Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at 10.30am, the Principal Deputy 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;

Dr Caoimhe Archibald

Mrs Diane Dodds

Mr Pat Catney

Mr Alan Chambers

Mr Jim Allister

Mr Gerry Carroll

Ms Ciara Ferguson

Mr Jonathan Buckley

Mr Matthew O'Toole

The Deputy Speaker, Mr McGlone, took the Chair

3. Private Members' Business

3.1 Second Stage: Small-Scale Green Energy Bill (NIA Bill 33/17-22)

Mr John O'Dowd moved the Second Stage of the Small-Scale Green Energy Bill (NIA Bill 33/17-22).

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 12.59pm.

The sitting resumed at 2.00pm, with 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.

5. Question for Urgent Oral Answer

5.1 Independent Review of Education Panel

The Minister of Education, Miss Michelle McIlveen, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer tabled by Mr Chris Lyttle.

The Speaker took the Chair.

6. Private Members' Business (cont'd)

6.1 Second Stage: Small-Scale Green Energy Bill (NIA Bill 33/17-22)

Debate resumed.

The Small-Scale Green Energy Bill (NIA Bill 33/17-22) passed Second Stage.

6.2 Motion: Failure to investigate allegations of Irish state collusion

Proposed:

That this Assembly reiterates its opposition to Her Majesty's Government's plans for legislation to address the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland as outlined in the Command Paper published on 14 July 2021; regards any statute of limitations for Troubles-related offences to be in violation of the principle that everyone must be equal under the law and equally subject to the law; stresses that all allegations of wrongdoing should be investigated in a fair and proportionate way regardless of the nature of the offence or the jurisdiction in which it was committed; highlights the need to preserve legal routes to justice for innocent victims; condemns the longstanding failure by government and police oversight bodies in the Republic of Ireland to address substantive allegations of collusion in atrocities committed by the IRA; notes with deep concern the refusal by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission to commission an investigation in the case of Ian Sproule, who was murdered in 1991; opposes the preconditions set by the Irish Government for exchanging information integral to legacy investigations; and calls on the Irish Government to fulfil its obligations under international human rights law to provide an effective investigation into claims of state collusion in acts of terrorism and facilitate timely access to justice and truth for affected victims and their families.

Mrs Diane Dodds
Mr Thomas Buchanan

Amendment

Proposed:

Leave out all after 'oversight bodies' and insert:

'in the UK and Ireland to address substantive allegations of collusion in atrocities committed by Republicans and Loyalists; notes with deep concern the failure to make progress on investigating the case of Ian Sproule, who was murdered in 1991; recognises the need for the UK and Irish Governments to exchange, urgently, information integral to legacy investigations; and calls on the UK and Irish Governments to fulfil their obligations under international human rights law to provide effective investigations into claims of state collusion in acts of terrorism and facilitate timely access to justice and truth for affected victims and their families.'

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Mr John Blair
Mr Stewart Dickson

Debate ensued.

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

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

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

7. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

Mr Mark Durkan spoke to his topic regarding the Impact in Foyle of Removal of Universal Credit Uplift.

The Assembly adjourned at 6.16pm.

Mr Alex Maskey
The Speaker
28 September 2021

Northern Ireland Assembly

28 September 2021 - Division

Amendment: Failure to investigate allegations of Irish state collusion

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 49
Noes: 39

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, Ms Sugden, Miss Woods.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Blair, Ms Bradshaw.

NOES

Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Mr Allister, Mrs Barton, Mr Beattie, Mr Beggs, Mr M Bradley, Ms P Bradley, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, 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 Nesbitt, Mr Newton, Mr Poots, Mr Robinson, Mr Stalford, Mr Stewart, Mr Storey, Mr Swann, Mr Weir, Mr Wells.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Clarke, Mr Storey.

The Amendment was made.

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

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

Mrs Dodds voted for Mrs Foster.

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, 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.

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

Ms Woods voted for Ms Bailey and Ms Sugden.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 28 September 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

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

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)

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 28 September 2021

2017-2022 Mandate
Executive Bills             

2017-2022 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills                  

/ Bills progressing by accelerated passage

PROXY VOTING NOTICES – TUESDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 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 28 September 2021: