Minutes of Proceedings
Session: Session currently unavailable
Date: 16 September 2024
The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair.
1. Prayers
Members observed two minutes’ silence.
2. Matter of the Day
2.1 British Government Announcement on Casement Park
Ms Aisling Reilly, under Standing Order 24, made a statement on the British Government Announcement on Casement Park. Other Members were also called to speak on the matter.
3. Members’ Statements
Under Standing Order 24A, the following Members made a statement to the Assembly:
Ms Emma Sheerin
Mr Gary Middleton
Miss Nuala McAllister
Lord Elliott
Ms Sinéad McLaughlin
Ms Liz Kimmins
Mrs Deborah Erskine
Mr Danny Donnelly
Mr Pat Sheehan
Ms Claire Sugden
Mr Jonathan Buckley
Ms Paula Bradshaw
Mrs Diane Dodds
4. Public Petition
24/7 Thrombectomy Service
Ms Paula Bradshaw was granted leave, in accordance with Standing Order 22, to present a Public Petition on a 24/7 Thrombectomy Service.
5. Assembly Business
5.1 Motion: Committee Membership
Proposed:
That Mr Peter Martin replace Ms Cheryl Brownlee as a member of the Committee for Education; that Mr Jonathan Buckley replace Mr Stephen Dunne as a member of the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee; and that Mr Stephen Dunne be appointed as a Member of the Committee for Justice.
Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr Gary Middleton
Mr Harry Harvey
The Question being put, the motion was carried.
Deputy Speaker Blair took the Chair.
6. Ministerial Statements
6.1 Launch of Ending Violence against Women and Girls Strategic Framework and First Delivery Plan
The First Minister, Ms Michelle O’Neill, made a statement regarding the Launch of Ending Violence against Women and Girls Strategic Framework and First Delivery Plan, following which she replied to questions.
6.2 Pausing of City and Growth Deals Funding Commitment
The Minister of Finance, Dr Caoimhe Archibald, made a statement regarding the Pausing of City and Growth Deals Funding Commitment, following which she replied to questions.
The statement stood suspended for Question Time.
The Speaker took the chair.
7. Question Time
7.1 Communities
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Communities, Mr Gordon Lyons.
7.2 Finance
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Finance, Dr Caoimhe Archibald.
8. Question for Urgent Oral Answer
8.1 Quality of Water Supply
The Minister for Infrastructure, Mr John O’Dowd, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer tabled by Mr Patsy McGlone.
Deputy Speaker Blair took the Chair.
9. Ministerial Statements (cont’d)
9.1 Statement: Pausing of City and Growth Deals Funding Commitment (cont’d)
The statement resumed.
The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.
10. Executive Committee Business
10.1 Further Consideration Stage: Budget (No. 2) Bill (NIA Bill 06/22-27)
The Minister of Finance, Dr Caoimhe Archibald, moved the Further Consideration Stage of the Budget (No. 2) Bill (NIA Bill 06/22-27).
No amendments were tabled to the Bill.
The Budget (No. 2) Bill (NIA Bill 06/22-27) stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with Section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
10.2 Motion: Suspension of Standing Order 39(2)
Proposed:
That Standing Order 39(2) be suspended in respect of the passage of the Budget (No. 2) Bill.
Minister of Finance
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the motion was carried with cross-community support.
11. Assembly Business (cont’d)
11.1 Motion: Extension of Sitting on Monday 16 September 2024 under Standing Order 10(3A)
Proposed:
That, in accordance with Standing Order 10(3A), the sitting on Monday 16 September 2024 be extended to no later than 8.30pm.
Business Committee
The Question being put, the motion was carried.
12. Private Members’ Business
12.1 Motion: Great Britain to Northern Ireland Trade
Proposed:
That this Assembly recognises that the role of road hauliers is critical to successful trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland; notes the concerns raised by the Road Haulage Association regarding impacts on business-to-business deliveries, particularly around the Sanitary and Phytosanitary requirements and the turnover threshold for businesses moving goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland; and calls on the First Minister and the deputy First Minister to pressure the Northern Ireland Office and His Majesty’s Government to meaningfully engage with all stakeholders in order to resolve the negative impact these matters are having on Great Britain to Northern Ireland trade.
Dr Steve Aiken
Lord Elliott
Mr Colin Crawford
Mr Robbie Butler
Debate ensued.
The Question being put the motion was carried.
Deputy Speaker Aiken took the Chair.
12.2 Motion: Dynamic Pricing
Proposed:
That this Assembly notes the extortionate prices charged for concert tickets as a direct result of dynamic pricing; recognises the lack of transparency around dynamic pricing and the fact that consumers may be unaware that the price of tickets can be increased by 100 per cent of the original purchase price; further notes the role of the Consumer Council in protecting consumer rights and the need for concert goers to be informed of their rights around dynamic pricing; and calls on the Competition and Markets Authority, as part of their investigation into Ticketmaster, to provide recommendations on how ticket providers and music promoters could be prohibited from engaging in dynamic pricing.
Mr Colm Gildernew
Mr Philip McGuigan
Mrs Ciara Ferguson
Debate ensued.
The Question being put the motion was carried.
13. Adjournment
Proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
The Speaker
The Assembly adjourned at 6.30pm.
Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
16 September 2024
Northern Ireland Assembly
Papers Presented to the Assembly on 11 September 2024 to 16 September 2024.
1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly
2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly
3. Orders in Council
4. Statutory Rules
SR 2024/161 The Personal Protective Equipment at Work (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for the Economy)
SR 2024/162 The Recovery of Health Services Charges (Amounts) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department of Health)
SR 2024/163 The Social Security (Genuine and Sufficient Link to the United Kingdom) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Communities)
SR 2024/0000 The Period Products (the Executive Office Specified Public Service Bodies) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (The Executive Office)
5. Legislative Consent Memorandums
6. Assembly Reports
Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Twenty-Second Report of Session 2023 – 2024 (NIA 49 22-27) (Northern Ireland Assembly)
7. Written Ministerial Statements
8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly
Northern Ireland Local Government Officers’ Superannuation Committee Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 (Department for Communities)
Financial Reporting Advisory Board Annual Report 2023-24 (Department of Finance)
Public Income and Expenditure Account for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Finance)
Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council Annual Report and Accounts For the year ended 31 March 2024 (Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council)
