Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

No. 64-07/08

MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS
MONDAY 9 JUNE 2008

The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Speaker’s Business

2.1 The Speaker informed Members that, on Monday 2 June 2008, he received a valid petition to refer a Ministerial decision to the Executive Committee, under section 28B of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. The petition related to the decision by the Minister of the Environment not to establish an independent Environmental Protection Agency.

3. Executive Committee Business
3.1 Motion - Suspension of Standing Orders

Proposed: That Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4), inclusive, be suspended for 9 June 2008.

[Minister Foster on behalf of the Minister of Finance and Personnel]

The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support nemine contradicente.

3.2 Statement - British-Irish Council Social Inclusion Sectoral Meeting

The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Mr Edwin Poots, made a statement to the Assembly on the outcome of the British-Irish Council social inclusion sectoral meeting, following which he replied to questions.

3.3 Statement - Regional Development Strategy

The Minister for Regional Development, Mr Conor Murphy, made a statement to the Assembly on the regional development strategy, following which he replied to questions.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr McClarty) in the chair.

3.4 Motion - Supply Resolution for the 2008-2009 Main Estimates

Proposed:That this Assembly approves that a sum, not exceeding £7,184,270,000, be granted out of the Consolidated Fund, for or towards defraying the charges for Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Audit Office and the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation for the year ending 31 March 2009 and that resources, not exceeding £8,474,916,000 be authorised for use by Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Audit Office and the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation for the year ending 31 March 2009 as summarized for each Department or other public body in Columns 3(b) and 3(a) of Table 1.3 in the volume of the Northern Ireland Estimates 2008-2009 that was laid before the Assembly on 30 May 2008.

[Minister Foster on behalf of the Minister of Finance and Personnel]

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 2.18 pm.

The sitting resumed at 2.30 pm with the Speaker in the chair.

4. Question Time
4.1 Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister

Questions were put to, and answered by, the First Minister, Rt Hon Peter Robinson.

4.2 Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Ms Michelle Gildernew.

4.3 Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Mr Edwin Poots.

5. Executive Committee Business (cont’d)
5.1 Motion - Supply Resolution for the 2008-2009 Main Estimates

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.

5.2 Motion - Supply Resolution for 2006-2007 Excess Vote

Proposed: That this Assembly approves that a sum, not exceeding £7,224,593.19 be granted out of the Consolidated Fund for or towards defraying the charges for the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety – Health and Personal Social Services Superannuation, for the year ending 31 March 2007 as summarized in Part II of the Statement of Excess document that was laid before the Assembly on 30 May 2008.

[Minister Foster on behalf of the Minister of Finance and Personnel]

The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support nemine contradicente.

5.3 First Stage - Budget (No. 2) Bill (NIA 18/07)

The Minister of the Environment, Mrs Arlene Foster, on behalf of the Minister of Finance and Personnel, introduced a Bill to authorise the issue out of the Consolidated Fund of certain sums for the service of the year ending 31st March 2009; to appropriate those sums for specified purposes; to authorise the Department of Finance and Personnel to borrow on the credit of the appropriated sums; to authorise the use for the public service of certain resources (including accruing resources) for the year ending 31st March 2009; to authorise the issue out of the Consolidated Fund of an excess cash sum for the service of the year ending 31st March 2007; and to repeal certain spent provisions.

Bill passed First Stage and ordered to be printed (NIA Bill 18/07).

5.4 Further Consideration Stage - Mesothelioma, etc., Bill (NIA 16/07)

The Minister for Social Development, Ms Margaret Ritchie, moved that the Further Consideration Stage of the Mesothelioma, etc., Bill be agreed.

No Amendments were tabled.

NIA Bill 16/07 passed Further Consideration Stage and stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

6. Adjournment

Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn.

[The Speaker]

The Assembly adjourned at 6.06 pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
9 June 2008

 PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY FROM
4 JUNE TO 9 JUNE 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. 2008/226 The Valuation (Water Undertaking) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DFP)
    S.R. 2008/234 The Disclosure of Vehicle Insurance Information Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DOE)
    S.R. 2008/235 The Planning (Avian Influenza) (Special Development) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DOE)
    S.R. 2008/237 The Drinking Milk Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DHSSPS)
    S.R. 2008/239 The Spreadable Fats (Marketing Standards) and the Milk and Milk Products (Protection of Designations) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DHSSPS)
    S.R. 2008/240 Reporting of Prices of Milk Products Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DARD)
    S.R. 2008/241 The Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DFP)
For information only:

S.R 2008/230 The Taxis (Antrim) Bye-Laws (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DOE)
S.R. 2008/246 The Waiting Restrictions (Tobermore) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DRD)
S.R. 2008/247 The Waiting Restrictions (Moneyglass) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DRD)

  1. Consultation Documents
  2. Departmental Publications
  3. Agency Publications
    Rivers Agency – Business Plan 2008-2009 (DARD)
  4. Westminster Publications
  5. Miscellaneous Publications