Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at noon, 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:

Mr Colm Gildernew
Mrs Diane Dodds
Mr Nick Mathison
Mr Alan Chambers
Mr Mathew O'Toole
Miss Nicola Brogan
Mr Keith Buchanan
Mr John Blair
Mr Pat Sheehan
Mr Paul Frew
Dr Steve Aiken
Ms Kellie Armstrong
Mr Stephen Dunne

3. Assembly Business

3.1 Motion: Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Mr Colin Crawford replace Mr Robbie Butler as a member of the Committee for Education; that Ms Diana Armstrong replace Mr Colin Crawford as a member of the Committee for the Economy; that Mr Andy Allen replace Mr Robbie Butler as a member of the Business Committee; and that Mr John Stewart be appointed as a member of the Business Committee.

Mr John Stewart
Mr Robbie Butler

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

3.2 Motion: Appointment to the Assembly Commission

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 79(4), Mr Andy Allen be appointed to fill a vacancy on the Assembly Commission.

Mr John Stewart
Mr Robbie Butler

The Question being put, the motion was carried with cross-community support.

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.

4. Ministerial Statements

4.1 British Irish Council Housing Ministerial Meeting

The Minister for Communities, Mr Gordon Lyons, made a statement regarding a recent British Irish Council Housing Ministerial Meeting, following which he replied to questions.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

4.2 A5 Western Transport Corridor Dual Carriageway Project

The Minister for Infrastructure, Mr John O'Dowd, made a statement regarding the A5 Western Transport Corridor Dual Carriageway Project, following which he replied to questions.

5. Private Members’ Business

5.1 Motion: Draft Programme for Government

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the absence of clear and measurable objectives in the draft Programme for Government; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to work with their Executive colleagues to introduce specific measurable and timebound targets, including but not limited to waiting times, child poverty, childcare costs, biodiversity loss, social housing, water and waste water infrastructure before the draft Programme for Government can be approved.

Mr Colin McGrath
Mr Mark Durkan
Ms Sinéad McLaughlin
Mr Daniel McCrossan

Amendment:

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘Assembly’ and insert:

‘recognises the importance of keeping track of delivery against the objectives in the draft Programme for Government; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister, building on existing commitments to publish an annual delivery report and monitor progress against a selection of statistical indicators, to work with their Executive colleagues to consider, where necessary and practicable, the introduction of additional, specific and timebound targets in relation to the draft Programme for Government.’

Mr Brian Kingston
Mr Harry Harvey

Debate ensued.

The debate stood suspended for Question Time.

The Speaker took the Chair.

6. Question Time

6.1 The Executive Office

Questions were put to, and answered by, the deputy First Minister, Mrs Emma Little-Pengelly. The junior Minister, Mrs Cameron, also answered a number of questions.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

6.2 Communities

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

The Speaker took the Chair.

7. Questions for Urgent Oral Answer

7.1 First Minister's Recent Statements

The First Minister, Ms Michelle O’Neill, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer tabled by Mrs Diane Dodds.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

7.2 Chief Medical Officer

The Minister of Health, Mr Mike Nesbitt, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer tabled by Miss Nuala McAllister.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

8. Private Members Business (cont’d)

8.1 Motion: Draft Programme for Government (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

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

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

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

9. Assembly Business

9.1 Motion: Extension of Sitting on Monday 7 October 2024 under Standing Order 10(3A)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 10(3A), the sitting on Monday 7 October 2024 be extended to no later than 8.00pm.

Business Committee

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

10. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)

10.1 Motion: Farmers' Basic Payment Scheme

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the significant investment in rural communities and businesses, and the wider economy derived from the Single Farm Payment under the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP); agrees that CAP Single Farm Payments were critical to supporting farms to be financially viable and more environmentally sustainable, particularly small family farms; is concerned with the significant uncertainty facing our farming community with the loss of CAP Single Farm Payments as a result of Brexit and the end of the replacement Basic Payment Scheme worth £300m a year, beyond 2024; and calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to urgently press the British Government to set out what replacement funds will be put in place to support our farmers and the wider agricultural sector.

Mr Declan McAleer
Miss Áine Murphy
Miss Nicola Brogan

Amendment 1:

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘wider economy derived’ and insert:

‘from the EU Common Agricultural Policy, including Pillar One (Direct Payments) and Pillar Two (Rural Development Payments); agrees that significant financial investment in agriculture and land management is critical in supporting farms to be financially viable and more environmentally sustainable; is concerned with the significant uncertainty facing our farming community as a result of Brexit and the lack of commitment from the UK Government to maintain agricultural funding beyond 2024; and calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to urgently press the UK Government to, as a minimum, maintain current agricultural funding in real terms for the duration of this Parliament.’

