No. 23-08/09
MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS
MONDAY 8 DECEMBER 2008
The Assembly met at noon, the Deputy Speaker (Mr Molloy) in the Chair
1. Personal Prayer or Meditation
Members observed two minutes’ silence.
2. Executive Committee Business
2.1 Motion - Suspension of Standing Orders
Proposed: That Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4), inclusive, be suspended for 8 December 2008.
[Minister of Education]
The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support nemine contradicente.
2.2 Second Stage - Education Bill (NIA 3/08)
The Minister of Education, Ms Caitríona Ruane, moved that the Second Stage of the Education Bill (NIA 3/08) be agreed.
Debate ensued.
The Deputy Speaker (Mr McClarty) in the chair.
The debate was suspended for Question Time.
3. Question Time
3.1 Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister
Questions were put to, and answered by, the deputy First Minister, Mr Martin McGuinness.
3.2 Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Mr Michael McGimpsey.
3.3 Minister for Social Development
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Ms Margaret Ritchie.
The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) in the chair.
4. Executive Committee Business (cont’d)
4.1 Second Stage - Education Bill (NIA 3/08) (cont’d)
Debate resumed on the Second Stage.
NIA Bill 3/08 passed Second Stage (Division No. 1).
4.2 Further Consideration Stage - Pensions (No. 2) Bill (NIA 2/08)
The Minister for Social Development, Ms Margaret Ritchie, moved that the Further Consideration Stage of the Pensions (No. 2) Bill be agreed.
No Amendments were tabled.
NIA Bill 2/08 passed Further Consideration Stage and stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
4.3 Statement - Incident of Dioxins in Pork and Pork Products Originating from the Republic of Ireland
The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Mr Michael McGimpsey, made a statement to the Assembly regarding the incident of dioxins in pork and pork products originating from the Republic of Ireland, following which he replied to questions.
4.4 Statement - Current Animal Feed Contamination
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms Michelle Gildernew, made a statement to the Assembly regarding the current animal feed contamination, following which she replied to questions.
4.5 Motion - Draft Institutions of Further Education (Public Sector Audit) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008
Proposed: That the draft Institutions of Further Education (Public Sector Audit) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 be approved.
[Minister of Finance and Personnel]
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
5. Private Members’ Business
5.1 Motion - Current Economic Downturn
Proposed: That this Assembly calls on the Minister of Finance and Personnel to recognise fully the significant potential for job losses due to the current economic downturn; to detail what assistance he can draw on from the Treasury; and to produce urgently an action plan to assist small businesses, especially with regard to cash flow relief, and the level of assistance his Department can initiate locally.
[Mr D McNarry]
[Mr L Cree]
5.2 Amendment No. 1
Proposed: At end insert:
‘; and furthermore, to set out what steps are being taken to accelerate investment and to re-direct resources to both boost the level of economic activity and to re-balance the economy.’
[Dr S Farry]
[Mr S Neeson]
5.3 Amendment No. 2
Proposed: At end insert:
‘; and further calls on the Executive to
- commit all Departments and public bodies to making prompt payments to suppliers, within ten days at the latest;
- expedite their capital investment programme;
- make representations to Treasury for further measures to stimulate the economy; and
- exert influence on banks and Revenue and Customs to show proper consideration, support and sensitivity for local businesses and their workforces.’
[Mr D O’Loan]
[Dr A McDonnell]
Debate ensued.
Amendment No. 1 being put, the Amendment was made without division.
Amendment No. 2 being put, the Amendment was made without division.
The Question being put, the Motion, as amended, was carried without division.
6. Adjournment
Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn.
[The Speaker]
The Assembly adjourned at 8.18 pm.
Mr William Hay
The Speaker
8 December 2008
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
8 DECEMBER 2008
DIVISIONS
Division No. 1
Second Stage - Education Bill (NIA 3/08)
Proposed: That the Second Stage of the Education Bill be agreed.
[Minister of Education]
The Question was put and the Assembly divided.
Ayes: 72
Noes: 12
Ayes
Mr Adams, Mr Attwood, Mr Boylan, Mr D Bradley, Mrs M Bradley, Mr P J Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Bresland, Mr Brolly, Lord Browne, Mr Buchanan, Mr Burns, Mr Butler, Mr Campbell, Mr T Clarke, Mr W Clarke, Mr Craig, Mr Dodds, Mr Doherty, Rt Hon J Donaldson, Mr Durkan, Mr Easton, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mrs Foster, Mr Gallagher, Ms Gildernew, Mr Hamilton, Mrs Hanna, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Mr A Maginness, Mr A Maskey, Mr P Maskey, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCartney, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Dr W McCrea, Dr McDonnell, Mrs McGill, Mr McGlone, Mr M McGuinness, Miss McIlveen, Mr McKay, Mr McLaughlin, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Murphy, Mr Neeson, Mr Newton, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O’Dowd, Mr O’Loan, Mr Paisley Jnr, Mr Poots, Mr P Ramsey, Ms S Ramsey, Ms Ritchie, Mr G Robinson, Rt Hon P Robinson, Ms Ruane, Mr Shannon, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr B Wilson, Mr S Wilson.
Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Brady and Mr F McCann.
Noes
Mr Beggs, Mr Cobain, Rev Dr Robert Coulter, Mr Cree, Mr Elliott, Mr Kennedy, Mr McCallister, Mr B McCrea, Mr McFarland, Mr McNarry, Mr K Robinson, Mr Savage.
Tellers for the Noes: Mr McCallister and Mr B McCrea.
The Second Stage of the Education Bill was passed NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY FROM
3 DECEMBER TO 8 DECEMBER 2008
- Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly
- Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly
- Orders in Council
- Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly
Southern Education and Library Board Annual Report and Accounts for 2007/08 (NIA 39/08-09)
Public Income and Expenditure for the year ended 31 March 2008 (NIA 7/08-09) (DFP)
Report on Sea Fisheries: Vessel Modernisation and Decommissioning Schemes (NIA 60/08-09) - Assembly Reports
Report on the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Bill (NIA 15/07) (17/08/09R) (Committee for the Environment)
Submission to the Strategic Stocktake of the Budget Position for 2009 - 2010 & 2010 - 2011 (Committee for Finance and Personnel) - Statutory Rules
(The Department identified after each rule is for reference purposes only.)
Report on the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Bill (NIA 15/07) (17/08/09R) (Committee for the Environment)
Submission to the Strategic Stocktake of the Budget Position for 2009 - 2010 & 2010 - 2011 (Committee for Finance and Personnel)
For Information Only:
S.R. 2008/466 The Family Proceedings (Amendment No. 3) Rules ( Northern Ireland) 2008 (Supreme Court)
S.R. 2008/480 The Fair Employment (Specification of Public Authorities) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 (OFMDFM)
S.R. 2008/481 The Loading Bays on Roads (Amendment No. 8) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 (DRD)
S.R. 2008/482 The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Ballymoney) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 (DRD)
S.R. 2008/483 The Waiting Restrictions (Comber) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 (DRD)
S.R. 2008/486 The Waiting Restrictions (Whiterock) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 (DRD)
S.R. 2008/487 The Waiting Restrictions (Magherafelt) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 (DRD)
- Consultation Documents
Policy Proposals for a Roads (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill (DSD)
Consultation on the Draft Northern Ireland Environmental Noise Directive Action Plan and Competent Authority Noise Action Plan Guidance (DOE) - Departmental Publications
Review of Irish Medium Education Report (DE)
European Union Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2007 – 2013 ( DEL)
Statistics on Smoking Cessation Services in Northern Ireland: 1 April 2007 - 31 March 2008 (DHSSPS) - Agency Publications
Social Security Agency: Delivering a Better Service for Customers
Radioactivity in Food and the Environment, 2007 (EA, FSA, NIEA, SEPA) - Westminster Publications
- Miscellaneous Publications