No.14/06 (T.A.)
MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS
MONDAY 29 JANUARY 2007
The Assembly met at 10.30 am, the Speaker in the Chair
1. Personal Prayer or Meditation
Members observed two minutes’ silence.
2. New Assembly Member
2.1 The Speaker informed Members that Ms Dawn Purvis had been returned as a Member of the Assembly for the East Belfast constituency to fill the vacancy resulting from the death of Mr David Ervine.
Ms Purvis signed the Roll of Members. The Speaker confirmed that Ms Purvis had signed the Roll and had confirmed her designation of identity.
3. Committee Business
3.1 Motion – Report on Comprehensive Spending Review and Programme for Government; Rates Charges and Water Reform
That this Assembly takes note of the Report from the Committee on the Programme for Government on the Comprehensive Spending Review and Programme for Government; Rates Charges and Water Reform, and calls on the Secretary of State and / or the incoming Executive to take action to implement the recommendations in the Report.
[Chairpersons, Committee on the Programme for Government]
Debate ensued.
Deputy Speaker (Mr Jim Wells) in the Chair.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
4. Private Members’ Business
4.1 Motion – North-South Co-operation
That this Assembly recognises the increasing significance of North-South co-operation in a range of sectors such as health, agriculture, education, research and development, and on a range of infrastructure projects such as roads and public transport, energy and tourism; and calls for an intensification of such co-operation to maximise the mutual benefit to the people of the whole island.
[Dr S Farren]
[Ms M Ritchie]
4.2 Amendment No. 1
Proposed: Leave out all after ‘recognises’ and insert:
‘the potential of North-South co-operation in a range of sectors; and calls upon Government to ensure that such co-operation is based upon practical, economic considerations, not politics; and, that in entering into any co-operative arrangements, the interests of the people of Northern Ireland are the primary consideration; and further notes that the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006 ensures that all North-South structures will be fully accountable to the Northern Ireland Assembly.’
[Lord Morrow]
The Speaker in the Chair.
4.3 Amendment No. 2
Proposed: Insert after the first ‘of’:
‘East-West and’; and
Leave out all after ‘benefit’ and insert:
‘to the peoples of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.’
[Mr D McClarty]
Debate ensued.
Deputy Speaker (Mr Francie Molly) in the Chair.
Amendment No.1 being put, the Amendment fell (Division 1).
Amendment No.2 being put, the Amendment fell (Division 2).
The Question being put, the Motion was negatived (Division 3).
4.4 Motion – Muckamore Abbey Hospital
That this Assembly expresses concern that more than 100 adults and young people with learning disabilities have been forced to remain in Muckamore Abbey Hospital, Antrim – some for periods extending to several years – because appropriate care within the community is not available; demands a full inquiry into the situation to ensure it cannot occur again; recognises the frequently undervalued contribution of staff, families and carers; and calls upon Government to implement urgently the recommendations of the Equal Lives Learning Disability Report of the Bamford Mental Health Review.
[Rev Dr I Paisley MP]
[Mrs I Robinson MP]
Debate ensued.
The Speaker in the Chair.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
4.5 Motion – Liquor Licences
That this Assembly calls upon the Minister with responsibility for the Department for Social Development to ensure that no action will be taken with regard to furthering the proposed abolition of the “surrender principle” for liquor licences, as proposed by the Northern Ireland Liquor Licensing review; and further calls for this issue to be dealt with by a restored Northern Ireland Assembly.
[Mr P McGlone]
[Dr E Birnie]
[Mr J Donaldson MP]
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
4.6 Motion – Tie-Up Aid
That this Assembly calls upon the Minister with responsibility for Agriculture and Rural Development to implement a Tie-Up Aid package for fishermen in Northern Ireland affected by the spring closure of the Irish Sea.
[Mr J Wells]
[Mr J Shannon]
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.
5. Adjournment
5.1 Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn.
[The Speaker]
The Assembly adjourned at 5.58 pm.
Mrs Eileen Bell
The Speaker
29 January 2007
29 JANUARY 2007
DIVISIONS
Division No 1
Proposed: Leave out all after ‘recognises’ and insert:
‘the potential of North-South co-operation in a range of sectors; and calls upon Government to ensure that such co-operation is based upon practical, economic considerations, not politics; and, that in entering into any co-operative arrangements, the interests of the people of Northern Ireland are the primary consideration; and further notes that the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006 ensures that all North-South structures will be fully accountable to the Northern Ireland Assembly.’
[Lord Morrow]
The Question was put and the Assembly divided.
Ayes : 21
Noes : 32
Ayes
Paul Berry, Thomas Buchanan, Gregory Campbell, Wilson Clyde, George Dawson, Nigel Dodds, Jeffrey Donaldson, Alex Easton, Arlene Foster, Paul Girvan, William Hay, Lord Morrow, Stephen Moutray, Ian R K Paisley, Edwin Poots, George Robinson, Peter Robinson, Jim Shannon, David Simpson, Mervyn Storey, Peter Weir.
