No. 41-08/09
MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 3 MARCH 2009
The Assembly met at 10.30 am, the Deputy Speaker (Mr McClarty) in the Chair
1. Personal Prayer or Meditation
Members observed two minutes’ silence.
2. Speaker’s Business
2.1 The deputy Speaker informed Members that Royal Assent had been signified on 2 March 2009 to the Building Regulations (Amendment) Act ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
3. Executive Committee Business
3.1 Statement - Public Expenditure 2008-09 February Monitoring Round
The Minister of Finance and Personnel, Mr Nigel Dodds, made a statement to the Assembly regarding the public expenditure 2008-09 February monitoring round, following which he replied to questions.
3.2 Second Stage - Financial Provisions Bill (NIA 6/08)
The Minister of Finance and Personnel, Mr Nigel Dodds, moved that the Second Stage of the Financial Provisions Bill (NIA 6/08) be agreed.
Debate ensued.
NIA Bill 6/08 passed Second Stage .
3.3 Final Stage - Budget Bill (NIA 5/08)
The Minister of Finance and Personnel, Mr Nigel Dodds, moved that the Final Stage of the Budget Bill (NIA 5/08) be agreed.
Debate ensued.
The sitting was suspended at 12.38 pm.
The sitting resumed at 2.00 pm, with the Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) in the chair.
Debate resumed on the Final Stage.
NIA Bill (5/08) passed Final Stage.
3.4 Motion - Legislative Consent - Health Bill
Proposed: That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension to Northern Ireland of provisions of the Health Bill dealing with tobacco, and powers of suspension in relation to members of NHS bodies and other bodies concerned with health.
[Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety]
Debate ensued.
The Deputy Speaker (Mr McClarty) in the chair.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
4. Committee Business
4.1 Motion - Assembly Commission Engagement Strategy
Proposed: That this Assembly notes the Engagement Strategy developed by the Assembly Commission, which is aimed at improving public engagement with the Assembly, its committees and MLAs.
[Mr S Moutray]
[Mr P Butler]
[Rev Dr R Coulter]
[Mr A Maginness]
[Mr S Neeson]
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
5. Private Members’ Business
5.1 Motion - Members’ Rights
Proposed: That this Assembly recognises the need for elected representatives to be able to protect the confidentiality of information brought to them by constituents and sources; acknowledges the importance of being able to pass on to the appropriate authority information in the public interest without breaching that confidentiality; believes that an erosion of these expectations and rights would seriously undermine the ability of the public representatives to perform their duty and, if unchecked, will emasculate the powers of the Assembly, and undermine the role and trust the public must have in its elected representatives to protect and represent them without fear of prosecution or interference.
[Rt Hon P Robinson]
[ Lord Morrow]
[Dr W McCrea]
[Mr I Paisley Jnr]
Debate ensued.
The Speaker in the chair.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
6. Adjournment
Mr Francie Molloy spoke on the provision of hospital and health care facilities in Mid Ulster.
Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn.
[The Speaker]
The Assembly adjourned at 7.15 pm .
Mr William Hay
The Speaker
3 March 2009
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
3. Orders in Council
4. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly
5. Assembly Reports
6. Statutory Rules
(The Department identified after each rule is for reference purposes only.)
S.R. 2009/59 The Seed Potatoes (Crop Fees) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DARD)
For Information Only:
S.R. 2009/62 (C.3) The Pensions (2005 Order) (Commencement No. 12) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DSD)
S.R. 2009/66 Weights and Measures (Passing as Fit for Use for Trade and Adjustment Fees) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DETI)
S.R. 2009/67 Measuring Instruments (EEC Requirements) (Verification Fees) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DETI)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 3 MARCH 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 |
17.02.09 |
02.03.09 |
| *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 |
13.02.09 |
||||
| *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 |
02.03.09 |
03.03.09 |
|
| Financial Provisions Bill NIA Bill 6/08 | 23.02.09 | 03.03.09 | 13.05.09 |
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