Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Speaker’s Business

2.1 New Assembly Members

The Speaker informed Members that following the General Election in July 2024, Mr Jim Allister, Mr Alex Easton, Ms Sorcha Eastwood and Mr Robin Swann were elected as Members of Parliament and, as a result, had ceased to be Members of the Assembly. The Speaker said that he had subsequently notified the Chief Electoral Officer of all vacancies in accordance with section 35 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

The Speaker further informed Members that he had been informed by the Chief Electoral Officer that Mrs Michelle Guy had been returned as a Member of the Assembly for the Lagan Valley constituency; Mr Colin Crawford and Mr Timothy Gaston had been returned as Members of the Assembly for the North Antrim constituency; and that Mr Peter Martin had been returned as a Member of the Assembly for the North Down constituency.

The returned Members below gave the Undertaking, signed the Roll of Membership and entered their designations in the presence of the Speaker and Clerk / Chief Executive on the following dates:

Mrs Michelle Guy – 10 July 2024;
Mr Colin Crawford – 11 July 2024;
Mr Peter Martin – 11 July 2024.

Mr Gaston gave the undertaking, signed the Roll of Membership and entered his designation in the presence of Deputy Speaker Aiken and the Clerk/Chief Executive on 16 July 2024.

3. Private Members’ Business

3.1 Motion: Opposition to Racism

Proposed:

That this Assembly condemns the criminal damage and targeting of businesses in recent days; rejects all forms of Islamophobia, xenophobia and racism; endorses the work of voluntary sector organisations combatting racism and supporting those impacted by it; recognises the work of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and other public sector bodies protecting our communities during the recent unrest; calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to finalise the draft Refugee Integration Strategy and associated Thematic Delivery Plan and present it to the Executive; and further calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to bring forward the renewed Race Relations Order, and set out the process of replacing the Racial Equality Strategy 2015-2025 by the end of 2024.

Mrs Naomi Long
Mr Matthew O’Toole
Miss Deirdre Hargey
Mr Doug Beattie
Ms Claire Sugden

Amendment:

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘Assembly’ and insert:

‘believes the right to peaceful protest is a fundamental pillar of any democracy and must be protected; stresses in equal measure that those who resort to violence and orchestrate public disorder on our streets should face the full rigour of the law; condemns the criminal damage and targeting of businesses in recent days; rejects all forms of Islamophobia, xenophobia and racism; endorses the work of voluntary sector organisations combatting racism and supporting those impacted by it; recognises the work of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and other public sector bodies protecting our communities during the recent unrest; urges the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, working closely with the Executive, to provide additional resources to the Chief Constable in order to maintain an agile and effective police response; calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to finalise the draft Refugee Integration Strategy and associated Thematic Delivery Plan and present it to the Executive; and further calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to bring forward the renewed Race Relations Order, and set-out the process of replacing the Racial Equality Strategy 2015-2025 by the end of 2024.’

Mr Brian Kingston
Mr Jonathan Buckley

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the amendment fell. (Division)

The Question being put, the Motion was carried.

4. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 1.51pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
8 August 2024

Northern Ireland Assembly

8 August 2024 – Division

Amendment: Opposition to Racism

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘Assembly’ and insert:

‘believes the right to peaceful protest is a fundamental pillar of any democracy and must be protected; stresses in equal measure that those who resort to violence and orchestrate public disorder on our streets should face the full rigour of the law; condemns the criminal damage and targeting of businesses in recent days; rejects all forms of Islamophobia, xenophobia and racism; endorses the work of voluntary sector organisations combatting racism and supporting those impacted by it; recognises the work of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and other public sector bodies protecting our communities during the recent unrest; urges the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, working closely with the Executive, to provide additional resources to the Chief Constable in order to maintain an agile and effective police response; calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to finalise the draft Refugee Integration Strategy and associated Thematic Delivery Plan and present it to the Executive; and further calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to bring forward the renewed Race Relations Order, and set-out the process of replacing the Racial Equality Strategy 2015-2025 by the end of 2024.’

Mr Brian Kingston
Mr Jonathan Buckley

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 28

Noes: 43

AYES
Dr Aiken, Mr Beattie, Mr Bradley, Mr Brett, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Mr Crawford, Mr Elliott, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Gaston, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Martin, Mr Middleton, Mr Robinson, Mr Stewart.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr T Buchanan, Mr Kingston.

NOES
Dr Archibald, Ms Armstrong, Mr Baker, Mr Blair, Mr Boylan, Ms Bradshaw, Miss Brogan, Mr Carroll, Mr Delargy, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dillon, Mr Donnelly, Mr Durkan, Ms Egan, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Ferguson, Miss Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Mrs Guy, Miss Hargey, Mr Honeyford, Mr Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mrs Long, Mr McAleer, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McHugh, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McMurray, Mr McNulty, Mr McReynolds, Mr Mathison, Ms Mulholland, Miss Á Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Ms Nicholl, Mr O'Dowd, Ms O'Neill, Mr O'Toole, Ms Reilly, Ms Sheerin, Ms Sugden.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Honeyford, Mr McMurray.

