No. 18-10/11

Minute of Proceedings
Monday 15 November 2010

The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair.

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Matters of the Day

Mr Gregory Campbell made a statement, under Standing Order 24, in relation to a s oldier killed in Afghanistan. Party representatives were also called to speak on the matter.

3. Speaker’s Business

The Speaker informed Members that he had been notified by the Chief Electoral Officer that Mr Pól Callaghan had been returned as a Member of the Assembly for the Foyle constituency to fill the vacancy that resulted from the resignation of Mr Mark Durkan.

Mr Pól Callaghan had signed the Roll of Members in the presence of the Speaker and the Clerk/Director General. The Speaker confirmed that Mr Pól Callaghan had signed the Roll and had entered his designation of identity.

4. Executive Committee Business

4.1 Statement - North-South Ministerial Council Language Sectoral Meeting

The Deputy Speaker (Mr McClarty) took the Chair.

The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Mr Nelson McCausland, made a statement to the Assembly regarding the North-South Ministerial Council Language Sectoral meeting, held on 3 November 2010, following which he replied to questions.

4.2 Statement - North-South Ministerial Council Inland Waterways Sectoral Meeting

The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Mr Nelson McCausland, made a statement to the Assembly regarding the North-South Ministerial Council Inland Waterways Sectoral meeting, held on 3 November 2010, following which he replied to questions.

5. Committee Business

5.1 First Stage - Assembly Members (Independent Financial Review and Standards) Bill (NIA Bill 3/10)

Mr Peter Weir, on behalf of the Assembly Commission, and Mr Declan O’Loan, Chairperson of the Committee on Standards and Privileges, introduced a Bill to make provision for a Panel to determine the salaries, allowances, pensions and gratuities payable to members and former members of the Northern Ireland Assembly; to make provision for a Northern Ireland Assembly Commissioner for Standards; and for connected purposes.

Bill passed First Stage and ordered to be printed (NIA Bill 3/10).

5.2 Motion - Statutory Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Ms Anna Lo replace Mr Trevor Lunn as a member of the Committee for Regional Development.

Mr K McCarthy
Mr C Lyttle
Mr S Neeson

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

5.3 Motion - Standing Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Dr Stephen Farry replace Ms Anna Lo as a member of the Audit Committee.

Mr K McCarthy
Mr C Lyttle
Mr S Neeson

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

5.4 Motion - Payment of Pensions, Gratuities or Allowances

Proposed:

That this Assembly resolves that, in accordance with section 48 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, the Assembly Commission may make provision for the payment of pensions, gratuities or allowances to, or in respect of, any person who (a) has ceased to be a member of the Assembly; (b) has ceased to be Attorney General for Northern Ireland; or (c) has ceased to hold an office within section 48 (1A) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 but continues to be a member of the Assembly.

Mr P Weir
Mr P Doherty
Mr P Ramsey
Rev Dr R Coulter
Mr S Neeson

Debate ensued.

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

6. Private Members’ Business

6.1 First Stage - Apartment Developments’ Management Reform Bill (NIA Bill 4/10)

Mr Kieran McCarthy introduced a Bill to introduce laws relating to the ownership and management of the common areas of certain privately owned residential multi-unit developments and to facilitate the fair, efficient and effective management of bodies responsible for the management of such common areas, and to provide for related matters.

Bill passed First Stage and ordered to be printed (NIA Bill 4/10).

6.2 Motion - Protection of Quarry and Construction Industries

Proposed:

That this Assembly, while noting the Treasury's commitment to introduce a replacement for the current Aggregates Levy Credit Scheme from April 2011, expresses its concern over the decision to end Northern Ireland's 80 per cent derogation on 1 December 2010; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to take all possible steps, including working at Treasury and EU level, to protect the quarry industry, the construction industry and Northern Ireland's wider economy against the implications of this decision and the decision of the EU General Court.

Mr T Gallagher
Mr P McGlone

Debate ensued.

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

The sitting was suspended at 2.21pm.

The sitting resumed at 2.30pm, with the Speaker in the Chair.

7. Question Time

7.1 Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister

Questions were put to, and answered by, the deputy First Minister, Mr Martin McGuinness.

7.2 Justice

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Justice, Mr David Ford.

8. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 3.35pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
15 November 2010

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly from
10 to 15 November 2010

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

Equality Commission for Northern Ireland - Annual Report and Accounts 2009-2010 (OFMDFM)

Driver and Vehicle Agency Annual Report and Accounts 2009-10 (DOE)

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

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

S.R. 2010/369 The Smoke Control Areas (Exempted Fireplaces) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 (DOE)

S.R. 2010/371 The Road Traffic Fixed Penalty (Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 (DOE)

S.R. 2010/372 The Road Traffic Fixed Penalty (Procedure) (Vehicle Examiners) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 (DOE)

S.R. 2010/373 The Occupational, Personal and Stakeholder Pension Schemes (Disclosure of Information) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 (DSD)

S.R. 2010/374 Electricity (Guarantees of Origin of Electricity Produced from Renewable Energy Sources) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 (DETI)

S.R. 2010/375 The Health and Personal Social Services (General Medical Services Contracts) (Prescription of Drugs Etc) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 (DHSSPS)

S.R. 2010/376 The Health and Personal Social Services (Primary Medical Services Performers Lists) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 (DHSSPS)

For Information Only:

S.R. 2010/370 (C.23) The Road Traffic (2007 Order) (Commencement No.6) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010 (DOE)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

Consultation on the Zoonoses (Fees) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2011 (DARD)

9. Departmental Publications

A Sustainable State Pension: when the State Pension age will increase to 66 (DSD)

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications