No. 48-07/08

MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 8 APRIL 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 Consideration Stage - Commission for Victims and Survivors Bill (NIA 12/07)

The junior Minister, Rt Hon Jeffrey Donaldson, did not move the Consideration Stage of the Commission for Victims and Survivors Bill (NIA 12/07).

The sitting was suspended at 10.37 am.
The sitting resumed at 10.50 am.

2.2 Final Stage - Taxis Bill (NIA 4/07)

Mrs Arlene Foster, Minister of the Environment, moved that the Final Stage of the Taxis Bill (NIA 4/07) be agreed.

NIA Bill 4/07 passed Final Stage.

3. Private Members’ Business

3.1 Motion - Northern Corridor Railway Development

Proposed: That this Assembly notes with interest the report ‘Northern Corridor Railway Renaissance’ from the Northern Corridor Railways Group; welcomes its focus on embedding the development of the line in the wider development of the area it will serve; recognises the need for long-term thinking about rail services in the context of broader strategic plans for Northern Ireland and for local areas involved; accepts its arguments for the close involvement of the private sector; and endorses the need for the Railway Corridor Development Study which it proposes.

[Mr D O’Loan]
[Mr T Burns]
[Mr J Dallat]
[Mr M Durkan]

Debate ensued.

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

The sitting was suspended at 12.26 pm.
The sitting resumed at 2.00 pm with the Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) in the chair.

3.2 Motion - Bill of Rights and Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Proposed: That this Assembly expresses its grave concern at the lack of cross-community support for the recommendations contained in the Report of the Bill of Rights Forum; and strongly urges the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to ensure cross-community support for its advice to the Secretary of State.

[Mr D Kennedy]
[Mr T Elliott]
[Mr P Weir]
[Mr N McCausland]

Amendment

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

‘welcomes the level of constructive engagement between the political parties and the social partners in the Bill of Rights Forum which reported on 31 March 2008; believes that the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, in developing its advice to the Secretary of State, must act independently to produce that advice based on human rights principles; and calls for the development of a comprehensive and progressive Bill of Rights that can promote and protect the rights of all, set out common values in our divided society, and act as common ground upon which we can build a shared future.’

[Mr A Maginness]
[Mrs D Kelly]

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Molloy) in the chair.

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

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

4. Adjournment

Mrs Naomi Long spoke on footpaths in Kingsdale Park, East Belfast.

Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn.

[The Speaker]

The Assembly adjourned at 4.07 pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
8 April 2008

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

8 APRIL 2008

DIVISIONS

Division No. 1

Bill of Rights and Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission – Amendment

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

‘welcomes the level of constructive engagement between the political parties and the social partners in the Bill of Rights Forum which reported on 31 March 2008; believes that the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, in developing its advice to the Secretary of State, must act independently to produce that advice based on human rights principles; and calls for the development of a comprehensive and progressive Bill of Rights that can promote and protect the rights of all, set out common values in our divided society, and act as common ground upon which we can build a shared future.’

[Mr A Maginness]
[Mrs D Kelly]

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 33
Noes: 51

AYES

Ms Anderson, Mr Boylan, Mrs M Bradley, Mr P J Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Brolly, Mr W Clarke, Mr Doherty, Mr Durkan, 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, Mrs McGill, Mr McGlone, Mr McKay, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O’Dowd, Mr O’Loan, Mrs O’Neill, Ms Purvis, Ms S Ramsey, Ms Ritchie, Ms Ruane.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Gallagher and Mr McGlone

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, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mrs Foster, Mr Gardiner, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Mr Kennedy, Ms Lo, Mrs Long, Mr McCallister, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCausland, 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 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 B Wilson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Kennedy and Mr Shannon

The Amendment fell.

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY ON
8 APRIL 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

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

(The department identified after each rule is for reference purposes only.)

S.R. 2008/161 The Companies (Table A to F) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DETI)

For information only:

S.R. 2008/106 Legal Advice and Assistance (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008

S.R. 2008/107 Legal Advice and Assistance (Financial Conditions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008

S.R. 2008/108 Legal Aid (Financial Conditions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008

S.R. 2008/157 The Road Races (Benbradagh Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DRD)

S.R. 2008/158 The One-Way Traffic (Spa, Ballynahinch) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DRD)

7. Consultation Documents

8. Departmental Publications

9. Agency Publications

10. Westminster Publications

11. Miscellaneous Publications

NORTHERN IRELAND LEGISLATION:

EXECUTIVE BILLS

PROCEEDINGS AS AT 8 APRIL 2008

Session 2006-2007

Title & Bill Number	First Stage	Second Stage	Committee Stage Extension	Committee Stage Report		Consideration StageConcluded	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	5.02.08	25.02.08
**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	26.02.08	10.03.08	8.04.08
Libraries Bill(NIA Bill 5/07)	11.06.07	19.06.07	25.02.08	20.02.08	25.02.08

Session 2007-2008

Executive Bills

Title & Bill Number	First Stage	Second Stage	Committee Stage Extension	Committee Stage Report		Consideration StageConcluded	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	11.02.08
Public Health (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 8/07)	26.11.07	4.12.07	N/A	8.02.08	31.01.08	4.03.08	7.04.08
Charities Bill (NIA Bill 9/07)	10.12.07	15.01.08	27.06.08
**Budget Bill (NIA Bill 10/07)	11.02.08	12.02.08	N/A	N/A	N/A	19.02.08	25.02.08	26.02.08	12.03.08
Building Regulations (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 11/07)	25.02.08	4.03.08
**Commission for Victims and Survivors Bill (NIA Bill 12/07)	31.03.08	1.04.08	N/A	N/A	N/A

Session 2007-2008

Non-Executive Bills

Title & Bill Number	First Stage	Second Stage	Committee Stage Extension	Committee Stage Report		Consideration StageConcluded	Further Consideration Stage	Final Stage	Royal Assent
				Laid	Printed
Carer’s Allowance Bill (NIA Bill 13/07)	31.03.08

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