No. 12-08/09

MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS

TUESDAY 21 OCTOBER 2008

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

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Executive Committee Business

2.1 Statement - British-Irish Council Summit in Edinburgh

The First Minister, Rt Hon Peter Robinson, made a statement to the Assembly regarding the British-Irish Council Summit in Edinburgh, following which he replied to questions.

2.2 Statement - Review into Publicly Funded Fertility Treatment in Northern Ireland

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Mr Michael McGimpsey, made a statement to the Assembly regarding the review into publicly funded fertility treatment in Northern Ireland, following which he replied to questions.

2.3 Motion - Road Traffic (Traffic Wardens) (Revocation) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008

Proposed: That the Road Traffic (Traffic Wardens) (Revocation) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 be affirmed.

[Minister for Regional Development]

Debate ensued.

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

2.4 Motion - Motor Vehicles (Speed Limits) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008

Proposed: That the Motor Vehicles (Speed Limits) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 be affirmed.

[Minister for Regional Development]

Debate ensued.

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

3. Private Members’ Business

3.1 Motion - Location of Public Sector Jobs

Proposed: That this Assembly notes the findings of the Bain Report on the location of public sector jobs and welcomes its recommendations; calls on the Department of Finance and Personnel and the Executive to pursue its recommendations with an active policy of decentralisation with the full co-operation of all departments; and further calls on relevant Ministers to address the access problems of inadequate infrastructure and poor public transport identified at Enniskillen, Cookstown and Downpatrick so that, to achieve better balanced economic growth, these towns can be considered for the further location of public sector jobs.

[Mr T Gallagher]
[Mr P McGlone]
[Mr PJ Bradley]

3.2 Amendment

Proposed: Leave out all after ‘its’ in line 2 and insert:

‘contents and conclusions as an important contribution to the ongoing debate on this issue, and calls upon the Minister of Finance and Personnel to report to the Executive and the Assembly in a timely manner, having carefully considered the various consequences, including value for money, of the Report’s recommendations, with views on how this matter may be addressed.’

[Mr S Hamilton]
[Mr P Weir]

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 12.29 pm.

The sitting resumed at 2.00 pm with the Speaker in the chair.

4. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)

4.1 Motion - Location of Public Sector Jobs (cont’d)

Debate resumed on the Motion.

The Amendment being put, the Amendment was made (Division No. 1).

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

4.2 Motion - Supporting People Fund

Proposed: That this Assembly calls on the Minister for Social Development to review the current budget for the Supporting People fund to include inflationary increases, so that the programme’s existing sustainability and quality of service is not put at risk.

[Ms A Lo]
[Mr K McCarthy]

Debate ensued.

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

4.3 Motion - Financial Advice for Older People

Proposed: That this Assembly notes with concern the increasing number of pensioners who are experiencing debt and financial difficulties; and calls on the Minister for Social Development to introduce a strategy for improving the quality of, and access to, financial advice for older people.

[Mr F Cobain]
[Mr J McCallister]

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) in the chair.

Debate ensued.

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

5. Adjournment

Mr Francie Molloy spoke on the tourist potential of Lough Neagh.

Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn.

[The Speaker]

The Assembly adjourned at 6.29 pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
21 October 2008

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

21 OCTOBER 2008

DIVISIONS

Division No. 1

Location of Public Sector Jobs - Amendment

Proposed: Leave out all after ‘its’ in line 2 and insert:

‘contents and conclusions as an important contribution to the ongoing debate on this issue, and calls upon the Minister of Finance and Personnel to report to the Executive and the Assembly in a timely manner, having carefully considered the various consequences, including value for money, of the Report’s recommendations, with views on how this matter may be addressed.’

[Mr S Hamilton]
[Mr P Weir]

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 43
Noes: 29

Ayes

Mr Armstrong, Mr Beggs, Mr Bresland, Mr Campbell, Mr T Clarke, Rev Dr Robert Coulter, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mr Dodds, Rt Hon J Donaldson, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Mr Ford, Mrs Foster, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Mr Kennedy, Ms Lo, Mr Lunn, Mr McCallister, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCausland, Mr McClarty, Mr I McCrea, Dr W McCrea, Mr McFarland, Mr McGimpsey, Miss McIlveen, Mr McQuillan, Mr Moutray, Mr Neeson, Mr Newton, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Mr K Robinson, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Savage, Mr Shannon, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Hamilton and Mr McQuillan.

Noes

Ms Anderson, Mr Attwood, Mr Boylan, Mr D Bradley, Mr P J Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Brolly, Mr Butler, Mr Dallat, Mr Doherty, Mr Gallagher, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Mr A Maginness, Mr P Maskey, Mr F McCann, Mr McCartney, 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, Ms S Ramsey, Ms Ritchie.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Dallat and Mrs D Kelly.

The Amendment was made.

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY ON
21 OCTOBER 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

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

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

S.R. 2008/420 The Ballybollen Road (C53), Ballymena (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 (DRD)

S.R. 2008/421 The Donegall Quay, Belfast (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 (DRD)

S.R. 2008/423 The Optical Charges and Payments (Amendment No.2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 (DHSSPS)

7. Consultation Documents

8. Departmental Publications

9. Agency Publications

10. Westminster Publications

11. Miscellaneous Publications

 

Northern Ireland Assembly Legislation:

Stages in Consideration of Public Bills

First Stage: Introduction of Bill
Second Stage: General debate of the Bill with an opportunity for Members to vote on its general principles
Committee Stage: Detailed investigation by a Committee which concludes with the publication of a report for consideration by the Assembly.
Consideration Stage: Consideration by the Assembly of, and an opportunity for Members to vote on, the details of the Bill including amendments proposed to the Bill.
Further Consideration Stage: Consideration by the Assembly of, and an opportunity for Members to vote on, further amendments to the Bill.
Final Stage: Passing or rejecting of Bill by the Assembly, without further amendment.
Royal Assent

Proceedings as at 21 OCTOBER 2008

Session 2008-2009

Executive Bills

Title & Bill Number	First Stage	Second Stage	Committee Stage due to Conclude	Committee Report Ordered to be Printed	Consideration Stage	Further Consideration Stage	Final Stage	Royal Assent
*Charities Bill NIA Bill 9/07	10.12.07	15.01.08	27.06.08	13.05.08	03.06.08	17.06.08	30.06.08	09.09.08
*Building Regulations Bill NIA Bill 11/07	25.02.08	04.03.08	27.06.08	25.06.08
*Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Bill NIA Bill 15/07	12.05.08	20.05.08	12.12.08
*Public Authorities (Reform) Bill NIA Bill 19/07	17.06.08	30.06.08	12.12.08
*Civil Registration Bill NIA Bill 20/07	17.06.08	01.07.08	05.11.08
*Health and Social Care (Reform) Bill NIA Bill 21/07	23.06.08	01.07.08	05.11.08
*Diseases of Animals Bill NIA Bill 22/07	30.06.08	15.09.08	17.02.09
*Presumption of Death Bill NIA Bill 23/07	01.07.08	15.09.08	06.11.08

Session 2008-2009

Non-Executive Bills

Title & Bill Number	First Stage	Second Stage	Committee Stage due to Conclude	Committee Report Ordered to be Printed	Consideration Stage	Further Consideration Stage	Final Stage	Royal Assent
*Carers Allowance Bill NIA Bill 13/07	31.03.08
Community Use of School Premises Bill NIA Bill 1/08	13.10.08

* Bill carried over from 2007-2008 by the Assembly as Royal Assent had not been achieved.
/ Bill progressing by accelerated passage