Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

No. 21-09/10

MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS

MONDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2009

The Assembly met at noon, the Deputy Speaker (Mr Molloy) in the Chair

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Executive Committee Business

2.1 Statement - Recent Flooding in Fermanagh

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms Michelle Gildernew, made a statement to the Assembly regarding recent flooding in Fermanagh, following which she replied to questions.

2.2 First Stage - Pensions Regulator Tribunal (Transfer of Functions) Bill (NIA 4/09)

The Minister for Social Development, Ms Margaret Ritchie, introduced a Bill to transfer the functions of the Pension Regulator Tribunal; and for connected purposes.

Bill passed First Stage and ordered to be printed (NIA Bill 4/09).

2.3 First Stage - Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill (NIA 5/09)

The Minister of the Environment, Mr Edwin Poots, introduced a Bill to make provisions about biodiversity; to amend the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 and Part 4 of the Environment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002; to abolish game licences and game dealers’ licences; and for connected purposes.

Bill passed First Stage and ordered to be printed (NIA Bill 5/09).

2.4 Further Consideration Stage - Diseases of Animals Bill (NIA 22/07)

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development moved that the Further Consideration Stage of the Diseases of Animals Bill be agreed.

No amendments were tabled to the Bill.

Bill NIA 22/07 passed Further Consideration Stage and stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with Section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

3. Committee Business

3.1 Motion - Pay, Pensions and Financial Support for the Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly

The following motion stood on the Order Paper in the name of Mr S Neeson, Mr S Moutray, Rev Dr R Coulter and Mrs C Hanna.

That this Assembly approves the Assembly Commission’s Report on Pay, Pensions and Financial Support for Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly (November 2009); and makes the Northern Ireland Assembly (Members’ Expenditure) Determination 2009 and the Northern Ireland Assembly (Members’ Salaries) Determination 2009.

The Motion was not moved.

4. Private Members’ Business

4.1 Motion - Employment and Support Allowance

Proposed: That this Assembly urges the Minister for Social Development to urgently review the Administration of Employment and Support Allowance; and views with concern the adverse impact this benefit is having on the most vulnerable in our society.

[Mr M Brady]
[Ms C Ní Chuilín]
[Mr J O’Dowd]

Debate ensued.

Deputy Speaker (Mr McClarty) took the Chair.

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

4.2 Motion - North-South Co-operation

Proposed:That this Assembly recognises that North-South co-operation and implementation can deliver economic, social, infrastructural and other benefits for the people of Northern Ireland; notes the ongoing North-South Review examining (i) the efficiency and value-for-money of existing implementation bodies; and (ii) the case for additional bodies and areas of co-operation within the NSMC where mutual benefit would be derived; calls for immediate publication and public debate of all elements of the Review; and further calls for an acceleration of the development and enlargement of North-South opportunities, including, inter alia, a response to the economic downturn on this island.

[Mr A Attwood]
[Mr M Durkan]
[Mrs D Kelly]

4.3 Amendment

Proposed: Leave out all after ‘recognises’ and insert:

‘that balanced North/South and East/West co-operation can deliver benefits for the people of Northern Ireland; notes that the ongoing North/South review has yet to conclude; and welcomes the efficiencies imposed on the implementation bodies and Tourism Ireland Ltd.’

[Mr A Ross]
[Mr P Weir]

Debate ensued.

The Speaker took the Chair.

Debate suspended for Question Time.

5. Question Time

5.1 Education

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Education, Ms Caitríona Ruane.

5.2 Employment and Learning

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Employment and Learning, Sir Reg Empey.

6. Executive Committee Business (Cont’d)

6.1 Motion - North-South Co-operation (Cont’d)

Debate resumed on the motion.

The Amendment being put, the Amendment was made (Division 1).

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

7. Adjournment

Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn.

[The Speaker]

The Assembly adjourned at 4.56pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
30 November 2009

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

30 NOVEMBER 2009

DIVISIONS

Division No. 1

North-South Co-operation - Amendment

Proposed: Leave out all after ‘recognises’ and insert:

‘that balanced North/South and East/West co-operation can deliver benefits for the people of Northern Ireland; notes that the ongoing North/South review has yet to conclude; and welcomes the efficiencies imposed on the implementation bodies and Tourism Ireland Ltd.’

