Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

No. 46-08/09

MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS

TUESDAY 24 MARCH 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 Motion - Draft Renewables Obligation Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009

Proposed: That the Draft Renewables Obligation Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 be approved.

[Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment]

Debate ensued.

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

3. Committee Business
3.1 Motion - Salary for holder of office of the Comptroller and Auditor General

Proposed: That this Assembly determines that the salary to be paid, under Article 4(1) of the Audit (Northern Ireland) Order 1987, to the holder of the office of Comptroller and Auditor General from 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010, shall be the amount recommended by the Review Body on Senior Salaries as payable for that year to the judiciary at salary Group 5.

[Chairperson, Audit Committee]

Debate ensued.

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

4. Private Members’ Business
4.1 Motion - ‘Act on CO2’ Advertising Campiagn

Proposed: That this Assembly notes with concern the attempt by the Minister of the Environment to block the Department of Energy and Climate Change advertising campaign ‘Act on CO2’; further notes that the position is contrary to the targets set out in the Programme for Government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% below 1990 levels by 2025; and calls on the Minister of the Environment to remove his opposition to the ‘Act on CO2’ advertising campaign.

[Mr R Beggs]
[Mr D McClarty]

4.2 Amendment

Proposed: At end insert:

‘; and, mindful of the Environment Committee’s vote of no confidence in the Minister of the Environment, calls on the Executive to launch a cross-departmental advertising campaign on climate change aimed at achieving the Programme for Government environmental protection targets .’

[Mr T Gallaghe]
[Mr P McGlone]

Following receipt of a valid Petition of Concern, under Standing Order 28, Members were informed that the vote on the Motion would not be held at the conclusion of the debate.

Debate ensued.

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

The sitting was suspended at 12.58 pm.

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

Members were informed that the Business Committee had agreed that the Question would be put on the motion, as amended, on ‘Act on CO2’ Advertising Campaign, as the first item of business on Monday 30 March 2009.

4.3 Motion - Primary Schools

Proposed: That this Assembly notes the findings in the recent report from the Chief Inspector of the Education and Training Inspectorate that in primary schools the overall quality of provision was not good enough in one third of schools; that standards attained were not good enough in one quarter; that there was too significant a variation in the standards of literacy and numeracy attained; that the quality of teaching was in need of improvement in one lesson in every five; that the quality of planning was inadequate in one school in every ten; and that the quality of principals’ leadership is an area for improvement in one quarter of schools; and calls on the Minister of Education to place greater focus in early years and primary education, including the low level of funding and the pupil-teacher ratio, encouraging greater parental involvement and placing a greater emphasis on early intervention and numeracy and literacy.

[Mr M Storey]
[Miss M McIlveen]
[Mr N McCausland]
[Mr E Poots]

Debate ensued.

The Speaker in the chair.

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

4.4 Motion - Post Primary Transfer

Proposed: That this Assembly notes that schools may choose to use an examination as part of their entry criteria under the Minister of Education’s 2010 guidelines; calls on the Minister of Education to re-commission the CCEA test, she abandoned on 2 February 2009, that schools may then use for a maximum of two years; and calls on the Executive to agree new, legally binding guidelines for post primary transfer for use from 2011.

[Mr T Lunn]
[Dr S Farry]

4.5 Amendment

Proposed: Leave out all after ‘2010 guidelines’ and insert:

‘; calls on the Minister of Education to ensure the provision of a CCEA test, as she previously proposed, for a maximum period of two years; believes that no school should be allowed to admit its full year 8 pupil quota using the outcomes of that test alone or using any other test; recommends the admission criteria as outlined in the Minister’s statement on ‘Transfer 2010’ on 2 February 2009 and welcomes the first criterion as a means of ensuring that all schools help tackle social deprivation; and further calls on the Minister of Education to set up a new educator-led working group tasked with building a sustainable consensus on non-selective transfer whose recommendations the Executive and the Assembly would use as the basis for legally binding regulations from 2011 at the latest.’

[Mr D Bradley]
[Mrs M Bradley]
[Mr M Durkan]
[Mr D O’Loan]

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr McClarty) in the chair.

