No.03/07
MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS
MONDAY 14 MAY 2007
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 The Speaker informed Members that he would be absent from the chamber on 15 May 2007, as he was representing the Assembly at a function in Westminster.
3. Private Members’ Business
3.1 Motion – Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
Proposed: That this Assembly agrees to re-apply for admission to membership of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, such membership to be effective immediately on approval of the application by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, and to abide by the provisions of the constitution of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association; that the required membership fee be paid to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association; and that this motion be communicated to the secretariat of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association immediately following agreement.
[Rev Dr R Coulter]
[Mr D McClarty]
Debate ensued .
Deputy Speaker (Mr Francie Molloy) in the chair.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
3.2 Motion – Women in Politics
Proposed: That this Assembly expresses serious concerns about the under-representation of women in the Assembly and calls on all parties to commit themselves to addressing the situation; and for the establishment of an all-party working group to discuss these and other issues that have a negative impact on women; and further calls on an incoming Executive to fully implement and resource a comprehensive strategy to tackle the under-representation of women in political life.
[Ms M Anderson]
[Ms S Ramsey]
[Ms C Ní Chuilín]
[Ms J McCann]
3.3 Amendment
Proposed: Leave out all after ‘situation’ and insert:
‘recognises the commitment of the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to implementing the Gender Equality Strategy; and believes that individuals should obtain positions on merit, otherwise the argument for greater representation from women can be diminished.’
[Miss M McIlveen]
Debate ensued.
The Amendment being put, the Amendment was made (Division 1).
The Question being put, the Motion, as amended, was carried without division.
3.4 Motion – Development of the Rail Network
Proposed: That this Assembly calls upon the Department for Regional Development to bring forward their plans for upgrading the rail network to provide attractive inter-city services between the principal centres of population within Northern Ireland and onwards to the Republic of Ireland.
[Mr J Dallat]
3.5 Amendment No. 1
Proposed: Leave out all after ‘Assembly’ and insert:
‘notes the positive impact that a devolved Minister was able to have on rail previously, including the acquisition of new stock and the provision of free transport for senior citizens; and calls upon the Department of Regional Development to bring forward its plans for upgrading the existing rail network and further development of the network throughout Northern Ireland.’
[Lord Morrow]
3.6 Amendment No. 2
Proposed: Leave out all after ‘attractive’ and insert:
‘commuting options and also inter-city services between the principal centres of population and the neighbouring regions.’
[Mr R Beggs]
Debate ensued.
The Speaker in the chair.
Amendment No. 1 being put, the Amendment fell without division.
Amendment No. 2 being put, the Amendment was made without division.
The Question being put, the Motion, as amended, was carried without division.
3.7 Motion – Undocumented Irish in the USA
Proposed: That this Assembly expresses its deep concern about the plight of the 'undocumented Irish', including many young people originally from Northern Ireland currently living, working and paying their way in the USA. Furthermore, that this Assembly agrees to make a donation towards the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, to support the campaign to legitimatise resident arrangements for, and create legal status for, the 'undocumented'.
[Dr A McDonnell]
[Mr PJ Bradley]
3.8 Amendment No. 1
Proposed: Leave out all after ‘agrees’ and insert:
‘to support the campaign by the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform’.
[Mr PJ Bradley]
[Dr A McDonnell]
3.9 Amendment No. 2
Proposed: Leave out all after the first ‘Assembly’ and insert:
‘recognises many young people originally from Northern Ireland currently living, working and paying their way in the USA are included amongst the millions of undocumented immigrants to that country from various parts of the world; welcomes bipartisan approaches to address this issue which emphasise strong border controls; and urges the US Government to enhance efforts to resolve this matter.’
[Mr S Hamilton]
3.10 Amendment No. 3
Proposed: Leave out all after ‘Reform’ and insert:
‘and this Assembly, in a public expression of its support for the undocumented Irish in the USA, contact the US Administration and all US Senators, urging them to reach a compromise which would secure residency for the Irish undocumented as well as the many immigrants living in the USA deemed illegal by the present system.’
[Mr C Boylan]
[Mr M Brady]
Debate ensued.
Amendment No. 1 being put, the Amendment fell (Division 2).
Amendment No. 2 being put, the Amendment was made (Division 3).
Amendment No. 3 was not put.
The Question being put, the Motion, as amended, was carried without division.
4. Adjournment
Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn.
[The Speaker]
The Assembly adjourned at 4.58 pm
Mr William Hay
The Speaker
14 May 2007
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
14 MAY 2007
DIVISIONS
Division No. 1
Women in Politics - Amendment
Proposed: Leave out all after ‘situation’ and insert:
‘recognises the commitment of the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to implementing the Gender Equality Strategy; and believes that individuals should obtain positions on merit, otherwise the argument for greater representation from women can be diminished.’
[Miss M McIlveen]
The Question was put and the Assembly divided.
Ayes : 44
Noes : 43
Ayes
Mr Armstrong, Mr Beggs, Mr Bresland, Lord Browne, Mr Buchanan, Mr Campbell, Mr T Clarke, Rev Dr Robert Coulter, Mr Craig, Mr Dodds, Rt Hon J Donaldson, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Sir Reg Empey, Mrs Foster, Mr Gardiner, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Mr Kennedy, Mr McCallister, Mr B McCrea, Mr I McCrea, Dr W McCrea, Mr McGimpsey, Miss McIlveen, Mr McNarry, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Newton, Rt Hon Ian Paisley, Mr Paisley Jnr, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Mr K Robinson, Mr Savage, Mr Shannon, Mr Simpson, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wells, Mr S Wilson.
