Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo
No.24-07/08

MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS

TUESDAY 4 DECEMBER 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 - Future Delivery of the Community Festivals Fund

Mr Edwin Poots, Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, made a statement to the Assembly regarding the future delivery of the community festivals fund, following which he replied to questions.

2.2 Statement - Outlining a Vision for our Education System

Ms Caitríona Ruane, Minister of Education, made a statement to the Assembly: “Outlining a vision for our education system”, following which she replied to questions.

The sitting was suspended at 12.42 pm.
The sitting resumed at 2.00 pm with the Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) in the chair.

2.3 Second Stage - Public Health (Amendment) Bill (NIA 8/07)

Mr Michael McGimpsey, Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, moved that the Second Stage of the Public Health (Amendment) Bill (NIA 8/07) be agreed.

Debate ensued.

NIA Bill 8/07 passed Second Stage and stood referred to the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

2.4 Consideration Stage - Pensions Bill (NIA 7/07)

Ms Margaret Ritchie, Minister for Social Development, moved that the Consideration Stage of the PensionsBill (NIA 7/07) be agreed.

Clauses

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clauses 1 to 22 stand part of the Bill.

Schedules

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Schedules 1 to 6 stand part of the Bill .

Long Title

The question being put, the Long Title was agreed without division.

NIA Bill 7/07 passed Consideration Stage and stood referred to the Speaker.

3. Private Members’ Business
3.1 Motion - Drink Spiking

Proposed: That this Assembly, in view of the increase in ‘spiking’ of drinks, calls on the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to provide for date rape prevention kits to be made available free of charge.

[Ms S Ramsey]
[Ms J McCann]

Debate ensued.

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

3.2 Motion - Royal Commission - United Kingdom

Proposed: That this Assembly believes, following devolution in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, that a Royal Commission should be appointed to review the steps that need to be taken to maintain the unity of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland within the United Kingdom.

[Mr G Savage]
[Mr D Burnside]
[Mr D McNarry]

3.3 Amendment No. 1

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

‘notes the proposal within the Government Green Paper, ‘The Governance of Britain’, to develop a British statement of values; welcomes the strong emphasis of the Executive, reinforced within the draft Programme for Government, to fortify links in the East-West dimension between Northern Ireland and Great Britain; and believes, following devolution in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, that a Royal Commission should be appointed to review the steps that need to be taken to promote further the unity of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland within the United Kingdom.

[Lord Morrow]
[Dr W McCrea]
[Mr D Simpson]
[Mr S Hamilton]

Amendment No. 2

Proposed: Leave out all after the first ‘ Ireland’ and insert:

‘that the democratic requirements of the principle of consent will determine any change in the constitutional status of Northern Ireland; believes in the deepening of relationships between the people of these islands; encourages policy engagement and joint actions among the different administrations in these islands, and on this island; and calls for the significant expansion of North-South areas of co-operation and joint implementation.’

[Mr A Attwood]

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr McClarty) in the chair.

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

Amendment No. 2 being put, the Amendment fell (Division 2).

The Question being put, the Motion was negatived (Division 3).

Adjournment

Mr Declan O’Loan spoke on the provision of traffic attendants in Waterfoot, Cushendall and Cushendun.

Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn.

[The Speaker]

The Assembly adjourned at 5.32 pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
4 December 2007

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
4 DECEMBER 2007

DIVISIONS

Division No. 1

 Royal Commission – United Kingdom – Amendment No. 1

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

‘notes the proposal within the Government Green Paper, ‘The Governance of Britain’, to develop a British statement of values; welcomes the strong emphasis of the Executive, reinforced within the draft Programme for Government, to fortify links in the East-West dimension between Northern Ireland and Great Britain; and believes, following devolution in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, that a Royal Commission should be appointed to review the steps that need to be taken to promote further the unity of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland within the United Kingdom.

[Lord Morrow]
[Dr W McCrea]
[Mr D Simpson]
[Mr S Hamilton]

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 40

Noes: 41

Ayes

Mr Armstrong, Mr Beggs, Mr Bresland, Lord Browne, Mr Buchanan, Mr Burnside, Mr T Clarke, Rev Dr Robert Coulter, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Sir Reg Empey, Mr Gardiner, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Mr McCallister, Mr McCausland, Mr B McCrea, Mr I McCrea, Dr W McCrea, Mr McFarland, Mr McGimpsey, Miss McIlveen, Mr McNarry, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Newton, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Mr K Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Savage, Mr Shannon, Mr Simpson, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wells .

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Buchanan and Mr I McCrea

Noes

Mr Adams, 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, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mr Gallagher, Ms Gildernew, Mrs Hanna, Mrs D Kelly, Ms Lo, Mr Lunn, Mr A Maginness, Mr A Maskey, Mr P Maskey, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McElduff, Mr McGlone, Mr McKay, Mr McLaughlin, Mr Molloy, Mr Murphy, Mr Neeson, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O’Dowd, Mr O’Loan, Mrs O’Neill, Mr P Ramsey, Ms S Ramsey, Ms Ritchie, Ms Ruane.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Boylan and Mr A Maginness

The Amendment fell.

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

4 DECEMBER 2007

DIVISIONS
Division No. 2
Royal Commission – United Kingdom – Amendment No. 2

Proposed: Leave out all after the first ‘ Ireland’ and insert:

‘that the democratic requirements of the principle of consent will determine any change in the constitutional status of Northern Ireland; believes in the deepening of relationships between the people of these islands; encourages policy engagement and joint actions among the different administrations in these islands, and on this island; and calls for the significant expansion of North-South areas of co-operation and joint implementation.’

[Mr A Attwood]

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 36

Noes: 44

Ayes

Mr Adams, 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 Gallagher, Ms Gildernew, Mrs Hanna, Mrs D Kelly, Mr A Maginness, Mr A Maskey, Mr P Maskey, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McElduff, Mr McGlone, 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, Ms Ruane.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Boylan and Mr A Maginness

Noes

Mr Armstrong, Mr Beggs, Mr Bresland, Lord Browne, Mr Buchanan, Mr Burnside, Mr T Clarke, Rev Dr Robert Coulter, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Sir Reg Empey, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mr Gardiner, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Ms Lo, Mr Lunn, Mr McCallister, Mr McCausland, Mr B McCrea, Mr I McCrea, Mr McFarland, Mr McGimpsey, Miss McIlveen, Mr McNarry, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Neeson, Mr Newton, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Mr K Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Savage, Mr Shannon, Mr Simpson, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wells .

Tellers for the Noes : Mr Beggs and Mr K Robinson

The Amendment fell.

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

4 DECEMBER 2007

DIVISIONS

Division No. 3

 Royal Commission – United Kingdom – Motion

Proposed: That this Assembly believes, following devolution in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, that a Royal Commission should be appointed to review the steps that need to be taken to maintain the unity of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland within the United Kingdom.

[Mr G Savage]
[Mr D Burnside]
[Mr D McNarry]

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 39

Noes: 42

Ayes

Mr Armstrong, Mr Beggs, Mr Bresland, Lord Browne, Mr Buchanan, Mr Burnside, Mr T Clarke, Rev Dr Robert Coulter, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Sir Reg Empey, Mr Gardiner, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Mr McCallister, Mr McCausland, Mr B McCrea, Mr I McCrea, Mr McFarland, Mr McGimpsey, Miss McIlveen, Mr McNarry, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Newton, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Mr K Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Savage, Mr Shannon, Mr Simpson, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wells .

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Beggs and Mr K Robinson

Noes

Mr Adams, 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, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mr Gallagher, Ms Gildernew, Mrs Hanna, Mrs D Kelly, Ms Lo, Mr Lunn, Mr A Maginness, Mr A Maskey, Mr P Maskey, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McElduff, Mr McGlone, Mr McKay, Mr McLaughlin, Mr Molloy, Mr Murphy, Mr Neeson, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O’Dowd, Mr O’Loan, Mrs O’Neill, Mr P Ramsey, Ms S Ramsey, Ms Ritchie, Ms Ruane, Mr B Wilson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Boylan and Mr A Maginness

The Motion was negatived.

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY ON

4 DECEMBER 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.)
    S.R. 2007/481 The Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment No. 4) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007 (DOE)
    S.R. 2007/487 The C554 Greencastle Road, Greencastle (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007 (DRD)
    S.R. 2007/489 The C560 Aughrim Road, Magherafelt (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007 (DRD)
  7. Consultation Documents
    The Pollution Prevention and Control (Industrial Pollution and Radiochemical Inspectorate) Draft Charging Scheme ( Northern Ireland) 2008 (DOE)
  8. Departmental Publications
  9. Agency Publications
  10. Westminster Publications
  11. Miscellaneous Publications

NORTHERN IRELAND LEGISLATION:
EXECUTIVE BILLS

PROCEEDINGS AS AT 4 DECEMBER 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 (NIA Bill 6/07)

22.10.07

5.11.07

N/A

N/A

N/A

6.11.07

19.11.07

20.11.07

 

**Pensions Bill (NIA Bill 7/07)

12.11.07

26.11.07

N/A

N/A

N/A

4.12.07

 

 

 

Public Health (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 8/07)

26.11.07

4.12.07

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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