Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo
No. 12-07/08
MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 16 OCTOBER 2007

 The Assembly met at 10.30 am, the Speaker in the Chair

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Executive Committee Business
2.1 Statement – Outcome of the Proposed Irish Language Legislation Consultation Process

Mr Edwin Poots, Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, made a statement to the Assembly regarding the outcome of the proposed Irish language legislation consultation process, following which he replied to questions.

3. Private Members’ Business
3.1 Motion – Training and Employment Places

Proposed: That this Assembly expresses its concern at the dearth of training and employment places for disabled children and young people; and calls on the Minister for Employment and Learning to undertake an immediate review and produce an action plan to address this issue as a matter of urgency.

[Ms S Ramsey]
[Mrs C McGill]
[Ms C Ní Chuilín]

3.2 Amendment No. 1

Proposed: Leave out all after ‘Assembly’ and insert:

‘expresses its commitment to securing training and employment opportunities where appropriate for young people with disabilities; and calls on the Minister for Employment and Learning to review the provision of such training.’

[Mr D McClarty]
[Mr J McCallister]

3.3 Amendment No. 2

Proposed: Leave out all after ‘concern’ and insert:

‘at the inconsistency of transition support and the limited choices available to disabled young people moving towards training and employment; and at the lack of mainstream training and employment opportunities that meet the individual needs of all disabled young people leaving school; and calls on the Minister for Employment and Learning to develop a strategic plan, in consultation with disabled young people and their parents, for the commissioning of services jointly with other relevant departments and for the delivery of effective support.’

[Mr A Attwood]
[Mrs M Bradley]

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 12.23 pm.

The sitting resumed at 2.00 pm with the Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) in the chair.

Debate resumed on the Motion.

Amendment No. 1 being put, the Amendment was made without division.

Amendment No. 2 was not put.

The Question being put, the Motion, as amended, was carried without division.

The Speaker in the chair.

4. Executive Committee Business
4.1 Statement – The Future of the Conflict Transformation Initiative

Ms Margaret Ritchie, Minister for Social Development, made a statement to the Assembly regarding the future of the Conflict Transformation Initiative.

Following a point of order the sitting was suspended at 3.06 pm.

The sitting resumed at 3.41 pm.

On resumption, the Speaker gave his ruling on the point of order, following which the Minister replied to questions.

5. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)
5.1 Motion – Fiscal Reform

Proposed: That this Assembly recognises the complexity of the global economy and calls for fiscal reforms, and other measures, to ensure that Northern Ireland is competing on a level playing field.

[Mr S Neeson]

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Molloy) in the chair.

5.2 Amendment

Proposed: Leave out all after ‘Assembly’ and insert:

‘calls upon the Executive, on receipt of the report of the Varney Review, to work in conjunction with Her Majesty’s Treasury to provide a competitive fiscal framework for business in Northern Ireland.’

[Mr R Beggs]
[Mr L Cree]

Debate ensued.

Amendment No. 1 being put, the Amendment was made without division.

The Question being put, the Motion, as amended, was carried without division.

6. Adjournment

Dr Alasdair McDonnell spoke on traffic calming requirements at Loughview Primary School and Nursery.

Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn.

[The Speaker]

The Assembly adjourned at 6.29 pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
16 October 2007
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
 PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY ON
16 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
    Northern Ireland Local Government Officers' Superannuation Committee Annual Report and Accounts 2006/2007 (NIA 23/07-08)
    Invest NI Annual Report and Accounts 2006/07 (NIA 42/07-08)
  5. Assembly Reports
  6. Statutory Rules
    (The department identified after each rule is for reference purposes only.)
    S.R. 2007/436 General Ophthalmic Services Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007 (DHSSPS)
    S.R. 2007/437 The Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges (Amendment No. 2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007 (DHSSPS)
  7. Consultation Documents
  8. Departmental Publications
    Statistics from the Northern Ireland Drug Misuse Database: 1 April 2006 - 31 March 2007 (DHSSPS)
  9. Agency Publications
  10. Westminster Publications
  11. Miscellaneous Publications
 NORTHERN IRELAND LEGISLATION:
EXECUTIVE BILLS
PROCEEDINGS AS AT 16 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

7.11.07

12.10.07

(laid)

 

 

 

 

**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

7.12.07

 

 

 

 

 

Libraries Bill

(NIA Bill 5/07)

11.06.07

19.06.07

25.02.08

 

 

 

 

 

**Bills which are granted accelerated passage do not pass through a Committee Stage.