No. 34-08/09
MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS
MONDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2009
The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair
1. Personal Prayer or Meditation
Members observed two minutes’ silence.
2. Speaker’s Business
2.1 The Speaker invited Mr Nelson McCausland to withdraw unparliamentary comments he made during a debate on 2 February 2009. Mr McCausland refused and was ordered, under Standing Order 65, to withdraw immediately from the Chamber and its precincts during the remainder of the day’s Sitting. Mr McCausland withdrew from the Chamber.
2.2 The Speaker informed Members that Royal Assent had been signified on 4 February 2009 to the Financial Assistance Act ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
3. Private Members’ Business
3.1 Motion - North-South Ministerial Council
A valid Petition of Concern was presented on 4 February in relation to this motion under Standing Order 28. The vote on the motion was therefore taken on a cross-community basis.
Proposed: That this Assembly notes the impact of global economic conditions; notes the benefit of the border to the Northern Ireland economy at this difficult time; notes the relatively positive relationship with the Republic of Ireland; and calls on the Executive to consider whether the North-South Ministerial Council is of any value to the people of Northern Ireland.
[Mr D Simpson]
[Dr W McCrea]
3.2 Amendment
Proposed: Leave out all after ‘Executive’ and insert:
‘to institute a review of the North-South Ministerial Council aimed at ensuring it provides better value for the people of Northern Ireland.’
[Mr S Neeson]
[Mr T Lunn]
The Deputy Speaker (Mr McClarty) in the chair.
Debate ensued.
The Amendment being put, the Amendment was made (Division No. 1).
The Question being put, the Motion, as amended, was negatived on a cross-community basis (Division No. 2).
3.3 Motion - Supported Housing
Proposed: That this Assembly calls on the Minister for Social Development to review waiting lists for supported housing; and to work, in conjunction with the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, to tackle delayed discharges from Muckamore Hospital because of the lack of homes for people with a disability.
[Ms S Ramsey]
[Ms C Ní Chuilín ]
[Ms M Anderson]
[Mrs M O’Neill]
Debate ensued.
The debate was suspended for Question Time.
The Speaker in the chair.
4. Question Time
4.1 Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister
Questions were put to, and answered by, the First Minister, Rt Hon Peter Robinson.
4.2 Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Ms Michelle Gildernew.
4.3 Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Mrs Arlene Foster.
5. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)
5.1 Motion - Supported Housing (cont’d)
The Deputy Speaker (Mr Molloy) in the chair.
Debate resumed on the Motion.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
6. Adjournment
Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn.
[The Speaker]
The Assembly adjourned at 5.10 pm. Mr William Hay
The Speaker
9 February 2009
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
9 FEBRUARY 2009
DIVISIONS
Division No. 1
North-South Ministerial Council – Amendment
Proposed: Leave out all after ‘Executive’ and insert:
‘to institute a review of the North-South Ministerial Council aimed at ensuring it provides better value for the people of Northern Ireland.’
[Mr S Neeson]
[Mr T Lunn]The Question was put and the Assembly divided.
Ayes: 47
Noes: 39
Ayes
Mr Armstrong, Mr Beggs, Mr Bresland, Lord Browne, Mr Buchanan, Mr T Clarke, Mr Cobain, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Rt Hon J Donaldson, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Sir Reg Empey, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mrs Foster, Mr Gardiner, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Ms Lo, Mr Lunn, Mr McCallister, Mr McCarthy, Mr B McCrea, Mr I McCrea, Mr McFarland, Miss McIlveen, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Neeson, Mr Newton, Mr Paisley Jnr, Mr Poots, Ms Purvis, Mr G Robinson, Mr K Robinson, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Shannon, Mr Simpson, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wells, Mr S Wilson.
Tellers for the Ayes : Ms Lo and Mr McCarthy.
Noes
Mr Adams, Ms Anderson, Mr Attwood, Mr Boylan, Mr D Bradley, Mrs M Bradley, Mr P J Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Burns, Mr Butler, Mr W Clarke, Mr Dallat, Mr Durkan, Mr Gallagher, Ms Gildernew, Mrs Hanna, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Mr A Maginness, Mr A Maskey, Mr P Maskey, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Dr McDonnell, Mr McElduff, Mrs McGill, Mr McGlone, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McKay, Mr Molloy, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O’Dowd, Mr O’Loan, Mrs O’Neill, Ms S Ramsey, Ms Ritchie, Ms Ruane.
Tellers for the Noes: Mr W Clarke and Mr O’Loan.
The Amendment was agreed.NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
9 FEBRUARY 2009
DIVISIONS
Division No. 2
North-South Ministerial Council – Motion as amended
Proposed: That this Assembly notes the impact of global economic conditions; notes the benefit of the border to the Northern Ireland economy at this difficult time; notes the relatively positive relationship with the Republic of Ireland; and calls on the Executive to consider whether the North-South Ministerial Council is of any value to the people of Northern Ireland.
[Mr D Simpson]
[Dr W McCrea]
Leave out all after ‘Executive’ and insert:
‘to institute a review of the North-South Ministerial Council aimed at ensuring it provides better value for the people of Northern Ireland.’
[Mr S Neeson]
[Mr T Lunn]
The Question was put and the Assembly divided on a cross-community basis.
Ayes: 46
Noes: 39
Ayes
UNIONIST:
Mr Armstrong, Mr Beggs, Mr Bresland, Lord Browne, Mr Buchanan, Mr T Clarke, Mr Cobain, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Rt Hon J Donaldson, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Sir Reg Empey, Mrs Foster, Mr Gardiner, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Mr McCallister, Mr B McCrea, Mr I McCrea, Mr McFarland, Miss McIlveen, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Newton, Mr Paisley Jnr, Mr Poots, Ms Purvis, Mr G Robinson, Mr K Robinson, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Shannon, Mr Simpson, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wells.
OTHER :
Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Ms Lo, Mr Lunn, Mr McCarthy, Mr Neeson.
Tellers for the Ayes : Mr McCarthy and Mr Shannon.
Noes
NATIONALIST :
Mr Adams, Ms Anderson, Mr Attwood, Mr Boylan, Mr D Bradley, Mrs M Bradley, Mr P J Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Burns, Mr Butler, Mr W Clarke, Mr Dallat, Mr Durkan, Mr Gallagher, Ms Gildernew, Mrs Hanna, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Mr A Maginness, Mr A Maskey, Mr P Maskey, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Dr McDonnell, Mr McElduff, Mrs McGill, Mr McGlone, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McKay, Mr Molloy, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O’Dowd, Mr O’Loan, Mrs O’Neill, Ms S Ramsey, Ms Ritchie, Ms Ruane.
Tellers for the Noes : Mr W Clarke and Mr A Maginness.
| Total votes | 85 | Total Ayes | 46 | [54.1%] |
| Nationalist Votes | 39 | Nationalist Ayes | 0 | [0.0%] |
| Unionist Votes | 40 | Unionist Ayes | 40 | [100.0%] |
| Other Votes | 6 | Other Ayes | 6 | [100.0%] |
The Motion, as amended, was negatived on a cross-community basis.
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
PETITION OF CONCERN
MOTION: NORTH-SOUTH MINISTERIAL COUNCIL
Date to be debated : 9 FEBRUARY 2009
The undersigned Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly present this Petition of Concern in accordance with Standing Order 28.
NAME
MARK DURKAN
ALEX ATTWOOD
CARMEL HANNA
ALBAN MAGINNESS
MARGARET RITCHIE
DOMINIC BRADLEY
THOMAS BURNS
TOMMY GALLAGHER
DECLAN O’LOAN
JOHN DALLAT
DOLORES KELLY
PJ BRADLEY
PAT RAMSEY
PATSY MCGLONE
ALASDAIR MCDONNELL
MARY BRADLEY
CARÁL NÍ CHUILÍN
JOHN O’DOWD
GERRY KELLY
MARTIN MCGUINNESS
MITCHEL MCLAUGHLIN
ALEX MASKEY
FRANCIE BROLLY
MARTINA ANDERSON
PAUL BUTLER
CAITRÍONA RUANE
SUE RAMSEY
CLAIRE MCGILL
PAT DOHERTY
WILLIE CLARKE
BARRY MCELDUFF
CATHAL BOYLAN
MICHELLE O’NEILL
PAUL MASKEY
GERRY ADAMS
FRANCIE MOLLOY
DAITHI MCKAY
JENNIFER MCCANN
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY FROM
3 TO 9 FEBRUARY 2009
- Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly
Financial Assistance Act ( Northern Ireland) 2009 - Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly
- Orders in Council
- Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly
Public Service Agreements – Measuring Performance (NIA 79/08-09) - Assembly Reports
Report on Brangam, Bagnall and Co Legal Practitioner Fraud Perpetrated against the Health and Personal Social Services (Public Accounts Committee)
Written Ministerial Statements (Committee on Procedures)
Report on the Committee's Inquiry into the Role and Potential of Credit Unions in Northern Ireland (Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment)
Second Composite Report on Issues Dealt with by Correspondence (Public Accounts Committee)
Report on the Consultation on the Implementation of the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy (Committee for Social Development) - Statutory Rules
(The Department identified after each rule is for reference purposes only.)
For Information Only:
-
Consultation Documents
Consultation on Draft Fire Safety Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DHSSPS) -
Departmental Publications
Northern Ireland Spring Supplementary Estimates 2008-2009 (DFP)
Northern Ireland Estimates Vote on Account 2009-2010 (DFP) -
Agency Publications
-
Westminster Publications
- Miscellaneous Publications