Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

No. 59-07/08

MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS

TUESDAY 20 MAY 2008

 The Assembly met at 10.30 am, the Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) in the Chair

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. The Speaker’s Business

The Deputy Speaker informed Members that a meeting of the British-Irish Council in social-inclusion sectoral format would be held on 20 May 2008.

2.2 The Deputy Speaker informed Members that a meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council in aquaculture and marine sectoral format would be held on 21 May 2008.

2.3 The Deputy Speaker informed Members that Mr Paul Maskey had been nominated to serve as Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee and that Mr Maskey had informed the Speaker that he was willing to take up the post. The Deputy Speaker confirmed Mr Maskey as Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee.

2.4 The Deputy Speaker informed Members that Ms Jennifer McCann had been nominated to serve as deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment and that Ms McCann had informed the Speaker that she was willing to take up the post. The Deputy Speaker confirmed Ms McCann as deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

3. Executive Committee Business
3.1 First Stage - Mesothelioma, etc., Bill (NIA 16/07)

The Minister for Social Development, Ms Margaret Ritchie, introduced a Bill to make provision about lump sum payments to or in respect of persons with diffuse mesothelioma; and for connected purposes.

Bill passed First Stage and ordered to be printed (NIA Bill 16/07).

4. Committee Business
4.1 Motion -Statutory Committee Membership

Proposed: That Ms Claire McGill replace Ms Carál Ní Chuilín as a member of the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety; that Mr Paul Butler replace Mr Paul Maskey as a member of the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment; that Mr John O’Dowd replace Mr Paul Butler as a member of the Committee for Education; and that Ms Carál Ní Chuilín replace Ms Claire McGill as a member of the Committee for Social Development.

[Mr J O’Dowd]
[Ms C Ní Chuilín]

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

4.2 Motion - Standing Committee Membership

Proposed: That Mr Paul Maskey replace Ms Claire McGill as a member of the Committee on Standards and Privileges; that Mr Micky Brady replace Mr Willie Clarke as a member of the Committee on Procedures; and that Mr Alex Maskey replace Ms Carál Ní Chuilín as a member of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee.

[Mr J O’Dowd]
[Ms C Ní Chuilín]

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

5. Private Members’ Business
5.1 Motion - Re-Classification of Cannabis

Proposed: That this Assembly notes the findings within the report of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs; and believes that cannabis should be re-classified as a Class B drug.

[Mr A Ross]
[Mrs I Robinson]

5.2 Amendment No. 1

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

‘; recognises the growing drug culture in Northern Ireland; and welcomes the Government’s decision to re-classify cannabis as a Class B drug.’

[Mr A Easton]
[Mr A Ross]

Debate ensued.

The Amendment being put, the Amendment was made without division.

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

5.3 Motion - Extended Schools Funding

Proposed: That this Assembly expresses concern that the Extended Schools funding for children and young people has not been mainstreamed; and calls on the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister and the Department of Education to ensure that this essential support for children and young people continues.

[Mr B McCrea]
[Mr K Robinson]
[Mr R Beggs]
[Mr T Elliott]

5.4 Amendment No. 1

Proposed: In line 1 leave out all after the second ‘that’and insert:

‘Breakfast Clubs, After-School Clubs and Extended Schools funding for children and young people has not been mainstreamed; and calls on the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister and the Department of Education to ensure that this essential support for children and young people continues and to re-establish a cross-cutting fund for children and young people to fund such programmes, as well as youth services and other projects.’

[Mr D Bradley]
[Mrs M Bradley]
[Mr A Attwood]

5.5 Amendment No. 2

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

‘the Department of Finance and Personnel, the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister and the Department of Education to ensure that this essential support for children continues; and supports the bid by the Minister of Education to the Minister of Finance and Personnel for in-year funding to ensure that curtailed projects in the present financial year are restored.’

[Mr J O’Dowd]
[Ms C Ní Chuilín]

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 12.26 pm.

The sitting resumed at 2.00 pm with the Speaker in the chair.

6. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)
6.1 Motion - Extended Schools Funding (cont’d)

Debate resumed on the Motion.

Amendment No. 1 being put, the Amendment fell without division.

Amendment No. 2 being put, the Amendment fell without division.

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

7. Executive Committee Business
7.1 Second Stage - Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Bill (NIA 15/07)

The Minister of the Environment, Mrs Arlene Foster, moved that the Second Stage of the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Bill (NIA 15/07) be agreed.

Debate ensued.

NIA Bill 15/07 passed Second Stage.

8. Adjournment

Mr Tommy Gallagher spoke on public car parking spaces in Enniskillen.

Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn.

[The Speaker]

The Assembly adjourned at 4.12 pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
20 May 2008

 

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY ON

20 MAY 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
    The Pensions Regulator's draft "Code of practice No. 11 Dispute resolution - reasonable periods" (NIA 149/07-08)
  5. Assembly Reports
  6. Statutory Rules
    (The Department identified after each rule is for reference purposes only.)

    For information only:
    S.R. 2008/218 The Road Races (Croft Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DRD)
  7. Consultation Documents
  8. Departmental Publications
    Corporate Plan 2008-11 and Business Plan 2008-09 (DOE)
  9. Agency Publications
  10. Westminster Publications
  11. Miscellaneous Publications

NORTHERN IRELAND LEGISLATION:

EXECUTIVE BILLS

PROCEEDINGS AS AT 20 MAY 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

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

21.04.08

Libraries Bill

(NIA Bill 5/07)

11.06.07

19.06.07

25.02.08

20.02.08

25.02.08

6.05.08

19.05.08

 

 

Session 2007-2008
Executive Bills 

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

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

21.04.08

6.05.08

Charities Bill (NIA Bill 9/07)

10.12.07

15.01.08

27.06.08

6.05.08

13.05.08

 

 

 

 

**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

27.06.08

 

 

 

 

 

 

**Commission for Victims and Survivors Bill (NIA Bill 12/07)

31.03.08

1.04.08

N/A

N/A

N/A

6.05.08

12.05.08

13.05.08

 

**Local Government (Boundaries) Bill (NIA Bill 14/07)

21.04.08

22.04.08

N/A

N/A

N/A

29.04.08

6.05.08

12.05.08

 

Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Bill (NIA Bill 15/07)

12.05.08

20.05.08

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mesothelioma, etc., Bill (NIA Bill 16/07)

20.05.08

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Session 2007-2008

Non-Executive Bills 

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

Carer’s Allowance Bill (NIA Bill 13/07)

31.03.08

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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