No. 65-08/09
MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS
MONDAY 22 JUNE 2009
The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair
1. Personal Prayer or Meditation
Members observed two minutes’ silence.
2. Business Motion
2.1 Motion - Suspension of Standing Orders
Proposed: That Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4) be suspended for 22 June 2009.
[Mr F Cobain]
[Mr P Ramsey]
The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support nemine contradicente.
3. Executive Committee Business
3.1 Statement - Rathlin Island
The Minister for Regional Development, Mr Conor Murphy, made a statement to the Assembly regarding Rathlin Island, following which he replied to questions.
3.2 First Stage - Employment Bill (NIA 9/08)
The Minister for Employment and Learning, Sir Reg Empey, introduced a Bill to make provision about the enforcement of legislation relating to employment agencies and the minimum wage; to make provision about the membership of, and representation before, the Industrial Court; and for connected purposes.
Bill passed First Stage and ordered to be printed (NIA Bill 9/08).
3.3 First Stage - Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill (NIA 10/08)
The Minister of the Environment, Mr Sammy Wilson, introduced a Bill to make provision about the powers of district councils to enter into contracts and to acquire land otherwise than by agreement; to make provision in connection with the re-organisation of local government, including provision for controls on existing councils, for statutory transition committees and for the payment of severance allowances to councillors; and for connected purposes.
Bill passed First Stage and ordered to be printed (NIA Bill 10/08).
3.4 Consideration Stage - Diseases of Animals Bill (NIA 22/07)
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms Michelle Gildernew, did not move the Consideration Stage.
4. Committee Business
4.1 Motion - Statutory Committee Membership
Proposed: That Mr Danny Kinahan replace Mr John McCallister as a member of the Committee for Regional Development; that Mr Danny Kinahan replace Mr David McClarty as a member of the Committee for the Environment; and that Mr John McCallister replace Mr Tom Elliott as a member of the Committee for Education.
[Mr F Cobain]
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
4.2 Motion - Inquiry into the Way Forward for Apprenticeships
Proposed: That this Assembly approves the report of the Committee for Employment and Learning on its Inquiry into the Way Forward for Apprenticeships; 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 Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
4.3 Motion - Egan Contractors
Proposed: That this Assembly calls on the Minister for Social Development, in view of the adverse economic impact suffered by the employees of Egan contractors, to increase the budget allocation for Decent Homes and related programmes; and to ensure that future communication with contractors complies with Egan principles.
[Chairperson, Committee for Social Development]
Debate ensued.
Debate was suspended for Question Time.
The Deputy Speaker (Mr McClarty) in the chair.
5. Question Time
5.1 Minister of Education
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Ms Caitríona Ruane.
5.2 Minister for Employment and Learning
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Sir Reg Empey.
6. Question for Urgent Oral Answer
6.1 Queen’s University, Belfast: Redundancies
The Minister for Employment and Learning, Sir Reg Empey, replied to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer, tabled by Mr Alex Attwood.
7. Committee Business (cont’d)
7.1 Motion - Egan Contractors
Debate resumed on the Motion.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
8. Private Members’ Business
8.1 Motion - Criminal Justice Inspectorate’s Report
Proposed: That this Assembly supports the recommendations published in the Criminal Justice Inspectorate’s report on the impact of section 75 on the criminal justice system; and calls on the relevant agencies to implement the recommendations.
[Mr R McCartney]
[Ms M Anderson]
[Ms C Ní Chuilín]
The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) in the chair.
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried (Division No. 1).
9. Adjournment
Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn.
[The Speaker]
The Assembly adjourned at 5.41 pm. Mr William Hay
The Speaker
22 June 2009
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
22 JUNE 2009
DIVISIONS
Division No. 1
Criminal Justice Inspectorate’s Report - Motion
Proposed: That this Assembly supports the recommendations published in the Criminal Justice Inspectorate’s report on the impact of section 75 on the criminal justice system; and calls on the relevant agencies to implement the recommendations.
[Mr R McCartney]
[Ms M Anderson]
[Ms C Ní Chuilín]
The Question was put and the Assembly divided.
