No. 41-07/08
MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS
MONDAY 3 MARCH 2008
The Assembly met at noon, the Deputy Speaker (Mr McClarty) in the Chair
1. Personal Prayer or Meditation
Members observed two minutes’ silence.
2. Executive Committee Business
2.1 Statement - February Monitoring Outcome
The Minister of Finance and Personnel, Rt Hon Peter Robinson, made a statement to the Assembly regarding the February Monitoring Outcome, following which he replied to questions.
2.2 Motion - Rates (Regional Rates) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008
Proposed:
That this Assembly approves the Rates (Regional Rates) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
[Minister of Finance and Personnel]
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support (Division 1).
2.3. Motion - Rates (Industrial Hereditaments) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008
Proposed:
That this Assembly approves the Rates (Industrial Hereditaments) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
[Minister of Finance and Personnel]
Debate ensued.
The debate was suspended for Question Time.
The Speaker in the chair.
3. Question Time
3.1 Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister
Questions were put to, and answered by, the First Minister, Rt Hon Dr Ian Paisley.
3.2 Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Ms Michelle Gildernew.
3.3 Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Mr Edwin Poots.
4. Executive Committee Business (cont’d)
4.1 Motion - Rates (Industrial Hereditaments) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 (cont’d)
Debate resumed on the Motion.
The Deputy Speaker (Mr Molloy) in the chair.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support nemine contradicente.
5. Private Members’ Business
5.1 Motion - Grain Scarcity
Proposed:
That this Assembly notes with concern the scarcity of grain within Europe, which is having a detrimental effect on the profits of the production sector, as a result of higher grain prices; and calls on the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to provide intervention support to the intensive production sector that relies upon grain.
[Mr G Savage]
[Mr T Elliott]
5.2 Amendment
Proposed: At end insert:
‘, and to lobby the European Union on the approval of new biotech varieties.’
[Mr A Bresland]
[Dr W McCrea]
Debate ensued.
The Amendment being put, the Amendment was made without division.
The Question being put, the Motion, as amended, was carried without division.
6. Adjournment
Mr John Dallat spoke on traffic pollution in Dungiven.
Proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
[The Speaker]
The Assembly adjourned at 6.56 pm.
Mr William Hay
The Speaker
3 March 2008
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
3 MARCH 2008
DIVISIONS
Division No. 1
Rates (Regional Rates) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008
Proposed:
That this Assembly approves the Rates (Regional Rates) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
[Minister of Finance and Personnel]
The Question was put and the Assembly divided on a cross-community basis.
Ayes: 79
Noes: 8
Ayes
Nationalist:
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 Doherty, Mr Gallagher, Ms Gildernew, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Mr A Maginness, Mr P Maskey, Mr F McCann, Mr McCartney, Dr McDonnell, Mr McElduff, Mrs McGill, Mr McGlone, Mr Molloy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O’Dowd, Mr O’Loan, Mrs O’Neill, Ms Ritchie, Ms Ruane.
Unionist:
Mr Armstrong, Mr Beggs, Mr Bresland, Lord Browne, Mr Buchanan, Mr Burnside, 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 Irwin, Mr Kennedy, Mr McCallister, Mr McCausland, Mr B McCrea, Mr I McCrea, Mr McFarland, Mr McGimpsey, Miss McIlveen, Mr McNarry, 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.
Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Bresland and Mr Storey.
Noes
Unionist:
Ms Purvis.
Other:
Dr Farry, Ms Lo, Mrs Long, Mr Lunn, Mr McCarthy, Mr Neeson, Mr B Wilson.
Tellers for the Noes: Dr Farry and Mr McCarthy
Total Votes 87
Total Ayes 79 [90.8%]
Nationalist Votes 31 Nationalist Ayes 31 [100.0%]
Unionist Votes 49 Unionist Ayes 48 [98.0%]
Other Votes 7 Other Ayes 0 [0.0%]
The Motion was carried on a cross-community basis.
PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY FROM
27 FEBRUARY TO 3 MARCH 2008
1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly
Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act ( Northern Ireland) 2008
2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly
3. Orders in Council
The Criminal Justice ( Northern Ireland) Order 2008
4. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly
5. Assembly Reports
Report on Older People and Domiciliary Care: Public Accounts Committee
Report on The Libraries Bill: Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure (NIA 5/07)
6. Statutory Rules
(The department identified after each rule is for reference purposes only.)
S.R. 2008/63 The Traffic Signs (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 (DRD)
S.R. 2008/67 The Domestic Energy Efficiency Grants (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 (DSD)
S.R. 2008/72 The Kirk Road, Ballymoney (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 (DRD)
S.R. 2008/73 The Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 (DSD)
For information only:
S.R. 2008/22 Supreme Court Northern Ireland
S.R. 2008/65 (C.1) The Pensions (2008 Act) (Commencement No 1) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 (DSD)
S.R. 2008/66 The Parking and Loading Bay on Roads (Kilkeel) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 (DRD)
S.R. 2008/71 The Parking Places and Loading Bay on Roads (Limavady) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 (DRD)
S.R. 2008/74 The Off-Street Parking (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 (DRD)
7. Consultation Documents
Draft Amendment Regulations Regarding The Blue Scheme in Northern Ireland 2008 (DRD)
8. Departmental Publications
North Eastern Education and Library Board Annual Report and Accounts 2006/2007 (DE)
9. Agency Publications
10. Westminster Publications
11. Miscellaneous Publications