Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair.

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Ministerial Statements

2.1 Good Jobs Employment Rights Consultation

The Minister for the Economy, Mr Conor Murphy, made a statement regarding the Good Jobs Employment Rights Consultation, following which he replied to questions.

2.2 North South Ministerial Council Health and Food Safety Meeting

The Minister of Health, Mr Mike Nesbitt, made a statement regarding a North South Ministerial Council Health and Food Safety meeting, following which he replied to questions.

2.3 2023-24 Provisional Outturn and 2024-25 June Monitoring

The Minister of Finance, Dr Caoimhe Archibald, made a statement regarding the 2023-24 Provisional Outturn and 2024-25 June monitoring, following which she replied to questions.

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Motion: Suspension of Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4)

Proposed:

That Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4) be suspended for 1 July 2024.

Minister of Finance

The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support.

3.2 Motion: Supply Resolution for the Northern Ireland Main Estimates 2024-2025

Proposed:

That this Assembly approves that a sum, not exceeding £25,255,627,000, 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 2025 and that resources, not exceeding £28,772,794,000, 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 2025 as summarised for each Department or other public body in Column 2 of Table 1 in the volume of the Northern Ireland Main Estimates 2024-2025 laid before the Assembly on 19 June 2024.

Minister of Finance

Motion: Supply Resolution for Excess Votes for 2016-2017, 2018-2019, 2020-2021, 2021-2022 and 2022-2023

Proposed:

That this Assembly, that sums be granted out of the Consolidated Fund not exceeding £397,000 for the year ending 31 March 2017 and not exceeding £45,000 for the year ending 31 March 2019 for use by the Public Prosecution Service, that resources, not exceeding £11,409,000 for the year ending 31 March 2021 and not exceeding £10,721,000 for the year ending 31 March 2022 be authorised for use by the Department of Education – Teachers’ Superannuation and that resources not exceeding £7,380,000 for the year ending 31 March 2023, be authorised for use by the Department of Education; as detailed in the Statement of Excesses 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 document laid before the Assembly on 19 June 2024.
Minister of Finance

A single debate ensued on both motions.

The debate stood suspended for Question Time.

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair

4. Question Time

4.1 Infrastructure

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Infrastructure, Mr John O’Dowd.

4.2 Health

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Health, Mr Mike Nesbitt.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

5. Question for Urgent Oral Answer

5.1 Spirit AeroSystems

The Minister for the Economy, Mr Conor Murphy, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer tabled by Mr David Brooks.

6. Executive Committee Business (cont’d)

6.1 Motion: Supply Resolution for the Northern Ireland Main Estimates 2024-2025 (cont’d)

Motion: Supply Resolution for Excess Votes for 2016-2017, 2018-2019, 2020-2021, 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 (cont’d)

Debate resumed on both motions.

The Question being put, the Motion on the Supply Resolution for the Northern Ireland Main Estimates 2024-2025 was carried.

The Question being put, the Motion on the Supply Resolution for Excess Votes for 2016-2017, 2018-2019, 2020-2021, 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 was carried.

6.2 First Stage: Budget (No. 2) Bill (NIA Bill 06/22-27)

A Bill to authorise the use for the public service of certain resources for the year ending 31 March 2025 (including income); to authorise the issue out of the Consolidated Fund of certain sums for the service of that year; to authorise the use of those sums for specified purposes; to authorise the Department of Finance to borrow on the credit of those sums; to authorise the use for the public service of excess resources for the years ending 31 March 2021, 2022 and 2023; to authorise the issue out of the Consolidated Fund of certain excess sums for the service of the years ending 31 March 2017 and 2019; and to authorise the use of those sums for specified purposes.

The Budget (No. 2) Bill (NIA Bill 06/22-27) passed First Stage and was ordered to be printed.
The Principal Deputy Speaker informed the Assembly that the Speaker 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), for the Bill to proceed under the accelerated passage procedure.

7. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 4.27pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
1 July 2024

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 26 June 2024 to 1 July 2024.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Budget (No. 2) Bill (NIA Bill 06/22-27)

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

SR 2024/144 The U8133 (unnamed road) off Friary Road, Newtownhamilton (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2024/145 The Footway between Peters Hill and Clifton Street, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2024/147 The Police Service of Northern Ireland and Police Service of Northern Ireland Reserve (Injury Benefit) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2024 (Department of Justice)

For Information Only

SR 2024/73 The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Communities)

SR 2024/76 The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 Department for Communities)

SR 2024/75 The Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Communities)

SR 2024/141 The Fisheries Act 2020 (Scheme for Financial Assistance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

SR 2024/142 The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Bangor) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2024/143 The Waiting Restrictions (Cloughey) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Infrastructure)

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums


6. Assembly Reports

Northern Ireland Assembly Commissioner for Standards Annual Report 2023-24 (Northern Ireland Assembly)

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committee Twentieth Report (Northern Ireland Assembly) (NIA 45/22-27)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Neurology Deceased Patients Review (Minister of Health)

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Organised Crime Taskforce Annual Report and Threat Assessment 2022-23 (Department of Justice)

Historic Buildings Council for Northern Ireland 2020-2023, Twenty-first Report (Department for Communities)

9. Publications Presented to the Northern Ireland Assembly

The Local Government (Cremation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 Consultation Document (Department for Communities)