No. 13-07/08
MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS
MONDAY 22 OCTOBER 2007
The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair
1. Personal Prayer or Meditation
Members observed two minutes’ silence.
2. The Speaker’s Business
2.1 The Speaker reported that Mrs Carol Devon had taken up her post as the Interim Clerk /Chief Executive to the Assembly.
3. Executive Committee Business
3.1 Statement - Review of Water and Sewerage Services
Mr Conor Murphy, Minister for Regional Development, made a statement to the Assembly regarding the review of water and sewerage services, following which he replied to questions.
3.2 Statement - Review of Recruitment in Specialty Medical Training
Mr Michael McGimpsey, Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, made a statement to the Assembly regarding the review of recruitment in specialty medical training, following which he replied to questions.
The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) in the chair.
3.3 First Stage - Children (Emergency Protection Orders) Bill NIA 6/07
Mr Michael McGimpsey, Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, introduced a Bill to repeal Article 64(8) of the Children ( Northern Ireland) Order 1995.
Bill passed First Stage and ordered to be printed (NIA Bill 6/07).
3.4 Motion - Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007
Proposed: That the Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007 (S.R. 2007/347) be approved.
[Minister for Social Development]
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
3.5 Motion - Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill: Legislative Consent Motion
Proposed: That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension to Northern Ireland of provisions of the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill dealing with the use of information which are contained in clause 39 of, and paragraphs 4 to 6 of Schedule 6 to, that Bill as introduced in the House of Commons.
[Minister for Social Development]
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
4. Private Members’ Business
4.1 Motion - Abortion
Proposed: That this Assembly opposes the introduction of the proposed guidelines on the termination of pregnancy in Northern Ireland; believes that the guidelines are flawed; and calls on the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to abandon any attempt to make abortion more widely available in Northern Ireland.
[Rt Hon J Donaldson]
[Mrs I Robinson]
4.2 Amendment
Proposed: Leave out all after ‘Assembly’ and insert:
‘calls on the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, following consultation with the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, to bring forward guidelines on the lawful termination of pregnancy, as defined by the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, the Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1945, and the Bourne Judgment case law, and in accordance with the ruling of the Courts.
[Mr J McCallister]
[Mr D Kennedy]
Debate ensued.
The sitting was suspended for Question Time.
The Speaker in the chair.
5. Question Time
5.1 Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister
Questions were put to, and answered by, the deputy First Minister, Mr Martin McGuinness.
5.2 Minister of the Environment
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Mrs Arlene Foster.
5.3 Minister of Finance and Personnel
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, the Rt Hon Peter Robinson.
6. Private Members’ Business (Cont’d)
6.1 Motion – Abortion (cont’d)
Debate resumed on the Motion.
The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) in the chair.
The Amendment being put, the Amendment fell without division.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
6.2 Motion – Abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board
Proposed:That this Assembly calls on the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to bring forward the required legislation to abolish the Agricultural Wages Board.
[Mr T Elliott] [R]
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried (Division 1).
7. Adjournment
Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn.
[The Speaker]
The Assembly adjourned at 6.23 pm.
Mr William Hay
The Speaker
22 October 2007
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
22 OCTOBER 2007
DIVISIONS
Division No. 1
Abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board
Proposed: That this Assembly calls on the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to bring forward the required legislation to abolish the Agricultural Wages Board.
[Mr T Elliott] [R]
The Question was put and the Assembly divided.
Ayes: 37
Noes: 28
Ayes
Mr Beggs, Mr P J Bradley, Mr Bresland, Lord Browne, Mr T Clarke, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mr Dodds, Rt Hon J Donaldson, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Sir Reg Empey, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mr Hamilton, Mr Irwin, Mr Kennedy, Ms Lo, Mr McCallister, Mr McCausland, Mr B McCrea, Mr I McCrea, Dr W McCrea, Mr McFarland, Mr McGimpsey, Miss McIlveen, Mr McNarry, Lord Morrow, Rt Hon Ian Paisley, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Mrs I Robinson, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Savage, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Wells.
Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Bresland and Mr Elliott.
Noes
Mr Adams, Ms Anderson, Mrs M Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Brolly, Mr Butler, Mr W Clarke, Mr Doherty, Mr Durkan, Ms Gildernew, Mrs Hanna, Mr G Kelly, Mr A Maginness, Mr P Maskey, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McElduff, Mrs McGill, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McHugh, Mr McLaughlin, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O’Dowd, Mr O’Loan, Mr P Ramsey, Ms Ritchie, Ms Ruane.
Tellers for the Noes: Ms Anderson and Mr McCartney.
The Motion was carried.
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY FROM
17 OCTOBER to 22 OCTOBER 2007
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
5. Assembly Reports
6. Statutory Rules
(The department identified after each rule is for reference purposes only.)
7. Consultation Documents
8. Departmental Publications
Accessible Transportation Strategy for Northern Ireland 2015 Action Plan 2007/09 (DRD)
Crumlin Road Gaol and Girdwood Barracks Draft Masterplan (DSD)
Review of Recruitment into Speciality Training in Northern Ireland (DHSSPS)
9. Agency Publications
10. Westminster Publications
11. Miscellaneous Publications
The Schedule of Future North-South Ministerial Council Meetings
The Schedule of British-Irish Council Meetings