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;

Ms Carál Ní Chuilín

Mr Christopher Stalford

Mr Daniel McCrossan

Mr Roy Beggs

Mr John Blair

Mr Trevor Lunn

Ms Claire Sugden

Mr Pat Sheehan

Mr Keith Buchanan

Ms Paula Bradshaw

Mr John O'Dowd

Mr Jonathan Buckley

3. Public Petition

3.1 Opposition to a Proposed Badger Cull

Mr Alex Easton was granted leave, in accordance with Standing Order 22, to present a Public Petition on Opposition to a Proposed Badger Cull.

4. Committee Business

4.1 Motion: Extension of Committee Stage - Integrated Education Bill (NIA Bill 23/17-22)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 24 November 2021, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Integrated Education Bill.

Chairperson, Committee for Education

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

5. Private Members' Business

5.1 First Stage: Education (Curriculum) (CPR and AED) Bill (NIA Bill 38/17-22)

Mr Colin McGrath introduced a bill to require cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training and automatic external defibrillator (AED) awareness to be on the curriculum for pupils at key stage 3.

The Education (Curriculum) (CPR and AED) Bill (NIA Bill 38/17-22) passed First Stage and was ordered to be printed.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

5.2 Motion: Universal Credit Uplift

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the far-reaching impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the increased reliance on the welfare system; notes that the £20 Universal Credit uplift has provided a lifeline to many low-income families; registers serious concerns about the devastating impact that its proposed removal would have at this critical juncture in the recovery period; further recognises that the removal of £20 per week from thousands of families will push more people into poverty at a time when 1 in 4 children already live in poverty, increase reliance on food banks and increase homelessness, as well as having dire consequences for our local economy; and calls on the Minister for Communities, in the absence of action from the Westminster Government, to liaise with her Executive colleagues to retain this uplift for the remainder of this financial year, and to commit to expediting a long-term strategy to tackle the shameful levels of poverty and social deprivation across Northern Ireland, which remain among the highest in Europe.

Mr Mark Durkan
Mrs Dolores Kelly
Mr Colin McGrath
Mr Patsy McGlone

Debate ensued.

The debate stood suspended for Question Time.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair.

6. Question Time

6.1 Infrastructure

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

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair.

6.2 Justice

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, advised Members that due to unforeseen circumstances the Minister of Justice was unavailable to answer Oral Questions, and that Question Time to the Minister of Justice would be rescheduled.

7. Private Members' Business (cont'd)

7.1 Motion: Universal Credit Uplift (cont'd)

Debate resumed.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

The Speaker took the Chair.

7.2 Motion: Bespoke Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards Agreement

Proposed:

That this Assembly supports a comprehensive and bespoke agreement between the European Union and the British Government to align sanitary and phytosanitary standards, with the aim of reducing checks and paperwork on goods being imported from Britain; recognises that this is the only realistic and practical way of reducing checks within the framework of existing international agreements; acknowledges that there is widespread support from businesses here for such an agreement; and calls on the European Union and the British Government to negotiate a bespoke agreement to align sanitary and phytosanitary standards.

Dr Caoimhe Archibald
Mr Declan McAleer
Ms Emma Sheerin
Ms Ciara Ferguson

Amendment

Proposed:

Leave out all after 'sanitary and phytosanitary standards' and insert:

'for goods at risk, with the aim of reducing checks and paperwork on goods being imported from Great Britain; recognises that this is a realistic and practical way of reducing checks within the framework of existing international agreements; acknowledges that there is widespread support from businesses here for such an agreement; and calls on the European Union and British Government to negotiate a bespoke agreement to align sanitary and phytosanitary standards for goods at risk.'

Dr Steve Aiken
Mr Robbie Butler

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the amendment was negatived (Division 1).

The Question being put, the motion was carried (Division 2).

8. Question for Urgent Oral Answer

8.1 Medical Abortions: Provision of an Early Access Point

The Minister of Health, Mr Robin Swann, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer tabled by Ms Emma Sheerin.

9. Speaker's Business

Oral Questions to the Minister of Justice

The Speaker advised Members that the Business Committee had agreed a revised Order Paper for Tuesday 5 October 2021, that will allow Question Time for the Minister of Justice to take place the next day at 2.45 pm.

10. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 5.32pm.

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
4 October 2021

Northern Ireland Assembly

4 October 2021 - Division 1

Amendment: Bespoke Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards Agreement

Proposed:

Leave out all after 'sanitary and phytosanitary standards' and insert:

'for goods at risk, with the aim of reducing checks and paperwork on goods being imported from Great Britain; recognises that this is a realistic and practical way of reducing checks within the framework of existing international agreements; acknowledges that there is widespread support from businesses here for such an agreement; and calls on the European Union and British Government to negotiate a bespoke agreement to align sanitary and phytosanitary standards for goods at risk.'

Dr Steve Aiken
Mr Robbie Butler

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 9
Noes: 75

AYES

Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Mrs Barton, Mr Beggs, Mr Butler, Mr Chambers, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Stewart, Mr Swann.

Tellers for the Ayes: Dr Aiken, Mr Nesbitt.

