Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

No. 05-09/10

MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS

MONDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 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 28 September 2009.

[Lord Morrow]
[Mr P Ramsey]

The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support nemine contradicente.

3. Executive Committee Business
3.1 Statement - Outcome of the Examination of Winter Services Around Rural Schools

The Minister for Regional Development, Mr Conor Murphy, made a statement to the Assembly regarding the outcome of the examination of winter services around rural schools, following which he replied to questions.

4. Committee Business
4.1 Motion - Extension of Committee Stage: Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill (NIA 10/08)

Proposed:That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 26 October 2009, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill (NIA Bill 10/08).

[Chairperson, Committee for the Environment]

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

5. Private Members’ Business
5.1 Motion - National Asset Management Agency

Proposed:That this Assembly expresses deep concern at the possible negative economic consequences for the island of Ireland if the National Asset Management Agency legislation currently under consideration by Dáil Éireann is passed; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to raise the issue at the North South Ministerial Council to agree a way forward regarding these assets which will ensure the economic stability of the island of Ireland and movement towards economic growth.

[Mr M McLaughlin]
[Ms J McCann]
[Mr P Butler]

5.2 Amendment

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

for Northern Ireland arising from the potential National Asset Management Agency legislation currently under consideration in the Oireachtas; and, while respecting the right of the Irish Government and Parliament to determine their own response to the banking crisis within their jurisdiction, calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister, alongside the Ministers of Finance and Personnel and Enterprise, Trade and Investment, to use all opportunities, including the North South Ministerial Council, to ensure that the potential implications for the economy in Northern Ireland are fully taken into account within any legislation and subsequent action.

[Mr S Neeson]
[Dr S Farry]

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Molloy) in the Chair.

The debate was suspended for Question Time.

6. Question Time
6.1 Minister of Education

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Ms Catríona Ruane.

6.2 Minister for Employment and Learning

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Sir Reg Empey.

7. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)
7.1 Motion - National Asset Management Agency (cont’d)

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

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

7.2 Motion - Civil Service Equal Pay Claim

Proposed:That this Assembly notes with concern that the Civil Service Equal Pay claim remains unresolved despite the Assembly resolution of 1 June 2009 calling on the Minister of Finance and Personnel to ensure that the staff affected receive their back pay within three months; welcomes the assurance by the Minister that the financial implications of a resolution to this matter will have to be faced in a manner compatible with the Department's legal obligations; and calls on the Minister to state an early date by which a comprehensive settlement offer will be made to the Trade Union representing the staff concerned.

[Mr D O’Loan]
[Mrs D Kelly]
[Mr P Ramsey]

The Deputy Speaker (Mr McClarty) in the Chair.

Debate ensued.

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

7.3 Motion - McClean Conacre Case

Proposed: That this Assembly notes with extreme concern the possible extension of the focus on the ‘McClean Conacre Case’ by HM Revenue and Customs and is deeply worried at the severe disruption which this could have on our family farming tradition in Northern Ireland.

[Mr I Paisley Jnr]
[Dr W McCrea]

7.4 Amendment

Proposed: At end insert:

; and calls on the Minister of Finance and Personnel and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to engage with Revenue and Customs to find a suitable solution.

[Mr P McGlone]
[Mr T Burns]
[Mr T Gallagher]

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

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

8. Adjournment

Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn.

[The Speaker]

The Assembly adjourned at 6.27 pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
28 September 2009

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

28 SEPTEMBER 2009

DIVISIONS

Division No. 1

National Asset Management Agency - Amendment

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 8
Noes: 81

Ayes

Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Ms Lo, Mrs Long, Mr Lunn, Mr McCarthy, Mr Neeson, Mr B Wilson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Dr Farry and Mr Neeson.

Noes

Ms Anderson, Mr Armstrong, Mr Beggs, Mr Boylan, Mr D Bradley, Mr P J Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Bresland, Lord Browne, Mr Buchanan, Mr Burns, Mr Butler, Mr Campbell, Mr T Clarke, Mr W Clarke, Mr Cobain, Rev Dr Robert Coulter, Mr Craig, Mr Dallat, Mr Dodds, Mr Doherty, Rt Hon J Donaldson, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Sir Reg Empey, Mrs Foster, Mr Gallagher, Mr Gardiner, Ms Gildernew, Mr Hamilton, Mrs Hanna, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Mrs D Kelly, Mr Kennedy, Mr Kinahan, Mr A Maginness, Mr A Maskey, Mr P Maskey, Mr McCallister, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McCausland, Mr McClarty, Mr B McCrea, Mr I McCrea, Dr W McCrea, Dr McDonnell, Mr McElduff, Mr McFarland, Mrs McGill, Mr McGimpsey, Mr McGlone, Mr M McGuinness, Miss McIlveen, Mr McKay, Mr McNarry, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Murphy, Mr Newton, Mr O’Dowd, Mr O’Loan, Mr Poots, Mr P Ramsey, Mr G Robinson, Mrs I Robinson, Mr K Robinson, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Ms Ruane, Mr Savage, Mr Shannon, Mr Simpson, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wells, Mr S Wilson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Brady and Mrs McGill.

The Amendment fell.

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY FROM

23 TO 28 SEPTEMBER 2009

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly
2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Water and Sewerage Services (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 3/09)

3. Orders in Council
4. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Arts Council of Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2009 (NIA 177/08-09)

5. Assembly Reports

Report on the Review of Workplace Dispute Resolution (Committee for Employment and Learning)

Report on a Complaint against Mr Martin McGuinness MP MLA by Mr Lyle Cubitt (Committee on Standards and Privileges)

6. Statutory Rules
(The department identified after each rule is for reference purposes only)

S.R. 2009/317 The Work and Families (Increase of Maximum Amount) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009 (DEL)

S.R. 2009/321 Agriculture (Student fees) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (DARD)

S.R. 2009/323 The Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (DARD)

For Information Only :

S.R. 2009/322 The Taxis (Coleraine, Portstewart and Portrush) (Amendment) Bye-Laws (Northern Ireland) 2009

S.R. 2009/328 The Housing Benefit (Executive Determinations) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (DSD)

7. Written Ministerial Statements
8. Consultation Documents

Proposal for a Donaghadee Harbour Order (Northern Ireland) A Consultation Paper (DRD)

Proposed Airports ( Sale of Aircraft) Regulations (Northern Ireland) A Consultation Paper (DRD)

9. Departmental Publications

Public Income and Expenditure Accounts for the year ending 31 March 2009 (DFP)

Belfast City Centre Westside Regeneration Masterplan

10. Agency Publications
11. Westminster Publications
12. Miscellaneous Publications