Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at 10.30am, the Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, 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:

Mr Colm Gildernew
Mr Tom Buchanan
Ms Sian Mulholland
Mr Mike Nesbitt
Mr Mark Durkan
Mr Pádraig Delargy
Mrs Deborah Erskine
Ms Connie Egan
Mr Daniel McCrossan
Ms Diane Forsythe
Ms Kate Nicholl
Mr Jonathan Buckley
 

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Legislative Consent Motion: Tobacco and Vapes Bill

Proposed:

That this Assembly endorses the principle of the UK Tobacco and Vapes Bill extending to Northern Ireland insofar as the provisions of that Bill relate to matters falling within the legislative competence of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Minister of Health

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

4. Private Members’ Business

4.1 Motion: Veterinary Medicines

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the House of Lords Windsor Framework Sub-Committee’s inquiry into veterinary medicines and the Windsor Framework; acknowledges the deep concern of the agri-food industry that the number of veterinary products estimated to be at risk in Northern Ireland could be up to 51 per cent; further notes that the absence of adequate access to veterinary medicines risks competitiveness and could lead to increased vulnerability to disease outbreaks, reduced capacity to treat and prevent illnesses, and compromise animal welfare standards; recognises that this not only poses a threat to individual animals but has broader implications for public health; and calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment & Rural Affairs to bring forward proposals to the UK government and European Union authorities that would positively resolve this matter.

Mr Tom Elliott
Dr Steve Aiken
Mr Doug Beattie
Mr Robbie Butler

Amendment:

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘health’ and insert:

‘welcomes the establishment of a Veterinary Medicines Working Group to urgently advise the UK Government on proposals that would positively resolve this issue for farmers, industry and animal owners; and calls on the UK Government to ensure continued supply of veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland beyond 2025 by pursuing an agreement with the EU on a long-term basis and, if necessary, by introducing legislation to prevent regulatory divergence between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.’

Mr Tom Buchanan
Mr William Irwin
Mr Jonathan Buckley

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 12.59pm.

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

5. Question Time

5.1 Health

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Health, Mr Robin Swann.

6. Question for Urgent Oral Answer

6.1 Infected Blood Inquiry

The Minister of Health, Mr Robin Swann, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer tabled by Mrs Diane Dodds.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

7. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)

7.1 Motion: Veterinary Medicines (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

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

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

7.2 Motion: Junior Doctors’ Pay

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the valuable work of all staff within Health and Social Care Northern Ireland, as well as the unprecedented pressures facing our health and social care system; acknowledges that junior doctors are a vital element of the health system in Northern Ireland; notes that junior doctors in neighbouring jurisdictions currently experience better pay and conditions for less pressurised workloads than their counterparts in Northern Ireland, causing significant issues for recruitment and retention; further recognises the upcoming strikes are a measure of last resort; and calls on the Minister of Health to urgently and meaningfully engage with the British Medical Association regarding junior doctor pay, taking account of agreements reached in Scotland and Wales.

Miss Nuala McAllister
Mr Danny Donnelly
Ms Paula Bradshaw
Ms Sorcha Eastwood

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

8. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

Ms Joanne Bunting spoke to her topic regarding the Proposed Closure of Belfast Metropolitan College Castlereagh Campus.

The Assembly adjourned at 5.58pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
21 May 2024

 
Northern Ireland Assembly

21 May 2024 – Division

Motion: Veterinary Medicines - Amendment

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘health’ and insert:

‘welcomes the establishment of a Veterinary Medicines Working Group to urgently advise the UK Government on proposals that would positively resolve this issue for farmers, industry and animal owners; and calls on the UK Government to ensure continued supply of veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland beyond 2025 by pursuing an agreement with the EU on a long-term basis and, if necessary, by introducing legislation to prevent regulatory divergence between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.’

Mr Tom Buchanan
Mr William Irwin
Mr Jonathan Buckley

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 27
Noes: 41

AYES
Mr Allen, Mr Allister, Mr Beattie, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mr Elliott, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Harvey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kingston, Mr Lyons, Mr Middleton, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Robinson, Mr Stewart, Mr Swann.
Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Harvey, Mr Irwin.

NOES
Mr Boylan, Ms Bradshaw, Miss Brogan, Mr Delargy, Mr Dickson, Mr Donnelly, Mr Durkan, Ms Eastwood, Ms Egan, Mrs Ennis, Miss Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Miss Hargey, Mr Honeyford, Ms Hunter, Mr Kearney, Ms Kimmins, Mrs Long, Mr McAleer, Miss McAllister, Mr McCrossan, 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, Ms Ní Chuilín, Ms Nicholl, Mr O'Dowd, Ms O'Neill, Mr O'Toole, Ms Sheerin, Mr Tennyson.
Tellers for the Noes: Mr McGlone, Mr McReynolds.

The amendment was negatived.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 21 May 2024.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

SR 2024/116 The Health and Social Care Pension Scheme (Member Contributions) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024

SR 2024/117 The Health and Social Care Pension Schemes (Amendment No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department of Health)

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

6. Assembly Reports

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Interim Fiscal Framework (Minister of Finance)

BMA Junior Doctors Strike (Minister of Health)

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

9. Publications Presented to 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 21 May 2024
2022-2027 Mandate
Executive Bills