No. 47-08/09
MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS
MONDAY 30 MARCH 2009
The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair
1. Personal Prayer or Meditation
Members observed two minutes’ silence.
2. Private Members’ Business
2.1 Motion - ‘Act on CO2’ Advertising Campaign (vote on Motion, as amended, without debate)
Proposed: That this Assembly notes with concern the attempt by the Minister of the Environment to block the Department of Energy and Climate Change advertising campaign ‘Act on CO2’; further notes that the position is contrary to the targets set out in the Programme for Government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% below 1990 levels by 2025; and calls on the Minister of the Environment to remove his opposition to the ‘Act on CO2’ advertising campaign; and, mindful of the Environment Committee’s vote of no confidence in the Minister of the Environment, calls on the Executive to launch a cross-departmental advertising campaign on climate change aimed at achieving the Programme for Government environmental protection targets .
The Question being put, the Motion, as amended, was negatived on a cross-community basis (Division 1).
3. Speaker’s Business
3.1 The Speaker informed Members that he would be absent from the Assembly on Tuesday 31 March 2009.
4. Executive Committee Business
4.1 Statement - Recent Visit to the United States
The deputy First Minister, Mr Martin McGuiness, made a statement to the Assembly regarding the recent visit to the United States by the First Minister and deputy First Minister, following which he replied to questions.
4.2 Further Consideration Stage - Presumption of Death Bill (NIA 23/07)
The Minister of Finance and Personnel, Mr Nigel Dodds, moved that the Further Consideration Stage of the Presumption of Death Bill be agreed.
No amendments were tabled to the Bill.
Bill NIA 23/07 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 Motion - Legislative Consent Motion - Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill
Proposed: That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension to Northern Ireland of the provisions of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill dealing with the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation, and the entering into of arrangements with the Young People’s Learning Agency for England and the Chief Executive of Skills Funding.
[Minister for Employment and Learning]
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
4.4 Motion - Draft Health and Social Care (Reform) (2009 Act) (Consequential Provisions) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009
Proposed: That the draft Health and Social Care (Reform) (2009 Act) (Consequential Provisions) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 be approved.
[Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety]
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
5. Committee Business
5.1 Motion - Report of the Committee on Procedures on Inquiry into Assembly Questions
Proposed: That this Assembly approves the Report of the Committee on Procedures on the Inquiry into Assembly Questions.
[Chairperson, Committee on Procedures]
Debate ensued.
The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) in the chair.
Debate was suspended for Question Time.
6. Question Time
6.1 Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Mr Michael McGimpsey.
6.2 Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Ms Michelle Gildernew.
6.3 Minister for Social Development
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister, Ms Margaret Ritchie.
7. Committee Business
7.1 Motion - Report of the Committee on Procedures on Inquiry into Assembly Questions
Debate resumed on the Motion.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
8. Private Members’ Business
8.1 Motion - Financial Pressures on Householders
Proposed: That this Assembly notes the difficult economic conditions as a result of the global economic downturn; notes the impact on household bills; notes the increase in the regional rate during the period of devolution between 1999 and 2002, and again under direct rule between 2002 and 2007; notes the freeze in the domestic regional rate; and calls on the Minister of Finance and Personnel to ensure that every possible step is taken to reduce pressure on the bills of householders.
[Mr P Weir]
[Mr S Hamilton]
The Deputy Speaker (Mr Molloy) in the chair.
8.2 Amendment
Proposed: At end insert:
‘in particular through targeting measures at those householders on low incomes.’
[Dr S Farry]
[Mrs N Long]
[Mr D Ford]
Debate ensued.
The Amendment being put, the Amendment was made without division.
The Question being put, the Motion, as amended, was carried without division.
9. Adjournment
Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn.[The Speaker]
The Assembly adjourned at 5.54 pm .
