Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

No. 33-08/09

MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS

TUESDAY 3 FEBRUARY 2009

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

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Executive Committee Business

2.1 Statement - North-South Ministerial Council Inland Waterways Sectoral Format

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms Michelle Gildernew, made a statement to the Assembly on behalf of the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, regarding the North-South Ministerial Council Inland Waterways sectoral format meeting, following which she replied to questions.

2.2 Statement - North-South Ministerial Council Language Body Sectoral Format

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms Michelle Gildernew, made a statement to the Assembly on behalf of the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, regarding the North-South Ministerial Council Language Body sectoral format meeting, following which she replied to questions.

3. Committee Business

3.1 Motion - Report on the Review of Teacher Education

Proposed: That this Assembly supports the report of the Committee for Employment and Learning on its Review of Teacher Education; and calls on the Minister for Employment and Learning, in conjunction with Executive colleagues, to implement, as a matter of urgency, the recommendations contained therein.

[Chairperson, Committee for Employment and Learning]

Debate ensued.

The Speaker in the chair.

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

The sitting was suspended at 12.42 pm.

The sitting resumed at 2.00 pm, with the Deputy Speaker (Mr McClarty) in the chair.

4. Private Members’ Business

4.1 Motion - Civic Forum

A valid Petition of Concern was presented in relation to this motion under Standing Order 28. The vote on the motion was therefore taken on a cross-community basis.

Proposed: That this Assembly notes the ongoing review of the Civic Forum; notes that it has not met since 2002; notes the absence of any value from the Civic Forum to date; notes the lack of a widespread public concern about the absence of the Civic Forum; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister not to establish a new Civic Forum, but instead to investigate modern ways to interact with the public, including online interactive means of helping to shape public policy.

[Mr N McCausland]
[Mr S Moutray]

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Motion was negatived on a cross-community basis (Division No. 1).

4.2 Motion - Women’s Organisations

Proposed: That this Assembly expresses concern about the number of women’s organisations that have been unable to secure funding to deliver services for the community; and calls on the Executive to action cross-cutting Departmental commitments and for the Office of the First and deputy First Minister to monitor outcomes.

[Ms M Anderson]
[Ms J McCann]

4.3 Amendment

Proposed: to initiate a cross cutting review to ensure (i) that the current mapping of the provision of services is adequate; (ii) the most effective use of resources to address the identified needs of the sector; and (iii) the equitable distribution of those resources.

[Miss M McIlveen]
[Mr P Weir]

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) in the chair.

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

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

5. Adjournment

Mr Billy Armstrong spoke on the closure of Maghera High School.

Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn.

[The Speaker]

The Assembly adjourned at 6.07 pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
3 February 2009

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

27 JANUARY 2009

DIVISIONS

Division No. 1

Civic Forum - Motion

Proposed: That this Assembly notes the ongoing review of the Civic Forum; notes that it has not met since 2002; notes the absence of any value from the Civic Forum to date; notes the lack of a widespread public concern about the absence of the Civic Forum; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister not to establish a new Civic Forum, but instead to investigate modern ways to interact with the public, including online interactive means of helping to shape public policy.

[Mr N McCausland]
[Mr S Moutray]

The Question was put and the Assembly divided on a cross-community basis.

Ayes: 41

Noes: 44

Ayes

UNIONIST:

Mr Armstrong, Mr Beggs, Mr Bresland, Lord Browne, Mr T Clarke, Mr Cobain, Rev Dr R Coulter, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mr Dodds, Rt Hon J Donaldson, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Mr Gardiner, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Mr McCallister, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Dr W McCrea, Mr McFarland, Miss McIlveen, Mr McNarry, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Newton, Mr Paisley Jnr, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Mr K Robinson, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Savage, Mr Shannon, Mr Simpson, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wells.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr McCallister and Mr I McCrea.

Noes

NATIONALIST:

Ms Anderson, Mr Attwood, Mr Boylan, Mr D Bradley, Mr P J Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Brolly, Mr Butler, Mr W Clarke, Mr Dallat, Mr Doherty, Mr Durkan, Mr Gallagher, Ms Gildernew, 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, Mr McElduff, Mrs McGill, Mr McGlone, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McKay, Mr McLaughlin, Mr Molloy, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O’Dowd, Mr O’Loan, Mrs O’Neill, Mr P Ramsey, Ms S Ramsey, Ms Ruane.

UNIONIST:

Ms Purvis.

OTHER:

Dr Farry, Ms Lo, Mr McCarthy, Mr Neeson, Mr B Wilson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Attwood and Mr Boylan.

Total votes 85 Total Ayes 41 [48.2%]
Nationalist Votes 38 Nationalist Ayes 0 [0.0%]
Unionist Votes 42 Unionist Ayes 41 [97.6%]
Other Votes 5 Other Ayes 0 [0.0%]

The Motion was negatived on a cross-community basis.