Tellers for the Ayes: Mrs Foster and Miss McIlveen
Noes
Ms Anderson, Mr Attwood, Mr Boylan, Mr D Bradley, Mrs M Bradley, Mr P J Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Brolly, Mr Burns, Mr Butler, Mr W Clarke, Mr Dallat, Mr Durkan, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mr Gallagher, Ms Gildernew, Mrs Hanna, Mrs D Kelly, Ms Lo, Mrs Long, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCartney, Dr McDonnell, Mr McElduff, Mrs McGill, Mr McGlone, Mr McKay, Mr McLaughlin, Mr A Maginness, Mr A Maskey, Mr Murphy, Mr Neeson, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O’Dowd, Mr O’Loan, Mrs O’Neill, Mr P Ramsey, Ms S Ramsey, Ms Ritchie, Mr B Wilson.
Tellers for the Noes: Mr Butler and Mrs O’Neill
The Amendment was made.
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
14 MAY 2007
DIVISIONS
Division No. 2
Undocumented Irish in the USA – Amendment No. 1
Proposed: Leave out all after ‘agrees’ and insert:
‘to support the campaign by the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform’.
[Mr PJ Bradley]
[Dr A McDonnell]
The Question was put and the Assembly divided.
Ayes : 42
Noes : 43
Ayes
Ms Anderson, Mr Boylan, Mr D Bradley, Mrs M Bradley, Mr P J Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Brolly, Mr Burns, Mr Butler, Mr W Clarke, Mr Dallat, Dr Deeny, Mr Durkan, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mr Gallagher, Ms Gildernew, Mrs Hanna, Mrs D Kelly, Ms Lo, Mrs Long, Mr A Maginness, Mr A Maskey, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCartney, Dr McDonnell, Mr McElduff, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McKay, Mr McLaughlin, Mr Molloy, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O’Dowd, Mr O’Loan, Mrs O’Neill, Mr P Ramsey, Ms S Ramsey, Ms Ritchie, Mr B Wilson.
Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Dallat and Mr D Bradley
Noes
Mr Armstrong, Mr Beggs, Mr Bresland, Lord Browne, Mr Buchanan, Mr Campbell, Mr T Clarke, Rev Dr Robert Coulter, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mr Dodds, Rt Hon J Donaldson, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Mr Gardiner, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Mr Kennedy, Mr McCallister, Mr I McCrea, Dr W McCrea, Mr McFarland, Mr McGimpsey, Miss McIlveen, Mr McNarry, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Newton, Rt Hon Ian Paisley, Mr Paisley Jnr, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Mrs I Robinson, Mr K Robinson, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Shannon, Mr Simpson, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wells, Mr S Wilson.
Tellers for the Noes: Mr Shannon and Mr Storey
The Amendment fell.
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
14 MAY 2007
DIVISIONS
Division No. 3
Undocumented Irish in the USA – Amendment No. 2
Proposed: Leave out all after the first ‘Assembly’ and insert:
‘recognises many young people originally from Northern Ireland currently living, working and paying their way in the USA are included amongst the millions of undocumented immigrants to that country from various parts of the world; welcomes bipartisan approaches to address this issue which emphasise strong border controls; and urges the US Government to enhance efforts to resolve this matter.’
[Mr S Hamilton]
The Question was put and the Assembly divided.
Ayes : 43
Noes : 42
Ayes
Mr Armstrong, Mr Beggs, Mr Bresland, Lord Browne, Mr Buchanan, Mr Campbell, Mr T Clarke, Rev Dr Robert Coulter, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mr Dodds, Rt Hon J Donaldson, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Mr Gardiner, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Mr Kennedy, Mr McCallister, Mr I McCrea, Dr W McCrea, Mr McFarland, Mr McGimpsey, Miss McIlveen, Mr McNarry, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Newton, Rt Hon Ian Paisley, Mr Paisley Jnr, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Mrs I Robinson, Mr K Robinson, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Shannon, Mr Simpson, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wells, Mr S Wilson.
Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Shannon and Mr Storey
Noes
Ms Anderson, Mr Boylan, Mr D Bradley, Mrs M Bradley, Mr P J Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Brolly, Mr Burns, Mr Butler, Mr W Clarke, Mr Dallat, Dr Deeny, Mr Durkan, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mr Gallagher, Ms Gildernew, Mrs Hanna, Mrs D Kelly, Ms Lo, Mrs Long, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCartney, Dr McDonnell, Mr McElduff, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McKay, Mr McLaughlin, Mr A Maginness, Mr A Maskey, Mr Molloy, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O’Dowd, Mr O’Loan, Mrs O’Neill, Mr P Ramsey, Ms S Ramsey, Ms Ritchie, Mr B Wilson.
Tellers for the Noes: Ms Anderson and Mr McCartney
The Amendment was made.
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY
FROM 10 MAY to 14 MAY 2007
- Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly
- Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly
- Orders in Council
- Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly
- Assembly Reports
- Statutory Rules
(The department identified after each rule is for reference purposes only.)
- Consultation Documents
- Departmental Publications
- Agency Publications
- Westminster Publications
- Miscellaneous Publications