Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at 10.30am, 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:

Mrs Cathy Mason
Mrs Deborah Erskine
Miss Nuala McAllister
Mr Colm Gildernew
Mr Paul Frew
Mr Robbie Butler
Mr Declan Kearney
Ms Diane Forsythe
Ms Kate Nicholl
Mr Harry Harvey
Mr Timothy Gaston
Mr Phillip Brett
 

3. Assembly Business

3.1 Motion: Suspension of Standing Order 20(1)

Proposed:

That Standing Order 20(1) be suspended for 24 September 2024.

Business Committee

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

4. Private Members’ Business

4.1 Motion: Lowering the Voting Age for 16 and 17 Year Olds

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the motion agreed by the Assembly, in November 2012, calling on the British Government to introduce legislation to change the voting age to 16; regrets that previous British Governments failed to introduce such legislation; further notes the manifesto commitment of the Labour Government to give 16 and 17 year olds the right to vote in all elections; believes that the voting age should be reduced to 16 for all elections and referendums; and calls on the British Government to introduce legislation to accommodate this change.

Mr Danny Baker
Mr Pádraig Delargy
Ms Emma Sheerin
Miss Áine Murphy

Amendment:

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘referendums;’ and insert:

‘endorses the recommendation from the Institute of Public Policy Research 2023 report, Out of Kilter, which calls for votes at 16 to be combined with high-quality and expansive civic education in schools to boost voter turnout and political engagement among young people; calls on the Minister of Education to consider this expanded civic education as part of the pending review of the Northern Ireland Curriculum; and further calls on the British Government to introduce legislation to reduce the voting age for all elections and referendums to 16.’

Ms Sian Mulholland
Ms Kellie Armstrong
Mrs Michelle Guy
Mr Nick Mathison

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the amendment was made.

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

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.

4.2 Motion: High-quality Mobile Coverage in Rural Areas

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the need for high-quality mobile coverage in rural communities across Northern Ireland; supports the roll-out of the Shared Rural Network by the UK Government and four leading mobile network operators and welcomes progress to date; expresses concern that further investment in new and existing phone masts under this initiative has been jeopardised by major delays in the planning process; believes no community should be left behind as a consequence; notes with disappointment the Minister for Infrastructure’s failure to engage directly or meaningfully with the mobile infrastructure industry since February 2024; urges the Department for Infrastructure to update planning guidance to local councils in order to advance this project and ensure the planning system supports the delivery of rural mobile infrastructure more generally; and calls on the Minister to urgently address barriers to extending the 4G and 5G mobile network in rural and hard-to-reach areas of Northern Ireland.

Mrs Deborah Erskine
Mr Stephen Dunne
Mr Keith Buchanan

Amendment:

Proposed:

Leave out all from ‘welcomes’ to ‘industries’ and insert:

‘acknowledges the work of the Department for the Economy in leading the Barrier Busting Taskforce and its planning subgroup, including the involvement of the Department for Infrastructure, local councils, and mobile network companies; endorses the aims of the subgroup to identify barriers relating to the planning system and to investigate best practice in mobile network development; further believes no community should be left behind; and calls on the Minister for Infrastructure to support the work of the Taskforce to address the barriers to extending the 4G and 5G mobile network in rural areas, whilst respecting the principles of an inclusive planning system and ensuring the benefits of mobile coverage are maximised across this region.’

Mr Cathal Boylan
Mrs Linda Dillon
Miss Áine Murphy

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 12.59 pm.

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

5. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)

5.1 Motion: High-quality Mobile Coverage in Rural Areas (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

The Question being put, the amendment was made.

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

6. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

Miss Nuala McAllister spoke to her topic regarding Child Poverty in North Belfast.

The Assembly adjourned at 3.08pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
24 September 2024

 
Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 24 September 2024.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

For Information Only

SR 2024/90 The Occupational Pension Schemes (Funding and Investment Strategy and Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Communities)

SR 2024/136 The Occupational Pension Schemes (Collective Money Purchase Schemes) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Communities)

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

6. Assembly Reports

7. Written Ministerial Statements

New Domestic and Sexual Abuse Strategy (Minister of Justice)

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Draft SI 2024/000 The Human Medicines (Amendments Relating to Naloxone and Transfers of Functions) Regulations 2024

An Inspection of the Effectiveness of Criminal Court Administration in Northern Ireland (Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland)

9. Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly

DfI Roads Report Southern Division - Report to Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Annual Report 2024/25 (Department for Infrastructure)

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 24 September 2024
2022-2027 Mandate
Executive Bills