Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at 10.30am, the 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:

Mrs Cathy Mason
Mr Brian Kingston
Ms Kate Nicholl
Mr Pádraig Delargy
Mr Colin McGrath
Mr Robin Swann
Mr Alan Robinson
Mr Danny Donnelly
Mrs Ciara Ferguson
Mr Matthew O'Toole

3. Opposition Business

3.1 Motion: Dual Market Access

Proposed:

That this Assembly affirms the huge opportunity afforded to our local economy as a result of the dual market access available to businesses here, allowing the seamless movement of goods into both the EU and UK markets; recognises that this opportunity has the potential to deliver tangible benefits in terms of job creation, inward investment, improved wages and productivity and improved regional balance; acknowledges the importance of continued efforts to ease the flow of goods moving from east to west and also the need to mitigate damage to north-south services and trade not covered by the Protocol/Windsor Framework; notes that deriving full benefits from our advantageous trading position will require focused intergovernmental and interagency work, and calls on the Minister for the Economy to work with the Irish Government to establish a joint Invest NI-IDA Ireland working group, drawing on expertise from Intertrade Ireland, interested business groups and, where relevant, the UK Department for Business and Trade and the EU directorates general, to develop a clearly defined strategy to maximise the huge economic advantages afforded to Northern Ireland, with the aim of providing reports to the North-South Ministerial Council, which will in turn furnish recommendations under Article 14 of the Protocol to the Specialised Committee on the Protocol/Windsor Framework; and further calls on the Minister to provide an update to the Assembly on the establishment of this working group and its actions not later than the end of 2024.

Leader of the Opposition

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried (Division).

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

3.2 Motion: Cross-border Healthcare

Proposed:

That this Assembly acknowledges the daunting challenges facing our health service; laments that Northern Ireland has fallen behind the Republic of Ireland and the rest of these isles on several healthcare outcomes; understands that a solution to our healthcare challenges will not come solely through increased funding but also through reform of our services; recognises a key element of this will be further collaboration with the healthcare service in the Republic of Ireland; acknowledges that certain bespoke specialist services, in particular perinatal and paediatric post-mortem services, which are currently not available in Northern Ireland could be delivered more efficiently and compassionately on an all-island basis; calls on the Minister of Health to work with the Irish Minister for Health to identify how the two jurisdictions can work together to reduce waiting lists; harmonise healthcare pay rates, and deliver bespoke specialist services on an all-Ireland basis.

Leader of the Opposition

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 12.49pm.

The sitting resumed at 2.00pm, the Speaker in the Chair.

4. Question Time

4.1 Communities

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Communities, Mr Gordon Lyons.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

5. Opposition Business (cont’d)

5.1 Motion: Cross-border Healthcare (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

5.2 Motion: All-Ireland Tourism

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the importance of tourism as a driver of an all-island economy; further notes that the biggest port of entry for Northern Ireland visitors remains Dublin Airport; expresses concern that the UK Government’s Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme poses a fundamental risk to all-island tourism; calls on the Minister for the Economy to work with the Irish Government to link the Wild Atlantic Way with the Causeway Coastal Route, promote Derry as the destination city linking both jurisdictions and include counties Armagh and Down in Ireland’s Ancient East; and calls on the Minister for the Economy to work with the First Minister and deputy First Minister to formulate an agreed Executive position against the UK Government’s Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme, and to report to the Assembly on the progress of these issues no later than September 2024.

Leader of the Opposition

Amendment 1:

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘tourism as a driver’’ and insert:

‘of the Northern Ireland economy; further notes that a significant port of entry for Northern Ireland visitors remains Dublin Airport; expresses concern that without appropriate mitigations, including an effective communications plan, the UK Government’s Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme poses a risk to in-bound tourism in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic; calls on the Minister for the Economy to work with the Irish Government to explore links between the Wild Atlantic Way with the Causeway Coastal Route, promote Londonderry and the North West as the destination linking both jurisdictions and include counties Armagh and Down in Ireland’s Ancient East, whilst continuing to value and promote Northern Ireland’s own distinctive tourism brand Embrace a Giant; and further calls on the Minister for the Economy to work with the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Tourism Alliance to implement a limited and time-bound exemption of between five and seven days from the Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme for tourists and tour operators travelling between Irish Republic and Northern Ireland, and to report to the Assembly on the progress of these issues no later than September 2024.’