Ayes: 31
Noes: 26
Ayes
Mr Adams, Ms Anderson, Mr Attwood, Mr Boylan, Mrs M Bradley, Mr Brolly, Mr Burns, Mr Butler, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Ms Gildernew, Mrs Hanna, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Ms Lo, Mr A Maginness, Ms J McCann, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCartney, Mrs McGill, Mr McGlone, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McKay, Mr Molloy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O’Dowd, Mr O’Loan, Mrs O’Neill, Ms S Ramsey, Ms Ritchie, Ms Ruane.
Tellers for the Ayes: Mr McCartney and Ms S Ramsey.
Noes
Mr Beggs, Mr Bresland, Mr Buchanan, Mr T Clarke, Rev Dr Robert Coulter, Mr Elliott, Mrs Foster, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Mr Kennedy, Mr Kinahan, Mr McCallister, Mr I McCrea, Miss McIlveen, Mr McNarry, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Paisley Jnr, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Shannon, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir.
Tellers for the Noes: Mr Bresland and Mr T Clarke.
The Motion was carried.
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY FROM
17 to 22 JUNE 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 Audit Office Resource Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2009 (NIA 157/08-09)
Bringing the SS Nomadic to Belfast: The Acquisition and Restoration of the SS Nomadic (NIA 165/08-09)
Seventeenth Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules (NIA 169/08-09)
Department of Finance and Personnel Memorandum on the Tenth Report from the Public Accounts Committee Session 2008-2009 - The PFI Contract for Northern Ireland's New Vehicle Testing Facilities (NIA 168/08-09)
The Pollution Prevention and Control (Industrial Pollution and Radiochemical Inspectorate) Charging Scheme ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (NIA 173/08-09)
5. Assembly Reports
Report of the Northern Ireland Assembly Code of Conduct and the Guide to the Rules Relating to the Conduct of Members (Committee on Standards and Privileges)
Report on the Control of Bovine Tuberculosis in Northern Ireland (Public Accounts Committee)
Inquiry into the Way Forward for Apprenticeships (Committee for Employment and Learning)
The Review of Financial Management in the Further Education Sector in Northern Ireland and Governance Examination of Fermanagh FE College (Public Accounts Committee)6. Statutory Rules
(The Department identified after each rule is for reference purposes only.)
S.R. 2009/231 The Education (Pupil Reporting) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DE)
S.R. 2009/233 The Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment (Temporary Increase) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 ( DSD)
S.R. 2009/239 The Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) (Lump Sum Payments) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DSD)
S.R. 2009/240 The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No. 2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DSD)
For Information Only :
S.R. 2009/234 The One-Way Traffic (Antrim) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DRD)
S.R. 2009/235 The Lylehill Road, Templepatrick (Part-Time 20mph Speed Limit) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DRD)
S.R. 2009/236 The Parking Places on Roads (Dundonald) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DRD)
S.R. 2009/237 The Road Races (Armoy Motorcycle Race) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DRD)
7. Written Ministerial Statements
8. Consultation Documents
9. Departmental Publications
Human Tissue Authority Code of Practice 1: Consent (DHSSPS)
Human Tissue Authority Code of Practice 2: Donation of solid organs for transplantation (DHSSPS)
Human Tissue Authority Code of Practice 3: Post-mortem examination (DHSSPS)
Human Tissue Authority Code of Practice 4: Anatomical examination (DHSSPS)
Human Tissue Authority Code of Practice 6: Donation of allogeneic bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cells for transplantation (DHSSPS)
Human Tissue Authority Code of Practice 7: Public display (DHSSPS)
Human Tissue Authority Code of Practice 9: Research (DHSSPS)
Northern Ireland Audit Office Resource Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2009 (DFP)
Statistics from the Northern Ireland Needle and Syringe Exchange Scheme: 1 April 2008 – 31 March 2009 ( DHSSPS)
Northern Ireland Tourist Board Corporate Plan 2008-2011 and Year 1 Progress Report (DETI)
Northern Ireland Agri-Food Better Regulation and Simplification Review (DARD)