The Amendment being put, the Amendment fell without division.

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

5. Adjournment

Mr David Simpson spoke on Portadown College New Build.

Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn.

[The Speaker]

The Assembly adjourned at 5.36 pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
24 March 2009

 

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
24 MARCH 2009
DIVISIONS

Division No. 1

‘Act on CO2’ Advertising Campaign - Amendment

Proposed: At end insert:

‘; and, mindful of the Environment Committee’s vote of no confidence in the Minister of the Environment, calls on the Executive to launch a cross-departmental advertising campaign on climate change aimed at achieving the Programme for Government environmental protection targets .’

[Mr T Gallagher]
[Mr P McGlone]

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 44
Noes: 29

Ayes

Ms Anderson, Mr Attwood, Mr Beggs, Mr Boylan, Mr D Bradley, Mrs M Bradley, Mr P J Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Brolly, Mr W Clarke, Mr Cobain, Mr Cree, Mr Dallat, Mr Elliott, Sir Reg Empey, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mr Gallagher, Mr Gardiner, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Mr Kennedy, Mr McCallister, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCartney, Mr McClarty, Mr B McCrea, Dr McDonnell, Mr McFarland, Mrs McGill, Mr McGlone, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McKay, Mr McLaughlin, Mr McNarry, Mr Neeson, Mr O’Dowd, Mr O’Loan, Mrs O’Neill, Ms Purvis, Mr P Ramsey, Mr K Robinson, Ms Ruane, Mr B Wilson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Gallagher and Mr McGlone.

Noes

Mr Bresland, Lord Browne, Mr Buchanan, Mr Campbell, Mr T Clarke, Mr Craig, Mr Dodds, Rt Hon J Donaldson, Mr Easton, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Mr I McCrea, Dr W McCrea, Miss McIlveen, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Newton, Mr Paisley Jnr, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Shannon, Mr Simpson, Mr Spratt, Mr Weir, Mr S Wilson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr T Clarke and Mr I McCrea.

The Amendment was agreed.

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

PETITION OF CONCERN
MOTION: ‘ACT ON CO2’ ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN
Date to be debated : 24 MARCH 2009

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

NAME

ALLAN BRESLAND
WALLACE BROWNE
THOMAS BUCHANAN
GREGORY CAMPBELL
TREVOR CLARKE
JONATHAN CRAIG
NIGEL DODDS
JEFFREY DONALDSON
ALEX EASTON
ARLENE FOSTER
SIMON HAMILTON
DAVID HILDITCH
WILLIAM IRWIN
NELSON MCCAUSLAND
IAN MCCREA
WILLIAM MCCREA
MICHELLE MCILVEEN
ADRIAN MCQUILLAN
MAURICE MORROW
STEPHEN MOUTRAY
ROBIN NEWTON
IAN PAISLEY
IAN PAISLEY JUNIOR
EDWIN POOTS
GEORGE ROBINSON
IRIS ROBINSON
PETER ROBINSON
JIM SHANNON
DAVID SIMPSON
JIMMY SPRATT
MERVYN STOREY
PETER WEIR
JIM WELLS
SAMMY WILSON
ALASTAIR ROSS


NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY ON
24 MARCH 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
5. Assembly Reports
6. Statutory Rules

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

7. Consultation Documents
8. Departmental Publications
9. Agency Publications
10. Westminster Publications
11. 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 24 MARCH 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

17.02.09

02.03.09

*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

16.02.09

*Civil Registration Bill NIA Bill 20/07

17.06.08

01.07.08

20.03.09

18.03.09

*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

13.02.09

*Presumption of Death Bill NIA Bill 23/07

01.07.08

15.09.08

16.01.09

14.01.09

09.03.09

/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

30.09.09

/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

04.02.09

/Budget Bill NIA Bill 5/08

16.02.09

17.02.09

N/A

N/A

24.02.09

02.03.09

03.03.09

06.03.09

Financial Provisions Bill NIA Bill 6/08

23.02.09

03.03.09

13.05.09

 
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