Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Speaker's Business

2.1 Resignations/Nominations

The Speaker informed Members that he had received notification from the First Minister and deputy First Minister that Mr Gordon Lyons had resigned the office of Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs effective from 8 March 2021, and that Mr Gary Middleton had resigned the office of junior Minister effective from 8 March 2021. The Speaker also informed Members that he had received notification from the nominating officer for the Democratic Unionist Party that Mr Edwin Poots had been nominated as Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. Mr Poots accepted the nomination and affirmed the pledge of office in the presence of the Speaker and the Clerk/Chief Executive on Monday 8 March 2021.

2.2 Appointments

The Speaker informed Members that he had received notification from the First Minister and deputy First Minister that Mr Gordon Lyons had been appointed to the office of junior Minister. Mr Lyons accepted the nomination and affirmed the pledge of office in the presence of the Speaker and the Clerk/Chief Executive on Monday 8 March 2021.

3. Public Petition

3.1 Call for a Review of the Burial Grounds Regulations (Northern Ireland)

Mr Alex Easton was granted leave, in accordance with Standing Order 22, to present a Public Petition to Call for a Review of the Burial Grounds Regulations (Northern Ireland).

4. Executive Committee Business

4.1 Statement: British/Irish Council Digital Inclusion Ministerial Meeting

The Minister of Finance, Mr Conor Murphy, made a statement regarding the recent British/Irish Council Digital Inclusion Ministerial meeting, following which he replied to questions.

4.2 Further Consideration Stage: Budget Bill (NIA Bill 17/17-22)

The Minister of Finance, Mr Conor Murphy, moved the Further Consideration Stage of the Budget Bill (NIA Bill 17/17-22).

No amendments were tabled to the Bill.

NIA Bill 17/17-22 stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with Section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the chair.

4.3 Second Stage: Damages (Return on Investment) Bill (NIA Bill 16/17-22)

The Minister of Justice, Mrs Naomi Long, moved the Second Stage of the Damages (Return on Investment) (NIA Bill 16/17-22).

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 12.51pm.

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

5. Question Time

5.1 Economy

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for the Economy, Mrs Diane Dodds.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair.

6. Executive Committee Business (cont'd)

6.1 Second Stage: Damages (Return on Investment) Bill (NIA Bill 16/17-22) (cont'd)

Debate resumed.

The Damages (Return on Investment) (NIA Bill 16/17-22) passed Second Stage.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the chair.

6.2 Final Stage: Budget Bill (NIA Bill 17/17-22) (cont'd)

The Minister of Finance, Mr Conor Murphy, moved that the Final Stage of the Budget Bill (NIA Bill 17/17-22) do now pass.

Debate ensued.

The Budget Bill (NIA Bill 17/17-22) passed Final Stage with cross-community support.

7. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 6.15pm.

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
9 March 2021

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 9 March 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 Twenty-Ninth Report of Session 2020 – 2021 (NIA 84/17-22) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2021/52 The COVID -19 Study Disruption Payment Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for the Economy)

SR 2021/53 The Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (Coronavirus, Calculation of a Week's Pay) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021

SR 2021/55 The Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers' Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Communities)

SR 2021/56 The Public Service Pensions Revaluation Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Finance)

SR 2021/57 The Planning (Development Management) (Temporary Modifications) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Expansion of the Asymptomatic Testing Programme - Workplace Testing (Minister of Health)

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 9 March 2021

2017-2022 Mandate
Executive Bills
    

2017-2022 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills              

/ Bills progressing by accelerated passage

PROXY VOTING NOTICES – TUESDAY 9 MARCH 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 9 March 2021: