No. 58-08/09
MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 26 MAY 2009
The Assembly met at 10.30 am, the Speaker in the Chair
1. Personal Prayer or Meditation
Members observed two minutes’ silence.
2. Matters of the Day - Mr Kevin McDaid
2.1 Mr Gerry Kelly made a statement, under Standing Order 24, in relation to the murder of Mr Kevin McDaid in Coleraine. Representatives from each of the other Parties were called to speak on the matter.
3. Executive Committee Business
3.1 Statement - Short-Term Aid Scheme for business in Northern Ireland
The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Mrs Arlene Foster, made a statement to the Assembly regarding the short-term aid scheme for business in Northern Ireland, following which she replied to questions.
The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) in the chair.
3.2 Statement - Training in the Economic Downturn
The Minister for Employment and Learning, Sir Reg Empey, made a statement to the Assembly regarding training in the economic downturn, following which he replied to questions.
3.3 Statement - NSMC Aquaculture and Marine Sectoral Format
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms Michelle Gildernew, made a statement to the Assembly regarding NSMC Aquaculture and Marine sectoral format, following which she replied to questions.
3.4 Motion - Social Security (Lone Parents and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (NI) 2008
Proposed: That the Social Security (Lone Parents and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 be approved.
[Minister for Social Development]
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried (Division No. 1).
The sitting was suspended at 1.03 pm.
The sitting resumed at 2.00 pm, with the Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) in the chair.
4. Private Members’ Business
4.1 Motion - Educational Underachievement
Proposed: That this Assembly urges the Minister of Education to put in place more efficient, targeted measures to deal with educational underachievement rather than relying on the mechanism of free school meal entitlement.
[Mr B McCrea]
[Mr T Elliott]
4.2 Amendment No. 1
Proposed: Leave out all after ‘Assembly’ and insert :
‘recognises the relationship between educational underachievement and social deprivation and that the use of free school meal entitlement is a robust indicator of children from low income households; further recognises that educational underachievement is caused by a range of social and economic factors; and urges all the Executive Departments to tackle these factors in a joined up way.’
[Mr J O’Dowd]
[Ms M O’Neill]
4.3 Amendment No. 2
Proposed: At end insert :
‘; and notes the issue of underachievement of boys, and specifically boys from deprived Protestant areas, as identified by reports commissioned by NISRA into the literacy and numeracy of pupils; and calls on the Minister of Education to outline what action her Department is taking to address this specific problem.’
[Mr N McCausland]
[Mr M Storey]
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
6.1 Motion - Educational Underachievement (cont’d)
Debate resumed on the Motion.
Amendment No. 1 being put, the Amendment was made (Division No. 2).
Amendment No. 2 being put, the Amendment was made without division.
The Question being put, the Motion, as amended, was carried without division.
6.2 Motion - Race Relations
Proposed: That this Assembly calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to review the current Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997,in view of the fact that the current law does not offer the same levels of protection as in other parts of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, and also given the d eficiencies in the Race Relations Order (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2003.
[Ms A Lo]
[Ms J McCann]
[Ms D Purvis]
[Mr D O’Loan]
Debate ensued.
The Deputy Speaker (Mr Molloy) in the chair.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
7. Adjournment
Dr William McCrea spoke to his topic on Redundancies at Nortel.
Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn.
[The Speaker]
The Assembly adjourned at 7.16 pm.
Mr William Hay
The Speaker
26 May 2009
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
26 MAY 2009
DIVISIONS
Division No. 1
Social Security (Lone Parents and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (NI) 2008 - Motion
Proposed: That the Social Security (Lone Parents and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 be approved.
[Minister for Social Development]
The Question was put and the Assembly divided.
Noes: 17
Ayes
Mr Armstrong, Mr Attwood, Mr D Bradley, Mrs M Bradley, Mr P J Bradley, Mr Buchanan, Mr Burns, Mr Campbell, Mr Cobain, Rev Dr Robert Coulter, Mr Cree, Mr Dodds, Rt Hon J Donaldson, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Sir Reg Empey, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mrs Foster, Mr Gallagher, Mr Gardiner, Mr Hamilton, Mrs Hanna, Mr Hilditch, Mrs D Kelly, Mr Kennedy, Ms Lo, Mr McCallister, Mr McCarthy, Mr B McCrea, Mr I McCrea, Dr W McCrea, Dr McDonnell, Mr McFarland, Mr McNarry, Lord Morrow, Mr Newton, Mr O’Loan, Mr P Ramsey, Ms Ritchie, Mr G Robinson, Mr K Robinson, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Shannon, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir.
Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Burns and Mrs Hanna.
Noes
Ms Anderson, Mr Boylan, Mr Brady, Mr Butler, Mr W Clarke, Mr A Maskey, Mr P Maskey, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Mr McElduff, Mrs McGill, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O’Dowd, Mrs O’Neill, Ms Purvis, Ms S Ramsey.
Tellers for the Noes: Mr Brady and Mr F McCann.
The Motion was carried.
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
26 MAY 2009
DIVISIONS
Division No. 2
Educational Underachievement - Amendment No. 1
Proposed: Leave out all after ‘Assembly’ and insert :
‘recognises the relationship between educational underachievement and social deprivation and that the use of free school meal entitlement is a robust indicator of children from low income households; further recognises that educational underachievement is caused by a range of social and economic factors; and urges all the Executive Departments to tackle these factors in a joined up way.’
[Mr J O’Dowd]
[Ms M O’Neill]
The Question was put and the Assembly divided.
Ayes: 38
Noes: 26
Ayes
Ms Anderson, Mr Attwood, Mr Boylan, Mr D Bradley, Mrs M Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Brolly, Mr Burns, Mr Butler, Mr W Clarke, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Ms Gildernew, Mrs Hanna, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Ms Lo, Mrs Long, Mr Lunn, Mr A Maskey, Mr P Maskey, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCartney, Mr McElduff, Mrs McGill, Mr M McGuinness, Mr Molloy, Mr Neeson, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O’Dowd, Mr O’Loan, Mrs O’Neill, Mr P Ramsey, Ms S Ramsey, Ms Ruane, Mr B Wilson.
Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Brady and Ms S Ramsey.
Noes
Mr Beggs, Mr Buchanan, Mr T Clarke, Mr Cree, Rt Hon J Donaldson, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Mrs Foster, Mr Hamilton, Mr Kennedy, Mr McCallister, Mr B McCrea, Mr I McCrea, Dr W McCrea, Mr McFarland, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Newton, Mr G Robinson, Mr K Robinson, Rt Hon P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Shannon, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir.
Tellers for the Noes: Mr Elliott and Mr Kennedy.
Amendment No. 1 was agreed.
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY FROM
20 TO 26 MAY 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
Department of Finance and Personnel Memorandum on the Ninth Report from the Public Accounts Committee Session 2007-2008: Road Openings by Utilities (NIA 125/08-09)
Sixteenth Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules (NIA 135/08-09)
5. Assembly Reports
6. Statutory Rules
(The Department identified after each rule is for reference purposes only.)
S.R. 2009/X Lands Tribunal (Salaries) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DFP)
S.R. 2009/188 The Health and Personal Social Services (Superannuation Scheme and Injury Benefits) and Health and Social Care (Pension Scheme) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DHSSPS)
S.R. 2009/191 Pharmaceutical Services and Charges for Drugs and Appliances (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DHSSPS)
S.R. 2009/192 The Health and Safety Information for Employees (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DETI)
S.R. 2009/195 The Domestic Energy Efficiency Grants Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DSD)
S.R. 2009/197 The Ardnavalley Park, Comber (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DRD)
S.R. 2009/198 The Ballycloughan Road (U214), Saintfield (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DRD)
For Information Only :
S.R. 2009/196 The Extinguishment of Right to Use Vehicles on Roads (Armagh) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DRD)
S.R. 2009/199 The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Portrush) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DRD)
S.R. 2009/200 The Parking Places on Roads (Warrenpoint) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 (DRD)
7. Written Ministerial Statements
8. Consultation Documents
NITB Screening for Equality Impact Assessment: 1 October 2008 - 31 March 2009
9. Departmental Publications
10. Agency Publications
11. Westminster Publications
12. 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
B
ill.
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 26 MAY 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 |
18.03.09 |
||||
*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 |
09.03.09 |
30.03.09 |
27.04.09 |
|
/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 |
06.03.09 |
Financial Provisions Bill NIA Bill 6/08 |
23.02.09 |
03.03.09 |
13.05.09 |
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 |