No. 10-07/08
MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 9 OCTOBER 2007
The Assembly met at 10.30 am, the Deputy Speaker (Mr Molloy) in the Chair
1. Personal Prayer or Meditation
Members observed two minutes’ silence.
2. Executive Committee Business
2.1 Statement – Northern Ireland Strategy for Sport and Physical Recreation 2007-2017
Mr Edwin Poots, Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, made a statement to the Assembly regarding the Northern Ireland Strategy for Sport and Physical Recreation 2007-2017, following which he replied to questions.
3. Private Members’ Business
3.1 Motion – Arts Funding
Proposed: That this Assembly recognises the critical role that the arts can play in promoting a positive international image of Northern Ireland, attracting visitors and growing the local economy and the contribution that community arts make to social cohesion; expresses its alarm that the arts are relatively underfunded per capita in Northern Ireland compared to all other regions in the United Kingdom; and calls upon the Executive to raise the level of arts funding to at least the United Kingdom average within the forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review.
[Ms A Lo]
[Dr S Farry]
3.2 Amendment No. 1
Proposed: Leave out all after ‘cohesion;’ and insert:
‘and, while recognising that economic growth must be the Assembly’s main priority, encourages the Executive to explore means of enhancing promotion of the arts in Northern Ireland.’
[Mr N McCausland]
[Lord Browne]
[Mr J Shannon]
3.3 Amendment No. 2
Proposed: Leave out all after the first ‘Kingdom’, and insert:
‘and Ireland; and calls upon the Executive to raise the level of arts funding to at least £10 per person, in the context of the Comprehensive Spending Review.’
[Mr B McElduff]
[Mr P Maskey]
Debate ensued.
The sitting was suspended at 12.39 pm.
The sitting resumed at 2.00 pm with the Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) in the chair.
Amendment No. 1 being put, the Amendment fell without division.
Amendment No. 2 being put, the Amendment fell without division.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
The Speaker in the chair.
3.4 Motion – Irish Language
Proposed: That this Assembly reaffirms its support for the recognition given to the Irish language and Ulster-Scots culture through Foras na Gaeilge and the Boord o Ulstèr-Scotch as an equitable framework for the expression of these linguistic and cultural traditions; objects to the proposal for an Irish Language Act in light of these arrangements; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to request all members of the Executive Committee to recognise the sensitivities of using the Irish language by refraining from its use in the Assembly Chamber, in Committees and in written communication with MLAs.
[Mr D McNarry]
3.5 Amendment
Proposed: After ‘Ulster-Scots’ insert:
‘language and’ and
at end insert:
‘; and requests that the Official Report uses the same policy for recording the opening words of speeches when they are spoken in Irish as when they are spoken in English.’
[Mr N McCausland]
Debate ensued.
The Amendment being put, the Amendment fell (Division 1).
A valid Petition of Concern was presented in relation to this motion under Standing Order 27. The vote on the motion was therefore taken on a cross-community basis.
The Question being put, the Motion was negatived on a cross-community basis (Division 2).
3.6 Motion – Sex Offenders
Proposed: That this Assembly expresses concern at the disparity in child protection regulations and the registration of sexual offenders across the island of Ireland; and calls for an early North-South Ministerial Council cross-departmental sectoral meeting, including the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, the Department of Education and the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to address the disparity.
[Mr P Butler]
[Ms C Ní Chuilín]
The Deputy Speaker (Mr McClarty) in the chair.
3.7 Amendment No. 1
Proposed: Leave out all after ‘offenders’ and insert:
‘between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland; recognises the threat that can arise when sex offenders from Northern Ireland move to Great Britain; and calls for full co-operation from all relevant departments to address these matters.’
[Mr T Buchanan]
3.8 Amendment No. 2
Proposed: Leave out ‘an early North-South Ministerial Council cross-departmental sectoral meeting,’ and insert:
‘early sectoral meetings of the North-South Ministerial Council and the British-Irish Council’
[Mrs N Long]
[Dr K Deeny]
Debate ensued.
Amendment No. 1 being put, the Amendment fell without division.
Amendment No. 2 being put, the Amendment was made without division.
The Question being put, the Motion, as amended, was carried without division.
4. Adjournment
Mr Alex Easton spoke on the future of Donaghadee High School.
Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn.
[The Speaker]
The Assembly adjourned at 6.28 pm.
Mr William Hay
The Speaker
9 October 2007
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
9 OCTOBER 2007
DIVISIONS
Division No. 1
Irish Language – Amendment
Proposed: After ‘Ulster-Scots’ insert:
‘language and’ and
at end insert:
‘; and requests that the Official Report uses the same policy for recording the opening words of speeches when they are spoken in Irish as when they are spoken in English.’
[Mr N McCausland]
The Question was put and the Assembly divided.
Ayes: 44
Noes: 46
Ayes
Mr Beggs, Mr Bresland, Lord Browne, Mr Buchanan, Mr Campbell, Mr T Clarke, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Rt Hon J Donaldson, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Mrs Foster, Mr Gardiner, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Mr Kennedy, Mr McCallister, Mr McCausland, Mr McClarty, Mr B McCrea, Mr I McCrea, Dr W McCrea, Mr McFarland, Mr McGimpsey, Miss McIlveen, Mr McNarry, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Newton, Mr Paisley Jnr, Rt Hon Ian Paisley, Mr G Robinson, Mr K Robinson, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Savage, Mr Shannon, Mr Simpson, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wells.
Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Kennedy and Mr G Robinson.
Noes
Ms Anderson, Mr Attwood, Mr Boylan, Mr D Bradley, Mrs M Bradley, Mr P J Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Brolly, Mr Burns, Mr Butler, Mr W Clarke, Mr Dallat, Dr Deeny, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mr Gallagher, Ms Gildernew, Mrs Hanna, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Ms Lo, Mrs Long, Mr Lunn, Mr A Maginness, Mr A Maskey, Mr P Maskey, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCartney, Dr McDonnell, Mr McElduff, Mrs McGill, Mr McGlone, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McHugh, Mr McLaughlin, Mr Molloy, Mr Murphy, Mr Neeson, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O’Dowd, Mr O’Loan, Mrs O’Neill, Ms S Ramsey, Ms Ruane.
Tellers for the Noes: Mrs O’Neill and Ms S Ramsey.
The Amendment fell.
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
9 OCTOBER 2007
DIVISIONS
Division No. 2
Irish Language
Proposed: That this Assembly reaffirms its support for the recognition given to the Irish language and Ulster-Scots culture through Foras na Gaeilge and the Boord o Ulstèr-Scotch as an equitable framework for the expression of these linguistic and cultural traditions; objects to the proposal for an Irish Language Act in light of these arrangements; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to request all members of the Executive Committee to recognise the sensitivities of using the Irish language by refraining from its use in the Assembly Chamber, in Committees and in written communication with MLAs.
[Mr D McNarry]
The Question was put and the Assembly divided on a cross-community basis.
Ayes: 44
Noes: 46
Ayes
Mr Beggs, Mr Bresland, Lord Browne, Mr Buchanan, Mr Campbell, Mr T Clarke, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Rt Hon J Donaldson, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Mrs Foster, Mr Gardiner, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Mr Kennedy, Mr McCallister, Mr McCausland, Mr McClarty, Mr B McCrea, Mr I McCrea, Dr W McCrea, Mr McFarland, Mr McGimpsey, Miss McIlveen, Mr McNarry, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Newton, Mr Paisley Jnr, Rt Hon Ian Paisley, Mr G Robinson, Mr K Robinson, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Savage, Mr Shannon, Mr Simpson, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wells.
Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Kennedy and Mr G Robinson.
Noes
Nationalist:
Ms Anderson, Mr Attwood, Mr Boylan, Mr D Bradley, Mrs M Bradley, Mr P J Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Brolly, Mr Burns, Mr Butler, Mr W Clarke, Mr Dallat, Mr Gallagher, Ms Gildernew, Mrs Hanna, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Mr A Maginness, Mr A Maskey, Mr P Maskey, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Dr McDonnell, Mr McElduff, Mrs McGill, Mr McGlone, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McHugh, Mr McLaughlin, Mr Molloy, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O’Dowd, Mr O’Loan, Mrs O’Neill, Ms S Ramsey, Ms Ruane.
Other:
Dr Deeny, Dr Farr, Mr Ford, Ms Lo, Mrs Long, Mr Lunn, Mr McCarthy, Mr Neeson.
Tellers for the Noes: Mr D Bradley and Mr Dallat.
Total Votes 90 Total Ayes 44 (48.89%)
Nationalist Votes 38 Nationalist Ayes 0 (0.00%)
Unionist Votes 44 Unionist Ayes 44 (100.00%)
Other Votes 8 Other Ayes 0 (0.00%)
The Motion was negatived on a cross-community basis.
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
For Official use 11.50 am
Date Received 8/10/07
PETITION OF CONCERN
MOTION: IRISH LANGUAGE
Date to be debated : 9 OCTOBER 2007
The undersigned Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly present this Petition of Concern in accordance with Standing Order 27.
NAME
CARÁL NÍ CHUILÍN
JOHN O’DOWD
MICKEY BRADY
GERRY KELLY
MICHELLE O’NEILL
FRA MCCANN
MICHELLE GILDERNEW
DAITHÍ MCKAY
WILLIE CLARKE
PAUL MASKEY
DOMINIC BRADLEY
PATSY MCGLONE
DECLAN O’LOAN
BARRY MCELDUFF
CATHAL BOYLAN
SUE RAMSEY
FRANCIE BROLLY
TOMMY GALLAGHER
PJ BRADLEY
PAUL BUTLER
GERRY ADAMS
FRANCIE MOLLOY
MITCHEL MCLAUGHLIN
ALBAN MAGINNESS
CARMEL HANNA
JOHN DALLAT
CAITRÍONA RUANE
JENNIFER MCCANN
PAT DOHERTY
ALEX MASKEY
MARTINA ANDERSON
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY ON
9 OCTOBER 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
(The department identified after each rule is for reference purposes only.)
S.R. 2007/419 The Plastic Materials and Articles in Contact with Food (Lid Gaskets) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007 (DHSSPS)
S.R. 2007/426 The Steelstown Road, Londonderry (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007
S.R. 2007/427 The Galgorm Road, Ballymena (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007
S.R. 2007/433 The Electricity (Class Exemptions from the Requirement for a License) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007 - Consultation Documents
- Departmental Publications
- Agency Publications
- Westminster Publications
- Miscellaneous Publications
NORTHERN IRELAND LEGISLATION:
EXECUTIVE BILLS
PROCEEDINGS AS AT 9 OCTOBER 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.