Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes' silence.

2. Ministerial Statement

2.1 Review of Invest Northern Ireland

The Minister for the Economy, Mr Gordon Lyons, made a statement regarding a Review of Invest Northern Ireland, following which he replied to questions.

2.2 Environment Fund

The Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Mr Edwin Poots, made a statement regarding an Environment Fund, following which he replied to questions.

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Final Stage: Protection from Stalking Bill (NIA Bill 14/17-22)

The Minister of Justice, Mrs Naomi Long, moved the Final Stage of the Protection from Stalking Bill (NIA Bill 14/17-22).

Debate ensued.

The Protection from Stalking Bill (NIA Bill 14/17-22) passed final stage.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair.

3.2 Consideration Stage: Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) Bill (NIA Bill 53/17-22)

The Minister for Infrastructure, Ms Nichola Mallon, moved the Consideration Stage of the Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) Bill (NIA Bill 53/17-22).

No amendments were tabled to the Bill.

Clauses

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clauses 1 and 2 stand part of the Bill.

Long Title

The question being put, the Long Title was agreed.

The Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) Bill (NIA Bill 53/17-22) stood referred to the Speaker.

3.3 Motion: Accelerated passage - General Teaching Council (Directions) Bill (NIA Bill 54/17-22)

Proposed:

That the General Teaching Council (Directions) Bill proceed under the accelerated passage procedure.

Minister of Education

Debate ensued.

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

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

The Minister of Education, Miss Michelle McIlveen, moved the Second Stage of the General Teaching Council (Directions) Bill (NIA Bill 54/17-22).

Debate ensued.

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

The sitting was suspended at 1.25 pm.

The sitting resumed at 2.00pm, the 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.

4.2 Finance

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

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Beggs, took the Chair.

5. Executive Committee Business (cont'd)

5.1 Further Consideration Stage: School Age Bill (NIA Bill 52/17-22)

The Minister of Education, Miss Michelle McIlveen, moved the Further Consideration Stage of the School Age Bill (NIA Bill 52/17-22).

Four 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 Clause 2 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 4 to the Long Title was made without division.

The School Age Bill (NIA Bill 52/17-22) stood referred to the Speaker.

5.2 Motion: The draft Environment (2021 Act) (Commencement and Saving Provision) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022

Proposed:

That the draft Environment (2021 Act) (Commencement and Saving Provision) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 be approved.

Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair.

5.3 Motion: Supply Resolution for the Northern Ireland Spring Supplementary Estimates 2021-2022

Proposed:

That this Assembly approves that a sum, not exceeding £21,827,567,000, be granted out of the Consolidated Fund, for or towards defraying the charges for the Northern Ireland Departments, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Northern Ireland Audit Office, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation, the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman, and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2022 and that resources, not exceeding £24,645,707,000, be authorised for use by the Northern Ireland Departments, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Northern Ireland Audit Office, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation, the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman, and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2022 as summarised for each Department or other public body in Columns 2 (c) and 3 (c) of Table 1 in the volume of the Northern Ireland Spring Supplementary Estimates 2021-2022 that was laid before the Assembly on 9 February 2022.

Minister of Finance

Motion: Supply Resolution for the Northern Ireland Estimates Vote on Account 2022-2023

Proposed:

That this Assembly approves that a sum, not exceeding £9,822,408,000, be granted out of the Consolidated Fund, for or towards defraying the charges for the Northern Ireland Departments, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Northern Ireland Audit Office, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation, the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman, and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2023 and that resources, not exceeding £11,090,573,000, be authorised for use by the Northern Ireland Departments, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Northern Ireland Audit Office, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation, the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman, and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2023 as summarised for each Department or other public body in Columns 4 and 6 of Table 1 in the Northern Ireland Estimates Vote on Account 2022-2023 that was laid before the Assembly on 9 February 2022.

Minister of Finance

A single debate ensued on both motions.

The Question being put, the Motion on the Supply Resolution for the Northern Ireland Spring Supplementary Estimates 2021-2022 was carried with cross-community support.

The Question being put, the Motion on the Supply Resolution for the Northern Ireland Estimates Vote on Account 2022-2023 was carried with cross-community support.

5.4 First Stage: Budget Bill (NIA Bill 55/17-22)

A Bill to authorise the issue out of the Consolidated Fund of certain sums for the service of the years ending 31 March 2022 and 2023; to appropriate those sums for specified purposes; to authorise the use for the public service of certain resources for those years; to revise the limits on the use of certain accruing resources in the year ending 31 March 2022; and to authorise the Department of Finance to borrow on the credit of the sum appropriated for the year ending 31 March 2023.

The Budget Bill (NIA Bill 55/17-22) passed First Stage and was ordered to be printed.

The Speaker informed the Assembly that he had received a letter from the Committee for Finance informing him that the Committee was satisfied that the consultation with it on the public expenditure proposals contained in the Bill had been appropriate, as required under Standing Order 42(2).

6. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 6.32pm.

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
22 February 2022

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 22 February 2022.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Budget Bill (NIA Bill 55/17-22)

3. Orders in Council

4. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

SR 2022/000 Draft SR-The Police Act 1997 (Criminal Record Certificates: Relevant Matters) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department of Justice)

SR 2022/000 Draft SR - The Domestic Abuse Information-sharing with Schools etc. Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (Department of Justice)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

PROXY VOTING NOTICES – TUESDAY 22 FEBRUARY 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 22 February 2022:

*Joanne Bunting stipulated that she wished to avail of proxy voting arrangements after 6:15pm on 22 February 2022.

*Trevor Clarke stipulated that he wished to avail of proxy voting arrangements before 6:15pm on 22 February 2022.