No. 39-07/08
MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS
MONDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2008
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 First Stage - Building Regulations (Amendment) Bill NIA 11/07
The Rt Hon Peter Robinson, Minister of Finance and Personnel, introduced a Bill to amend the Building Regulations ( Northern Ireland) Order 1979.
Bill passed First Stage and ordered to be printed (NIA Bill 11/07).
2.2 Further Consideration Stage - Budget Bill (NIA 10/07)
The Rt Hon Peter Robinson, Minister of Finance and Personnel, moved that the Further Consideration Stage of the Budget Bill be agreed.
No amendments were tabled to the Bill.
Bill NIA 10/07 passed Further Consideration Stage and stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with Section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
3. Private Members’ Business
3.1 Motion - Review of the Construction Industry
Proposed:
That this Assembly notes the downturn in the construction industry, and the concerns raised by contractors about the powers and responsibilities of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB); and calls on the Minister for Employment and Learning to conduct a wide ranging review of the remit of the CITB, to include the issues of levies, apprenticeships and the disbursement of grants.
[Mr F Brolly]
[Mr P Maskey]
[Ms S Ramsey]
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division .
3.2 Motion - Post-Primary Transfer
Proposed:
That this Assembly notes with concern the lack of clarity in the Minister of Education’s proposals for post-primary transfer; and urges her to bring details of her proposals immediately before the Executive and the Assembly, to ease the concerns of parents, pupils and teachers.
[Mr T Lunn]
[Mr M Storey]
[Miss M McIlveen]
[Mr K Robinson]
3.3 Amendment
Proposed:
Leave out ‘the Executive and’; and at end insert:
‘, by setting out the practical steps necessary to deliver reform, while (i) enhancing quality; (ii) ensuring equality of opportunity for all; (iii) protecting against a post-code lottery; (iv) addressing local needs and making best use of resources through area-based planning; and (v) delivering sustainable schools.’
[Mr D Bradley]
Debate ensued.
The debate was suspended for Question Time.
The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) in the chair.
4. Question Time
4.1 Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Mr Michael McGimpsey.
4.2 Minister for Regional Development
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Mr Conor Murphy.
4.3 Minister for Social Development
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Ms Margaret Ritchie.
The Deputy Speaker (Mr McClarty) in the chair.
5. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)
5.1 Motion - Post-Primary Transfer (cont’d)
Debate resumed on the Motion.
The Amendment being put, the Amendment fell (Division No. 1).
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division .
6. Adjournment
Mr Alban Maginness spoke on housing in North Belfast.
Proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
[The Speaker]
The Assembly adjourned at 5.43 pm.
Mr William Hay
The Speaker
25 February 2008
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
25 FEBRUARY 2008
DIVISIONS
Division No. 1
Post-Primary Transfer - Amendment
Proposed:
Leave out ‘the Executive and’; and at end insert:
‘, by setting out the practical steps necessary to deliver reform, while (i) enhancing quality; (ii) ensuring equality of opportunity for all; (iii) protecting against a post-code lottery; (iv) addressing local needs and making best use of resources through area-based planning; and (v) delivering sustainable schools.’
[Mr D Bradley]
The Question was put and the Assembly divided.
Ayes: 14
Noes: 79
Ayes
Mr Attwood, Mr D Bradley, Mrs M Bradley, Mr P J Bradley, Mr Burns, Mr Dallat, Mr Gallagher, Mrs Hanna, Mrs D Kelly, Mr A Maginness, Dr McDonnell, Mr McGlone, Mr O’Loan, Mr P Ramsey.
Tellers for the Ayes: Mr P J Bradley and Mr Burns.
Noes
Mr Adams, Mr Armstrong, Mr Beggs, Mr Boylan, Mr Brady, Mr Bresland, Mr Brolly, Lord Browne, Mr Butler, Mr T Clarke, Mr W Clarke, Mr Cobain, Rev Dr Robert Coulter, Mr Craig, Mr Dodds, Mr Doherty, Rt Hon J Donaldson, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Sir Reg Empey, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mrs Foster, Mr Gardiner, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Mr G Kelly, Mr Kennedy, Ms Lo, Mrs Long, Mr Lunn, Mr A Maskey, Mr P Maskey, Mr McCallister, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCartney, Mr McCausland, Mr B McCrea, Mr I McCrea, Dr W McCrea, Mr McElduff, Mr McFarland, Mrs McGill, Mr McGimpsey, Mr M McGuinness, Miss McIlveen, Mr McKay, Mr McLaughlin, Mr McNarry, Mr McQuillan, Mr Molloy, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Newton, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O’Dowd, Mrs O’Neill, Mr Paisley Jnr, Rt Hon Dr Ian Paisley, Mr Poots, Ms S Ramsey, Mr G Robinson, Mrs I Robinson, Mr K Robinson, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Ms Ruane, Mr Savage, Mr Shannon, Mr Simpson, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wells, Mr B Wilson, Mr S Wilson.
Tellers for the Noes: Ms Lo and Mr McCarthy.
The Amendment fell.
PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY FROM
20 FEBRUARY TO 25 FEBRUARY 2008
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
Southern Education and Library Board Annual Report and Accounts 2006/07 (NIA 54/07-08)
The Belfast Education and Library Board Annual Report 2005/06 ( NIA 82/07-08)
The Transfer of Surplus Land in the PFI Education Pathfinder Projects (NIA 99/07-08)
5. Assembly Reports
Report on the Libraries Bill: Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure (19/07-08R)
6. Statutory Rules
(The department identified after each rule is for reference purposes only.)
S.R. 2008/60 The Plant Health (Import Inspection Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (DARD)
S.R. 2008/69 The Social Security (Claims and Payments) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 (DSD)
For information only:
S.R. 2008/59 The Bluetongue (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 (DARD)
S.R. 2008/61 The Traffic Weight Restriction Orders (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 (DRD)
S.R. 2008/62 The Waiting Restrictions (Limavady) Order (NI) 2008 (DRD)
S.R. 2008/64 The One-Way Traffic (Limavady) (Amendment) Order (NI) 2008 (DRD)
7. Consultation Documents
8. Departmental Publications
E-Consultation with Pupils - A Pilot Study (DE)
9. Agency Publications
10. Westminster Publications
11. Miscellaneous Publications