Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at noon, the Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, in the Chair.

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Assembly Business

2.1 Consideration of business not concluded on Tuesday 15 March 2022

The Deputy Speaker informed the Assembly that all the business on the Order Paper for Tuesday 15 March 2022 had been considered. The Deputy Speaker moved on to the business scheduled on the Order Paper for Monday 21 March 2022.

2.2 Motion: Suspension of Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4)

Proposed:

That Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4) be suspended for 21 March 2022.

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

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried with cross-community support.

2.3 Motion: The draft Flags (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2022

Proposed:

That this Assembly takes note of the proposed changes to the Flags Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 as set out in the draft Flags (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2022.

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.

3. Ministerial Statement

3.1 Major Capital Works Projects

The Minister of Education, Miss Michelle McIlveen, made a statement regarding Major Capital Works Projects, following which she replied to questions.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair.

3.2 P&O Ferries Update

The Minister for the Economy, Mr Gordon Lyons, made a statement providing a P&O Ferries Update, following which he replied to questions.

4. Executive Committee Business

4.1 Motion: The Occupational Pension Schemes (Administration, Investment and Charges and Governance) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021

Proposed:

That the Occupational Pension Schemes (Administration, Investment and Charges and Governance) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 be approved.

Minister for Communities

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

5. Question Time

5.1 Infrastructure

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Infrastructure, Ms Nichola Mallon.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair.

5.2 Finance

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Finance, Mr Conor Murphy.

6. Executive Committee Business (cont'd)

6.1 Motion: The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Extension of Provisions Related to Local Authority Meetings) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022

Proposed:

That the Coronavirus Act 2020 (Extension of Provisions Related to Local Authority Meetings) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 be approved.

Minister for Communities

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

6.2 Motion: The draft Coronavirus Act 2020 (Extension of Powers to Act for the Protection of Public Health) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022

Proposed:

That the draft Coronavirus Act 2020 (Extension of Powers to Act for the Protection of Public Health) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 be approved.

Minister of Health

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried (Division).

6.3 Motion: The Rates (Exemption for Automatic Telling Machines in Rural Areas) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022

Proposed:

That the Rates (Exemption for Automatic Telling Machines in Rural Areas) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 be affirmed.

Minister of Finance

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

6.4 Motion: The Rates (Temporary Rebate) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022

Proposed:

That the Rates (Temporary Rebate) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 be affirmed.

Minister of Finance

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

6.5 Motion: The draft Coronavirus Act 2020 (Registration of deaths and still-births) (Extension) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022

Proposed:

That the draft Coronavirus Act 2020 (Registration of deaths and still-births) (Extension) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 be approved.

Minister of Finance

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

7. Private Members' Business

7.1 Consideration Stage: Preservation of Documents (Historical Institutions) Bill (NIA Bill 56/17-22)

The sponsor of the Bill, Mr Alan Chambers, moved the Consideration Stage of the Preservation of Documents (Historical Institutions) Bill (NIA Bill 56/17-22).

Four amendments were tabled to the Bill and selected for debate.

Clauses

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 1 stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 1 to Clause 2 was made without division.

After debate, the question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 2, as amended, stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 2 to Clause 3 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 3 to Clause 3 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 4 to Clause 3 was made without division.

After debate, the question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 3, as amended, stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clauses 4 to 9 stand part of the Bill.

Long Title

The question being put, the Long Title was agreed without division.

The Preservation of Documents (Historical Institutions) Bill (NIA Bill 56/17-22) stood referred to the Speaker.

7.2 Further Consideration Stage: Domestic Abuse (Safe Leave) Bill (NIA Bill 41/17-22)

The sponsor of the Bill, Miss Rachel Woods, moved the Further Consideration Stage of the Domestic Abuse (Safe Leave) Bill (NIA Bill 41/17-22).

No amendments were tabled to the Bill.

The Domestic Abuse (Safe Leave) Bill (NIA Bill 41/17-22) stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

7.3 Further Consideration Stage: Hospital Parking Charges Bill (NIA Bill 40/17-22)

The sponsor of the Bill, Miss Aisling Reilly, moved the Further Consideration Stage of the Hospital Parking Charges Bill (NIA Bill 40/17-22).

Three amendments were tabled to the Bill and selected for debate.

After debate, Amendment 1 to Clause 1 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 2 to Clause 2 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 3 to the Long Title was made without division.

The Hospital Parking Charges Bill (NIA Bill 40/17-22) stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with Section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

7.4 Further Consideration Stage: Fair Employment (School Teachers) Bill (NIA Bill 51/17-22)

The sponsor of the Bill, Mr Chris Lyttle, moved the Further Consideration Stage of the Fair Employment (School Teachers) Bill (NIA Bill 51/17-22).

One amendment was tabled to the Bill and selected for debate.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair.

After debate, Amendment 1 to Clause 3 was made without division.

The Fair Employment (School Teachers) Bill (NIA Bill 51/17-22) stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

8. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 7.52pm.

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
21 March 2022

Northern Ireland Assembly

21 March 2022 – Division

Motion: The draft Coronavirus Act 2020 (Extension of Powers to Act for the Protection of Public Health) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022

Proposed:

That the draft Coronavirus Act 2020 (Extension of Powers to Act for the Protection of Public Health) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 be approved.

