No. 39-08/09

MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS

TUESDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2009

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

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Speaker’s Business

2.1

The Speaker announced the death of Mr James Leslie, a former Member for the North Antrim Constituency. Members paid tribute to Mr Leslie on behalf of their parties.

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Consideration Stage - Budget Bill (NIA 5/08)

The Minister of Finance and Personnel, Mr Nigel Dodds, moved that the Consideration Stage of the Budget Bill be agreed.

Clauses

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clauses 1 to 7 stand part of the Bill.

Schedules

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Schedules 1 to 4 stand part of the Bill.

Long Title

The question being put, the Long Title was agreed without division.

Bill (NIA 5/08) passed Consideration Stage and stood referred to the Speaker.

4. Private Members’ Business

4.1 Motion - Small and Medium Sized Enterprises

Proposed: That this Assembly notes with concern the growing negative impact of the current economic downturn on small and medium sized enterprises; recognises that global economic circumstances have significantly restricted the flow of Foreign Direct Investment; and calls on the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to refocus her Department’s policies and resources on support for small and medium sized enterprises.

[Mr L Cree]
[Mr A McFarland]

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Molloy) in the chair.

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

4.2 Motion - George Best Belfast City Airport

Proposed: That this Assembly calls on the Minister of the Environment to set up a public inquiry under Article 31 of the Planning (NI) Order 1991 in relation to the application to extend the runway at George Best Belfast City Airport, in order to properly test all of the relevant economic and environmental arguments.

[Mr B Wilson]
[Mr D Ford]
[Dr S Farry]

The sitting was suspended at 12.32 pm.

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

Debate resumed on the Motion.

4.3 Amendment

Proposed: Leave out ‘to set up’ and insert:

‘to take note of the view of this Assembly that there should be’

[Mr N McCausland]
[Mr J Spratt]

Debate ensued.

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

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

5. Matters of the Day - Wrightbus

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr made a statement, under Standing Order 24, in relation to job losses at Wrightbus, Ballymena. A number of other Members were called to speak on the matter.

6. Adjournment

Mr Mark Durkan gave prior notice to the Speaker that he no longer wished to raise the matter on the North West Gateway Initiative in Foyle.

Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn.

[The Speaker]

The Assembly adjourned at 3.48 pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker

24 February 2009

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

24 FEBRUARY 2009

DIVISIONS

Division No. 1

George Best Belfast City Airport - Amendment

Proposed: Leave out ‘to set up’ and insert:

‘to take note of the view of this Assembly that there should be’

[Mr N McCausland]
[Mr J Spratt]

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 55
Noes: 26

Ayes
Ms Anderson, Mr Boylan, Mr Brady, Mr Bresland, Mr Brolly, Lord Browne, Mr Buchanan, Mr Butler, Mr T Clarke, Mr W Clarke, Mr Craig, Mr Dodds, Mr Doherty, Rt Hon J Donaldson, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mrs Foster, Ms Gildernew, Mr Hamilton, Mr Irwin, Mr G Kelly, Ms Lo, Mr A Maskey, Mr P Maskey, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCartney, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Dr W McCrea, Mr McElduff, Mrs McGill, Mr M McGuinness, Miss McIlveen, Mr McLaughlin, Mr Molloy, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mrs O’Neill, Mr Paisley Jnr, Rt Hon Dr Ian Paisley, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Mrs I Robinson, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Ms Ruane, Mr Shannon, Mr Simpson, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr Wells, Mr B Wilson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Ross and Mr Spratt.

Noes
Mr Armstrong, Mr Attwood, Mr Beggs, Mr D Bradley, Mrs M Bradley, Mr P J Bradley, Mr Burns, Mr Cobain, Mr Cree, Mr Elliott, Sir Reg Empey, Mr Gallagher, Mr Gardiner, Mrs Hanna, Mrs D Kelly, Mr Kennedy, Mr A Maginness, Mr McCallister, Mr B McCrea, Dr McDonnell, Mr McFarland, Mr McGimpsey, Mr McNarry, Mr O’Loan, Ms Purvis, Mr Savage.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Burns and Mr Kennedy.

The Amendment was agreed.

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY ON

24 FEBRUARY 2009

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Financial Provisions Bill

3. Orders in Council

4. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Review of Assistance to Valence Technology: A Case Study on Inward Investment (NIA 86/08-09)

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

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

For Information Only:

S.R. 2009/35 Energy (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009 (DETI)

S.R. 2009/47 The Magistrates’ Courts (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2009 (Magistrates’ Courts)

S.R. 2009/54 The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Ballymena) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009 (DRD)

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 24 FEBRUARY 2009

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	01.05.08	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	11.06.08	13.01.09	27.01.09
*Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Bill NIA Bill 15/07	12.05.08	20.05.08	12.12.08	04.12.08
*Public Authorities (Reform) Bill NIA Bill 19/07	17.06.08	30.06.08	12.12.08	19.11.08	09.12.08	12.01.09	20.01.09	16.02.09
*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	13.11.08	01.12.08	09.12.08	12.01.09	21.01.09
*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	14.01.09
/Pensions (No. 2) Bill NIA Bill 2/08	17.11.08	25.11.08	N/A	N/A	02.12.08	08.12.08	09.12.08	15.12.08
Education Bill NIA Bill 3/08	25.11.08	08.12.08	30.09.09
/Financial Assistance Bill NIA Bill 4/08	12.01.09	13.01.09	N/A	N/A	20.01.09	26.01.09	27.01.09	04.02.09
/Budget Bill NIA Bill 5/08	16.02.09	17.02.09	N/A	N/A	24.02.09
Financial Provisions Bill NIA Bill 6/08	23.02.09

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