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

2.1 Authority and Impartiality of the Chair

The Speaker reminded Members that Standing Order 1 (2) states that the Speaker’s ruling shall be final on all questions of procedure and order, and that this extends to the Principal Deputy Speaker and the Deputy Speakers in his absence.

He cautioned Members against challenging rulings of the Chair and warned that sanctions would be given out as a result of recent exchanges, unless appropriate action was taken.

3. Members’ Statements

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

Mrs Ciara Ferguson
Mr Brian Kingston
Ms Kate Nicholl
Mr Colin McGrath
Ms Emma Sheerin
Ms Cheryl Brownlee
Mr Stewart Dickson
Mr Declan McAleer

4. Speaker’s Business (cont’d)

4.1 Adjournment Debate

The Speaker informed Members that Ms Paula Bradshaw did not intend to speak to the Adjournment Debate scheduled in her name that evening and so there would be no adjournment debate.

5. Ministerial Statement

5.1 British Irish Council Planning and Places Sector Ministerial Meeting

The Minister for Infrastructure, Mr John O’Dowd, made a statement regarding a British Irish Council Planning and Places Sector Ministerial Meeting, following which he replied to questions.

5.2 Health and Social Care Three Year Plan

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

The Minister of Health, Mr Mike Nesbitt, made a statement regarding a Health and Social Care Three Year Plan, following which he replied to questions.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

6. Executive Committee Business

6.1 Motion: The draft Climate Change (Carbon Budgets 2023-2037) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024

Proposed:

That the draft Climate Change (Carbon Budgets 2023-2037) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 be approved.

Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

Motion: The draft Climate Change (2040 Emissions Target) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024

Proposed:

That the draft Climate Change (2040 Emissions Target) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 be approved.

Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

A single debate ensued on both motions.

The Question being put, the motion on the draft Climate Change (Carbon Budgets 2023-2037) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 was carried (Division 1).

The Question being put, the motion on the draft Climate Change (2040 Emissions Target) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 was carried (Division 2).

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair took the Chair.

7. Question Time

7.1 Infrastructure

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

The Speaker took the Chair.

8. Private Members’ Business

8.1 Motion: Democratic Consent Resolution

Proposed:

That Articles 5 to 10 of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland to the EU withdrawal agreement should continue to apply during the new continuation period (within the meaning of Schedule 6A to the Northern Ireland Act 1998).

Mr Philip McGuigan
Mr Eóin Tennyson
Mr Matthew O’Toole

Debate ensued.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

The Speaker took the Chair.

The Question being put, the motion was carried by simple majority (Division 3).

9. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 8.59pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
10 December 2024

Northern Ireland Assembly

10 December 2024 – Division 1

Motion: The draft Climate Change (Carbon Budgets 2023-2037) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024

Proposed:

That the draft Climate Change (Carbon Budgets 2023-2037) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 be approved.

Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 56

Noes: 21

AYES

Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Dr Archibald, Ms D Armstrong, Ms K Armstrong, Mr Baker, Mr Beattie, Mr Blair, Mr Boylan, Ms Bradshaw, Miss Brogan, Mr Butler, Mr Carroll, Mr Chambers, Mr Crawford, Mr Delargy, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dillon, Miss Dolan, Mr Donnelly, Mr Durkan, Ms Egan, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Ferguson, Mrs Guy, Miss Hargey, Mr Honeyford, Ms Hunter, Mr Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mrs Long, Mr McAleer, Miss McAllister, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McMurray, Mr McNulty, Mr McReynolds, Mrs Mason, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Miss Áine Murphy, Mr C Murphy, Ms Nicholl, Mr O'Dowd, Ms O'Neill, Mr O'Toole, Ms Reilly, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Stewart, Ms Sugden, Mr Tennyson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr McMurray, Ms Nicholl.

NOES

Mr Bradley, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Gaston, Mr Harvey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kingston, Mr Martin, Miss McIlveen, Mr Middleton, Mr Robinson.

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

The motion was carried.

Northern Ireland Assembly

10 December 2024 – Division 2

Motion: The draft Climate Change (2040 Emissions Target) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024

Proposed:

That the draft Climate Change (2040 Emissions Target) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 be approved.

Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 54

Noes: 21

AYES
Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Dr Archibald, Ms D Armstrong, Ms K Armstrong, Mr Baker, Mr Beattie, Mr Blair, Mr Boylan, Ms Bradshaw, Miss Brogan, Mr Butler, Mr Carroll, Mr Chambers, Mr Crawford, Mr Delargy, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dillon, Miss Dolan, Mr Donnelly, Mr Durkan, Ms Egan, Mrs Ferguson, Mrs Guy, Miss Hargey, Mr Honeyford, Ms Hunter, Mr Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mrs Long, Mr McAleer, Miss McAllister, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McMurray, Mr McNulty, Mr McReynolds, Mrs Mason, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Miss Áine 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: Mr Donnelly, Mr McMurray.

NOES
Mr Bradley, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Gaston, Mr Harvey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kingston, Mr Martin, Miss McIlveen, Mr Middleton, Mr Robinson.

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

The motion was carried.

Northern Ireland Assembly

10 December 2024 – Division 3

Motion: Democratic Consent Resolution

Proposed:

That Articles 5 to 10 of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland to the EU withdrawal agreement should continue to apply during the new continuation period (within the meaning of Schedule 6A to the Northern Ireland Act 1998).

Mr Philip McGuigan
Mr Eóin Tennyson
Mr Matthew O’Toole

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 48

Noes: 36

AYES

NATIONALIST:

Dr Archibald, Mr Baker, Mr Boylan, Miss Brogan, Mrs Dillon, Ms Dolan, Mr Durkan, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Ferguson, Miss Hargey, Ms Hunter, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mr McAleer, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McNulty, Mrs Mason, Miss Á Murphy, Mr C Murphy, Mr O'Dowd, Ms O'Neill, Mr O'Toole, Ms Reilly, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin.

OTHER:

Ms K Armstrong, Mr Blair, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Carroll, Mr Dickson, Mr Donnelly, Ms Egan, Mrs Guy, Mr Honeyford, Mrs Long, Miss McAllister, Mr McMurray, Mr McReynolds, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Ms Nicholl, Mr Tennyson

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr McGuigan, Mr McMurray.

NOES

UNIONIST:

Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Ms D Armstrong, Mr Beattie, 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, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Gaston, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Martin, Mr Middleton, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Robinson, Mr Stewart, Ms Sugden.

Tellers for the Noes: Dr Aiken, Mr Buckley.

Total Votes             84 Total              Ayes 48 [57.1%]
Nationalist Votes    30 Nationalist    Ayes 30 [100.0%]
Unionist Votes        36 Unionist        Ayes 0   [0.0%]
Other Votes             18 Other            Ayes 18 [100.0%]

The motion was carried by simple majority.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 10 December 2024.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

SR 2024/211 The Direct Payments to Farmers (Cross-Compliance) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

6. Assembly Reports

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 10 December 2024
2022-2027 Mandate
Executive Bills