Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Speaker's Business

New Member

The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, informed Members of notification from the Chief Electoral Officer that Mr Paul Rankin had been returned as Member for the Lagan Valley constituency.

Mr Rankin gave the undertaking, signed the Roll of Membership and entered his designation in the presence of the Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, and the Clerk/Chief Executive on the afternoon of 14 March 2022.

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Final Stage: Adoption and Children Bill (NIA Bill 37/17-22)

The Minister of Health, Mr Robin Swann, moved the Final Stage of the Adoption and Children Bill (NIA Bill 37/17-22).

Debate ensued.

The Adoption and Children Bill (NIA Bill 37/17-22) passed final stage.

3.2 Final Stage: Private Tenancies Bill (NIA Bill 32/17-22)

The Minister for Communities, Ms Deirdre Hargey, moved the Final Stage of the Private Tenancies Bill (NIA Bill 32/17-22).

Debate ensued.

The Private Tenancies Bill (NIA Bill 32/17-22) stood referred to the Speaker.

3.3 Final Stage: Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Bill (NIA Bill 29/17-22)

The Minister of Justice, Mrs Naomi Long, moved the Final Stage of the Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Bill (NIA Bill 29/17-22).

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair.

The Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Bill (NIA Bill 29/17-22) passed final stage.

3.4 Final Stage: General Teaching Council (Directions) Bill (NIA Bill 54/17-22)

The Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Mr Edwin Poots, moved the Final Stage of the General Teaching Council (Directions) Bill (NIA Bill 54/17-22) on behalf of the Minister of Education, Miss Michelle McIlveen.

Debate ensued.

The General Teaching Council (Directions) Bill (NIA Bill 54/17-22) passed final stage.

The sitting was suspended at 1.26pm and resumed at 2.00pm, the Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, in the Chair.

4. Question Time

4.1 Health

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

The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair.

4.2 Assembly Commission

Questions were put to, and answered by, Members of the Assembly Commission.

5. Question for Urgent Oral Answer

5.1 Safeguarding of Children and Staff in Care Homes

The Minister of Health, Mr Robin Swann, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer tabled by Mr Colin McGrath.

6. Private Members' Business

6.1 Motion: Suspension of Standing Order 42(1) - Fair Employment (School Teachers) Bill

Proposed:

That Standing Order 42(1) be suspended in respect of the Fair Employment (School Teachers) Bill (NIA Bill 51/17-22).

Mr Chris Lyttle

Debate ensued.

The question being put, the motion was agreed with cross-community support.

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

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

One amendment was 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.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 2 stand part of the Bill.

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

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 Clause 4 stand part of the Bill.

Schedule

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

Long Title

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

The Fair Employment (School Teachers) Bill (NIA Bill 51/17-22) stood referred to the Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair.

6.3 Motion: Prayer of Annulment – The Marriage, Civil Partnership and Civil Registration (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022

Proposed:

That the Marriage, Civil Partnership and Civil Registration (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (S.R. 2022/48) be annulled.

Mr Jim Allister
Mr Jim Wells

Debate ensued.

The question being put, the motion was negatived (Division).

6.4 Motion: Suspension of Standing Order 42(1) - Period Products (Free Provision) Bill

Proposed:

That Standing Order 42(1) be suspended in respect of the Further Consideration Stage of the Period Products (Free Provision) Bill (NIA Bill 39/17-22).

Mr Pat Catney

Debate ensued.

The question being put, the motion was agreed with cross-community support.

6.5 Further Consideration Stage: Period Products (Free Provision) Bill (NIA Bill 39/17-22)

The sponsor of the Bill, Mr Pat Catney, moved the Further Consideration Stage of the Period Products (Free Provision) Bill (NIA Bill 39/17-22).

Thirty-two amendments were tabled to the Bill and selected for debate.

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

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

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

After debate, Amendment 4 to Clause 2 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 5 to Clause 2 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 6 to Clause 2 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 7 to Clause 2 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 8 to Clause 2 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 9 to Clause 2 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 10 to Clause 3 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 11 to Clause 3 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 12 to Clause 3 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 13 to Clause 6 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 14 to Clause 8 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 15 to Clause 9 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 16 to Clause 9 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 17 to Clause 9 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 18 to Clause 9 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 19 to Clause 9 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 20 to Clause 9 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 21 to Clause 9 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 22 to Clause 9 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 23 to Clause 9 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 24 to Clause 9 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 25 to Clause 9 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 26 to Clause 9 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 27 to Clause 9 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 28 to Clause 9 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 29 to Clause 9 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 30 to Clause 10 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 31 to Clause 10 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 32 to Clause 11 was made without division.

The Period Products (Free Provision) Bill (NIA Bill 39//17-22) stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

7. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 5.55pm.

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
15 March 2022

Northern Ireland Assembly

15 March 2022 – Division

Motion: Prayer of Annulment – The Marriage, Civil Partnership and Civil Registration (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022

Proposed:

That the Marriage, Civil Partnership and Civil Registration (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (S.R. 2022/48) be annulled.

Mr Jim Allister
Mr Jim Wells

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 29
Noes: 58

AYES

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 Rankin, Mr Robinson, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wells.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Allister, Mr Wells.

NOES

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 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 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 Noes: Ms Bradshaw, Ms Ní Chuilín.

The motion was negatived.

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

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

Mr Clarke voted for Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mrs Cameron, 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 Rankin, Mr Robinson, Mr Storey, Mr Weir and Mr Wells [Teller, Ayes].

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

Mr Lyttle voted for Ms Armstrong, Mr Blair, Ms Bradshaw [Teller, Noes], Mr Dickson, Mrs Long and Mr Muir.

Ms Ennis voted for Dr Archibald, Mr Boylan, Ms Brogan, Mr Delargy, Ms Dillon, Ms Dolan, 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 [Teller, Noes], Mr O'Dowd, Mrs O'Neill, Ms Reilly, Ms Rogan, Mr Sheehan and Ms Sheerin.

Miss Woods voted for Ms Bailey and Ms Sugden.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 15 March 2022.

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

Quarterly Sickness Absence in the Northern Ireland Civil Service October 2021 - December 2021 (Department of Finance)

5. Assembly Reports

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Twentieth Report of Session 2021 – 2022 (NIA 203/17-22) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2022/108 The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Extension of Provisions Relating to Local Authority Meetings) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department for Communities)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

Northern Ireland Local Government Commissioner for Standards Annual Report 2019-20 (Northern Ireland Local Government Commissioner for Standards)

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 15 March 2022

2017-2022 Mandate
Executive Bills        

2017-2022 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills                 

/ Bills progressing by accelerated passage

PROXY VOTING NOTICES – TUESDAY 15 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 Tuesday 15 March 2022:

*Stewart Dickson stipulated that he wished to avail of proxy voting arrangements after 1:00pm on 15 March 2022.
**Sinéad Ennis stipulated that she wished to avail of proxy voting arrangements before 4:00pm on 15 March 2022.
***Chris Lyttle stipulated that he wished to avail of proxy voting arrangements before 1:00pm on 15 March 2022.
***John O'Dowd stipulated that he wished to avail of proxy voting arrangements after 4:00pm on 15 March 2022.