The amendment fell.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 3 July 2024 to 8 August 2024.


1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

SR 2024/146 The Industrial Training Levy (Construction Industry) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for the Economy)

SR 2024/155 The Dangerous Dogs (Compensation and Exemption Schemes) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

SR 2024/157 The Education (Student Support, etc.) (Amendment No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for the Economy)

For Information Only

SR 2024/148 The Parking Places on Roads, Waiting Restrictions and Motor Hackney Carriages (Belfast) By-Laws (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2024/ 149 The Bus Lanes (Belfast City Centre) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2024/150 The Road Races (Armoy Motorcycle Road Race) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2024/151 The Road Races (Garron Point Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2024/153 The Working Time (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for the Economy)

SR 2024/139 The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Search, Recovery of Cryptoassets and Investigations: Codes of Practice) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department of Justice)

SR 2024/154 The Road Races (Ulster Rally) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2024/156 (C.6) The Pet Abduction (2024 Act) (Commencement) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

6. Assembly Reports

Report on a complaint against then Junior Minister Gordon Lyons MLA (Committee on Standards and Privileges (NIA 42/22-27)

Report on a complaint against then First Minister Givan, Minister Lyons, McIlveen, Poots & Junior Minister Middleton (Committee on Standards and Privileges (NIA 43/22-27)

Report on a complaint against Dr Patrick Brown (former MLA) (Committee on Standards and Privileges (NIA 15/22-27)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Heritage, Culture and Creativity, A Strategic Approach to Protect, Support and Celebrate our Culture, Heritage and the Arts (Minister for Communities)

Decision to Appeal the judgment handed down by the Court of Appeal in an application by No Gas Caverns and Friends of the Earth against DAERA on 17 June 2022 (Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

Department of Health Planned Initiatives (Minister of Health)

Northern Ireland Cervical Screening Programme (Minister of Health)

Closure of the Non-Domestic Renewable Heat (RHI) Scheme (Minister for the Economy)

Publication of the Covid-19 Module 1 Report by The Rt Hon the Baroness Hallett DBE (First Minister and deputy First Minister)

Data breach relating to some parents of children with special educational needs (Minister of Education)

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

SEUPB Annual Report and Accounts 2022 (Department of Finance)

Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company Annual Report and Accounts 2023/24 (Department of Infrastructure)

Northern Ireland Policing Board Annual Report and Accounts 2023-2024 (Northern Ireland Policing Board)

Review of Waste Management in Northern Ireland (Northern Ireland Audit Office)

Police Service of Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Justice)

Police Service of Northern Ireland Police Pension Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Justice)

Public Bodies’ Response to Misrepresented Soil Analysis (Northern Ireland Audit Office)

Driver & Vehicle Agency, Annual Report and Statement of Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department for Infrastructure)

Police Rehabilitation & Retraining Trust Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Police Rehabilitation & Retraining Trust)

Forest Service Agency Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24, for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24, for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland)

Department for Communities Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Finance)

Department of Finance Annual Report and Accounts 2023-2024 for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Finance)

Department of Finance Superannuation and Other Allowances Pension Schemes Statement for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Finance)

Department for Infrastructure (Department of Finance)

Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Finance)

Northern Ireland Prison Service Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 (Department of Justice)

Forensic Science Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Justice)

Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Finance)

The Executive Office Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Finance)

Department of Health - Health and Social Care Pension Scheme Statement 2023-24 for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Finance)

Northern Ireland Assembly Commission Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Finance)

Northern Ireland Audit Office Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Finance)

Northern Ireland Court Service Investment Account Report and Accounts Report for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Justice)

Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Finance)

Department of Justice Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Finance)

Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Education)

Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (NI CCEA) Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Education)

Department for Communities Social Fund Account for the year ended 31 March 2023 (Northern Ireland Audit Office)

Youth Justice Agency Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Justice)

Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Northern Ireland Audit Office)

Northern Health and Social Care Trust (NHSCT) Annual Report & Accounts 2023-24 or the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Health)

The Accounts of the Charitable Trust Held by the Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Trust for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Health)

Northern Ireland Environment Agency Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health and Social Care Trust, Charitable Trust Funds, Trustee’s Annual Report & Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Health)

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Charitable Trust Funds, Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024(Department of Health)

Business Services Organisation Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Health)

Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health and Social Care Trust, Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Health)

Public Health Agency, Annual Report & Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Health)

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Health)

Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 for the year ended March 2024 (Department for the Economy)

Legal Services Agency Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 for the year ended March 2024 (Department of Justice)

Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

The Annual Report and Accounts of the Charitable Trust Funds held by the South Eastern HSC Trust for the year ended 31 March 2024(Department of Health)

South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 (Department of Health)

Department of Health Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Finance)

Probation Board Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2023/24 for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Justice)

Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Justice)

Southern Health and Social Care Trust (SHSCT) Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Health)

Legal Services Agency Northern Ireland (LSANI) – Director of Legal Aid Casework Annual Report for Year 2023-2024 (Department of Justice)

Invest Northern Ireland: Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department for the Economy)

Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s 53rd Annual Report 1 April 2023 – 31 March 2024 (Department for Communities)

HSC Western Health and Social Care Trust Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Health)

Labour Relations Agency’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2023-2024 (Department for the Economy)

Continuous Improvement Arrangements in Policing (Northern Ireland Audit Office)

Historical Institutional Abuse Redress Board Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2024 (The Executive Office)

The Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

The Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

Western Health and Social Care Trust Annual Report and Accounts of the Trust Funds Held by the Western Health and Social Care Trust for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Health)

Strategic Investment Board Limited Annual Review and Financial Statements 2023-24 Year Ended 31st March 2024 (The Executive Office)

Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's Annual Report & Accounts 2023-24 (Department for Communities)

Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) Directors’ report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Education)

DAERA Inland Fisheries Annual Reports for 2022 (Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

DAERA Inland Fisheries Annual Reports for 2022 (Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

DAERA Inland Fisheries Annual Reports for 2023 (Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

UK Statistics Authority Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 (UK Statistics Authority)

Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency)

BBC Group Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 (BBC Northern Ireland)

Children’s Services Co-operation Act (NI) 2015, First report for the period December 2020-June 2022 (Department of Education)

Professional Standards Authority Annual Report and Accounts 2023/24 (Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care)

Professional Standards Authority Business Plan 2024/25 (Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care)

Parole Commissioners for Northern Ireland Annual Report 2023/24 (Department of Justice)

Competition and Markets Authority Annual Report and Accounts 2023/24 (for the year ended 31 March 2024) (Competition and Markets Authority)

Equality Commission for Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts for 2023-24 (The Executive Office)

The National Lottery Community Fund’s Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 (The National Lottery Community Fund)

Northern Ireland Museums Council Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department for Communities)

The Pensions Regulator - draft Defined Benefit Funding Code of Practice (Department for Communities)

Patient and Client Council (PCC) Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 (Department of Health)

The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) Annual Report and Accounts 1 April 2023- 31 March 2024 (Department of Health)

Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

Labour Relations Agency Annual Report & Accounts 2023-24 (Labour Relations Agency)

Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Health)

Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service Trust Fund Report & Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Health)

9. Publications Presented to the Northern Ireland Assembly

The ‘Good Jobs’ Employment Rights Bill Public Consultation July 2024 (Department for the Economy)

Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland Business Plan 2024-25 (Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland)

Partnership Agreement Between Department for Communities and National Museums NI May 2024 (Department for Communities)

Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta Annual Report and Accounts for 2023-24 (Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta)

Policy Underpinning the Public Health Bill, A Consultation Document (Department of Health)

Domestic Abuse – Safe Leave Public Consultation Document and Response Form (Department for the Economy)

Bedford Street Developments Limited (BSDL): Directors’ Report and Financial Statements 2023-24 for the year ended 31 March 2024(Department for the Economy)

McAleer & Rushe and Dunloe Ewart (MRDE) Limited: Directors’ Report and Financial Statements 2023-24 for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of the Economy)

Proposals to Revise Marine Licensing Fees- Consultation Paper (Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

Middletown Centre for Autism Limited Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Education)

Regulatory Impact Assessment for the Insolvency (Monetary Limits) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for the Economy)

Code of Practice Issued Under Section 195t Of The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002: Search, Seizure and Detention of Property (Northern Ireland)

Code of Practice Issued Under Section 377za of The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002: Investigations (Northern Ireland)

Code of Practice Issued Under Section 303z25 of The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002: Recovery of Cryptoassets And Related Items – Search Powers (Northern Ireland)

Consultation on Review of The Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (PACE NI) Codes of Practice A to H and new PACE Code I (Department of Justice)

The National Lottery Heritage Fund Annual Report and Accounts 2023-2024 (The National Lottery Heritage Fund)

The National Heritage Memorial Fund Annual Report and Accounts 2023–2024 (The National Lottery Heritage Fund)

Ofcom Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 for the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 (Department for the Economy) (Formally Withdrawn)

Partnership Agreement between Department for Communities and Libraries NI (Department for Communities)

Ofcom Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 for the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 (Department for the Economy) (Re-laid)

Independent Review of Children’s Social Care Services - Consultation Report (Department of Health)

Department of Finance Memorandum of Reply to the Public Accounts Committee Report - Mental Health Services in Northern Ireland (Department of Finance) (Formally Withdrawn)

Public consultation for the Postgraduate Award (PGA) Scheme (Department for the Economy)

Department of Finance Memorandum of Reply to the Public Accounts Committee Report - Mental Health Services in Northern Ireland (Departmentof Finance) (Re-laid)