Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Members' Statements

Under Standing Order 24A, the following Members made a statement to the Assembly;

Dr Caoimhe Archibald
Mrs Deborah Erskine
Mr Daniel McCrossan
Mr Doug Beattie
Mr Andrew Muir
Mr Jim Allister
Mr Gerry Carroll
Mr Declan McAleer
Mr Gary Middleton
Mr Alan Chambers
Mr Pat Sheehan

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair

3. Ministerial Statement

3.1 General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland

The Minister of Education, Miss Michelle McIlveen, made a statement regarding the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland, following which she replied to questions.

3.2 Public Expenditure: 2022-25 Draft Budget

The Minister of Finance, Mr Conor Murphy, made a statement regarding Public Expenditure: 2022-25 Draft Budget, following which he replied to questions.

The statement stood suspended for Question Time.
The Speaker took the Chair.

4. Question Time

4.1 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.

4.2 Health
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Health, Mr Robin Swann.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

5. Ministerial Statement (cont'd)

5.1 Public Expenditure: 2022-25 Draft Budget (cont'd)
Having made a statement prior to Question Time, the Minister of Finance, Mr Conor Murphy, replied to questions.

5.2 NSMC Health and Food Safety Sectoral Meeting
The Minister of Health, Mr Robin Swann, made a statement regarding the recent NSMC Health and Food Safety Sectoral meeting, following which he replied to questions.

6. Assembly Business

6.1 Motion: Extension of Sitting on Monday 13 December 2021 under Standing Order 10(3A)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 10(3A), the sitting on Monday 13 December 2021 be extended to no later than 9:00pm.

Mr John O'Dowd
Ms Joanne Bunting
Mrs Dolores Kelly
Mr Robbie Butler
Mr Andrew Muir
Ms Clare Bailey

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair.

7. Executive Committee Business

7.1 Motion: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Amendment No. 19) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021

Proposed:

That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Amendment No. 19) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 be approved.

Minister of Health

Debate ensued.

The Speaker took the Chair.

The sitting was suspended at 8.53pm.

The sitting resumed at 9.01pm

The debate stood suspended.

8. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 9.01pm.

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Amendment No. 19) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 were not concluded prior to the Adjournment and, in accordance with Standing Order 10 (3C), were referred to the Business Committee to be rescheduled.

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
13 December 2021

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 8 December 2021 to 13 December 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

Design and Administration of the Northern Ireland Small Business Support Grant Scheme (Northern Ireland Audit Office)
Belfast Metropolitan College Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2021 (Department for the Economy)
Northern Regional College Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2021 (Department for the Economy)
North West Regional College Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2021 (Department for the Economy)
South Eastern Regional College Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2021 (Department for the Economy)
Southern Regional College Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2021 (Department for the Economy)
South West College Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2021 (Department for the Economy)
Special EU Programmes Body Annual Report and Accounts For the year ended 31 December 2020 (Department of Finance)
Land and Property Services Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 (Department of Finance)

5. Assembly Reports

Report on the Charities Bill (NIA 115/17-22) (Committee for Communities)
Report on the Climate Change Bill (NIA 118/17-22) (Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)
Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Seventh Report of Session 2021 – 2022 (NIA 150/17-22) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)
Report on the Protection from Stalking Bill (NIA 149/17-22) (Committee for Justice)

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2021/326 The Tobacco Retailer (Fixed Penalty) (General) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Health)
SR 2021/332 The Smoke-free (Premises, Vehicle Operators and Penalty Notices) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Health)
SR 2021/334 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Amendment No. 20) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Health)
SR 2021/337 The Regulation (EC) No 1370 2007 (Public Service Obligations in Transport) (Amendment) (EU Exit) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)
SR 2021/338 The Single Use Carrier Bags Charge (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)
SR 2021/339 The Magistrates' Courts (Licensing) (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Justice)
SR 2021/335 The Edible Crabs (Undersized) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)
SR 2021/336 The Edible Crabs (Conservation) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) Order 2021 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

For information only
SR 2021/327 The Traffic Weight Restriction (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)
SR 2021/324 The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Lisburn) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)
SR 2021/325 The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Rathfriland) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)
SR 2021/329 (C.13) The Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (2016 Act) (Commencement No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Health)
SR 2021/330 The Nicotine Inhaling Products (Age of Sale and Proxy Purchasing) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Health)
SR 2021/331 The Tobacco Retailer (Fixed Penalty) (Amount) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Health)
SR 2021/328 The Smoke-Free (Private Vehicles) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Health)
SR 2021/333 The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Rathfriland) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Health)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Housing Supply Strategy (Minister for Communities)
High Street Scheme (Minister for the Economy)
RHI Disciplinary Process (Minister of Finance)
2022-25 Draft Budget (Minister of Finance)

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

DfI Roads Southern Division Report to Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council Autumn 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)
DfI Roads Southern Division Report to Ards and North Down Borough Council Autumn 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)
DfI Roads Southern Division Report to Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Autumn 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

PROXY VOTING NOTICES – MONDAY 13 DECEMBER 2021

The following Members notified the Speaker, under Standing Order 112, that they wished to avail of proxy voting arrangements for the sitting on Monday 13 December 2021:

*Robbie Butler stipulated that he wished to avail of proxy voting arrangements for business conducted before 2:30pm on 13 December 2021.

*Rosemary Barton stipulated that she wished to avail of proxy voting arrangements for business conducted after 2:30pm on 13 December 2021.