Mr Phillip Brett
Mr Gary Middleton
Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr David Brooks

Amendment 2:

Proposed:

After ‘Ireland’s Ancient East’ insert:

‘and counties Fermanagh and Tyrone in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands’

Mr Philip McGuigan
Miss Áine Murphy

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the amendment 1 was made.

The Question being put, the amendment 2 was made.

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

6. Executive Committee Business

6.1 Further Consideration Stage: Defective Premises Bill (NIA Bill 03/22-27)

The Minister for Communities, Mr Gordon Lyons, moved the Further Consideration Stage of the Defective Premises Bill (NIA Bill 03/22-27).

One amendment was tabled to the Bill.

Amendment 1 to Clause 2 was not moved.

The Defective Premises Bill (NIA Bill 03/22-27) 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 4.23pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
18 June 2024

Northern Ireland Assembly

18 June 2024 – Division

Motion: Dual Market Access

Proposed:

That this Assembly affirms the huge opportunity afforded to our local economy as a result of the dual market access available to businesses here, allowing the seamless movement of goods into both the EU and UK markets; recognises that this opportunity has the potential to deliver tangible benefits in terms of job creation, inward investment, improved wages and productivity and improved regional balance; acknowledges the importance of continued efforts to ease the flow of goods moving from east to west and also the need to mitigate damage to north-south services and trade not covered by the Protocol/Windsor Framework; notes that deriving full benefits from our advantageous trading position will require focused intergovernmental and interagency work, and calls on the Minister for the Economy to work with the Irish Government to establish a joint Invest NI-IDA Ireland working group, drawing on expertise from Intertrade Ireland, interested business groups and, where relevant, the UK Department for Business and Trade and the EU directorates general, to develop a clearly defined strategy to maximise the huge economic advantages afforded to Northern Ireland, with the aim of providing reports to the North-South Ministerial Council, which will in turn furnish recommendations under Article 14 of the Protocol to the Specialised Committee on the Protocol/Windsor Framework; and further calls on the Minister to provide an update to the Assembly on the establishment of this working group and its actions not later than the end of 2024.

Leader of the Opposition

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 50
Noes: 20

AYES
Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Dr Archibald, Mr Baker, Mr Beattie, Mr Blair, Ms Bradshaw, Miss Brogan, Mr Butler, Mr Chambers, Mr Delargy, Mr Dickson, Mr Donnelly, Mr Durkan, Ms Egan, Mr Elliott, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Ferguson, Miss Flynn, Miss Hargey, Mr Honeyford, Ms Hunter, Ms Kimmins, Mr McAleer, Miss McAllister, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McMurray, Mr McNulty, Mr McReynolds, Mrs Mason, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Miss Á Murphy, Mr C Murphy, Mr Nesbitt, Ms Ní Chuilín, Ms Nicholl, Mr O'Dowd, Ms O'Neill, Mr O'Toole, Ms Reilly, Ms Sheerin, Ms Sugden, Mr Swann, Mr Tennyson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Durkan, Mr McGrath.

NOES
Mr Allister, Mr Bradley, Mr Brett, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Ms Bunting, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Harvey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Robinson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Brooks, Mr Harvey.

The motion was carried.

Defective Premises Bill Annotated Marshalled List of Amendments Further Consideration Stage

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 18 June 2024.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

6. Assembly Reports

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committee Nineteenth Report (Northern Ireland Assembly)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

9. Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly

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 18 June 2024
2022-2027 Mandate
Executive Bills