Order Paper
Reference: OP 59/22-27
Date: 22 October 2024
The Assembly to sit at 10.30am.
1. Prayers
2. Members’ Statements
3. Question Time
4. Committee Business
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—
- a Bill to which section 7A of the 1998 Act applies,
- the democratic consent process at Schedule 6A of the 1998 Act,
- 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
- 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
5. Private Members’ Business
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
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
6. Adjournment
- Homelessness in South Down
Mr Andrew McMurray
Statements by Ministers may also be taken at any time subject to the Speaker’s approval. Notice of Statements will appear on the Annunciator.