Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at 10.30am, the Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, 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:

Ms Michelle O’Neill
Mr Phillip Brett
Ms Kellie Armstrong
Ms Diana Armstrong
Ms Sinéad McLaughlin
Mr Maolíosa McHugh
Mr Stephen Dunne
Mrs Michelle Guy
Mr Gerry Carroll
Mr Colm Gildernew
Mr Brian Kingston
Mr Andrew McMurray
Mr Timothy Gaston
Mrs Deborah Erskine

3. Ministerial Statement

3.1 Maternity and Neonatal Services

The Minister of Health, Mr Mike Nesbitt, made a statement regarding Maternity and Neonatal Services, following which he replied to questions.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

4. Committee Business

4.1 Motion: New Standing Order

Proposed:

After Standing Order 27 insert: -

27A Voting by proxy

(1) A member (M) may arrange for M’s vote to be exercised by a proxy (P) where—
(a) M meets the conditions set out in paragraph 2,
(b) the Speaker has published a proxy voting scheme (the Scheme) in accordance with paragraph 3,
(c) P is not the Speaker or a deputy Speaker, and
(d) M and P have complied with the terms of the Scheme.
(2) The conditions are—
(a) M could, if an employee, exercise a right to maternity leave, paternity leave, adoption leave, shared parental leave or parental bereavement leave,
(b) M is affected by complications arising from pregnancy, including miscarriage, stillbirth and baby loss, or
(c) M has fostering responsibilities of a kind prescribed in the Scheme.
(3) The Scheme must include—
(a) the process by which M may designate P,
(b) the period for which a proxy vote may be exercised,
(c) how M may vary or withdraw that proxy, and
(d) subject to paragraph 4, details of how a proxy vote may be exercised.
(4) A proxy vote—
(a) may be exercised only in a plenary session of the Assembly,
(b) is to be disregarded for the purposes of Standing Order 9 (Quorum),
(c) must be recorded as such in the Official Report and the Journal of the Proceedings of the Assembly,
(d) may not be exercised in a vote on any of the following—
i. a Bill to which section 7A of the 1998 Act applies,
ii. the democratic consent process at Schedule 6A of the 1998 Act,
iii. any motion which requires the support of a number of members of the Assembly which equals or exceeds two thirds of the total number of seats in the Assembly, and
iv. any motion which requires the support of a number of members of the Assembly which equals or exceeds two thirds of the total number of members voting on the motion.
(5) In this standing order—
‘employee’ has the meaning given by Article 3 of the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996
‘the 1998 Act’ means the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

Chairperson, Committee on Procedures

Debate ensued.

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

5. Private Members’ Business

5.1 Motion: Creating a Register of Animal Welfare Offenders

Proposed:

That this Assembly believes those convicted of animal cruelty should be prohibited from owning or breeding animals in the future; notes with concern the recent figures from the Department of Justice indicating that between 2018 and 2022, only 12 per cent of convictions for animal welfare offences in Northern Ireland resulted in a custodial sentence; highlights that this is compounded by current bans on keeping animals which have proven ineffective in preventing reoffending; calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to work with his Executive colleagues to review safeguards against those with such convictions from later being employed in roles relating to the care of animals; and further calls on the Minister to explore proposals to establish a register of banned animal welfare offenders and make that information readily accessible to animal rehoming charities and reputable pet retailers.

Miss Michelle McIlveen
Mr Tom Buchanan
Ms Joanne Bunting
Mr Stephen Dunne

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 12.59pm.

The sitting resumed at 2.00pm, the Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, in the Chair.

6. Question Time

6.1 Justice

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Justice, Mrs Naomi Long.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

7. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)

7.1 Motion: Creating a Register of Animal Welfare Offenders (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

The question being put, the motion was carried.


7.2 Motion: Raising Awareness of the Dangers of Vaping Amongst Children

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises that the 2024 Northern Ireland Audit Office report on tackling the public health impacts of smoking and vaping, shows an increase in 11-16 year olds vaping; is concerned that children vaping in schools is detrimental to a child's health and educational outcomes; believes that greater awareness must be raised with children in schools about the risks of vaping; acknowledges that teachers and school staff must have the support and resources they require to raise awareness and inform children on the risks of vaping; and calls on the Minister of Education to bring forward a plan to end vaping in school grounds and to reduce the number of young people vaping.

Mrs Cathy Mason
Mr Danny Baker
Miss Órlaithí Flynn
Mr Pat Sheehan

Amendment 1:

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘calls on the Minister of Education’ and insert:

‘to work with the Minister of Health and local councils to bring forward a plan to end vaping in school grounds, reduce the number of young people vaping and eradicate the sale of vapes to children’.

Mrs Michelle Guy
Mr Nick Mathison
Ms Connie Egan
Ms Sian Mulholland

Amendment 2:

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘calls on the Minister of Education’ and insert:

‘to ensure that every school is fulfilling its statutory requirement to provide learning opportunities in relation to the risks of substance misuse; and further calls on the Minister to work in conjunction with Executive colleagues, other stakeholders, and on the basis of guidance from the Public Health Agency, to support a plan to end vaping in school grounds and to reduce the number of young people vaping.’

Mr David Brooks
Mr Peter Martin

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker Blair took the Chair.

The Question being put, amendment 1 was made.

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

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

8. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

Mr Andrew McMurray spoke to his topic regarding Homelessness in South Down.

The Assembly adjourned at 5.35pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
22 October 2024 

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 22 October 2024.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

6. Assembly Reports

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Inspection of the governance and operation of the Parole Commissioners for Northern Ireland. (Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland)

The National Fraud Initiative in Northern Ireland 2024 (Northern Ireland Audit Office)
Draft SI 2024/0000 The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2024 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

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 22 October 2024
2022-2027 Mandate
Executive Bills