Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair.

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Matter of the Day

2.1 Death of Ken Reid

Mr Jonathan Buckley, under Standing Order 24, made a statement on the death of Ken Reid. 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:

Mrs Linda Dillon
Mr Tom Buchanan
Ms Connie Egan
Mr Robbie Butler
Dr Steve Aiken
Ms Sinéad McLaughlin
Mrs Ciara Ferguson
Mr Brian Kingston
Ms Sian Mulholland
Miss Nicola Brogan
Mr David Brooks
Miss Nuala McAllister

4. Ministerial Statement

4.1 Funding the Provision of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for all Schools

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.

The Minister of Education, Mr Paul Givan, made a statement regarding Funding the Provision of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for all Schools, following which he replied to questions.

5. Executive Committee Business

5.1 First Stage: Agriculture Bill (NIA Bill 08/22-27)

The Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Mr Andrew Muir, introduced a Bill to make provision for the modification of assimilated direct legislation in relation to aid in the fruit and vegetables sector and information and promotion schemes for agricultural products; and for connected purposes.

The Agriculture Bill (NIA Bill 08/22-27) passed First Stage and was ordered to be printed.

6. Private Members’ Business

6.1 Motion: Supporting Upland Sheep Farmers

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the vital role of the sheep sector within the agri-food industry, particularly as the primary farm enterprise in less favoured areas; acknowledges that the carbon footprint of ewes in upland areas is 8 per cent lower than that from ewes on lowland farms; further recognises the lack of support for sheep farming under the Future Agricultural Policy, with farmers facing a 17 per cent reduction in their Basic Payment Scheme; and calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to outline his plans to support and safeguard the future viability of sheep farming.

Mr Declan McAleer
Miss Áine Murphy
Miss Nicola Brogan


Amendment:

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘agri-food industry,’ and insert:

‘in all areas of Northern Ireland, particularly as the primary farm enterprise in less favoured areas; acknowledges the role that practices which improve efficiency and resilience can play in reducing the carbon footprint of ewes across all land types; further recognises the lack of support for sheep farming under the Future Agricultural Policy, with farmers facing a 17 per cent reduction in their Basic Payment Scheme; and calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, having had regard to the views and recommendations of the Northern Ireland Sheep Industry Taskforce, to outline his plans to support and safeguard the future viability of sheep farming.

Miss Michelle McIlveen
Mr William Irwin
Mr Tom Buchanan

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 deputy First Minister, Mrs Emma Little-Pengelly.

7.2 Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Mr Andrew Muir.

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.

8. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)

8.1 Motion: Supporting Upland Sheep Farmers (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

The Question being put, the amendment was made.

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

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

8.2 Motion: United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Proposed:

That this Assembly supports the full participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of society; acknowledges the difficulties and inequalities facing 25 per cent of the population with a disability or long-term health condition; recognises the diversity of disabilities throughout our society; accepts that the Assembly and Executive must commit to mitigating and reducing any such inequalities faced by people with disabilities; laments the lack of progress on equality legislation in Northern Ireland; and calls on the Minister for Communities to bring forward legislation to incorporate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities into local legislation to provide a more equitable legislative framework and to tackle the inequalities faced by people with disabilities.

Mr Danny Donnelly
Ms Kate Nicholl
Ms Sian Mulholland
Mr Nick Mathison

Amendment 1:

Proposed:

After ‘our society;’ insert:

‘recognises that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities affirms that every human being has the inherent right to life; notes that selective abortion on the grounds of fetal impairment is contrary to the view of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;

Mr Brian Kingston
Mr Harry Harvey
Mrs Diane Dodds

Amendment 2:

Proposed:

At end insert:

‘; and further calls on the Executive to protect those with disabilities from harm by introducing standalone hate crime legislation.’

Mr Daniel McCrossan
Mr Matthew O’Toole

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, amendment 1 fell (Division).

The Question being put, amendment 2 was made.

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

9. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 6.00pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
25 November 2024

Northern Ireland Assembly

25 November 2024 – Division

Amendment 1: United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Proposed:

After ‘our society;’ insert:

‘recognises that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities affirms that every human being has the inherent right to life; notes that selective abortion on the grounds of fetal impairment is contrary to the view of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;

Mr Brian Kingston
Mr Harry Harvey
Mrs Diane Dodds

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 33

Noes: 37

AYES

Mr Bradley, Mr Brett, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Mr Crawford, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mr Durkan, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Gaston, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Miss McIlveen, Mr Martin, Mr Middleton, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Robinson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Bradley, Mr Kingston.

NOES

Mr Baker, Mr Boylan, Ms Bradshaw, Miss Brogan, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dillon, Miss Dolan, Mr Donnelly, Ms Egan, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Ferguson, Miss Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Mrs Guy, Mr Honeyford, Ms Hunter, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mr McAleer, Miss McAllister, Mr McGuigan, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McMurray, Mr McReynolds, Mrs Mason, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Miss Á Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Ms Nicholl, Mr O'Dowd, Mr O'Toole, Ms Reilly, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Tennyson.

Tellers for the Noes: Ms Bradshaw, Mrs Dillon.

Amendment 1 fell.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 20 November 2024 to 25 November 2024.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Agriculture Bill (NIA Bill 08/22-27)

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

SR 2024/196 The Bread and Flour (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department of Health)

SR 2024/197 The Industrial Tribunals and Fair Employment Tribunal (Constitution and Rules of Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for the Economy)

For Information Only

SR 2024/194 The Waiting Restrictions (Draperstown) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2024/195 The Schools (Part-Time 20mph Speed Limit) (Amendment No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Infrastructure)

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

6. Assembly Reports

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Twenty-seventh Report 22 November 2024 (Northern Ireland Assembly) (NIA 59/22-27)

Report on a Referral to the Commissioner for Standards for Investigation of an Alleged Leak of Confidential Information (Committee on Standards and Privileges) (NIA 55/22-27)

Report on the Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Arbitration Bill (Committee for Justice) (NIA 62/22-27)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Budget Assessment (Minister of Health)

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Registrar General Northern Ireland Annual Report 2023 (Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency)

Libraries NI Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department for Communities)

9. Publications Presented to the Northern Ireland Assembly

Eastern Division Report to Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council Autumn 2024 (Department for Infrastructure)

Northern Ireland Assembly Commission Briefing to Assist the Audit Committee’s Scrutiny of the Assembly Commission’s Budget for 2025-26 (Northern Ireland Assembly Commission)