying and bereavement should receive the care and support they need; expresses its concern that demographic trends in Northern Ireland predict a significant increase in chronic illness and palliative care demand in the years ahead; notes that Scotland and Wales have current palliative care strategies and that the Republic of Ireland's Programme for Government contains seven clear commitments on end of life care; further notes the New Decade, New Approach agreement commitment to invest in palliative care service improvement has yet to materialise; recognises that the care and support available to people as they die has an enormous impact on their quality of life and that each death leaves a number of people bereaved; and calls on the Executive to ensure that the draft Programme for Government Outcomes Framework includes indicators around death, dying and bereavement and the importance of a good end of life experience for people in Northern Ireland.

Ms Joanne Bunting
Mr Colm Gildernew
Ms Sinéad Bradley
Mr Robbie Butler
Ms Paula Bradshaw

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

The Speaker took the Chair.

3.2 Motion: International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's Working Definition of Antisemitism

Proposed:

That this Assembly condemns antisemitism in all forms; notes with deep concern the findings of the Community Security Trust's (CST) antisemitic incident report for 2020 which recorded 1,668 antisemitic incidents across the United Kingdom; stresses the need to tackle the scourge of antisemitism in every aspect of our society; and endorses the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, including its examples, which states that antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews and rhetorical and physical manifestations toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and, or, their property, Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.

Mr Alex Easton
Mr David Hilditch
Mr Paul Frew
Mr William Humphrey

Amendment

Proposed:

Leave out all after 'society;' and insert:

"unambiguously condemns the most recent vandalism in Belfast City Cemetery of graves belonging to our Jewish Community; recognises that antisemitism is a form of racism that is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews, that rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property and toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities; agrees that antisemitism is unacceptable and is totally, unequivocally and loudly rejected by this Assembly; and commits to combating antisemitism, as part of our commitment to prevent hate crime and racism."

Mr Pat Sheehan
Ms Emma Sheerin
Ms Liz Kimmins
Ms Linda Dillon

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 1.02pm.

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

4. Question Time

4.1 Justice

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

The Speaker took the Chair.

5. Private Members' Business (Cont'd)

5.1 Motion: Putting Cancer Services at the Centre of the Covid-19 Recovery (cont'd)

Debate resumed.

The Question being put, the amendment was negatived.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair.

6. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

Mr Colin McGrath spoke to his topic regarding the Resumption, Retention and Development of Health Services at the Downe Hospital, Downpatrick.

The Assembly adjourned at 4.35pm.

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
27 April 2021

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 27 April 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

5. Assembly Reports

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Thirty-fifth Report of Session 2020 – 2021 (NIA 96/17-22) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2021/112 The Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (Coronavirus, Calculation of a Week's Pay) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for the Economy)

For information only

(C.1) SR 2021/107 The Addressing Bullying in Schools (2016 Act) (Commencement) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Education)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

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 27 April 2021

2017-2022 Mandate
Executive Bills              

2017-2022 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills    

/ Bills progressing by accelerated passage

PROXY VOTING NOTICES – TUESDAY 27 APRIL 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 27 April 2021: