Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Public Petition

2.1 Strategy for Expanding the Electric Vehicle Charging Network

Mr Andrew Muir was granted leave, in accordance with Standing Order 22, to present a Public Petition regarding a Strategy for Expanding the Electric Vehicle Charging Network.

3. Private Members' Business

3.1 Second Stage: Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Bill (NIA Bill 35/17-22)

Ms Clare Bailey moved the Second Stage of the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Bill (NIA Bill 35/17-22).

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair.

The sitting was suspended at 1.01pm.

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

4. Question Time

4.1 Economy

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for the Economy, Mr Gordon Lyons.

The Speaker took the Chair.

5. Question for Urgent Oral Answer

5.1 North/South Ministerial Council Meetings: High Court Ruling

The First Minister, Mr Paul Givan, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer tabled by Mr Stewart Dickson.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair.

6. Private Members' Business (cont'd)

6.1 Second Stage: Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Bill (NIA Bill 35/17-22) (cont'd)

Debate resumed.

The Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Bill (NIA Bill 35/17-22) passed Second Stage (Division).

The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair.

6.2 Motion: Cancer Screening for Firefighters

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the urgent need to protect firefighters from cancer; acknowledges the increasing evidence highlighting the serious health risks to firefighters and their families following exposure to carcinogenic fire effluents; further recognises that as a result of their profession firefighters can be up to four times more likely to develop cancer and other illnesses than other members of the public; and calls on the Minister of Health to introduce annual cancer screenings to monitor and manage the health status of serving firefighters.

Mr David Hilditch
Mr Jonathan Buckley

Amendment:

Proposed:

At end insert:

', and to engage with the Fire Brigades Union on implementing best practice procedures regarding post-incident decontamination, adequate personal protective equipment, and fire kit laundry and replacement, in order to prevent firefighters, their families and colleagues being exposed to harmful contaminants.'

Mr Colm Gildernew
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín
Ms Órlaithí Flynn

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the amendment was made.

The Question being put, the motion as amended was carried.

6.3 Motion: Education Catch-up Strategy

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education, schools and youth services; recognises the immense challenges facing young people, parents and school leaders as they seek to catch up on missed time and opportunities for learning, socialising and physical activity; further recognises the specific impact this has had on children with special educational needs; regrets the mishandling of exam grading and test and trace by successive Education Ministers which has contributed to the stress on school communities; further notes analysis from the Education Policy Institute which suggests that Northern Ireland is spending less than other administrations on education catch-up policies; and calls on the Minister of Education to bring forward a resourced catch-up plan to address the challenges facing young people, parents and school communities.

Mr Daniel McCrossan
Mr Justin McNulty
Mr Colin McGrath

Debate ensued.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

7. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 6.34pm.

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
12 October 2021

Northern Ireland Assembly

12 October 2021 - Division

Second Stage: Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Bill (NIA Bill 35/17-22)

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 58
Noes: 29

AYES

Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Dr Archibald, Ms Armstrong, Ms Bailey, Mrs Barton, Mr Beattie, Mr Blair, Mr Boylan, Ms Bradshaw, Ms Brogan, Mr Butler, Mr Carroll, 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 Lunn, 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, Mr Nesbitt, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Mr O'Toole, Ms Rogan, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Stewart, Ms Sugden, Mr Swann, Miss Woods.

Tellers for the Ayes: Ms Kimmins, Miss Woods.

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 Erskine, 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 Buckley, Mr Robinson.

The Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Bill (NIA Bill 35/17-22) passed Second Stage.

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 [Teller, Noes], Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mrs Erskine, Mr Frew, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr Lyons, Mr Middleton, Miss McIlveen, Mr Newton, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson [Teller, Noes], Mr Stalford, Mr Storey, Mr Weir and Mr Wells.

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

Mr O'Dowd voted for Dr Archibald, Mr Boylan, Ms Brogan, Mr Delargy [Teller, Ayes], Ms Dillon, Ms Dolan, Ms Ennis, Ms Ferguson, Ms Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Ms Hargey, Mr Kearney, Mr G Kelly, Ms Kimmins [Teller, Ayes], 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.

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

Ms Bailey voted for Mr Lunn.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 12 October 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

Legislative Consent Memorandum for the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (Department of Justice)

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

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 12 October 2021

2017-2022 Mandate
Executive Bills          

2017-2022 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills            

/ Bills progressing by accelerated passage

PROXY VOTING NOTICES – TUESDAY 12 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 Tuesday 12 October 2021: