Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo
No. 32-07/08

MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 29 JANUARY 2008

 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 - Seaport Investment Ltd: Planning Application

Mrs Arlene Foster, Minister of the Environment, made a statement to the Assembly regarding her decision on the major planning application by Seaport Investments Limited for a Visitor and Study Centre on lands adjacent to the Giant’s Causeway World Heritage site, following which she replied to questions.

2.2 Motion - Legislative Consent - Education and Skills Bill

Proposed: That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension to Northern Ireland of provisions of the Education and Skills Bill dealing with the functions of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority which are contained in clauses 137 and 139 of that Bill as introduced in the House of Commons.

[Minister for Employment and Learning]

Debate ensued.

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

2.3. Motion - Budget

Proposed: That this Assembly approves the programme of expenditure proposals for 2008-09 to 2010-11 as set out in the Budget laid before the Assembly on 22 January 2008.

[Minister of Finance and Personnel]

2.4 Amendment No. 1

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

‘calls on the Minister of Finance and Personnel to lay a revised programme of expenditure proposals for 2008-09 to 2010-11 before the Assembly, as the Budget currently before the Assembly does not properly address the deep divisions in this society and the need to build a shared future; does not make meaningful changes to balance the regional economy; and fails to provide for sustainable and integrated public services.’

[Dr S Farry]
[Mr D Ford]
[Mr T Lunn]
[Mrs N Long]

2.5 Amendment No. 2

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

‘calls on the Minister of Finance and Personnel to lay before the Assembly a revised programme of expenditure proposals for 2008-09 to 2010-11, as the Budget proposals currently before the Assembly do not provide clear budgetary lines for key policy developments, including the anti-poverty strategy; fail to set out funding commitments in respect of proposed reforms in post-primary education; abandon cross-cutting funds, including a fund for children and young people; and are unclear in their implications for householders in terms of future charging for water.’

[Mr M Durkan]
[Mrs D Kelly]
[Dr A McDonnell]
[Mr D O’Loan]

The sitting was suspended at 12.32 pm

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

2.6 Motion - Budget (cont’d)

Debate resumed on the Motion.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Molloy) in the chair.

The Speaker in the chair.

Amendment No. 1 being put, the Amendment fell (Division No. 1).

Amendment No. 2 being put, the Amendment fell (Division No. 2).

The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support (Division No. 3).

3. Private Notice Question – Water Supply in Killyclogher

Mr Conor Murphy, Minister for Regional Development, replied to a Question to which he had been given private notice, tabled by Mr Barry McElduff.

4. Adjournment

Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn.

[The Speaker]

The Assembly adjourned at 7.48 pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
29 January 2008

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

29 JANUARY 2008
 DIVISIONS
 Division No. 1
 Budget – Amendment No. 1

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

‘calls on the Minister of Finance and Personnel to lay a revised programme of expenditure proposals for 2008-09 to 2010-11 before the Assembly, as the Budget currently before the Assembly does not properly address the deep divisions in this society and the need to build a shared future; does not make meaningful changes to balance the regional economy; and fails to provide for sustainable and integrated public services.’

[Dr S Farry]
[Mr D Ford]
[Mr T Lunn]
[Mrs N Long]

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 9

Noes: 66

Ayes

Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Ms Lo, Mrs Long, Mr Lunn, Mr McCarthy, Mr Neeson, Ms Purvis, Mr B Wilson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Ms Lo and Mrs Long.

Noes

Mr Adams, Mr Armstrong, Mr Beggs, Mr Boylan, Mr Brady, Mr Bresland, Mr Brolly, Lord Browne, Mr Buchanan, Mr T Clarke, Mr W Clarke, Mr Cobain, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mr Doherty, Rt Hon J Donaldson, Mr Easton, Sir Reg Empey, Mrs Foster, Ms Gildernew, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Mr G Kelly, Mr Kennedy, Mr P Maskey, Mr McCallister, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCausland, Mr B  McCrea, Mr I McCrea, Mr McElduff, Mr McFarland, Mrs McGill, Mr McGimpsey, Mr M McGuinness, Miss McIlveen, Mr McKay, Mr McLaughlin, Mr McNarry, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Murphy, Mr Newton, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mrs O’Neill, Mr Paisley Jnr, Rt Hon Dr Ian Paisley, Mr Poots, Ms S Ramsey, Mr G Robinson, Mrs I Robinson, Mr K Robinson, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Ms Ruane, Mr Savage, Mr Shannon, Mr Simpson, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wells, Mr S Wilson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Hamilton and Mr McKay.

The Amendment fell.

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

29 JANUARY 2008
 DIVISIONS
 Division No. 2
 Budget – Amendment No. 2

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

‘calls on the Minister of Finance and Personnel to lay before the Assembly a revised programme of expenditure proposals for 2008-09 to 2010-11, as the Budget proposals currently before the Assembly do not provide clear budgetary lines for key policy developments, including the anti-poverty strategy; fail to set out funding commitments in respect of proposed reforms in post-primary education; abandon cross-cutting funds, including a fund for children and young people; and are unclear in their implications for householders in terms of future charging for water.’

[Mr M Durkan]
[Mrs D Kelly]
[Dr A McDonnell]
[Mr D O’Loan]

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 15

Noes: 65

Ayes

Mr Attwood, Mr D Bradley, Mrs M Bradley, Mr P J Bradley, Mr Burns, Mr Dallat, Mr Durkan, Mr Gallagher, Mrs Hanna, Mrs D Kelly, Mr A Maginness, Dr McDonnell, Mr McGlone, Mr O’Loan, Mr P Ramsey.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr D Bradley and Mr Burns.

Noes

Mr Adams, Mr Armstrong, Mr Beggs, Mr Boylan, Mr Brady, Mr Bresland, Mr Brolly, Lord Browne, Mr Buchanan, Mr T Clarke, Mr W Clarke, Mr Cobain, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mr Doherty, Rt Hon J Donaldson, Mr Easton, Sir Reg Empey, Mrs Foster, Ms Gildernew, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Mr G Kelly, Mr Kennedy, Mr P Maskey, Mr McCallister, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Mr McElduff, Mr McFarland, Mrs McGill, Mr McGimpsey, Mr M McGuinness, Miss McIlveen, Mr McKay, Mr McLaughlin, Mr McNarry, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Murphy, Mr Newton, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mrs O’Neill, Mr Paisley Jnr, Rt Hon Dr Ian Paisley, Mr Poots, Ms S Ramsey, Mr G Robinson, Mrs I Robinson, Mr K Robinson, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Ms Ruane, Mr Savage, Mr Shannon, Mr Simpson, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wells, Mr S Wilson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Hamilton and Mr McKay.

The Amendment fell.

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

29 JANUARY 2008
 DIVISIONS
 Division No. 3
 Budget

Proposed: That this Assembly approves the programme of expenditure proposals for 2008-09 to 2010-11 as set out in the Budget laid before the Assembly on 22 January 2008.

[Minister of Finance and Personnel]

The Question was put and the Assembly divided on a cross-community basis.

Ayes: 67

Noes: 24

Ayes

Nationalist:

Mr Adams, Mr Boylan, Mr Brady, Mr Brolly, Mr W Clarke, Mr Doherty, Ms Gildernew, Mr G Kelly, Mr P Maskey, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McElduff, Mrs McGill, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McKay, Mr McLaughlin, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mrs O’Neill, Ms S Ramsey, Ms Ritchie, Ms Ruane.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Hamilton and Mr McKay.

Unionist:

Mr Armstrong, Mr Beggs, Mr Bresland, Lord Browne, Mr Buchanan, Mr T Clarke, Mr Cobain, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Rt Hon J Donaldson, Mr Easton, Sir Reg Empey, Mrs Foster, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Mr Kennedy, Mr McCallister, Mr McCausland, Mr B McCrea, Mr I McCrea, Mr McFarland, Mr McGimpsey, Miss McIlveen, Mr McNarry, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Newton, Mr Paisley Jnr, Rt Hon Dr Ian Paisley, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Mrs I Robinson, Mr K Robinson, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Savage, Mr Shannon, Mr Simpson, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wells, Mr S Wilson.

Noes

Nationalist:

Mr Attwood, Mr D Bradley, Mrs M Bradley, Mr P J Bradley, Mr Burns, Mr Dallat, Mr Durkan, Mr Gallagher, Mrs Hanna, Mrs D Kelly, Mr A Maginness, Dr McDonnell, Mr McGlone, Mr O’Loan, Mr P Ramsey.

Unionist:

Ms Purvis.

Other:

Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Ms Lo, Mrs Long, Mr Lunn, Mr McCarthy, Mr Neeson, Mr B Wilson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr P J Bradley and Ms Lo.

Total votes  91 Total Ayes 67 (73.6%)
Nationalist Votes 37 Nationalist Ayes 22 (59.5%)
Unionist Votes 46 Unionist Ayes 45 (97.8%)
Other Votes 8 Other Ayes 0 (0.0%)

The Motion was carried on a cross-community basis.

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

 PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY ON
29 JANUARY 2008
  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
    Social Security Agency Annual Report on Decision Making and Case Accuracy 1 January to 31 December 2006 (NIA 76/07-08)
  5. Assembly Reports
  6. Statutory Rules
    (The department identified after each rule is for reference purposes only.)
    S.R. 2008/26 The Salaries (Assembly Ombudsman and Commissioner for Complaints) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 (OFMDFM)
    S.R. 2008/27 The Eastermeade Gardens, Ballymoney (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 (DRD)
    For information only:
    S.R. 2008/28 The Waiting Restrictions (Keady) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008
  7. Consultation Documents
  8. Departmental Publications
  9. Agency Publications
  10. Westminster Publications
  11. Miscellaneous Publications
NORTHERN IRELAND LEGISLATION:
 EXECUTIVE BILLS
 PROCEEDINGS AS AT 29 JANUARY 2008
 Session 2006-2007

 

Title & Bill Number

First Stage

Second Stage

Committee Stage Extension

Committee Stage

Report

Consideration Stage

Concluded

Further Consideration Stage

Final Stage

Royal Assent

Laid

Printed

**Welfare Reform Bill

(NIA Bill 1/07)

4.06.07

12.06.07

N/A

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

22.10.07

15.01.08

28.01.08

 

 

**Budget Bill

(NIA Bill 3/07)

11.06.07

12.06.07

N/A

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

29.11.07

6.12.07

 

 

 

 

Libraries Bill

(NIA Bill 5/07)

11.06.07

19.06.07

25.02.08

 

 

 

 

 

 

Session 2007-2008

Title & Bill Number

First Stage

Second Stage

Committee Stage Extension

Committee Stage

Report

Consideration Stage

Concluded

Further Consideration Stage

Final Stage

Royal Assent

Laid

Printed

**Children (Emergency Protection Orders) Bill (NIA Bill 6/07)

22.10.07

5.11.07

N/A

N/A

N/A

6.11.07

19.11.07

20.11.07

14.12.07

**Pensions Bill (NIA Bill 7/07)

12.11.07

26.11.07

N/A

N/A

N/A

4.12.07

10.12.07

11.12.07

 

Public Health (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 8/07)

26.11.07

4.12.07

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charities Bill (NIA Bill 9/07)

10.12.07

15.01.08

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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