Tellers for the Ayes: Arlene Foster and Paul Girvan.
Noes
Gerry Adams, Alex Attwood, Dominic Bradley, Mary Bradley, Francie Brolly, Thomas Burns, Willie Clarke, John Dallat, Mark Durkan, Sean Farren, David Ford, Tommy Gallagher, Carmel Hanna, Dolores Kelly, Gerry Kelly, Alban Maginness, Fra McCann, Kieran McCarthy, Raymond McCartney, Patsy McGlone, Philip McGuigan, Martin McGuinness, Mitchel McLaughlin, Eugene McMenamin, Sean Neeson, John O'Dowd, Tom O'Reilly, Sue Ramsey, Margaret Ritchie, Caitriona Ruane, Kathy Stanton.
Vote on vacancy in Membership [Michael Ferguson (deceased)]: Gerry Adams.
Tellers for the Noes: Thomas Burns and John Dallat.
The Amendment fell.
29 JANUARY 2007
DIVISIONS
Division No 2
Proposed: Insert after the first ‘of’:
‘East-West and’; and
Leave out all after ‘benefit’ and insert:
‘to the peoples of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.’
[Mr D McClarty]
The Question was put and the Assembly divided.
Ayes : 17
Noes : 33
Ayes
Billy Armstrong, Roy Beggs, Billy Bell, Esmond Birnie, Michael Copeland, Robert Coulter, Reg Empey, Samuel Gardiner, Norman Hillis, Derek Hussey, Danny Kennedy, David McClarty, Alan McFarland, Michael McGimpsey, David McNarry, Ken Robinson, Jim Wilson.
Tellers for the Ayes: Billy Armstrong and Norman Hillis.
Noes
Gerry Adams, Alex Attwood, Dominic Bradley, Mary Bradley, Francie Brolly, Thomas Burns, Willie Clarke, John Dallat, Mark Durkan, Sean Farren, David Ford, Tommy Gallagher, Carmel Hanna, Dolores Kelly, Gerry Kelly, Alban Maginness, Fra McCann, Kieran McCarthy, Raymond McCartney, Alasdair McDonnell, Patsy McGlone, Philip McGuigan, Martin McGuinness, Mitchel McLaughlin, Eugene McMenamin, Sean Neeson, John O'Dowd, Tom O'Reilly, Sue Ramsey, Margaret Ritchie, Caitriona Ruane, Kathy Stanton.
Vote on vacancy in Membership [Michael Ferguson (deceased)]: Gerry Adams.
Tellers for the Noes: Thomas Burns and John Dallat.
The Amendment fell.
29 JANUARY 2007
DIVISIONS
Division No 3
Proposed: That this Assembly recognises the increasing significance of North-South co-operation in a range of sectors such as health, agriculture, education, research and development, and on a range of infrastructure projects such as roads and public transport, energy and tourism; and calls for an intensification of such co-operation to maximise the mutual benefit to the people of the whole island.
[Dr S Farren]
[Ms M Ritchie]
The Question was put and the Assembly divided.
Ayes : 33
Noes : 39
Ayes
Gerry Adams, Alex Attwood, Dominic Bradley, Mary Bradley, Francie Brolly, Thomas Burns, Willie Clarke, John Dallat, Mark Durkan, Sean Farren, David Ford, Tommy Gallagher, Carmel Hanna, Dolores Kelly, Gerry Kelly, Alban Maginness, Fra McCann, Kieran McCarthy, Raymond McCartney, Alasdair McDonnell, Patsy McGlone, Philip McGuigan, Martin McGuinness, Mitchel McLaughlin, Eugene McMenamin, Sean Neeson, John O'Dowd, Tom O'Reilly, Sue Ramsey, Margaret Ritchie, Caitriona Ruane, Kathy Stanton.
Vote on vacancy in Membership [Michael Ferguson (deceased)]: Gerry Adams.
Tellers for the Ayes: Thomas Burns and Margaret Ritchie.
Noes
Billy Armstrong, Roy Beggs, Billy Bell, Paul Berry, Esmond Birnie, Thomas Buchanan, Gregory Campbell, Wilson Clyde, Michael Copeland, Robert Coulter, George Dawson, Nigel Dodds, Jeffrey Donaldson, Alex Easton, Reg Empey, Arlene Foster, Samuel Gardiner, Paul Girvan, William Hay, Norman Hillis, Derek Hussey, Danny Kennedy, David McClarty, Alan McFarland, Michael McGimpsey, David McNarry, Lord Morrow, Stephen Moutray, Ian R K Paisley, Edwin Poots, George Robinson, Iris Robinson, Ken Robinson, Peter Robinson, Jim Shannon, David Simpson, Mervyn Storey, Peter Weir, Jim Wilson.
Tellers for the Noes: Billy Armstrong and Arlene Foster.
The Motion was negatived.