No. 11-07/08
MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS
MONDAY 15 OCTOBER 2007
The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair
1. Personal Prayer or Meditation
Members observed two minutes’ silence.
2. Speaker’s Business
2.1 The Speaker gave his ruling in response to earlier points of order on the issues of Executive statements and the attendance of Members who wish to take part in debates.
3. Executive Committee Business
3.1 Motion – Draft Renewables Obligation (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007
Proposed: That the draft Renewables Obligation (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007 be approved.
[Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment]
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
4. Private Members’ Business
4.1 Motion – Bill of Rights Forum Membership
Proposed: That this Assembly acknowledges that the unionist community has been largely excluded from the human rights process in Northern Ireland and under-represented within the human rights sector, resulting in the Bill of Rights Forum having a clear imbalance in the composition of its membership; believes that without the support of all sections of our community any Bill of Rights process is fundamentally flawed; and calls upon the Secretary of State to address these problems urgently, by ensuring processes that will facilitate better engagement with the unionist community and ensuring that the membership of the Bill of Rights Forum is more reflective of all the people of Northern Ireland.
[Miss M McIlveen]
[Mr G Campbell]
The Deputy Speaker (Mr McClarty) in the chair.
A mendment No. 1
Proposed: Leave out all after ‘Assembly’ and insert:
‘believes that a successful Bill of Rights process requires the input and support of all sections of our community; welcomes the cross-party, cross-community and cross-sectoral participation in the Bill of Rights Forum; acknowledges that additional resources have been granted to enable greater outreach to priority groups, including the unionist community; and wishes the Forum well in all its endeavours.’
[Mrs D Kelly]
[Mr A Maginness]
4.3 Amendment No. 2
Proposed: Leave out all after ‘acknowledges’ and insert:
‘that the involvement of all people in the process leading to a Bill of Rights is vital; and that the absence of real participation and representation from within any sector would make the achievement of a Bill of Rights more difficult.’
[Ms M Anderson]
Debate ensued.
Amendment No. 1 being put, the Amendment fell (Division 1).
Amendment No. 2 being put, the Amendment fell without division.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
The sitting was suspended at 2.23 pm.
The sitting resumed at 2.30 pm with the Speaker in the chair.
5. Question Time
5.1 Minister of Education
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Ms Caitríona Ruane.
The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) in the chair.
5.2 Minister for Employment and Learning
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Sir Reg Empey.
5.3 Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Mr Nigel Dodds.
6. Private Members’ Business (Cont’d)
6.1 Motion – Executive Legislative Programme
Proposed:That this Assembly calls on the Executive Committee to produce, before the Hallowe’en recess, an Executive legislative programme detailing executive business for the current Assembly session.
[Mr D Kennedy]
[Mr K Robinson]
[Rev Dr R Coulter]
Debate ensued.
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 5.20 pm.
Mr William Hay
The Speaker
15 October 2007
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
15 OCTOBER 2007
DIVISIONS
Division No. 1
Bill of Rights Forum Membership – Amendment No. 1
Proposed: Leave out all after ‘Assembly’ and insert:
‘believes that a succesful Bill of Rights process requires the input and support of all sections of our community; welcomes the cross-party, cross-community and cross-sectoral participation in the Bill of Rights Forum; acknowledges that additional resources have been granted to enable greater outreach to priority groups, including the unionist community; and wishes the Forum well in all its endeavours.’
[Mrs D Kelly]
[Mr A Maginness]
The Question was put and the Assembly divided.
Ayes: 42
Noes: 47
Ayes
Mr Adams, Ms Anderson, Mr Attwood, Mr Boylan, Mr D Bradley, Mrs M Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Brolly, Mr Butler, Mr W Clarke, Mr Dallat, Mr Doherty, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mr Gallagher, Mrs Hanna, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Mr A Maginness, Mr P Maskey, Ms J McCann, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCartney, Dr McDonnell, Mr McElduff, Mr McGlone, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McHugh, Mr McKay, Mr McLaughlin, Mr Molloy, Mr Murphy, Mr Neeson, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O’Dowd, Mr O’Loan, Mrs O’Neill, Mr P Ramsey, Ms S Ramsey, Ms Ritchie, Ms Ruane, Mr B Wilson.
Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Attwood and Mr Gallagher
Noes
Mr Beggs, Mr Bresland, Lord Browne, Mr Buchanan, Mr Campbell, Mr T Clarke, Mr Cobain, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, 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 McCallister, Mr McCausland, 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 Poots, Mr G Robinson, Mrs I Robinson, Mr K 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
PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY FROM
10 OCTOBER to 15 OCTOBER 2007
1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly
2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly
3. Orders in Council
4. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly
Loughs Agency Annual Report and Accounts for the period ending December 2005 (NIA 38/07-08)
Loughs Agency Annual Report and Accounts for the period ending December 2004 (NIA 39/07-08)
5. Assembly Reports
Examiner of Statutory Rules Session 2007-2008: Third Report to the Assembly and Appropriate Committees (NIA 46/07-08)
Report on the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill (01/07R) (DHSSPS)
Report on Northern Ireland's Road Safety Strategy (5/07-08R) (Public Accounts Committee)
6. Statutory Rules
(The department identified after each rule is for reference purposes only.)
S.R. 2007/420 The Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007 (DHSSPS)
S.R. 2007/421 The Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007 (DARD)
S.R. 2007/428 Pesticides (Maximum Residue Levels in Crops, Food and Feeding Stuffs) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007 (DARD)
S.R. 2007/432 The Planning (General Development) (Amendment No.2) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007 (DOE)
S.R. 2007/434 The Materials and Articles in Contact with Food Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007 (DHSSPS)
For information only:
S.R. 2007/429 (C.27) The Welfare Reform (2007 Act) (Commencement No. 2) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007 (DSD)
S.R. 2007/430 (C.28) The Disability Discrimination (2006 Order) (Commencement No. 3) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007 (OFMDFM)
7. Consultation Documents
8. Departmental Publications
Consultation with Children and Young People (OFMDFM)
Consultation with Children and Young People - Children and Young People's Report (OFMDFM)
Completed Equality Impact Assessment (DSD)
The Northern Ireland Strategy for Sport and Physical Recreation 2007-2017 (DCAL)
9. Agency Publications
10. Westminster Publications
11. Miscellaneous Publications
Enforcement in the Department of the Environment