Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

No. 35-09/10

MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS

MONDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2010

The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Speaker’s Business

2.1 Royal Assent

The Speaker informed Members that Royal Assent had been signified on 12 February 2010 to both the Department of Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2010 and the Pensions Regulator Tribunal (Transfer of Functions) Act (Northern Ireland) 2010.

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Motion - Suspension of Standing Orders
Proposed:

That Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4) be suspended for 15 February 2010.

Minister of Finance and Personnel

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

3.2 Motion - Supply Resolution for the 2009-2010 Spring Supplementary Estimates
Proposed:

That this Assembly approves that a total sum, not exceeding £13,772,054,000, be granted out of the Consolidated Fund for or towards defraying the charges for Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Audit Office and the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation for the year ending 31 March 2010 and that total resources, not exceeding £15,567,071,000, be authorised for use by Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Audit Office and the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation for the year ending 31 March 2010 as summarised for each Department or other public body in Columns 2(c) and 3(c) of Table 1 in the volume of the Northern Ireland Spring Supplementary Estimates 2009-10 that was laid before the Assembly on 8 February 2010.

Minister of Finance and Personnel

Debate ensued on this motion and the motion on ‘Supply Resolution for the 2010-11 Vote on Account’

The Deputy Speaker (Mr McClarty) took the Chair.

The Speaker took the Chair.

The debate was suspended for Question Time.

4. Question Time

4.1 Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister

Questions were put to, and answered by, the First Minister, Rt Hon Peter Robinson. The junior Minister, Mr Robin Newton, also answered a number of questions.

4.2 Agriculture and Rural Development

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms Michelle Gildernew.

5. Executive Committee Business (Cont’d)

5.1 Motion - Supply Resolution for the 2009-2010 Spring Supplementary Estimates (Cont’d)

Debate resumed on both motions.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) took the Chair.

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

5.2 Motion - Supply Resolution for the 2010-2011 Vote on Account
Proposed:

That this Assembly approves that a sum, not exceeding £6,197,971,000, be granted out of the Consolidated Fund on account for or towards defraying the charges for Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Audit Office and the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation for the year ending 31 March 2011 and that resources, not exceeding £6,662,114,000, be authorised, on account, for use by Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Audit Office and the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation for the year ending 31 March 2011 as summarised for each Department or other public body in Columns 4 and 6 of Table 1 in the Vote on Account 2010-11 document that was laid before the Assembly on 8 February 2010.

Minister of Finance and Personnel

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

5.3 First Stage - Budget Bill (NIA 8/09)

The Minister of Finance and Personnel, Mr Sammy Wilson, introduced a Bill to authorise the issue out of the Consolidated Fund of certain sums for the service of the years ending 31st March 2010 and 2011; to appropriate those sums for specified purposes; to authorise the Department of Finance and Personnel to borrow on the credit of the appropriated sums; to authorise the use for the public service of certain resources for the years ending 31st March 2010 and 2011; and to revise the limits on the use of certain accruing resources in the year ending 31st March 2010.

Bill passed First Stage and ordered to be printed (NIA Bill 08/09).

Members were informed that the Chairperson of the Committee for Finance and Personnel had provided the confirmation required in Standing Orders, and that the Bill would therefore proceed under accelerated passage.

5.4 Further Consideration Stage - Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill (NIA 10/08)

The Minister of the Environment, Mr Edwin Poots moved the Further Consideration Stage of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.

Oneamendment was tabled to the Bill.

After debate Amendment 1 to Clause 19 was made without division.

Bill (NIA 10/08) stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

6. Committee Business

6.1 Motion - Extension of Committee Stage: Roads (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill (NIA Bill 6/09)
Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 18 June 2010, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Roads (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill (NIA Bill 6/09).

Chairperson, Committee for Regional Development

Debate ensued.

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

6.2 Motion - Extension of Committee Stage: Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill (NIA Bill 5/09)
Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 20 April 2010, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill (NIA Bill 5/09).

Chairperson, Committee for the Environment

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Motion wascarried without division.

7. Adjournment

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 5.09pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
15 February 2010

Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill
Marshalled List of Amendments
Further Consideration Stage
Monday 15 February 2010

Amendments tabled up to 9.30am Thursday, 11 February 2010
Amendment 1

Clause 19 , Page 11, Line 30

Leave out subsection (3) and insert -

‘(3) If regulations under subsection (2)(a) provide for the amount of any severance payment payable to, or in respect of, a person to be calculated by reference to any period for which that person was a councillor, then for the purposes of that calculation there shall be disregarded any period in which that person was both a councillor and ¾

(a) a member of the Assembly (within the meaning of the Northern Ireland Act 1998);

(b) a member of the House of Commons; or

(c) a member of the European Parliament.’

Minister of the Environment

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
15 February 2010

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

Local Government (Disqualification) (Amendment) Bill NIA Bill 7/09

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

Social Care Council Annual Report and Accounts for Year Ending 31 March 2009 (DHSSPS)

5. Assembly Reports

Inquiry into the Dioxin Contamination Incident, December 2008 NIA 06/09/10R (Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development)

Report on the Performance of the Health Service in Northern Ireland NIA 35/09/10R (The Public Accounts Committee)

Report on the Performance of the Planning Service NIA 36/09/10R (The Public Accounts Committee)

Tenth Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules NIA 38/09/10R

6. Statutory Rules

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

For Information Only:
7. Written Ministerial Statements
8. Consultation Documents
9. Departmental Publications
10. Agency Publications
11. Westminster Publications

Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2008-09

12. Miscellaneous Publications