[Mr A Ross]
[Mr P Weir]

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 45
Noes: 44

Ayes

Mr Armstrong, Mr Beggs, Mr Bresland, Mr Buchanan, Mr Campbell, Mr T Clarke, Mr Cobain, Mr Craig, Mr Cree, Mr Dodds, Rt Hon J Donaldson, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Mr Gardiner, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Irwin, Mr Kennedy, Mr Kinahan, Mr McCallister, Mr McCausland, Mr B McCrea, Mr I McCrea, Dr W McCrea, Mr McFarland, Miss McIlveen, Mr McNarry, Mr McQuillan, Lord Morrow, Mr Moutray, Mr Newton, Mr Paisley Jnr, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Mrs I 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: Mr Ross and Mr Weir.

Noes

Ms Anderson, Mr Attwood, Mr Boylan, Mr D Bradley, Mrs M Bradley, Mr P J Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Brolly, Mr Burns, Mr Butler, Mr Dallat, Mr Doherty, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mr Gallagher, Ms Gildernew, Mrs Hanna, Mrs D Kelly, Mr G Kelly, Ms Lo, Mr A Maginness, Mr A Maskey, Mr P Maskey, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCarthy, Dr McDonnell, Mr McElduff, Mrs McGill, Mr McHugh, Mr McKay, Mr McLaughlin, Mr Molloy, Mr Murphy, Mr Neeson, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O’Dowd, Mr O’Loan, Mrs O’Neill, Mr P Ramsey, Ms S Ramsey, Ms Ritchie, Ms Ruane, Mr B Wilson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr D Bradley and Mr PJ Bradley.

The Amendment was made.

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

PAPERS PRESENTED TO THE ASSEMBLY FROM 25 – 30 November 2009

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly
2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Pensions Regulator Tribunal (Transfer of Functions) Bill (NIA Bill 4/09)

3. Orders in Council
4. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Annual Report on the Social Fund 2008/2009 (DSD)

Registrar General Northern Ireland Annual Report 2008 (NISRA)

Finance Accounts of Northern Ireland for the Financial Year 2008/09 (DFP)

5. Assembly Reports

Register of Members’ Interests (NIA 28/09/10R) (Committee on Standards and Privileges)

Report on Public Service Agreements – Measuring Performance (NIA 22/09/10R) (The Public Accounts Committee)

Report on the Pay, Pensions and Financial Support for Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly (NIA 30/09/10R) (Assembly Commission)

Sixth Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules (NIA 31/09/10R)

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

S.R. 2009/369 The Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (DFP)

S.R. 2009/370 The Education (General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (DE)

S.R. 20098/373 The Education (Student Support) (No 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 ( DEL)

S.R. 2009/377 The Materials and Articles in Contact with Food (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (DHSSPS)

S.R. 2009/382 The Housing Benefit (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (DSD)

S.R. 2009/392 The Social Fund (Applications and Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (DSD)

S.R. 2009/394 The Health and Personal Social Services (Prescribing and Charging Amendments Relating to Pandemic Influenza) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (DHSSPS)

For Information Only:

S.R. 2009/374 The Pensions (2005 Order) (Code of Practice) (Trustee Knowledge and Understanding) (Appointed Day) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009 (DSD)

7. Written Ministerial Statements
8. Consultation Documents

Consultation on the EU Emissions Trading Scheme Charging Scheme Northern Ireland (DOE)

Local Government Pension Scheme – Classroom Assistants (DOE)

Real Weight Requirements for Driving Test Vehicles (DOE)

9. Departmental Publications

Annual Report of the Social Fund Commissioner for Northern Ireland 2008-2009 (DSD)

Shaping the Future of Care Together (DSD)

Western Education and Library Board Annual Report and Accounts 2008/09 (DE)

10. Agency Publications
11. Westminster Publications

Evaluation of the West Belfast Community Safety Forum (Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland)

12. Miscellaneous Publications