No. 16-08/09

MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS

TUESDAY 11 NOVEMBER 2008

The Assembly met at 10.30 am, the Speaker in the Chair

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Executive Committee Business

   2.1 Statement - Contingency Arrangements in the event of Apprenticeship Redundancies

   The Minister for Employment and Learning, Sir Reg Empey, made a statement to the Assembly regarding contingency arrangements in the event of apprenticeship redundancies, following which he replied to questions.

   The sitting was suspended at 10.54 am to accommodate Members who wished to mark Armistice Day.

   The sitting resumed at 11.05 am, with the Deputy Speaker (Mr Molloy) in the chair.

   Questions resumed on the Ministerial Statement.

3. Private Members’ Business

3.1 Motion - Alcohol Misuse

Proposed: That this Assembly considers that the misuse of alcohol in society causes serious damage to the health and social well-being of individuals and communities; and calls on the Executive to formulate, and implement, policies designed to reduce alcohol misuse.

[Mr P Ramsey]

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 12.31 pm.

The sitting resumed at 2.00 pm, with the Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) in the chair.

4. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)

4.1 Motion - Alcohol Misuse (cont’d)

Debate resumed on the Motion.

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

4.2 Motion - Review of Environmental Governance

Proposed: That this Assembly expresses its concern at the failure of the previous Minister of the Environment to take forward the recommendations of the ‘Review of Environmental Governance’; believes that the Northern Ireland Environment Agency is not adequate to deal with the challenges facing Northern Ireland; and calls on the Executive to re-consider this matter urgently.

[Mr D Ford]
[Mrs N Long]
[Mr K McCarthy]
[Mr T Lunn]


4.3 Amendment

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

‘for the establishment of an independent Environmental Protection Agency which must become fully operational within the lifetime of this Assembly.’

[Mr T Gallagher]

Debate ensued.

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

The Question being put, the Motion, as amended, was carried (Division No. 2).

The Deputy Speaker (Mr McClarty) in the chair.

4.4 Motion - Drink Driving Limit

Proposed: That this Assembly calls on the Minister of the Environment to investigate the viability of reducing the current drink-drive limit.

[Mr A Ross]
[Mr P Weir]

Debate ensued.

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

5. Adjournment

Mr Ian Paisley Junior spoke on Ambulance provision in North Antrim.

Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn.

[The Speaker]

The Assembly adjourned at 6.29 pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
11 November 2008

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

11 NOVEMBER 2008

DIVISIONS

Division No. 1

Review of Environmental Governance - Amendment

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

‘for the establishment of an independent Environmental Protection Agency which must become fully operational within the lifetime of this Assembly.’

[Mr T Gallagher]

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 48
Noes: 29

Ayes

Ms Anderson, Mr Attwood, Mr Beggs, Mr Boylan,  Mrs M Bradley, Mr P J Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Brolly, Mr Burns, Mr Butler, Mr W Clarke,  Rev Dr Robert Coulter, Mr Cree, Mr Doherty,  Mr Elliott, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mr Gallagher,  Mr Gardiner, Mr G Kelly, Mr Kennedy, Ms Lo,  Mr A Maginness, Mr A Maskey, Mr P Maskey,  Mr McCallister, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann,  Mr McCarthy, Mr McCartney, Mr McClarty,  Mr McElduff, Mr McFarland, Mrs McGill,  Mr McGlone, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McKay,  Mr Molloy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O’Dowd, Mr O’Loan, Mrs O’Neill, Mr P Ramsey, Ms S Ramsey, Mr K Robinson, Ms Ruane, Mr Savage, Mr B Wilson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Burns and Mr A Maginness.

Noes

Mr Bresland, Lord Browne, Mr T Clarke, Mr Craig, Mr Dodds, Rt Hon J Donaldson, Mr Easton, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Dr W McCrea, Miss McIlveen, Lord Morrow,  Mr Moutray, Mr Newton, Mr Paisley Jnr, Rt Hon Dr Ian Paisley, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson,  Mrs I Robinson, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Shannon, Mr Simpson, Mr Spratt, Mr Weir, Mr S Wilson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Bresland and Mr Ross.

The Amendment was made.

Division No. 2

Review of Environmental Governance – Motion as amended

Proposed: That this Assembly expresses its concern at the failure of the previous Minister of the Environment to take forward the recommendations of the ‘Review of Environmental Governance’; believes that the Northern Ireland Environment Agency is not adequate to deal with the challenges facing Northern Ireland; and calls for the establishment of an independent Environmental Protection Agency which must become fully operational within the lifetime of this Assembly.

[Mr D Ford]
[Mrs N Long]
[Mr K McCarthy]
[Mr T Lunn]
[Mr T Gallagher]

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 48
Noes: 30

Ayes

Ms Anderson, Mr Attwood, Mr Beggs, Mr Boylan,  Mrs M Bradley, Mr P J Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Brolly, Mr Burns, Mr Butler, Mr W Clarke,  Rev Dr Robert Coulter, Mr Cree, Mr Doherty,  Mr Elliott, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mr Gallagher,  Mr Gardiner, Mr G Kelly, Mr Kennedy, Ms Lo,  Mr A Maginness, Mr A Maskey, Mr P Maskey,  Mr McCallister, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann,  Mr McCarthy, Mr McCartney, Mr McClarty,  Mr McElduff, Mr McFarland, Mrs McGill,  Mr McGlone, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McKay,  Mr Molloy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O’Dowd, Mr O’Loan, Mrs O’Neill, Mr P Ramsey, Ms S Ramsey, Mr K Robinson, Ms Ruane, Mr Savage, Mr B Wilson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Ms Lo and Mr McCarthy.

Noes

Mr Bresland, Lord Browne, Mr T Clarke, Mr Craig,  Mr Dodds, Rt Hon J Donaldson, Mr Easton, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Dr W McCrea, Miss McIlveen, Lord Morrow,  Mr Moutray, Mr Newton, Mr Paisley Jnr, Rt Hon Dr Ian Paisley, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson,  Mrs I Robinson, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Shannon, Mr Simpson, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr S Wilson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Bresland and Mr Ross.

The Motion, as amended, was carried.

 

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY ON
11 NOVEMBER 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

The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority Annual Report and Accounts 2007-08 (NIA 44/08-09)

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

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

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 11 NOVEMBER 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	20.03.09
*Health and Social Care (Reform) Bill NIA Bill 21/07	23.06.08	01.07.08	05.12.08
*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	16.01.09

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