No.08/07
MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS
MONDAY 4 JUNE 2007
The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair
1. Personal Prayer or Meditation
Members observed two minutes’ silence.
2. Executive Committee Business
2.1 First Stage – Welfare Reform Bill
Ms Margaret Ritchie, Minister for Social Development, introduced a Bill to make provision about social security and for connected purposes.
Bill passed First Stage and ordered to be printed (NIA Bill 1/07).
2.2 Motion – Accelerated passage Welfare Reform Bill
Proposed: That the Welfare Reform Bill proceed under the accelerated passage procedure, in accordance with Standing Order 40 (4).
[Minister for Social Development]
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried on a cross-community basis nemine contradicente.
3. Committee Business
3.1 Motion – Report on Devolution of Policing and Justice Matters
Proposed: That this Assembly calls on the Assembly and Executive Review Committee to report, by 29 February 2008, on the work which needs to be undertaken, in accordance with section 18 of the Northern Ireland (St. Andrews Agreement) Act 2006 –
(a) as to the preparations that the Assembly has made, and intends to make, having regard to paragraph 7 of the St. Andrews Agreement, for or in connection with policing and justice matters ceasing to be reserved matters;
(b) as to which matters are likely to be the subject of any request under section 4(2A) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 that policing and justice matters should cease to be reserved matters; and
(c) containing an assessment of whether the Assembly is likely to make such a request before 1 May 2008.
[Chairperson, Assembly and Executive Review Committee]
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
4. Private Members’ Business
4.1 Motion – Single Farm Payments
Proposed: That this Assembly expresses serious concern at the unjustified delay in payment of Single Farm Payments to some farmers and calls on the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to initiate the Single Farm Payment timescale for 1st December to 31st March each year; and to ensure that no farm inspections relating to the Single Farm Payment scheme take place outside the timescale of the scheme.
[Mr G Savage]
[Mr T Elliott]
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
4.2 Motion – Rights of Caravan Owners
Proposed: That this Assembly calls on the Minister of the Environment to put in place legislation, similar to that applying in the rest of the United Kingdom, to protect the rights of caravan owners on private sites in Northern Ireland.
[Mr A Easton]
[Mr J Wells]
[Mr J Shannon]
Debate ensued.
The Deputy Speaker (Mr McClarty) in the chair.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
4.3 Motion – Shared Future Framework
Proposed: That this Assembly endorses the documents entitled ‘A Shared Future: Policy and Strategic Framework for Good Relations in Northern Ireland’ and the ‘First Triennial Action Plan 2006-2009’, and calls upon the Executive to make the creation of a shared society a top priority.
[Mrs N Long]
[Dr S Farry]
4.4 Amendment
Proposed: Leave out all after ‘Assembly’ and insert:
‘notes the strategic direction of and underpinning principles contained in the documents ‘A Shared Future’ (March 2005) and ‘A Shared Future: Triennial Action Plan’ (April 2006), and recognises that the Executive and the Assembly will wish to consider carefully the progress to date and bring forward detailed plans, consistent with the pledge of office, to promote the interests of the whole community towards the goal of a shared future and a prosperous, peaceful and settled society.’
[Mr J Spratt]
Debate ensued.
The Amendment being put, the Amendment was made without division.
The Question being put, the Motion, as amended, was carried without division.
The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) in the chair.
5. Adjournment
5.1 Mr Dominic Bradley spoke on the retention of the existing A1 from Cloughogue roundabout to the border.
Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn
[The Speaker]
The Assembly adjourned at 4.21 pm.
Mr William Hay
The Speaker
4 June 2007
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY
FROM 30 MAY 2007 TO 4 JUNE 2007
Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly
Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly
Welfare Reform Bill (NIA Bill 1/07)
Orders in Council
Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly
Assembly Reports
Statutory Rules
(The department identified after each rule is for reference purposes only.)
For information purposes only:
S.R. 2007/290 The Industrial Court (Proceedings) Rules ( Northern Ireland) 2007 ( DEL)
Consultation Documents
Departmental Publications
Agency Publications
Westminster Publications
Miscellaneous Publications