No. 67-07/08
MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS
MONDAY 23 JUNE 2008
The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair
1. Personal Prayer or Meditation
Members observed two minutes’ silence.
2. Speaker’s Business
2.1 The Speaker informed Members that Royal Assent had been signified on 17 June 2008 to the Libraries Act ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
3. Executive Committee Business
3.1 First Stage - Health and Social Care (Reform) Bill (NIA 21/07)
The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Mr Michael McGimpsey, introduced a Bill to make changes to the administrative structure for health and social care; and for connected purposes.
Bill passed First Stage and ordered to be printed (NIA Bill 21/07).
3.2 Further Consideration Stage - Budget (No. 2) Bill (NIA 18/07)
The Minister of Finance and Personnel, Mr Nigel Dodds, moved that the Further Consideration Stage of the Budget (No.2) Bill be agreed.
No amendments were tabled to the Bill.
Bill NIA 18/07 passed Further Consideration Stage and stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with Section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
3.3 Further Consideration Stage - Child Maintenance Bill (NIA 17/07)
The Minister for Social Development, Ms Margaret Ritchie, moved that the Further Consideration Stage of the Child Maintenance Bill be agreed.
No amendments were tabled to the Bill.
Bill NIA 17/07 passed Further Consideration Stage and stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with Section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
3.4 Motion - Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008
Proposed: That the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 be approved.
[Minister for Social Development]
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division .
3.5 Motion - Occupational Pension Schemes (Levies) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008
Proposed: That the Occupational Pension Schemes (Levies) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 be approved.
[Minister for Social Development]
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division .
3.6 Statement - Further Education Lecturers’ Dispute
The Minister for Employment and Learning, Sir Reg Empey, made a statement to the Assembly on the Further Education Lecturers’ dispute, following which he replied to questions.
4. Committee Business
4.1 Stranmillis and St. Mary’s University Colleges
Proposed: That this Assembly calls on the Minister for Employment and Learning to delay the introduction of a new funding model for Stranmillis and St. Mary’s University Colleges to allow sufficient time for the consideration of the future funding and educational options for the two institutions, in view of the Committee for Employment and Learning’s stakeholder review of teacher training.
[Chairperson, Committee for Employment and Learning]
Debate ensued.
The Deputy Speaker (Mr Molloy) in the chair.
The Motion was, by leave, withdrawn.
5. Private Members’ Business
5.1 Free and Fair Elections in Zimbabwe
Proposed: That this Assembly condemns the threats against the opposition in Zimbabwe; calls for free and fair elections in the presidential run off election on 27 June 2008; further calls for appropriate international monitoring of the election; and encourages all sides to accept the outcome of the election.
[Mr D Ford]
[Mrs N Long]
[Dr S Farry]
[Mr S Neeson]
5.2 Amendment
Proposed: Leave out all after ‘Assembly’ and insert:
‘condemns the threats and violence against the opposition in Zimbabwe; recognises that an environment for free and fair elections does not exist; expresses alarm that Morgan Tsvangirai felt he had no alternative but to withdraw from the presidential run-off scheduled for 27 June 2008; and calls on the international community, including the United Nations and the African Union, to take all available steps to ensure democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Zimbabwe.’
[Mr D Ford]
[Mrs N Long]
[Dr S Farry]
[Mr S Neeson]
Debate ensued.
Debate was suspended for Question Time.
6. Question Time
The Speaker in the chair.
6.1 Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister
Questions were put to, and answered by, the deputy First Minister, Mr Martin McGuinness.
6.2 Minister of the Environment
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Mr Sammy Wilson.
6.3 Minister of Finance and Personnel
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Mr Nigel Dodds.
7. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)
7.1 Motion - Free and Fair Elections in Zimbabwe (cont’d)
The Deputy Speaker (Mr McClarty) in the chair.
Debate resumed on the Motion.
The Amendment being put, the Amendment was made without division.
The Question being put, the Motion, as amended, was carried without division.
8. Adjournment
Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn.
[The Speaker]
The Assembly adjourned at 4.50 pm.
Mr William Hay
The Speaker
23 June 2008
PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY FROM
18 JUNE TO 23 JUNE 2008
- Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly
- Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly
Public Authorities (Reform) Bill (NIA 19/07)
Civil Registration Bill (NIA 20/07) - Orders in Council
- Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly
Northern Ireland Audit Office Resource Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March 2008 (NIA 165/07-08)
Transforming Land Registers: The LandWeb Project (NIA 168/07-08)
Warm Homes: Tackling Fuel Poverty (NIA 178/07-08) - Assembly Reports
Final Report on the Committee’s Inquiry into Child Poverty in Northern Ireland (08/07/08R) (Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister)
Report on Northern Ireland Tourist Board - Contract to Manage the Trading Activities of Rural Cottage Holidays Limited (35/07/08/R) (Public Accounts Committee)
Report on Hospitality Association of Northern Ireland: A Case Study in Financial Management and the Public Appointments Process (36/07/08R) (Public Accounts Committee) - Statutory Rules
(The Department identified after each rule is for reference purposes only.)
S.R. 2008/249 The Care Tribunal (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 (DHSSPS) - Consultation Documents
Consultation on Proposed Variable Mandatory Speed Limits for M1 Motorway and A12 Westlink (DRD)
Consultation Paper on the Control of Advertisements Regulations (DOE)
Consultation on a Draft Evidence and Innovation Strategy (DARD)
Every School a Good School – A Strategy for Raising Achievement in Literacy and Numeracy (DE)
Draft UK Wide Regulations on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) (DOE)
Review of Domestic Rating - Rates Deferment Scheme for Home Owning Pensioners (DFP) - Departmental Publications
- Agency Publications
- Westminster Publications
Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission Annual Report and Accounts 2006 – 2007 (HC 478) - Miscellaneous Publications