No. 5-08/09
MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS
MONDAY 29 SEPTEMBER 2008
The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair
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Personal Prayer or Meditation
Members observed two minutes’ silence.
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Committee Business
2.1 Motion - Standing Committee Membership
Proposed:That Mr Fred Cobain replace Mr David McNarry as a member of the Business Committee.
[Sir R Empey]
[Mr F Cobain]
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
2.2 Motion - Statutory Committee Membership
Proposed:That Mr Billy Armstrong replace Mr Fred Cobain as a member of the Committee for Social Development; that Mr David McNarry replace Mr Roy Beggs as a member of the Committee for Finance and Personnel; and that Mr David McClarty replace Mr Billy Armstrong as a member of the Committee for the Environment.
[Sir R Empey]
[Mr F Cobain]
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
2.3 Motion - Standing Committee Membership
Proposed:That Mr Paul Maskey replace Mr John O’Dowd as a member of the Audit Committee.
[Ms C Ní Chuilín]
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
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Private Member’s Business
3.1 Motion - Increase in Energy Prices
Proposed:That this Assembly deplores the 33.3% rise in electricity prices by Northern Ireland Electricity and the 19.2% increase in Phoenix Natural Gas prices; and calls on the Executive to set up an inquiry into (i) electricity and gas prices; (ii) their comparability with the rest of the United Kingdom; (iii) their impact on inflation and manufacturing costs here; (iv) their impact on households, and (v) the availability of oil and gas storage facilities.
[Mr D McNarry]
[Mr F Cobain]
[Mr D Kennedy]
3.2 Amendment No. 1
Proposed:Leave out all after the second ‘prices’ and insert:
‘; acknowledges the independent review of the electricity price rise commissioned by the Utility Regulator; and calls upon the Executive to bring forward a new energy strategy that focuses on ensuring secure and sustainable supplies of electricity and gas within a competitive market that drives down prices for all consumers.’
[Mr S Hamilton]
[Lord Morrow]
3.3 Amendment No. 2
Proposed:Leave out all after ‘Executive’ and insert:
‘to bring forward an Action Plan to counter the effects of rising electricity and gas prices on (i) private household budgets; (ii) manufacturing costs for businesses; (iii) inflation for consumers; and (iv) availability of oil and gas storage facilities.’
[Mr S Neeson]
[Ms A Lo]
3.4 Amendment No. 3
Proposed:At end insert:
‘; and further calls for a clearly defined role for the Consumer Council in the regulatory process with a view to maximising public confidence in price controls; asks the Regulator and the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to explore ways of improving consumer access to the single energy market; and recalls the motion of the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment on Rising Energy Costs unanimously adopted by the Assembly on 30 June 2008.’
[Dr A McDonnell]
[Mr P McGlone]
The Deputy Speaker (Mr Molloy) in the chair.
Debate ensued.
Amendment No. 1 being put, the Amendment fell (Division No. 1).
Amendment No. 2 being put, the Amendment was made without division.
Amendment No. 3 being put, the Amendment was made (Division No. 2).
The Question being put, the Motion, as amended, was carried without division.
3.5 Motion - Adequate Home Help Provision
Proposed:That this Assembly notes the good work carried out by the home help service; further notes that some people’s provision is being reduced to 15 minutes; and calls on the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to make sure that there is adequate home help provision for every person who needs it.
[Mr K McCarthy]
[Ms A Lo]
Debate ensued.
The debate was suspended for Question Time.
The Speaker in the chair.
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Question Time
4.1 Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister
Questions were put to, and answered by, the deputy First Minister, Mr Martin McGuinness.
4.2 Minister of the Environment
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Mr Sammy Wilson.
4.3 Minister of Finance and Personnel
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Mr Nigel Dodds.
The Deputy Speaker (Mr McClarty) in the chair.
4.4 Assembly Commission
Questions were put to, and answered by, Mr Sean Neeson, on behalf of the Assembly Commission.
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Private Member’s Business (cont’d)
5.1 Motion - Adequate Home Help Provision (cont’d)
Debate resumed on the Motion.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
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Adjournment
Proposed:That the Assembly do now adjourn.
[The Speaker]
The Assembly adjourned at 5.03 pm.
Mr William Hay
The Speaker
29 September 2008
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
29 SEPTEMBER 2008
DIVISIONS
Division No. 1
Increase in Energy Prices - Amendment No. 1
Proposed: Leave out all after the second ‘prices’ and insert:
‘; acknowledges the independent review of the electricity price rise commissioned by the Utility Regulator; and calls upon the Executive to bring forward a new energy strategy that focuses on ensuring secure and sustainable supplies of electricity and gas within a competitive market that drives down prices for all consumers.’
[Mr S Hamilton]
[Lord Morrow]
The Question was put and the Assembly divided.
Ayes: 30
Noes: 57
Ayes
Mr Bresland, Lord Browne, Mr Buchanan, Mr Campbell, Mr T Clarke, Mr Craig, Mr Dodds, Mr Easton, Mrs Foster, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Dr W McCrea, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Newton, Mr Paisley Jnr, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Mrs I Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Shannon, Mr Simpson, Mr Spratt, Mr Weir, Mr Wells, Mr S Wilson.
Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Hamilton and Mr I McCrea.
Noes
Mr Adams, Ms Anderson, Mr Armstrong, Mr Attwood, Mr Beggs, Mr Boylan, Mr D Bradley, Mrs M Bradley, Mr P J Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Burns, Mr Butler, Mr W Clarke, Mr Cobain, Mr Cree, Mr Dallat, Dr Deeny, Mr Doherty, Mr Durkan, Mr Elliott, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mr Gallagher, Mr Gardiner, Ms Gildernew, Mrs Hanna, Mr G Kelly, Mr Kennedy, Ms Lo, Mr A Maginness, Mr A Maskey, Mr P Maskey, Ms J McCann, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCartney, Mr McClarty, Mr B McCrea, Dr McDonnell, Mr McElduff, Mr McFarland, Mrs McGill, Mr McGimpsey, Mr McGlone, Mr McKay, Mr McLaughlin, Mr McNarry, Mr Neeson, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O’Dowd, Mr O’Loan, Mrs O’Neill, Ms Purvis, Mr P Ramsey, Ms S Ramsey, Mr K Robinson, Ms Ruane, Mr B Wilson.
Tellers for the Noes: Mr Boylan and Mr D Bradley.
The Amendment fell.
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
29 SEPTEMBER 2008
DIVISIONS
Division No. 2
Increase in Energy Prices - Amendment No. 3
Proposed: At end insert:
‘; and further calls for a clearly defined role for the Consumer Council in the regulatory process with a view to maximising public confidence in price controls; asks the Regulator and the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to explore ways of improving consumer access to the single energy market; and recalls the motion of the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment on Rising Energy Costs unanimously adopted by the Assembly on 30 June 2008.’
[Dr A McDonnell]
[Mr P McGlone]
The Question was put and the Assembly divided.
Ayes: 60
Noes: 30
Ayes
Mr Adams, Ms Anderson, Mr Armstrong, Mr Attwood, Mr Beggs, Mr Boylan, Mr D Bradley, Mrs M Bradley, Mr P J Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Burns, Mr Butler, Mr W Clarke, Mr Cobain, Mr Cree, Mr Dallat, Dr Deeny, Mr Doherty, Mr Durkan, Mr Elliott, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mr Gallagher, Mr Gardiner, Ms Gildernew, Mrs Hanna, Mr G Kelly, Mr Kennedy, Ms Lo, Mr Lunn, Mr A Maginness, Mr A Maskey, Mr P Maskey, Ms J McCann, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCartney, Mr McClarty, Mr B McCrea, Dr McDonnell, Mr McElduff, Mr McFarland, Mrs McGill, Mr McGimpsey, Mr McGlone, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McKay, Mr McLaughlin, Mr McNarry, Mr Murphy, Mr Neeson, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O’Dowd, Mr O’Loan, Mrs O’Neill, Ms Purvis, Mr P Ramsey, Ms S Ramsey, Mr K Robinson, Ms Ruane, Mr B Wilson.
Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Boylan and Mr Burns.
Noes
Mr Bresland, Lord Browne, Mr Buchanan, Mr Campbell, Mr T Clarke, Mr Craig, Mr Dodds, Mr Easton, Mrs Foster, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Dr W McCrea, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Newton, Mr Paisley Jnr, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Mrs I Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Shannon, Mr Simpson, Mr Spratt, Mr Weir, Mr Wells, Mr S Wilson.
Tellers for the Noes: Mr Simpson and Mr Weir.
The Amendment was made.
PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY FROM
24 TO 29 SEPTEMBER 2008
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Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly
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Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly
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Orders in Council
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Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly
Northern Ireland Local Government Officers' Superannuation Committee Annual Report 2007/2008 (NIA 08/08-09)
Annual Report of the Certification Officer for Northern Ireland 2008 (NIA 11/08-08)
The Performance of the Health Service in Northern Ireland (NIA 18/08-09)
Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals Northern Ireland 2007 (NIA 22/08-09)
Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees (Second Report) (NIA 36/08-09)
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Assembly Reports
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Statutory Rules
(The department identified after each rule is for reference purposes only.)
S.R. 2008/380 Rural Development (Financial Assistance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DARD)
S.R. 2008/381 The New Firefighters' Pension Scheme (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DHSSPS)
S.R. 2008/382 The Firefighters' Pension Scheme (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DHSSPS)
S.R. 2008/387 The Motor Vehicles (Taxi Drivers' Licences) (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DOE)
S.R. 2008/389 Agriculture (Student Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DARD)
S.R. 2008/390 The Trunk Road T21 (Belfast to Carrickfergus) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DRD)
S.R. 2008/391 The Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges (Amendment No.3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DHSSPS)
S.R. 2008/393 The Portmore Hill, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DRD)
S.R. 2008/395 General Dental Services (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DHSSPS)
For Information only:
S.R. 2008/392 The Roads (Speed Limit) (No. 5) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 (DRD)
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Consultation Documents
Proposed Mortgage Rescue Scheme for Northern Ireland (DSD)
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Departmental Publications
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Agency Publications
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Westminster Publications
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Miscellaneous Publications