Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at 10.30am, the Speaker in the Chair.

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Speaker’s Business

Member Appointment

The Speaker reminded Members that he had received notification from the Chief Electoral Officer that Mr Andrew McMurray had been returned as a Member of the Assembly for the South Down constituency.

Mr McMurray gave the undertaking, signed the Roll of Membership and entered his designation in the presence of the Speaker and the Clerk/Chief Executive on 30 April 2024.

3. Members’ Statements

Under Standing Order 24A, the following Members made a statement to the Assembly:

Mr Jonathan Buckley
Mr Declan Kearney
Mr Danny Donnelly
Mr Tom Elliott
Mr Colin McGrath
MrsLinda Dillon
MrsDeborah Erskine
Mr Peter McReynolds
Mr Mike Nesbitt
Mr Mark Durkan
Mr Colm Gildernew
Ms Cheryl Brownlee
Mr Jim Allister

4. Ministerial Statements

4.1 Statement: North South Ministerial Council Plenary Meeting

The First Minister, Ms Michelle O'Neill, made a statement regarding the North South Ministerial Council Plenary meeting, following which she replied to questions.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

4.2 Statement: Managing MOT Test Waiting Times

The Minister for Infrastructure, Mr John O'Dowd, made a statement regarding Managing MOT Test Waiting Times, following which he replied to questions.

4.3 Statement: Transforming Capital Investment: Supporting Children with Special Educational Needs

The Minister of Education, Mr Paul Givan, made a statement regarding Transforming Capital Investment: Supporting Children with Special Educational Needs, following which he replied to questions.

The sitting was suspended at 1.05 pm.

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

5. Question Time

5.1 Education

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Education, Mr Paul Givan.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the chair.

6. Private Members’ Business

6.1 Motion: Display of Flags, Emblems and Banners

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes Chapter 11 of the report of the Commission on Flags, Identity, Culture and Tradition; endorses the proposed code of practice for the respectful display of flags at paragraph 11.48; recognises lawful authority for the display of flags, emblems and banners from public property does not exist; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to develop, urgently, a consultation on how such lawful authority may be provided within the bounds of the proposed code of practice.

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Mr John Blair
Mr Peter McReynolds

Amendment:

Proposed:

After ‘11.48;’ insert:

‘welcomes, as best practice, the positive work done by community and civic groups in creating local codes of practice around the display of flags;’

Mr Doug Beattie
Mr Tom Elliott

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the amendment was negatived (Division 1).

The Question being put, the motion was carried (Division 2).

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the chair.

6.2 Motion: Implementation of the Autism (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

Proposed:

That this Assembly reaffirms its commitment to the full implementation of the Autism (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022; stresses in particular the duty on the Minister of Health to prepare, implement and review a cross-departmental autism strategy for Northern Ireland; condemns the failure of the Department of Health to introduce measurable targets to assess the effectiveness of the Autism Strategy 2023-28 as mandated in the 2022 Act; believes this will undermine the provision of improved, regionally-consistent autism services for children and adults across Northern Ireland; further believes that the present Strategy should be reviewed to ensure that the primacy of the 2022 Act is not only recognised but enshrined in all respects; expresses concern at protracted delays in appointing an Autism Reviewer; believes this position must be filled and properly resourced as soon as possible; and calls on the Minister of Health to present to the Assembly a roadmap for ensuring his Department’s compliance with the Autism Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 as amended by the 2022 Act within six weeks.

Mrs Deborah Erskine
Ms Cheryl Brownlee

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

7. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

Mr Alex Easton spoke to his topic regarding the Closure of the Bangor and Newtownards Minor Injury Units.

The Assembly adjourned at 6.50pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
30 April 2024

Northern Ireland Assembly

30 April 2024 – Division 1

Amendment: Display of Flags, Emblems and Banners

Proposed:

After ‘11.48;’ insert:

‘welcomes, as best practice, the positive work done by community and civic groups in creating local codes of practice around the display of flags;’

Mr Doug Beattie
Mr Tom Elliott

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 11
Noes: 48

AYES
Dr Aiken, Mr Allister, Mr Beattie, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Butler, Mr Chambers, Mr Elliott, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Robinson, Ms Sugden, Mr Swann.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Chambers, Mr Nesbitt.

NOES
Dr Archibald, Ms Armstrong, Mr Baker, Mr Blair, Mr Boylan, Ms Bradshaw, Miss Brogan, Mr Delargy, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dillon, Mr Donnelly, Mr Durkan, Ms Egan, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Ferguson, Mr Gildernew, Miss Hargey, Mr Honeyford, Ms Hunter, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, 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, Mr C Murphy, Ms Nicholl, Mr O'Dowd, Ms O'Neill, Mr O'Toole, Ms Reilly, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Tennyson.

Tellers for the Noes: Ms Egan, Mr Tennyson.

The following Members voted in both Lobbies and are therefore not counted in the result:

Mr Brett, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Givan, Mr Irwin, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Middleton.

The amendment was negatived.

Northern Ireland Assembly

30 April 2024 – Division 2

Motion: Display of Flags, Emblems and Banners

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes Chapter 11 of the report of the Commission on Flags, Identity, Culture and Tradition; endorses the proposed code of practice for the respectful display of flags at paragraph 11.48; recognises lawful authority for the display of flags, emblems and banners from public property does not exist; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to develop, urgently, a consultation on how such lawful authority may be provided within the bounds of the proposed code of practice.’

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Mr John Blair
Mr Peter McReynolds

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 49
Noes: 31

AYES
Dr Archibald, Ms Armstrong, Mr Baker, Mr Blair, Mr Boylan, Ms Bradshaw, Miss Brogan, Mr Delargy, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dillon, Mr Donnelly, Mr Durkan, Ms Egan, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Ferguson, Mr Gildernew, Miss Hargey, Mr Honeyford, Ms Hunter, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, 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, Mr C Murphy, Ms Nicholl, Mr O'Dowd, Ms O'Neill, Mr O'Toole, Ms Reilly, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Ms Sugden, Mr Tennyson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Ms Egan, Mr Tennyson.

NOES
Dr Aiken, Mr Allister, Mr Beattie, Mr Brett, 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 Easton, Mr Elliott, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Givan, Mr Irwin, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Middleton, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Robinson, Mr Swann.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Brooks, Mr Kingston.

The motion was carried.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 30 April 2024.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

For information only

SR 2024/101 The Period Products (the Department for the Economy Specified Public Service Bodies) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for the Economy)

SR 2024/102 The Lay Magistrates (Eligibility) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department of Justice)

SR 2024/103 The Period Products (Department of Justice Specified Public Service Bodies) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department of Justice)

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

6. Assembly Reports

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committee Eleventh Report of Session 2023 – 2024 (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 30 April 2024
2022-2027 Mandate
Executive Bills