Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo
No. 14-07/08
MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 25 OCTOBER 2007

 The Assembly met at 10.30 am, the Speaker in the Chair

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Executive Committee Business
2.1 Statement – Draft Programme for Government and Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland

The First Minister and deputy First Minister made a statement to the Assembly regarding the draft Programme for Government and Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland, following which they replied to questions.

2.2 Statement – Draft Budget 2008-2011

The Rt Hon Peter Robinson, Minister of Finance and Personnel, made a statement to the Assembly regarding the draft budget for 2008-2011, following which he replied to questions.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Molloy) in the chair.

The Speaker in the chair.

2.3 Statement – Rural Planning Policy and PPS 14

Mrs Arlene Foster, Minister of the Environment, made a statement to the Assembly regarding rural planning policy and the final judgement on then judicial review of PPS 14, following which she replied to questions.

3. Private Members’ Business
3.1 Motion – IVF Fertility Waiting Lists

Proposed: That this Assembly calls for a review of the policy on IVF fertility waiting lists including urgent consideration of the introduction of age-weighting criteria.

[Mr A Attwood]

Amendment

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

‘on the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to commence a comprehensive review into the current criteria used to assess eligibility, including the age weighting criteria, the ongoing problem with waiting lists, and the number of IVF treatments available on the NHS, with a view to establishing a more equitable and accessible policy.’

[Mrs M O’Neill]

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) in the chair.

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

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

3.3 Motion – Windscale/Sellafield

Proposed: That this Assembly expresses concern at the findings of the report on the impact of the Windscale Piles accident at the Sellafield nuclear plant and the implications that this has for the health and well-being of people living on these islands and in Europe; and calls upon the Government to discontinue all operations at the Sellafield nuclear plant.

[Mr D McKay]
[Mr W Clarke]

3.4 Amendment No. 1

Proposed: Leave out all after first ‘plant’ and insert:

‘; notes the improving safety standards within the nuclear power industry; believes that the United Kingdom should have a safe, secure and diverse energy supply that takes account of the need to address the issue of increasing carbon emissions and the need to end dependency on fossil fuels; recognises that nuclear power plays an increasing role in power generation in several EU states; and calls upon the Government to consider carefully a well-regulated nuclear sector, operating to the highest safety standards, as one element of the United Kingdom’s energy supply.’

[Mr S Hamilton]
[Mr D Simpson]

3.5 Amendment No. 2

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

‘; calls upon the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to make public any data which it may have available in relation to this matter; and further calls upon the Government to discontinue all operations at the Sellafield nuclear plant within an agreed timescale, acceptable to the Government of the Republic of Ireland and the Northern Ireland Assembly.’

[Mrs C Hanna]

Debate ensued.

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

Amendment No. 2 being put, the Amendment was made (Division 2).

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 6.02 pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
25 October 2007
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
25 OCTOBER 2007
 DIVISIONS
 Division No. 1
 Windscale/Sellafield – Amendment No. 1

 

Proposed: Leave out all after first ‘plant’ and insert:

‘; notes the improving safety standards within the nuclear power industry; believes that the United Kingdom should have a safe, secure and diverse energy supply that takes account of the need to address the issue of increasing carbon emissions and the need to end dependency on fossil fuels; recognises that nuclear power plays an increasing role in power generation in several EU states; and calls upon the Government to consider carefully a well-regulated nuclear sector, operating to the highest safety standards, as one element of the United Kingdom’s energy supply.’

[Mr S Hamilton]
[Mr D Simpson]

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 36

Noes: 39

Ayes

Mr Armstrong, Mr Beggs, Mr Bresland, Lord Browne, Mr Buchanan, Mr T Clarke, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mr Dodds, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Sir Reg Empey, Mrs Foster, Mr Gardiner, Mr Hamilton, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Dr W McCrea, Miss McIlveen, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Newton, Mr Paisley Jnr, Rt Hon Ian Paisley, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Mrs I Robinson, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Shannon, Mr Simpson, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr S Wilson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr McQuillan and Mr G Robinson.

Noes

Ms Anderson, Mr Attwood, Mr Boylan, Mrs M Bradley, Mr P J Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Brolly, Mr Burns, Mr Butler, Mr W Clarke, Mr Durkan, Mr Ford, Mr Gallagher, Ms Gildernew, Mrs Hanna, Mrs D Kelly, Mr A Maginness, Mr P Maskey, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Dr McDonnell, Mr McElduff, Mrs McGill, Mr McGlone, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McHugh, Mr McKay, Mr McLaughlin, Mr Molloy, Mr Murphy, Mr Neeson, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O’Dowd, Mrs O’Neill, Mr P Ramsey, Ms S Ramsey, Ms Ritchie, Ms Ruane, Mr B Wilson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Brady and Mr McKay.

The Amendment fell.

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
25 OCTOBER 2007
 DIVISIONS
 Division No. 2
 Windscale/Sellafield – Amendment No. 2

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

‘; calls upon the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to make public any data which it may have available in relation to this matter; and further calls upon the Government to discontinue all operations at the Sellafield nuclear plant within an agreed timescale, acceptable to the Government of the Republic of Ireland and the Northern Ireland Assembly.’

[Mrs C Hanna]

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 39

Noes: 37

Ayes

Ms Anderson, Mr Attwood, Mr Boylan, Mrs M Bradley, Mr P J Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Brolly, Mr Burns, Mr Butler, Mr W Clarke, Mr Durkan, Mr Ford, Mr Gallagher, Ms Gildernew, Mrs Hanna, Mrs D Kelly, Mr A Maginness, Mr P Maskey, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Dr McDonnell, Mr McElduff, Mrs McGill, Mr McGlone, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McHugh, Mr McKay, Mr McLaughlin, Mr Molloy, Mr Murphy, Mr Neeson, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O’Dowd, Mrs O’Neill, Mr P Ramsey, Ms S Ramsey, Ms Ritchie, Ms Ruane, Mr B Wilson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr P J Bradley and Mr A Maginness.

Noes

Mr Armstrong, Mr Beggs, Mr Bresland, Lord Browne, Mr Buchanan, Mr T Clarke, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mr Dodds, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Sir Reg Empey, Mrs Foster, Mr Gardiner, Mr Hamilton, Mr McCallister, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Dr W McCrea, Miss McIlveen, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Newton, Mr Paisley Jnr, Rt Hon Ian Paisley, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Mrs I Robinson, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Shannon, Mr Simpson, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr S Wilson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr McQuillan and Mr G Robinson

The Amendment was made.

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY 
PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY FROM
23 OCTOBER TO 25 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
    Youth Council for Northern Ireland - Foreword and Financial Statements 2004-2005 (NIA 44/07-08)
  5. Assembly Reports
    Examiner of Statutory Rules Session 2007-2008: Fourth Report to the Assembly and Appropriate Committees (NIA 50/07-08)
  6. Statutory Rules

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

S.R. 2007/435 The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007 Statutory Rule 2007 (DOE)

S.R. 2007/439 The Road Races (Rally Ireland) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007 (DRD)

S.R. 2007/441 The Export Restrictions (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) (Amendment No.3) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007 (DARD)

For information only:

S.R. 2007/445 The Parking Places (Disabled Persons' Vehicles) (Amendment No. 3) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007 (DRD)

  1. Consultation Documents
    The Waste Management Licences (Consultation and Compensation) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 – A Consultation Paper (DOE)
  2. Departmental Publications

Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (Amendment No. 2) Scheme ( Northern Ireland) 2007 (DFP)

Building a Better Future - Draft Programme for Government 2008-2011 (NI Executive)

Programme for Government 2008-2011 Annex One PSA Framework (NI Executive)

Building a Better Future - Draft Investment Strategy 2008-2018 (NI Executive)

Building a Better Future – Draft Budget 2008-2011 (NI Executive)

  1. Agency Publications
  2. Westminster Publications
  3. Miscellaneous Publications
NORTHERN IRELAND LEGISLATION:
 EXECUTIVE BILLS
 PROCEEDINGS AS AT 25 OCTOBER 2007
Session 2006-2007  

Title & Bill Number

First Stage

Second Stage

Committee Stage Extension

Committee Stage

Report

Consideration Stage

Concluded

Further Consideration Stage

Final Stage

Royal Assent

Laid

Printed

**Welfare Reform Bill

(NIA Bill 1/07)

4.06.07

12.06.07

N/A

N/A

N/A

18.06.07

19.06.07

25.06.07

29.06.07

Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill

(NIA Bill 2/07)

5.06.07

19.06.07

7.11.07

12.10.07

22.10.07

 

 

 

 

**Budget Bill

(NIA Bill 3/07)

11.06.07

12.06.07

N/A

N/A

N/A

18.06.07

19.06.07

25.06.07

29.06.07

Taxis Bill

(NIA Bill 4/07)

11.06.07

26.06.07

7.12.07

 

 

 

 

 

 

Libraries Bill

(NIA Bill 5/07)

11.06.07

19.06.07

25.02.08

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Session 2007-2008  

Title & Bill Number

First Stage

Second Stage

Committee Stage Extension

Committee Stage

Report

Consideration Stage

Concluded

Further Consideration Stage

Final Stage

Royal Assent

Laid

Printed

Children (Emergency Protection Orders) Bill

22.10.07

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

**Bills which are granted accelerated passage do not pass through a Committee Stage.