Mr William Hay
The Speaker
30 March 2009
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
30 MARCH 2009
DIVISIONS
Division No. 1
‘Act on CO2’ Advertising Campaign – Motion as amended
Proposed: That this Assembly notes with concern the attempt by the Minister of the Environment to block the Department of Energy and Climate Change advertising campaign ‘Act on CO2’; further notes that the position is contrary to the targets set out in the Programme for Government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% below 1990 levels by 2025; and calls on the Minister of the Environment to remove his opposition to the ‘Act on CO2’ advertising campaign; and, mindful of the Environment Committee’s vote of no confidence in the Minister of the Environment, calls on the Executive to launch a cross-departmental advertising campaign on climate change aimed at achieving the Programme for Government environmental protection targets .
The Question was put and the Assembly divided on a cross-community basis.
Ayes: 48
Noes: 30
Ayes
NATIONALIST:
Mr Adams, Ms Anderson, Mr Boylan, Mr D Bradley, Mrs M Bradley, Mr P J Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Burns, Mr Butler, Mr Dallat, Mr Gallagher, Mrs Hanna, Mr A Maginness, Mr P Maskey, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Dr McDonnell, Mr McElduff, Mrs McGill, Mr McGlone, Mr M McGuinness, Mr McKay, Mr McLaughlin, Mr Molloy, Mr Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O’Dowd, Mr O’Loan, Mrs O’Neill, Mr P Ramsey, Ms Ritchie, Ms Ruane.
UNIONIST:
Mr Armstrong, Mr Beggs, Mr Cobain, Mr Cree, Mr Elliott, Sir Reg Empey, Mr Gardiner, Mr Kennedy, Mr McCallister, Mr B McCrea, Mr McFarland, Ms Purvis.
OTHER:
Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mrs Long, Mr B Wilson.
Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Beggs and Mr Burns.
Noes
UNIONIST:
Mr Bresland, Lord Browne, Mr Buchanan, Mr Campbell, Mr T Clarke, Mr Craig, Mr Dodds, Rt Hon J Donaldson, Mr Easton, Mrs Foster, Mr Hamilton, Mr Irwin, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Dr W McCrea, Miss McIlveen, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Paisley Jnr, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Shannon, Mr Simpson, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir, Mr S Wilson.
Tellers for the Noes: Mr Moutray and Mr Storey.
Total votes 78 Total Ayes 48 [61.5%]
Nationalist Votes 32 Nationalist Ayes 32 [100.0%]
Unionist Votes 42 Unionist Ayes 12 [28.6%]
Other Votes 4 Other Ayes 4 [100.0%]
The Motion was negatived on a cross-community basis.
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY FROM
25 TO 30 MARCH 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
Northern Ireland Assembly Members' Pension Scheme Actuarial Valuation as at 31 March 2008 (Government Actuary’s Department)
6. Statutory Rules
(The Department identified after each rule is for reference purposes only.)
S.R. 2009/130 The Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DARD)
S.R. 2009/133 The Child Support and Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DSD)
S.R. 2009/135 The Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DSD)
S.R. 2009/139 The Occupational Pensions Schemes (Levy Ceiling) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DSD)
S.R. 2009/140 The Pension Protection Fund (Pension Compensation Cap) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DSD)
S.R. 2009/141 The Social Security (Steps to Work) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DSD)
For Information Only:
S.R. 2009/124 The Road Races (Craigantlet Hill Climb) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DRD)
S.R. 2009/125 The Road Races (Spelga Hill Climb) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DRD)
S.R. 2009/127 The Motor Hackney Carriages ( Belfast) (Amendment) Bye-Laws ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DOE)
S.R. 2009/137 The Waiting Restrictions (Enniskillen) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DRD)7. Consultation Documents
8. Departmental Publications
Consultation on the Environmental Liability (Prevention and Remediation) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DOE)
Consultation on New EU Rules to Safeguard the Welfare of Meat Chickens (Broilers) (DARD)
9. Agency Publications
Statistical Review of Northern Ireland Agriculture 2008 (DARD)