No. 28-08/09
MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS
MONDAY 19 JANUARY 2009
The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair
1. Personal Prayer or Meditation
Members observed two minutes’ silence.
2. Executive Committee Business
2.1 Statement - North-South Ministerial Council Education Sectoral Format
The Minister of Education, Ms Caitríona Ruane, made a statement to the Assembly regarding the North-South Ministerial Council Education sectoral format meeting, following which she replied to questions.
The Deputy Speaker (Mr McClarty) in the chair.
3. Committee Business
3.1 Motion - Amend Standing Order 64
Proposed: In Standing Order 64, delete all and insert -
‘64. MATTERS OF JOINT CONCERN: OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO COMMITTEES
Where a matter may be of concern to two or more committees ("the relevant committees") it may be dealt with by –
(a) one of the relevant committees disposing of it, in accordance with Standing Order 64A;
(b) the relevant committees sitting concurrently, in accordance with Standing Order 64B;
(c) an ad hoc joint committee established for that purpose, in accordance with Standing Order 64C.
64A. MATTERS OF JOINT CONCERN: DISPOSAL BY ONE COMMITTEE
(1) The chairpersons of the relevant committees shall consult and agree which committee the matter should fall to for disposal. Where they are unable to agree, they shall make their views known to the Business Committee which shall rule on which committee the matter should fall to for disposal.
(2) The committee to which the matter falls for disposal shall seek the views and establish the interests of the other relevant committees before arriving at any conclusions and may invite the other relevant committees to carry out the consideration of any stated issue and provide it with a draft report.
64B. MATTERS OF JOINT CONCERN: COMMITTEES SITTING CONCURRENTLY
(1) The relevant committees shall consult and agree that the matter be disposed of by the relevant committees sitting concurrently.
(2) The procedures normally applicable to committees shall continue to apply to concurrent sittings, save that the relevant committees shall, as far as practicable, operate as a single committee. While operating as a single committee, they shall, for example, deliberate and consider any evidence together, produce a single set of minutes, and prepare any reports together.
(3) The chairpersons of the relevant committees shall consult and agree that–
(a) one of them shall act as chairperson and another as deputy chairperson, or
(b) the posts of chairperson and deputy chairperson shall be rotated between them.
The chairpersons shall prefer that a person not act as chairperson at the concurrent sittings if he or she is of the same party as a Minister (including the First Minister and deputy First Minister) who the concurrent sittings may advise or assist.
(4) Where the chairpersons of the relevant committees fail to agree on one of the alternatives set out in paragraph (3), they shall make their views known to the Business Committee which shall rule on the matter.
(5) For the avoidance of doubt –
(a) a person acting as chairperson at a concurrent sitting, who is a chairperson of one of the relevant committees, shall not be regarded as breaching any prohibition in Standing Order 48(13) or 51(10);
(b) a quorum shall be present at a concurrent sitting if there is a quorum present for each of the relevant committees;
(c) all questions at concurrent sittings shall be decided by a simple majority of all members present; voting shall be by a show of hands unless otherwise requested by a member of a relevant committee.
64C. MATTERS OF JOINT CONCERN: ESTABLISHMENT OF JOINT COMMITTEE
(1) The relevant committees shall consult and agree that the matter be disposed of by the establishment of an ad hoc joint committee.
(2) Save as is set out below, the ad hoc joint committee shall be established in accordance with Standing Order 53.
(3) Membership of the ad hoc joint committee shall be drawn from the memberships of the relevant committees.
(4) The ad hoc joint committee shall appoint its own chairperson and deputy chairperson, and if it fails to do so, it shall make its views known to the Business Committee which shall rule on the matter.’
[Chairperson, Committee on Procedures]
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried with cross-community support nemine contradicente.
4. Private Members’ Business
4.1 Motion - Reducing the Number of Government Departments
Proposed: That this Assembly recognises the importance of ensuring that the maximum amount of public spending is directed at frontline services; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to bring forward proposals to reduce the number of government Departments.
[Mr S Hamilton]
[Mr P Weir]
[Mr I Paisley Jnr]
4.2 Amendment
Proposed: Leave out all after ‘services;’ and insert:
‘notes that the Assembly and Executive Review Committee (AERC) has unanimously agreed that issues around efficiency and the number of government Departments would be part of its programme of work and asks that the AERC addresses such issues; agrees to establish a new Assembly standing committee to focus on controlling the cost of government; calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to review and report on the administrative savings to be achieved from the various measures and proposals associated with the Review of Public Administration; and to bring forward proposals to the Executive and the AERC to streamline management and reduce overheads of government Departments including options for more shared services and policy support, reducing tiers of bureaucracy, reconfiguring Departments and reducing their number.’
[Mr M Durkan]
[Dr A McDonnell]
[Mrs D Kelly]
Debate ensued.
The debate was suspended for Question Time.
The Speaker in the chair.
5. Question Time
5.1 Minister of Education
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Ms Caitríona Ruane.
5.2 Minister for Employment and Learning
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Sir Reg Empey.
5.3 Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Mrs Arlene Foster.
6. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)
6.1 Motion - Reducing the Number of Government Departments
The Amendment being put, the Amendment fell (Division No. 1).
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
7. Adjournment
Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn.
[The Speaker]
The Assembly adjourned at 4.15 pm.
Mr William Hay
The Speaker
19 January 2009
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
19 JANUARY 2009
DIVISIONS
Division No. 1
Reducing the Number of Government Departments - Amendment
Proposed: Leave out all after ‘services;’ and insert:
‘notes that the Assembly and Executive Review Committee (AERC) has unanimously agreed that issues around efficiency and the number of government Departments would be part of its programme of work and asks that the AERC addresses such issues; agrees to establish a new Assembly standing committee to focus on controlling the cost of government; calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to review and report on the administrative savings to be achieved from the various measures and proposals associated with the Review of Public Administration; and to bring forward proposals to the Executive and the AERC to streamline management and reduce overheads of government Departments including options for more shared services and policy support, reducing tiers of bureaucracy, reconfiguring Departments and reducing their number.’
[Mr M Durkan]
[Dr A McDonnell]
[Mrs D Kelly]
The Question was put and the Assembly divided.
Ayes: 13
Noes: 43
Ayes
Mr Attwood, Mr P J Bradley, Rev Dr Robert Coulter, Mr Dallat, Mr Durkan, Mr Gallagher, Mrs Hanna, Mrs D Kelly, Mr A Maginness, Dr McDonnell, Mr McGlone, Mr O’Loan, Mr P Ramsey.
Tellers for the Ayes: Mr P J Bradley and Mr A Maginness.
Noes
Mr Armstrong, Mr Bresland, Lord Browne, Mr Buchanan, Mr T Clarke, 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, Mrs Long, Mr McCallister, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Dr W McCrea, Mr McFarland, Miss McIlveen, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Newton, Mr Paisley Jnr, Rt Hon Dr Ian Paisley, Mr G Robinson, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Savage, Mr Shannon, Mr Simpson, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr B Wilson, Mr S Wilson.
Tellers for the Noes: Mr Ross and Mr Storey.
The Amendment fell.
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY FROM
14 TO 19 JANUARY 2009
- Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly
- Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly
- Orders in Council
- Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly
SEELB Annual Report and Accounts 2007-08 (NIA 69/08-09)
Department of Finance and Personnel Memorandum on the Third and Fourth Reports from the Public Accounts Committee Session 2008-2009 - Statement of Rate Levy and Collection and Delivering Pathology Services: The PFI Laboratory and Pharmacy Centre at Altnagelvin (NIA 74/08-09) - Assembly Reports
Report on the Presumption of Death Bill (NIA 23/07) (2/08/09R) (Committee for Finance and Personnel) - Statutory Rules
(The Department identified after each rule is for reference purposes only.)
S.R. 2009/10 Rural Development (Financial Assistance) (Public Expenditure) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DARD)
S.R. 2009/11 The Local Government (Constituting a Joint Committee) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DARD)
S.R. 2009/13 The Old Carrick Road, Newtownabbey (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DRD)
For Information Only :
S.R. 2008/505 The Crown Court (Amendment) Rules ( Northern Ireland) 2008 (Courts)
S.R. 2009/3 The Parking Places on Roads (Omagh) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009
S.R. 2009/4 The Waiting Restrictions (Newtownards) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009
S.R. 2009/5 The Parking Places (Disabled Persons' Vehicles) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009
S.R. 2009/9 The Prohibition of Traffic (Lower Ormeau, Belfast) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DRD)
S.R. 2009/12 The Waiting Restrictions (Portstewart) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DRD)
S.R. 2009/16 General Ophthalmic Services (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DHSSPS)
- Consultation Documents
Draft Equality Impact Assessment - A Strategy to Develop the Recreational and Social Use of Forest Service Forests (DARD)
Consultation on Minor Modifications to MOT Test Content and Fee Maxima (DOE) - Departmental Publications
S.I. 2008/3206 The Spirit Drinks Regulations 2008 (DARD) - Agency Publications
- Westminster Publications
- Miscellaneous Publications