 

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

PETITION OF CONCERN

MOTION: CIVIC FORUM

Date to be debated : 3 FEBRUARY 2009

The undersigned Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly present this Petition of Concern in accordance with Standing Order 28.

NAME

MARK DURKAN
ALEX ATTWOOD
CARMEL HANNA
ALBAN MAGINNESS
MARGARET RITCHIE
DOMINIC BRADLEY
THOMAS BURNS
TOMMY GALLAGHER
DECLAN O’LOAN
JOHN DALLAT
DOLORES KELLY
PJ BRADLEY
PAT RAMSEY
PATSY MCGLONE
DAWN PURVIS
ALASDAIR MCDONNELL
CARÁL NÍ CHUILÍN
JOHN O’DOWD
GERRY KELLY
MARTIN MCGUINNESS
MITCHEL MCLAUGHLIN
ALEX MASKEY
FRANCIE BROLLY
MARTINA ANDERSON
PAUL BUTLER
CAITRÍONA RUANE
SUE RAMSEY
CLAIRE MCGILL
PAT DOHERTY
WILLIE CLARKE
BARRY MCELDUFF
CATHAL BOYLAN
MICHELLE O’NEILL
PAUL MASKEY
GERRY ADAMS
FRANCIE MOLLOY
DAITHI MCKAY
JENNIFER MCCANN

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY ON

3 FEBRUARY 2009

  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
    Belfast Education and Library Board Annual Report 07-08 (NIA 68/08-09)
  5. Assembly Reports
    Report on a Complaint by Mr T Buchanan MLA Against Mr Barry McElduff MLA (Committee on Standards and Privilege)
    Report on the Review of Teacher Education (Committee for Employment and Learning)
  6. Statutory Rules
    (The Department identified after each rule is for reference purposes only.)
    S.R. 2009/29 The Education (Student Loans) (Repayment) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (DEL)

For Information Only:

  1. Consultation Documents
  2. Departmental Publications
  3. Agency Publications
  4. Westminster Publications
  5. Miscellaneous Publications

Northern Ireland Assembly Legislation:

Stages in Consideration of Public Bills

First Stage: Introduction of Bill
Second Stage: General debate of the Bill with an opportunity for Members to vote on its general principles
Committee Stage: Detailed investigation by a Committee which concludes with the publication of a report for consideration by the Assembly.
Consideration Stage: Consideration by the Assembly of, and an opportunity for Members to vote on, the details of the Bill including amendments proposed to the Bill.
Further Consideration Stage: Consideration by the Assembly of, and an opportunity for Members to vote on, further amendments to the Bill.
Final Stage: Passing or rejecting of Bill by the Assembly, without further amendment.
Royal Assent

Proceedings as at 4 FEBRUARY 2009

Session 2008-2009
Executive Bills

Title & Bill Number

First

Stage

Second Stage

Committee Stage due to Conclude

Committee Report Ordered to be Printed

Consideration

Stage

Further

Consideration

Stage

Final Stage

Royal Assent

*Charities Bill NIA Bill 9/07

10.12.07

15.01.08

27.06.08

01.05.08

03.06.08

17.06.08

30.06.08

09.09.08

*Building Regulations Bill NIA Bill 11/07

25.02.08

04.03.08

27.06.08

11.06.08

13.01.09

27.01.09

   

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

12.05.08

20.05.08

12.12.08

04.12.08

       

*Public Authorities (Reform) Bill NIA Bill 19/07

17.06.08

30.06.08

12.12.08

19.11.08

09.12.08

12.01.09

20.01.09

 

*Civil Registration Bill NIA Bill 20/07

17.06.08

01.07.08

20.03.09

         

*Health and Social Care (Reform) Bill NIA Bill 21/07

23.06.08

01.07.08

05.12.08

13.11.08

01.12.08

09.12.08

12.01.09

21.01.09

*Diseases of Animals Bill NIA Bill 22/07

30.06.08

15.09.08

17.02.09

         

*Presumption of Death Bill NIA Bill 23/07

01.07.08

15.09.08

16.01.09

14.01.09

       

/Pensions (No. 2) Bill NIA Bill 2/08

17.11.08

25.11.08

N/A

N/A

02.12.08

08.12.08

09.12.08

15.12.08

Education Bill NIA Bill 3/08

25.11.08

08.12.08

13.02.09

         

/Financial Assistance Bill NIA Bill 4/08

12.01.09

13.01.09

N/A

N/A

20.01.09

26.01.09

27.01.09

 

Session 2008-2009
Non-Executive Bills

Title & Bill Number

First

Stage

Second Stage

Committee Stage due to Conclude

Committee

Report Ordered to be Printed

Consideration

Stage

Further

Consideration

Stage

Final Stage

Royal Assent

*Carers Allowance Bill NIA Bill 13/07

31.03.08

             

Community Use of School Premises Bill NIA Bill 1/08

13.10.08

             

* Bill carried over from 2007-2008 by the Assembly as Royal Assent had not been achieved.

/ Bill progressing by accelerated passage