Mr Patsy McGlone
Mr Daniel McCrossan
Mr Justin McNulty
Mr Colin McGrath

Amendment 2:

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘small family farms;’ and insert:

‘welcomes the fact that this annual support was maintained at pre-2020 levels for the duration of the last Parliament; acknowledges, however, the need to address the significant uncertainty regarding the future of the Basic Payment Scheme, worth £300m a year, beyond 2024; and calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to urgently press the UK Government for an increased, ring-fenced, inflation-proof and multi-annual farm support and development budget to support our farmers and the wider agricultural sector.’

Miss Michelle McIlveen
Mr William Irwin
Mr Tom Buchanan

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, amendment 1 was made (Division 2).

As amendment 1 was made, the question was not put on amendment 2.

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

11. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 7.05pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
7 October 2024

Northern Ireland Assembly

7 October 2024 – Division 1

Amendment: Draft Programme for Government

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘Assembly’ and insert:

‘recognises the importance of keeping track of delivery against the objectives in the draft Programme for Government; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister, building on existing commitments to publish an annual delivery report and monitor progress against a selection of statistical indicators, to work with their Executive colleagues to consider, where necessary and practicable, the introduction of additional, specific and timebound targets in relation to the draft Programme for Government.’

Mr Brian Kingston
Mr Harry Harvey

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 66
Noes: 9

AYES
Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Dr Archibald, Ms D Armstrong, Ms K Armstrong, Mr Baker, Mr Boylan, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Brett, Miss Brogan, Mr Brooks, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, Mr Crawford, Mr Delargy, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dillon, Mrs Dodds, Miss Dolan, Mr Donnelly, Mr Dunne, Ms Egan, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Erskine, Mrs Ferguson, Miss Flynn, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Gildernew, Mrs Guy, Miss Hargey, Mr Harvey, Mr Honeyford, Mr Irwin, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Mr McAleer, Miss McAllister, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Miss McIlveen, Mr McMurray, Mr McReynolds, Mr Martin, Mrs Mason, Mr Mathison, Mr Middleton, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Miss Á Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Ms O'Neill, Ms Reilly, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Stewart, Mr Tennyson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Harvey, Mr Kingston.

NOES
Mr Carroll, Mr Durkan, Mr Gaston, Ms Hunter, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Ms McLaughlin, Mr O'Toole, Ms Sugden.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Durkan, Ms Hunter.

The amendment was made.

Northern Ireland Assembly

7 October 2024 – Division 2

Amendment 1 : Farmers' Basic Payment Scheme

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘wider economy derived’ and insert:

‘from the EU Common Agricultural Policy, including Pillar One (Direct Payments) and Pillar Two (Rural Development Payments); agrees that significant financial investment in agriculture and land management is critical in supporting farms to be financially viable and more environmentally sustainable; is concerned with the significant uncertainty facing our farming community as a result of Brexit and the lack of commitment from the UK Government to maintain agricultural funding beyond 2024; and calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to urgently press the UK Government to, as a minimum, maintain current agricultural funding in real terms for the duration of this Parliament.’

Mr Patsy McGlone
Mr Daniel McCrossan
Mr Justin McNulty
Mr Colin McGrath

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 31
Noes: 19

AYES
Mr Allen, Dr Archibald, Ms D Armstrong, Mr Baker, Mr Boylan, Miss Brogan, Mr Butler, Mr Delargy, Mr Durkan, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Ferguson, Miss Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Miss Hargey, Ms Hunter, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mr McAleer, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Ms McLaughlin, Mrs Mason, Miss Á Murphy, Mr O'Dowd, Mr O'Toole, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Ms Sugden.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr McGlone, Mr O'Toole.

NOES
Mr Brooks, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Gaston, Mr Harvey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Martin, Mr Middleton.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr T Buchanan, Mr Harvey.

Amendment 1 was made.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 2 October 2024 to 7 October 2024.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

SR 2024/177 The Rules of the Court of Judicature (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) 2024 (Department of Justice)

Draft SR 2024/0000 The Electrical Safety Standards for Private Tenancies Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Communities)

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

6. Assembly Reports

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Twenty-Third Report of Session 2024–2025 (NIA 52/22-27) (Northern Ireland Assembly)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Decision on how to Proceed with the Flagship A5 Western Transport Corridor Dual Carriageway Project (Department for Infrastructure)

Update on the Executive's Budget Sustainability Plan (Minister of Finance)

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2023/24 (for the year ended 31 May 2024) (Department of Health)

The Independent Monitoring Authority’s (IMA) third Annual Report to the Specialised Committee on Citizens’ Rights established under the Withdrawal Agreement and the Joint Committee established under the EEA EFTA Separation Agreement. (The Executive Office)

9. Publications Presented to the Northern Ireland Assembly

The Root Causes of Delay and Cost Overruns in Major Capital Projects (The Strategic Investment Board)