Minister of Health

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 57
Noes: 25

AYES

Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Dr Archibald, Ms Armstrong, Ms Bailey, Mrs Barton, Mr Beattie, Mr Blair, Mr Boylan, Ms S Bradley, Ms Bradshaw, Ms Brogan, Mr Butler, Mr Catney, Mr Chambers, Mr Delargy, Mr Dickson, Ms Dillon, Ms Dolan, Mr Durkan, Ms Ennis, Ms Ferguson, Ms Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Ms Hargey, Ms Hunter, Mr Kearney, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mrs Long, Mr Lyttle, Mr McAleer, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McNulty, Ms Mallon, Mr Muir, Ms Á Murphy, Mr C Murphy, Mr Nesbitt, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr O'Toole, Miss Reilly, Ms Rogan, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Stewart, Ms Sugden, Mr Swann, Miss Woods.

Tellers for the Ayes: Ms Armstrong, Mr Chambers.

NOES

Mr Allister, Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Frew, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Middleton, Mr Newton, Mr Poots, Mr Rankin, Mr Robinson, Mr Storey, Mr Wells.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Clarke, Mr Frew.

The following Members voted in both Lobbies and are therefore not counted in the result: Mrs Cameron, Mrs Erskine, Mr Irwin, Mr Weir

The motion was carried.

The following Members' votes were cast by their notified proxy in this division:

Ms Bailey voted for Ms Sugden.

Mr Blair voted for Ms Armstrong (Teller, Ayes), Mrs Bradshaw, Mr Dickson, Mrs Long, Mr Lyttle and Mr Muir.

Ms Bunting voted for Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke [Teller, Noes], Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mrs Erskine, Mr Frew [Teller, Noes], Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Middleton, Mr Newton, Mr Poots, Mr Rankin, Mr Robinson, Mr Storey, Mr Weir and Mr Wells.

Mr Butler voted for Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Mrs Barton, Mr Beattie, Mr Chambers (Teller, Ayes), Mr Nesbitt, Mr Stewart and Mr Swann.

Ms McLaughlin voted for Mrs S Bradley, Mr Catney, Mr Durkan, Ms Hunter, Mrs Kelly, Ms Mallon, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGrath, Mr McNulty and Mr O'Toole.

Mr O'Dowd voted for Dr Archibald, Mr Boylan, Ms Brogan, Mr Delargy, Ms Dillon, Ms Dolan, Ms Ennis, Ms Ferguson, Ms Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Ms Hargey, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mr McAleer, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Ms A Murphy, Mr C Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mrs O'Neill, Ms Reilly, Ms Rogan, Mr Sheehan and Ms Sheerin.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 16 March 2022 to 21 March 2022.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

The Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland: Proposal laid in the Assembly Business Office by the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission on 18 March 2022 (Assembly Commission)

Report on the Government Actuary's Review and Determination of the Personal Injury Discount Rate in Northern Ireland (Department of Justice)

SI The Human Medicines (Amendments Relating to the Early Access to Medicines Scheme) Regulations 2022 (Department of Health)

SI The Human Medicines (Coronavirus and Influenza) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (Department of Health)

5. Assembly Reports

Broadband Investment in Northern Ireland (NIA 190/17-22) (Public Accounts Committee)

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Twenty-first Report of Session 2021 – 2022 (NIA 206/17-22) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2022/109 The Health and Social Care (Family Practitioner Services Independent Appeal Panel) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department of Health)

SR 2022/111 The Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Communities)

SR 2022/113 The A6 Castledawson By-Pass (Abandonment and Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2022/115 The Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Disclosure of Information) (Requirements to Refer Members to Guidance etc.) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Communities)

SR 2022/116 The Pharmaceutical Services (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department of Health)

SR 2022/117 The B3 Main Street, Markethill (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2022/120 The Social Security (Medical Evidence) and Statutory Sick Pay (Medical Evidence) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Communities)

SR 2022/121 The Occupational Pension Schemes (Master Trusts) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Communities)

SR 2022/122 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel, Operator Liability and Information to Passengers) (Revocation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department of Health)

SR 2022/123 The Magistrates' Courts (Licensing) (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department of Justice)

SR 2022/124 The Valuation for Rating (Decapitalisation Rate) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department of Finance)

SR 2022/125 The Rates (Social Sector Value) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department of Finance)

SR 2022/126 The Public Service (Civil Servants and Others) Pensions (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department of Finance)

SR 2022/127 The Waste (Fees and Charges) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

SR 2022/129 The Police Service of Northern Ireland (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (Department of Justice)

SR 2022/130 The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Extension of Modifications of Requirements Regarding Medical Certificates for Cremations) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Communities)

For Information Only

2022/110 (C.13) The Pension Schemes (2021 Act) (Commencement No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Communities)

SR 2022/112 The Schools (Part-Time 20mph Speed Limit) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2022/114 The Road Races (Croft Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2022/118 The Road Races (Cookstown 100 Motor Cycle Road Race) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2022/119 The Road Races (Circuit of Ireland Rally) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2022/132 (C.14) The Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 (Commencement No. 16 and Commencement No. 8, 13 and 14 and Transitional and Transitory Provisions (Amendment)) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Communities)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

PROXY VOTING NOTICES – MONDAY 21 MARCH 2022

The following Members notified the Speaker, under Standing Order 112, that they wished to avail of proxy voting arrangements for the sitting on Monday 21 March 2022:

*Roy Beggs stipulated that he wished to avail of proxy voting arrangements for votes other than on Further Consideration Stage: Domestic Abuse (Safe Leave) Bill (NIA Bill 41/17-22) on 21 March 2022.