Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo
No.10/07

MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS

MONDAY 11 JUNE 2007

The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Executive Committee Business
2.1 Motion – Suspension of Standing Orders

Proposed:That Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4), inclusive, be suspended for 11 June 2007.

[Minister of Finance and Personnel]

The Question being put, the Motion was carried on a cross-community basis nemine contradicente.

2.2 Statement – Terms of Reference for Review of Domestic Rating System

The Rt Hon Peter Robinson, Minister of Finance and Personnel, made a statement to the Assembly on the Terms of Reference for a Review of the Domestic Rating System, following which he replied to questions.

2.3 Statement – Voluntary Modulation

Ms Michelle Gildernew, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, made a statement on the use of Voluntary Modulation to part-fund the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, following which she replied to questions.

2.4 Statement – Review of Charging for Water and Sewerage

Mr Conor Murphy, Minister for Regional Development, made a statement on the review of charging for water and sewerage services, following which he replied to questions.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Molloy) in the chair.

2.5 Legislative Consent Motion – Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Bill

Proposed:That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension of the provisions of the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Bill to Northern Ireland.

[Minister of Finance and Personnel]

Debate ensued.

The Speaker in the chair.

Debate suspended.

3 Question Time
3.1 Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister

Questions were put to, and answered by, the First Minister, Rt Hon Ian Paisley.

3.2 Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Ms Michelle Gildernew.

3.3 Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Mr Edwin Poots.

4. Executive Committee Business (Cont’d)
4.1 Legislative Consent Motion – Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Bill

Debate resumed on the Motion.

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

4.2 Motion – Supply Resolution for the 2007-2008 Main Estimates

Proposed: That this Assembly approves that a sum not exceeding £7,079,776,000 be granted out of the Consolidated Fund, for or towards defraying the charges for Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Assembly, 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 2008; and that resources not exceeding £7,922,535,000 be authorised for use by Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Assembly, 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 2008.

[Minister of Finance and Personnel]

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Molloy) in the chair.

The Question being put, the Motion was carried on a cross-community basis nemine contradicente.

4.3 First Stage – Budget Bill

The Rt Hon Peter Robinson, Minister of Finance and Personnel, introduced a Bill to authorise the issue out of the Consolidated Fund of certain sums for the service of the year ending 31st March 2008; 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 (including accruing resources) for the year ending 31st March 2008; and to repeal certain spent provisions.

Bill passed First Stage and ordered to be printed (NIA Bill 3/07).

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.

4.4 First Stage – Taxis Bill

Mrs Arlene Foster, Minister of the Environment, introduced a Bill to make provision regulating taxi operators, taxis and taxi drivers; and for related purposes.

Bill passed First Stage and ordered to be printed (NIA Bill 4/07).

4.5 First Stage – Libraries Bill

Mr Edwin Poots, Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, introduced a Bill to provide for the establishment and functions of the Northern Ireland Library Authority; to enable the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure to make grants in connection with the provision of library services; and for connected purposes.

Bill passed First Stage and ordered to be printed (NIA Bill 5/07).

5. Adjournment

Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn.

[The Speaker]

The Assembly adjourned at 6.16 pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
11 June 2007

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY FROM

6 JUNE TO 11 JUNE 2007

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

Budget Bill (NIA Bill 3/07)
Taxis Bill (NIA Bill 4/07)
Libraries Bill (NIA Bill 5/07)

  1. Orders in Council
  2. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly
  3. Assembly Reports
  4. Statutory Rules

(The department identified after each rule is for reference purposes only.)
S.R. 2007/293 The Education (Student Support) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007 (DE)

  1. Consultation Documents
  2. Departmental Publications
  3. Agency Publications
  4. Westminster Publications
  5. Miscellaneous Publications