No. 6-07/08
MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 2007
The Assembly met at 10.30 am, the Deputy Speaker (Mr McClarty) in the Chair
1. Personal Prayer or Meditation
Members observed two minutes’ silence.
2. Private Members’ Business
2.1 Motion – Action on Child Poverty
Proposed: That this Assembly regards as unacceptable the current level of child poverty; and calls on the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to confirm its commitment to the eradication of child poverty by 2020; and to provide an action plan with clear targets and measurable outcomes to ensure that all children are lifted out of poverty.
[Ms S Ramsey]
[Mrs C McGill]
[Ms C Ní Chuilín]
Amendment
Proposed: Insert after ‘outcomes’:
‘, supported by a dedicated budget,’
[Mrs D Kelly]
[Mrs M Bradley]
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 sitting was suspended at 11.48 am.
The sitting resumed at 1.32 pm with the Speaker in the chair.
3. Executive Committee Business
3.1 Statement – North-South Ministerial Council: Transport
The Minister for Regional Development, Mr Conor Murphy, made a statement to the Assembly on the North-South Ministerial Council meeting on transport, following which he replied to questions.
3.2 Statement – North-South Ministerial Council: Road Safety
The Minister of the Environment, Mrs Arlene Foster, made a statement to the Assembly on the North-South Ministerial Council meeting on road safety, following which she replied to questions.
The Deputy Speaker (Mr Molloy) in the chair.
4. Private Members’ Business
4.1 Motion – Establishment of an Independent Environmental Protection Agency
Proposed: That this Assembly calls on the Executive to establish an independent Environmental Protection Agency for Northern Ireland.
[Mr B Wilson]
[Mr D Ford]
4.2 Amendment No. 1
Proposed: Leave out all after ‘Assembly’ and insert:
‘notes the recent report ‘Foundations for the Future’, which recommends the creation of an independent Environmental Protection Agency; and further notes that more work needs to be undertaken to identify the costs and benefits of this recommendation, before decisions can be taken.’
[Mr P Weir]
Amendment No. 2
Proposed: Leave out all after ‘Assembly’ and insert:
‘notes the recommendation to establish an independent Environmental Protection Agency in the ‘Foundations for the Future’ report; and calls on the Executive to establish an independent Environmental Protection Agency, which must be fully operational within the lifetime of this Assembly.’
[Mr T Gallagher]
Debate ensued.
Amendment No. 1 being put, the Amendment fell (Division 1).
Amendment No. 2 being put, the Amendment fell (Division 2).
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
The Speaker in the chair.
5. Private Notice Question – Classroom Assistants’ Dispute
5.1 Ms Caitríona Ruane, Minister of Education, replied to a Question to which she had been given private notice, tabled by Mr Sammy Wilson.
6. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)
6.1 Motion – Republican Parade
Proposed: That this Assembly believes that Belfast City Centre should be a shared space; deplores the Sinn Fein sponsored parade to the City Hall on Sunday, 12 th August 2007, which involved depictions of I.R.A. terrorists and participants carrying guns; and calls on the PSNI and the Parades Commission to ensure that this never happens again.
[Mr N McCausland]
[Mr S Wilson]
[Mr R Newton]
[Lord Browne]
6.2 Amendment
Proposed: Leave out all after ‘Assembly’ and insert:
‘believes that public spaces should be shared; deplores any parades that include depictions of terrorism; and calls on the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Parades Commission to ensure that parades are free from displays of paramilitarism, including banners, insignia and uniforms.’
[Mr A Maginness]
Debate ensued.
The Amendment being put, the Amendment fell (Division 3).
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
7. Adjournment
Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn.
[The Speaker]
The Assembly adjourned at 5.47 pm.
Mr William Hay
The Speaker
25 September 2007
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
25 SEPTEMBER 2007
DIVISIONS
Division No. 1
Establishment of an Independent Environmental Protection Agency – Amendment No. 1
Proposed: Leave out all after ‘Assembly’ and insert:
‘notes the recent report ‘Foundations for the Future’, which recommends the creation of an independent Environmental Protection Agency; and further notes that more work needs to be undertaken to identify the costs and benefits of this recommendation, before decisions can be taken.’
[Mr P Weir]
The Question was put and the Assembly divided.
Ayes: 32
Noes: 41
Ayes
Mr Bresland, Lord Browne, Mr Buchanan, Mr Campbell, Mr T Clarke, Mr Craig, Mr Dodds, Rt Hon J Donaldson, Mr Easton, Mrs Foster, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Dr W McCrea, Miss McIlveen, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Newton, Mr Paisley Jnr, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Shannon, Mr Simpson, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wells, Mr S Wilson.
Tellers for the Ayes: Mr McQuillan and Mr G Robinson.
Noes
Mr Armstrong, Mr Attwood, Mr Beggs, Mrs M Bradley, Mr P J Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Brolly, Mr Burns, Mr Butler, Mr W Clarke, Mr Dallat, Dr Deeny, Mr Durkan, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mr Gallagher, Mr Gardiner, Mrs D Kelly, Mr Kennedy, Ms Lo, Mrs Long, Mr A Maginness, Mr P Maskey, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr B McCrea, Mr McElduff, Mr McFarland, Mr McGlone, Mr McHugh, Mr McKay, Mr McNarry, Mr Neeson, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O’Dowd, Mr O’Loan, Mr P Ramsey, Ms S Ramsey, Ms Ritchie, Mr K Robinson, Mr B Wilson.
Tellers for the Noes: Mr Attwood and Mr Dallat
The Amendment fell.
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
25 SEPTEMBER 2007
DIVISIONS
Division No. 2
Establishment of an Independent Environmental Protection Agency – Amendment No. 2
Proposed: Leave out all after ‘Assembly’ and insert:
‘notes the recommendation to establish an independent Environmental Protection Agency in the ‘Foundations for the Future’ report; and calls on the Executive to establish an independent Environmental Protection Agency, which must be fully operational within the lifetime of this Assembly.’
[Mr T Gallagher]
The Question was put and the Assembly divided.
Ayes: 36
Noes: 37
Ayes
Mr Armstrong, Mr Attwood, Mr Beggs, Mrs M Bradley, Mr P J Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Brolly, Mr Burns, Mr Butler, Mr W Clarke, Mr Dallat, Dr Deeny, Mr Durkan, Mr Gallagher, Mr Gardiner, Mrs D Kelly, Mr Kennedy, Mr A Maginness, Mr P Maskey, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr B McCrea, Mr McElduff, Mr McFarland, Mr McGlone, Mr McHugh, Mr McKay, Mr McNarry, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O’Dowd, Mr O’Loan, Mr P Ramsey, Ms S Ramsey, Ms Ritchie, Mr K Robinson, Mr B Wilson.
Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Attwood and Mr Dallat.
Noes
Mr Bresland, Lord Browne, Mr Buchanan, Mr Campbell, Mr T Clarke, Mr Craig, Mr Dodds, Rt Hon J Donaldson, Mr Easton, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mrs Foster, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Ms Lo, Mrs Long, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Dr W McCrea, Miss McIlveen, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Neeson, Mr Newton, Mr Paisley Jnr, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Shannon, Mr Simpson, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wells, Mr S Wilson.
Tellers for the Noes: Mr McQuillan and Mr G Robinson.
The Amendment fell.
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
25 SEPTEMBER 2007
DIVISIONS
Division No. 3
Republican Parade – Amendment No. 1
Proposed: Leave out all after ‘Assembly’ and insert:
‘believes that public spaces should be shared; deplores any parades that include depictions of terrorism; and calls on the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Parades Commission to ensure that parades are free from displays of paramilitarism, including banners, insignia and uniforms.’
[Mr A Maginness]
The Question was put and the Assembly divided.
Ayes: 31
Noes: 41
Ayes
Mr Attwood, Mrs M Bradley, Mr P J Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Brolly, Mr Burns, Mr Butler, Mr W Clarke, Mr Dallat, Mr Durkan, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mr Gallagher, Mrs D Kelly, Ms Lo, Mrs Long, Mr A Maginness, Mr P Maskey, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McElduff, Mr McGlone, Mr McHugh, Mr Molloy, Mr Neeson, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O’Dowd, Mr O’Loan, Mr P Ramsey, Ms S Ramsey, Ms Ritchie.
Tellers for the Ayes: Mr P J Bradley and Mr O’Loan.
Noes
Mr Armstrong, Mr Beggs, Mr Bresland, Lord Browne, Mr Buchanan, Mr Campbell, Mr T Clarke, Mr Craig, Mr Dodds, Rt Hon J Donaldson, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Sir Reg Empey, Mrs Foster, Mr Gardiner, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Mr Kennedy, Mr McCausland, Mr B McCrea, Mr I McCrea, Dr W McCrea, Mr McFarland, Miss McIlveen, Mr McNarry, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Newton, Mr Paisley Jnr, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Shannon, Mr Simpson, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wells, Mr S Wilson.
Tellers for the Noes: Miss McIlveen and Mr Spratt.
The Amendment fell.
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY ON
25 SEPTEMBER 2007
- Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly
- Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly
- Orders in Council
- Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly
- Assembly Reports
- Statutory Rules
- Consultation Documents
Review of Domestic Rating Consultation Report (DFP)
- Departmental Publications
- Agency Publications
- Westminster Publications
- Miscellaneous Publications
NORTHERN IRELAND LEGISLATION:
EXECUTIVE BILLS
PROCEEDINGS AS AT 25 SEPTEMBER 2007
Title & Bill Number |
First Stage |
Second Stage |
Committee Stage Extension |
Committee Stage Report |
Consideration Stage Concluded |
Further Consideration Stage |
Final Stage |
Royal Assent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
**Welfare Reform Bill (NIA Bill 1/07) |
4.06.07 |
12.06.07 |
N/A |
N/A |
18.06.07 |
19.06.07 |
25.06.07 |
29.06.07 |
Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill (NIA Bill 2/07) |
5.06.07 |
19.06.07 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
**Budget Bill (NIA Bill 3/07) |
11.06.07 |
12.06.07 |
N/A |
N/A |
18.06.07 |
19.06.07 |
25.06.07 |
29.06.07 |
Taxis Bill (NIA Bill 4/07) |
11.06.07 |
26.06.07 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Libraries Bill (NIA Bill 5/07) |
11.06.07 |
19.06.07 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
**Bills which are granted accelerated passage do not pass through a Committee Stage.