NOES

Mr Allister, Dr Archibald, Ms Armstrong, Ms Bailey, Mr Blair, Mr Boylan, Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Ms S Bradley, Ms Bradshaw, Ms Brogan, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mrs Cameron, Mr Catney, Mr Clarke, Mr Delargy, Mr Dickson, Ms Dillon, Mrs Dodds, Ms Dolan, Mr Dunne, Mr Durkan, Mr Easton, Ms Ennis, Ms Ferguson, Ms Flynn, Mrs Foster, Mr Frew, Mr Gildernew, Mr Givan, Ms Hargey, Mr Harvey, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Ms Hunter, Mr Irwin, Mr Kearney, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mrs Long, Mr Lyons, Mr Lyttle, Mr McAleer, Mr McCann, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Miss McIlveen, Mr McNulty, Ms Mallon, Mr Middleton, Mr Muir, Ms Á Murphy, Mr C Murphy, Mr Newton, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr O'Toole, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson, Ms Rogan, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Stalford, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wells, Miss Woods.

Tellers for the Noes: Dr Archibald, Mr McAleer.

The amendment was negatived.

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

Mr Lyttle voted for Ms Armstrong, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Blair, Mr Dickson, Mrs Long 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, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Frew, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr Lyons, Mr Middleton, Miss McIlveen, Mr Newton, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson, Mr Stalford, Mr Storey and Mr Weir.

Mrs Dodds voted for Mrs Foster.

Mr Wells voted for Mr Allister.

Mr Butler voted for Mr Aiken [Teller, Ayes], Mr Allen, Mrs Barton, Mr Beggs, Mr Chambers, Mr Nesbitt [Teller, Ayes], Mr Stewart and Mr Swann.

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

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

Northern Ireland Assembly

4 October 2021 - Division 2

Motion: Bespoke Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards Agreement

Proposed:

That this Assembly supports a comprehensive and bespoke agreement between the European Union and the British Government to align sanitary and phytosanitary standards, with the aim of reducing checks and paperwork on goods being imported from Britain; recognises that this is the only realistic and practical way of reducing checks within the framework of existing international agreements; acknowledges that there is widespread support from businesses here for such an agreement; and calls on the European Union and the British Government to negotiate a bespoke agreement to align sanitary and phytosanitary standards.

Dr Caoimhe Archibald
Mr Declan McAleer
Ms Emma Sheerin
Ms Ciara Ferguson

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 48
Noes: 29

AYES

Dr Archibald, Ms Armstrong, Ms Bailey, Mr Blair, Mr Boylan, Ms S Bradley, Ms Bradshaw, Ms Brogan, Mr Carroll, Mr Catney, 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 McCann, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McNulty, Ms Mallon, Mr Muir, Ms Á Murphy, Mr C Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr O'Toole, Ms Rogan, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Miss Woods.

Tellers for the Ayes: Dr Archibald, Ms Sheerin.

NOES

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

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Harvey, Mr Wells.

The following Members voted in both Lobbies and are therefore not counted in the result: Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Mrs Barton, Mr Beggs, Mr Butler, Mr Chambers, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Stewart, Mr Swann

The motion was carried.

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

Mr Lyttle voted for Ms Armstrong, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Blair, Mr Dickson, Mrs Long 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, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Frew, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey [Teller, Noes], Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr Lyons, Mr Middleton, Miss McIlveen, Mr Newton, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson, Mr Stalford, Mr Storey and Mr Weir.

Mrs Dodds voted for Mrs Foster.

Mr Wells [Teller, Noes] voted for Mr Allister.

Mr Butler voted for Mr Aiken, Mr Allen, Mrs Barton, Mr Beggs, Mr Chambers, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Stewart and Mr Swann.

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

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

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 29 September 2021 to 4 October 2021.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Education (Curriculum) (CPR and AED) Bill (NIA Bill 38/17-22)

3. Orders in Council

4. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

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

Public Income and Expenditure Account for the year ended 31 March 2021 (Department of Finance)

General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland: Annual Report and Accounts 2020-21 (Department for the Economy)

Members' Contributory Pension Fund Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2020 (Northern Ireland Audit Office)

Assembly Contributory Pension Fund Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2020 (Northern Ireland Audit Office)

5. Assembly Reports

Report on the Health and Social Care Bill (NIA 87/17-22) (Committee for Health)

Report on complaints against Mr Maolíosa McHugh MLA (NIA 120/17-22) (Committee on Standards and Privileges)

Speeding up the Justice System (NIA 127/17-22) (Public Accounts Committee)

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2021/272 The Occupational Pension Schemes (Administration, Investment and Charges and Governance) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Communities)

SR 2021/274 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings) (Amendment No. 6) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Health)

SR 2021/276 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Amendment No. 16) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Health)

SR 2021/278 The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel, Operator Liability and Information to Passengers) (Amendment No. 7) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Health)

For information only

SR 2021/271 (C.11) The Pension Schemes Act 2021 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Communities)

SR 2021/273 The Parking Places (Disabled Persons' Vehicles) (Amendment No. 7) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2021/275 The Prohibition of U-Turns (Belfast) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department for Infrastructure)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

Coronavirus Act 2020 Temporary Modification of Education Duties (No. 35) Notice (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Education)

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

PROXY VOTING NOTICES – MONDAY 4 OCTOBER 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 4 October 2021: