Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

No. 26-07/08

MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 11 DECEMBER 2007

The Assembly met at 10.30 am, the Deputy Speaker (Mr McClarty) in the Chair

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Executive Committee Business

2.1 Statement - North-South Ministerial Council - Education Sectoral Format

Ms Caitríona Ruane, Minister of Education, made a statement to the Assembly regarding the North-South Ministerial Council meeting in education sectoral format, following which she replied to questions.

2.2 Final Stage - Pensions Bill (NIA 7/07)

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

NIA Bill 7/07 passed Final Stage.

3. Private Members’ Business

3.1 Motion - FIFA Eligibility Proposal

The Deputy Speaker informed Members that a valid Petition of Concern had been presented in relation to the motion under Standing Order 27, and that the vote on the motion would therefore be taken on a cross-community basis.

Proposed:That this Assembly opposes the recent eligibility proposal outlined by FIFA; believes it has the potential to cause serious harm to international soccer relations on the island of Ireland; and calls upon the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to assist the Irish Football Association in opposing the ratification of this unfair and unjust proposal.

[Mr D Kennedy]
[Mr D McNarry]

3.2 Amendment

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

‘the FIFA legal committee; expresses concern at the undue political pressure exerted on FIFA by the Government of the Republic of Ireland; and offers its support for the Irish Football Association’s campaign to ensure that a cross-community team continues to represent Northern Ireland.’

[Mr G Campbell]
[Lord Morrow]

Debate ensued.

In response to a Point of Order, the Deputy Speaker reported that the Speaker had ruled that the Petition of Concern would apply to the motion whether or not it was amended.

The Amendment being put, the Amendment was made without division

The Question being put, the Motion, as amended, was negatived on a cross-community basis (Division 1).

3.3 Motion - Transfer Procedure

Proposed:That this Assembly notes that the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment has indicated that 31 January 2008 is the deadline for the creation of an alternative transfer test, which can be based on the revised curriculum; and, given the short timescale and the uncertainty which the indecision about the transfer procedure is causing, calls on the Minister of Education to present her proposals for the transfer of pupils from primary to secondary school immediately.

[Mr S Wilson]

The Speaker in the chair.

3.4 Amendment No. 1

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

‘calls on the Minister of Education to present the details of her proposals for the transfer of pupils from primary to secondary schools immediately; and to outline these in terms of Area Plans, based on sustainable schools policy, within the context of the draft Budget and draft Investment Strategy.’

[Mr D Bradley]

3.5 Amendment No. 2

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

‘calls on the Minister of Education to present the details of her proposed process of formal structured election, including the process by which schools will be selected; to indicate what support will be offered to schools in relation to the proposals; to outline the policy for selection and allocation of teaching staff; and to further outline her proposals to avoid selection by postcode.’

[Mr B McCrea]

3.6 Amendment No. 3

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

‘; further notes the statement by the Minister of Education on 4 December; believes that pupils should transfer to schools that best suit their needs and permit them to develop to their full potential; recognises that experience from elsewhere indicates that the practice of parents intentionally purchasing homes in the catchment areas of popular schools has contributed to reduced social mobility in these communities; and affirms that any new transfer procedure produced by the Executive must not permit children from disadvantaged backgrounds to be denied access to popular schools on account of their parents’ financial or social circumstances.’

[Miss M McIlveen]
[Mr M Storey]

3.7 Amendment No. 4

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

‘, if needed, and welcomes the statement by the Minister of Education on the 4 December 2007 that there will be no more transfer tests from primary to post primary schools, from 2010 onwards; and calls for a positive response to her consultation exercise in relation to future transfer arrangements.’

[Mr P Butler]

Debate ensued.

Amendment No. 1 and Amendment No. 4 were, by leave, withdrawn in accordance with Standing Order 15(4).

Amendment No. 2 being put, the Amendment was made without division.

Amendment No. 3 was not put.

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

4. Executive Committee Business

4.1 Statement - Missing disks

Mrs Arlene Foster, Minister of the Environment, made a statement to the Assembly regarding two disks that had gone missing in transit between the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) in Coleraine and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in Swansea, following which she replied to questions.

5. Adjournment

Mr Dominic Bradley spoke on the route of the NIE North-South interconnector through the constituency of Newry and Armagh.

Proposed:That the Assembly do now adjourn.

[The Speaker]

The Assembly adjourned at 4.33 pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker

11 December 2007

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

11 DECEMBER 2007
DIVISIONS

Division No. 1

FIFA Eligibility Proposal – Motion as amended

Proposed: That this Assembly opposes the recent eligibility proposal outlined by the FIFA legal committee; expresses concern at the undue political pressure exerted on FIFA by the Government of the Republic of Ireland; and offers its support for the Irish Football Association’s campaign to ensure that a cross-community team continues to represent Northern Ireland.

The Question was put and the Assembly divided on a cross-community basis (Petition of Concern).

Ayes: 52

Noes: 40

Ayes

UNIONIST:

Mr Armstrong, Mr Beggs, Mr Bresland, Lord Browne, Mr Buchanan, Mr Campbell, Mr T Clarke, Mr Cobain, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mr Dodds, Rt Hon J Donaldson,  Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Sir Reg Empey, Mrs Foster,  Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Mr Kennedy,  Mr McCallister, Mr McCausland, Mr B McCrea,  Mr I McCrea, Dr W McCrea, Mr McFarland,  Miss McIlveen, Mr McNarry, Mr McQuillan,  Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Newton, Mr Paisley Jnr, Rt Hon Dr Ian Paisley, Mr Poots, Ms Purvis,  Mr G Robinson, Mrs I Robinson, Mr K Robinson,  Mr Ross, Mr Savage, Mr Shannon, Mr Simpson, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wells, Mr S Wilson.

Other:

Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mr Lunn, Mr Neeson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Elliott and Mr Hilditch

Noes

NATIONALIST:

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 Doherty, Mr Durkan, Mr Gallagher, Ms Gildernew, Mrs Hanna, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Mr A Maginness, Mr A Maskey, Mr P Maskey,  Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney,  Mr McElduff, Mrs McGill, Mr McGlone,  Mr M McGuinness, Mr McKay, Mr McLaughlin,  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 Noes: Mr P Maskey and Mr O’Loan

Total votes          92   Total Ayes          52           [56.5%]

Nationalist Votes  40   Nationalist Ayes    0            [0.0%]

Unionist Votes     48   Unionist Ayes     48          [100.0%]

Other Votes           4   Other Ayes           4            [100.0%]

The Motion, as amended, was negatived on a cross-community basis.

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

PETITION OF CONCERN

MOTION: FIFA ELIGIBILITY PROPOSAL

Date to be debated:11 DECEMBER 2007

The undersigned Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly present this Petition of Concern in accordance with Standing Order 27.

NAMECARÁL NÍ CHUILÍN
MARTIN MCGUINNESS
FRANCIE MOLLOY
MICHELLE O’NEILL
ALEX MASKEY
FRA MCCANN
MICKEY BRADY
SUE RAMSEY
PAUL BUTLER
RAYMOND MCCARTNEY
MITCHEL MCLAUGHLIN
FRANCIE BROLLY
GERRY ADAMS
GERRY KELLY
CATHAL BOYLAN
JOHN O’DOWD
PAT DOHERTY
WILLIE CLARKE
DAITHÍ MCKAY
CLAIRE MCGILL
CAITRÍONA RUANE
CONOR MURPHY
BARRY MCELDUFF
PAUL MASKEY
JOHN DALLAT
TOMMY GALLAGHER
CARMEL HANNA
PAT RAMSEY
DOMINIC BRADLEY
THOMAS BURNS
MARY BRADLEY
PJ BRADLEY
ALBAN MAGINNESS
PATSY MCGLONE
DECLAN O’LOAN
MARK DURKAN

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY ON
11 DECEMBER 2007

  1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

  2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

  3. Charities Bill (NIA Bill 9/07)

  4. Orders in Council

  5. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

  6. Disability Discrimination Act 1995 - Guidance on matters to be taken into account in determining questions relating to the definition of disability (NIA 64/07-08)

    Department of Finance and Personnel Memorandum on the Second Report from the Public Accounts Committee Session 2007/2008 - Springvale Educational Village Project (NIA 67/07-08)

  7. Assembly Reports

  8. Statutory Rules

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

  10. Consultation Documents

  11. Departmental Publications

Department of Education Funded Research 2006/2007 (DE)

PCSPS (Amendment No 3) Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2007 (DFP)

  1. Agency Publications

  2. Westminster Publications

  3. Miscellaneous Publications

NORTHERN IRELAND LEGISLATION:

EXECUTIVE BILLS

PROCEEDINGS AS AT 11 DECEMBER 2007

Session 2006-2007

Title & Bill Number First Stage Second Stage Committee Stage Extension Committee Stage Report Consideration StageConcluded 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 29.11.07 6.12.07        
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 StageConcluded 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 10.12.07 11.12.07  
Public Health (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 8/07) 26.11.07 4.12.07              
Charities Bill (NIA Bill 9/07) 10.12.07                

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