No. 69-07/08
MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS
MONDAY 30 JUNE 2008
The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair
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Personal Prayer or Meditation
Members observed two minutes’ silence.
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Executive Committee Business
2.1 Statement - North-South Ministerial Council Trade and Business Development Sectoral Meeting
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural development, Ms Michelle Gildernew, made a statement to the Assembly on the North-South Ministerial Council Trade and Business Development Sectoral meeting, following which she replied to questions.
2.2 Statement - North-South Ministerial Council Tourism Sectoral Meeting
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural development, Ms Michelle Gildernew, made a statement to the Assembly on the North-South Ministerial Council Tourism Sectoral meeting, following which she replied to questions.
2.3 First Stage - Diseases of Animals Bill (NIA 22/07)
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms Michelle Gildernew, introduced a Bill to amend the Diseases of Animals (Northern Ireland) Order 1981, including provision for preventing the spread of disease; and for connected purposes.
Bill passed First Stage and ordered to be printed (NIA Bill 22/07).
2.4 Second Stage - Public Authorities (Reform) Bill (NIA 19/07)
The junior Minister, Mr Gerry Kelly, moved that the Second Stage of the Public Authorities (Reform) Bill (NIA 19/07) be agreed.
Debate ensued.
NIA Bill 19/07 passed Second Stage and stood referred to the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
2.5 Final Stage - Charities Bill (NIA 9/07)
The Minister for Social Development, Ms Margaret Ritchie, moved that the Final Stage of the Charities Bill (NIA 9/07) be agreed.
NIA Bill (9/07) passed Final Stage.
2.6 Motion - Draft Children and Young Persons (Sale of Tobacco etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008
Proposed:That the Draft Children and Young Persons (Sale of Tobacco etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 be approved.
[Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety]
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
2.7 Motion - Draft Smoke-Free (Exemption, Vehicles, Penalties and Discounted Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008
Proposed:That the Draft Smoke-Free (Exemption, Vehicles, Penalties and Discounted Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 be approved.
[Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety]
Debate ensued.The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
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Committee Business
3.1 Motion - Statutory Committee Membership
Proposed:That Mr Ian Paisley Jnr replace Mr Mervyn Storey as a member of the Committee for Finance and Personnel.
[Lord Morrow]
[Mr P Weir]The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
3.2 Motion - Rising Energy Costs
Proposed:That this Assembly notes with concern, that rising energy costs are hitting families in Northern Ireland harder than in the rest of the UK; and calls on the Executive to:
(i) give further priority to measures to promote energy efficiency and combat fuel poverty;
(ii) drive a coordinated energy policy to diversify our energy supplies, reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, increase competition in our energy market and harness the full potential of renewable energy;
(iii) cooperate with other Governments, including through the British Irish Council, to develop a longer-term strategy for these islands, and;
(iv) urge the UK Government to re-direct the windfall VAT revenue from higher energy bills to be used to mitigate the escalation of fuel poverty in Northern Ireland.[Chairperson, Committee for Enterprise Trade and Investment]
Debate ensued.
The Deputy Speaker (Mr Molloy) in the chair.
Debate was suspended for Question Time.
4. Question Time
4.1 Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Mr Michael McGimpsey.
4.2 Minister for Regional Development
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Mr Conor Murphy.
4.3 Minister for Social Development
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Ms Margaret Ritchie.
5.Committee Business (cont’d)
5.1 Motion - Rising Energy Costs (cont’d)
The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) in the chair.
Debate resumed on the Motion.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
5.2 Motion - Authority to Amend the Assembly Members’ Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2000
Proposed:That this Assembly resolves that, in accordance with section 48 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, the Assembly Commission may make provision for the payment of pensions, gratuities or allowances to, or in respect of, any person who (a) has ceased to be a Member of the Assembly, or (b) has ceased to hold such an office as is mentioned in section 47(3)(a) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 but continues to be a Member of the Assembly.
[Mr A Maginness]
[Mr P Butler]
[Mr S Moutray]
[Rev Dr R Coulter]
[Mr S Neeson]
[Members of the Assembly Commission]
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.6.AdjournmentProposed:That the Assembly do now adjourn.
[The Speaker]
The Assembly adjourned at 5.12 pm.
Mr William Hay
The Speake
r30 June 2008
PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY FROM
25 JUNE TO 30 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
Northern Ireland Assembly Resource Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March 2008 (NIA 164/07-08)
11th Report of the Financial Reporting Advisory Board for the period April 2007 to March 2008 (NIA 167/07-08)
Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence: Annual Report and Accounts 2007/08 (NIA 169/07-08)
Financial Auditing and Reporting: 2006-2007 – General Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland (NIA 193/07-08)
5. Assembly Reports
Report into Renewable Energy and Alternative Land Use (39/07/08R) (Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development)
6.Statutory Rules
(The Department identified after each rule is for reference purposes only.)
S.R. 2008/250 The Education (Student Support) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DEL)
S.R. 2008/254 Student Awards (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DEL)
S.R. 2008/255 The Education (Student Loans) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DEL)
S.R. 2008/258 The Social Security (Industrial Injuries) (Prescribed Diseases) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DSD)
SR 2008/270 The Little King Street, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DRD)
SR 2008/271 The Plastic Materials and Articles in Contact with Food (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DHSSPS)
For information only:
SR 2008/92 The Social Security Benefits Up-Rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DSD)
SR 2008/248 The Legal Aid in Criminal Proceedings (Costs) (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2008
SR 2008/265 The Parking Places on Roads (Armagh) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DRD)
SR 2008/266 The Parking Places on Roads (Newry) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DRD)
SR 2008/267 The Parking Places on Roads (Enniskillen) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DRD)
SR 2008/268 The Parking Places on Roads (Omagh) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DRD)
SR 2008/269 The Waiting Restrictions (Cookstown) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DRD)
SR 2008/273 The Parking Places (Disabled Persons’ Vehicles) (Amendment No.4) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DRD)
SR 2008/274 The Prohibition of Traffic (Beechmount, Belfast) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DRD)
7. Consultation Documents
Proposed Draft Criminal Damage (Compensation) (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 – Explanatory Document (NIO)