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 Royal Assent

The Speaker informed Members that Royal Assent was signified to the Budget (No.2) Act (Northern Ireland) 2024 on 18 October 2024.

2.2 Points of Order

The Speaker reminded members that points of order should be used to raise procedural points, not political ones, and that to increase the likelihood of Members receiving a meaningful response to a point of order, it is a courtesy to give the Speaker's Office advance notice.

2.3 Committee Proceedings

The Speaker reminded Members he had no role in the proceedings of individual Committees and that Members have access to the advice of officials on Committees.

2.4 Responses to Points of Order

The Speaker responded to Points of Order in relation to the First Minister coming back to the Chamber to make a statement to the Assembly on safeguarding issues within her party and on Ministers not being available on sitting days to respond to plenary debates and questions.

2.5 Speaker’s Absence

The Speaker advised Members that he would be absent from the Chamber on Tuesday 22 October.

3. Members’ Statements

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

Ms Emma Sheerin
Mr Keith Buchanan
Mr David Honeyford
Mr Matthew O’Toole
Ms Aisling Reilly
Ms Cheryl Brownlee
Ms Kate Nicholl
Mr Colm Gildernew
Mr Jonathan Buckley
Ms Sian Mulholland
Mr Pat Sheehan
Mrs Deborah Erskine
Mr Mark Durkan

4. Assembly Business

4.1 Motion: Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Mr Colin Crawford replace Mr John Stewart as a member of the Public Accounts Committee; and that Mr John Stewart be appointed as a member of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee.

Mr Robbie Butler
Mr Andy Allen

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

5. Ministerial Statement

5.1 Independent Review of Education

The Minister of Education, Mr Paul Givan, made a statement regarding an Independent Review of Education, following which he replied to questions.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

6. Executive Committee Business

6.1 Motion: The draft Period Products (the Executive Office Specified Public Service Bodies) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024

Proposed:

That the draft Period Products (the Executive Office Specified Public Service Bodies) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 be approved.

The Executive Office

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

6.2 Motion: The draft Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024

Proposed:

That the draft Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 be approved.

Minister for the Economy

Debate ensued.

The debate stood suspended for Question Time.

The Speaker took the Chair.

7. Question Time

7.1 The Executive Office

Questions were put to, and answered by, the First Minister, Ms Michelle O’Neill. The junior Minister, Ms Aisling Reilly, also answered a number of questions.

7.2 Infrastructure

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Infrastructure, Mr John O’Dowd.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

8. Executive Committee Business (cont’d)

8.1 Motion: The draft Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

The Question being put, the motion was negatived.

9. Private Members’ Business

9.1 Motion: Support for Deaf Children

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the negative impact that the lack of specialist Teachers of the Deaf and other essential specialist educational support professionals has on deaf children and their families; and calls on the Minister of Education to bring forward plans to ensure that every deaf child and their family has access to a qualified Teacher of the Deaf and other specialist support staff as early as possible, regardless of their level of deafness.

Mr Robbie Butler
Mr John Stewart
Mr Andy Allen
Ms Diana Armstrong

Debate ensued.

The Speaker took the Chair.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

10. Assembly Business (cont’d)

10.1 Motion: Extension of Sitting on Monday 21 October 2024 under Standing Order 10(3A)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 10(3A), the sitting on Monday 21 October 2024 be extended to no later than 7.30pm.

Business Committee

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

11. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)

11.1 Motion: Addressing the Lack of Respite Provision for Adults with Learning Difficulties, Complex Needs and Challenging Behaviour

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the inadequate provision of respite services for adults with learning difficulties, complex needs, and challenging behaviour; acknowledges that respite provision is not a luxury, but a necessity for unpaid carers in our society; notes that the demand for services is increasing year-on-year, with more children with learning difficulties, complex needs and challenging behaviour entering adult care services; recognises the hard work and dedication of staff members within the facilities that provide respite provision; accepts the need to address the lack of adult respite provision and the need for forward planning, additional investment and ring-fencing of these services; and calls on the Minister of Health to develop a plan that will address the lack of adult respite provision; and further calls on the Minister of Health to provide additional investment into these services to ensure that families and unpaid carers can avail of more regular and more consistent respite provision.

Ms Liz Kimmins
Mrs Linda Dillon
Miss Órlaithí Flynn

Amendment 1:

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘respite services for adults’ and insert:

‘and children with learning difficulties, complex needs, and challenging behaviour; acknowledges that respite provision is not a luxury, but a necessity for unpaid carers in our society; notes that the demand for services is increasing year-on-year, with more children with learning difficulties, complex needs and challenging behaviour entering adult care services; recognises the hard work and dedication of staff members within the facilities that provide respite provision; accepts the need to address the lack of adult and children’s respite provision and the need for forward planning, additional investment and ring-fencing of these services; and calls on the Minister of Health to develop a plan that will address the lack of adult and children’s respite provision; and further calls on the Minister of Health to provide additional investment into these services to ensure that families and unpaid carers can avail of more regular and more consistent respite provision.’

Mr Colin McGrath
Mr Mark Durkan
Mr Daniel McCrossan
Ms Cara Hunter

Amendment 2:

Proposed:

After the fourth ‘respite provision’ insert:

‘and the removal of respite services when families move from one Health and Social Care Trust area to another;’

Mr Alan Robinson
Mrs Deborah Erskine
Mr Paul Frew

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

The Question being put, amendment 1 was made.

The Question being put, amendment 2 was made.

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

12. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 6.17pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
21 October 2024

 
Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 16 October 2024 to 21 October 2024.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Budget (No.2) Act (Northern Ireland) 2024

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

For Information Only

SR 2024/184 The A5 Private Accesses on the A5 Western Transport Corridor -Sion Mills (North) to Ballygawley (West) (Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Infrastructure)

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

6. Assembly Reports

Report on Child Poverty in Northern Ireland (Public Accounts Committee) (NIA 54/22-27)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Department of Education Cash Advance from the Northern Ireland Consolidated Fund (Minister of Finance)

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman’s Report 2023-24 (Building trust at a time of challenge) (Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman)

Northern Ireland Local Government Commissioner for Standards, Commissioner’s Report for 2023-24 (Northern Ireland Local Government Commissioner for Standards)

Public Prosecution Service Annual Report and Accounts 2023/24 (Attorney General for Northern Ireland)

Northern Ireland Screen Commission Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department for the Economy)

9. Publications Presented to the Northern Ireland Assembly