No. 53-08/09

MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS

TUESDAY 5 MAY 2009

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

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Executive Committee Business

2.1 Statement - British-Irish Council Environment Sectoral Meeting

The Minister of the Environment, Mr Sammy Wilson, made a statement to the Assembly regarding the British-Irish Council Environment sectoral meeting, following which he replied to questions.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Molloy) in the chair.

2.2 Statement - Swine Flu

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Mr Michael McGimpsey, made a statement to the Assembly regarding the Swine Flu outbreak, following which he replied to questions.

3. Private Members’ Business

3.1 Motion - Employment and Support Allowance

Proposed: That this Assembly calls on the Minister for Social Development to make access to employment and support allowance easier for vulnerable claimants who have difficulty in understanding the complexities of the benefit and are unable to obtain the relevant information required to claim.

[Mr M Brady]
[Ms C Ní Chuilín]
[Mr F McCann]

Debate ensued.

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

The sitting was suspended at 12.18 pm.

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

3.2 Motion - Costs of Division

Proposed: That this Assembly regrets that the Deloitte Report ‘Research into the financial cost of the Northern Ireland divide’, commissioned by the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister in 2006 has not been acted upon; and calls on the Executive to ensure that the potential to tackle both the direct and embedded costs of division are addressed within the current, and future, spending frameworks, and that the opportunities to provide shared and integrated goods, services and facilities are fully realised.

[Mr D Ford]
[Dr S Farry]

3.3 Amendment

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

‘to ensure that the opportunity to provide shared and integrated goods, services and facilities is fully realised to promote a shared and better future; calls on the Office of First Minister and deputy First Minister to revise the Programme for Government to take account of these matters and to publish without further delay the strategy for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration; and further calls on the Minister of Finance and Personnel to revise the Budget accordingly.’

[Mrs D Kelly]
[Mr A Maginness]
[Mr A Attwood]

Debate ensued.

Debate was suspended for Question Time.

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 deputy First Minister, Mr Martin McGuinness.

4.2 Minister of the Environment

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Mr Sammy Wilson.

4.3 Minister of Finance and Personnel

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Mr Nigel Dodds.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr McClarty) in the chair.

4.4 Assembly Commission

Questions were put to, and answered by, Members of the Assembly Commission.

5. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)

5.1 Motion - Costs of Division (cont’d)

Debate resumed on the Motion.

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

The Question being put, the Motion was negatived (Division No. 2).

6. Adjournment

Mr Gerry Adams spoke to his topic on Management of Assets and Pensions at Visteon Corporation.

Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn.

[The Speaker]

The Assembly adjourned at 6.28 pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
5 May 2009

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

5 MAY 2009
DIVISIONS

Division No. 1

Costs of Division - Amendment

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

‘to ensure that the opportunity to provide shared and integrated goods, services and facilities is fully realised to promote a shared and better future; calls on the Office of First Minister and deputy First Minister to revise the Programme for Government to take account of these matters and to publish without further delay the strategy for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration; and further calls on the Minister of Finance and Personnel to revise the Budget accordingly.’

[Mrs D Kelly]
[Mr A Maginness]
[Mr A Attwood]

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 17
Noes: 40

Ayes

Mr Armstrong, Mr Attwood, Mr Beggs, Mr D Bradley, Mrs M Bradley, Mr Burns, Mr Cobain, Rev Dr Robert Coulter, Mr Cree, Mr Gallagher, Mrs D Kelly, Mr McCallister, Mr B McCrea, Mr McFarland, Mr McGlone, Mr O’Loan, Mr P Ramsey.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mrs D Kelly and Mr O’Loan

Noes

Mr Adams, Ms Anderson, Mr Boylan, Mr Bresland, Lord Browne, Mr Buchanan, Mr Butler, Mr T Clarke, Mr Dodds, Rt Hon J Donaldson, Mr Easton, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Mr A Maskey, Mr P Maskey, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Dr W McCrea, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McLaughlin, Mr McQuillan, Mr Molloy, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Murphy, Mr Newton, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O’Dowd, Ms S Ramsey, Mr G Robinson, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Shannon, Mr Spratt, Mr Wells , Mr S Wilson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Irwin and Mr Shannon

The Amendment fell.

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

5 MAY 2009
DIVISIONS

Division No. 2

Costs of Division - Motion

Proposed: That this Assembly regrets that the Deloitte Report ‘Research into the financial cost of the Northern Ireland divide’, commissioned by the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister in 2006 has not been acted upon; and calls on the Executive to ensure that the potential to tackle both the direct and embedded costs of division are addressed within the current, and future, spending frameworks, and that the opportunities to provide shared and integrated goods, services and facilities are fully realised.
[Mr D Ford]
[Dr S Farry]

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 16
Noes: 16

Ayes

Mr Attwood, Mr D Bradley, Mrs M Bradley, Mr Burns, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mr Gallagher, Mrs D Kelly, Ms Lo, Mr Lunn, Mr McCarthy, Mr McGlone, Mr Neeson, Mr O’Loan, Mr P Ramsey, Mr B Wilson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Lunn and Mr McCarthy

Noes

Mr Adams, Ms Anderson, Mr Boylan, Mr Butler, Mr A Maskey, Mr P Maskey, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McLaughlin, Mr Molloy, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O’Dowd, Ms S Ramsey.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr F McCann and Mr McLaughlin

The following Members voted in both Lobbies and are therefore not counted in the result: Mr Bresland, Mr Buchanan, Mr T Clarke, Mr Easton, Mr Hamilton, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Mr McQuillan, Mr Moutray, Mr G Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Shannon, Mr Spratt, Mr Wells, Mr S Wilson.

The Motion was negatived.

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY FROM 29 APRIL TO 5 MAY 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

Northern Ireland Tourist Board Annual Report and Accounts 2007-2008 (NIA 87/08-09)

The Management of Social Housing Rent Collection and Arrears (NIA 104/08-09)

5. Assembly Reports

Report on a Complaint by Mr Declan O'Loan MLA against Mr Ian Paisley Jnr MLA (Committee on Standards and Privileges)

6. Statutory Rules

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

For Information Only:

S.R. 2009/172 (C.11) The Public Authorities (Reform) (2009 Act) (Commencement No.1) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009 (OFMDFM)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

Driver certificate of Professional Competence Scheme- Improvements to Administrative Arrangements (DOE)

9. Departmental Publications

Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (Amendment) Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2009 (DFP)

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

Annual Report and Financial Statements Parades Commission for Northern Ireland for the year ended 31 March 2008

12. 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 28 April 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	30.03.09
/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