Minutes of Proceedings
Session: Session currently unavailable
Date: 13 May 2024
The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair.
1. Prayers
Members observed two minutes’ silence.
2. Speaker’s Business
2.1 Deputy Chairperson Resignation
The Speaker informed Members that he had received, on Thursday 9 May 2024, notification of the resignation of Miss Deirdre Hargey as Deputy Chairperson of the Committee of Justice with immediate effect, and that he was satisfied that the requirements of the relevant Standing Order had been met.
2.2 Ministerial Appointment
The Speaker informed Members that the nominating officer for Sinn Féin had nominated Miss Deirdre Hargey to replace Mr Conor Murphy as Minister for the Economy and that Miss Hargey accepted the nomination and affirmed the pledge of office in the presence of the Principal Deputy Speaker and the Clerk/Chief Executive on Thursday 9 May 2024.
3. Members’ Statements
Under Standing Order 24A, the following Members made a statement to the Assembly:
Mrs Linda Dillon
Ms Diane Forsythe
Mr Danny Donnelly
Mr Tom Elliott
Mr Mark Durkan
Ms Liz Kimmins
Mr Phillip Brett
Mr John Blair
Mrs Ciara Ferguson
Mrs Deborah Erskine
Ms Kate Nicholl
Mr Jonathan Buckley
Mr Daniel McCrossan
4. Opposition Business
4.1 Motion: Programme for Government
Proposed:
That this Assembly notes that the devolved institutions have now been restored for 100 days; recognises the challenging financial situation facing the Executive; acknowledges the need for an improved fiscal framework that recognises the underfunding of public services in Northern Ireland; further notes that the parties now in the Executive engaged with the Northern Ireland Civil Service on Programme for Government commitments for a sustained period prior to the restoration of devolved government; regrets that the Executive has yet to confirm a date for the publication of a Programme for Government in its first 100 days in office; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to commit to publishing a Programme for Government, or a summary of key planned Programme for Government outcomes, before the Assembly summer recess.
Leader of the Opposition
Amendment:
Proposed:
Leave out from ‘regrets’ to ‘office’ and insert:
‘further recognises that there is Executive agreement on priorities, including childcare, reducing hospital waiting lists, tackling violence against women and girls, Special Educational Needs, housing, developing a globally competitive economy, and Reform and Transformation of public services’
Mr Brian Kingston
Mr Harry Harvey
Debate ensued.
The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.
The sitting was suspended at 1.55 pm.
The sitting resumed at 2.00pm, the Speaker in the chair.
5. Question Time
5.1 The Executive Office
Questions were put to, and answered by, the deputy First Minister, Mrs Emma Little-Pengelly. The Junior Minister, Mrs Pam Cameron, also answered a number of questions.
5.2 Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Mr Andrew Muir.
6. Opposition Business (cont’d)
6.1 Motion: Programme for Government (cont’d)
Debate resumed
The Question being put, the amendment was made.
The Question being put, the motion was as amended was carried.
The Principal deputy Speaker took the Chair.
6.2 Motion: Independent Environmental Protection Agency
Proposed:
That this Assembly declares an ecological and biodiversity crisis; acknowledges the complex characteristics of biodiversity and ecological breakdown in Lough Neagh which includes high concentrations of phosphates and nitrates from agricultural runoff, the durability of the waste water infrastructure, the impact of invasive species and the catalyst of higher temperatures caused by the climate crisis; notes the resolution of this Assembly to address management of the Lough; and calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to address the ecological crisis by bringing forward legislation to establish an Independent Environmental Protection Agency by the end of this Assembly mandate.
Leader of the Opposition
Amendment:
Proposed:
After ‘bringing forward’ and insert:
‘a review of environmental governance, including potential’
Mr Tom Elliott
Mr Doug Beattie
Mr Robbie Butler
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the amendment was negatived (Division).
The Question being put, the motion was carried.
The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.
6.3 Motion: Devolution of VAT for Hospitality
Proposed:
That this Assembly recognises the pressures facing hospitality and tourism businesses across Northern Ireland; notes the impact of additional rates bills on top of energy and other cost increases; further notes the impact of inflation caused by the chaotic fiscal interventions of successive Conservative Party governments; notes the vital importance of tourism and hospitality businesses to local economic development; and calls on the Minister of Finance and the Minister for the Economy to bring forward a package of costed interventions to support the sector, including options for the devolution of VAT for hospitality to fortify this important sector and create the conditions for jobs growth.
Leader of the Opposition
Amendment:
Proposed:
After ‘devolution of VAT for hospitality’ insert:
‘, and an independent review of non-domestic rate reliefs’
Mr Eóin Tennyson
Mr David Honeyford
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the amendment was made.
The Question being put, the motion as amended was carried.
7. Adjournment
Proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
The Speaker
The Assembly adjourned at 6.24pm.
Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
13 May 2024
Northern Ireland Assembly
13 May 2024 – Division
Motion: Devolution of VAT for Hospitality - Amendment
Proposed:
After ‘devolution of VAT for hospitality’ insert:
‘, and an independent review of non-domestic rate reliefs’
Mr Eóin Tennyson
Mr David Honeyford
The Question was put and the Assembly divided.
Ayes: 28
Noes: 41
AYES
Mr Allister, Mr Beattie, Mr Brett, Mr Brooks, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Elliott, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Middleton, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Robinson, Mr Stewart.
Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Butler, Mr Nesbitt.
NOES
Dr Archibald, Mr Baker, Mr Blair, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Carroll, Mr Delargy, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dillon, Mr Donnelly, Mr Durkan, Ms Eastwood, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Ferguson, Miss Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Mr Honeyford, Ms Hunter, Mr Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mrs Long, Mr McAleer, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McMurray, Mr McNulty, Mr McReynolds, Mrs Mason, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Miss Á Murphy, Ms Nicholl, Mr O'Dowd, Mr O'Toole, Ms Reilly, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Tennyson.
Tellers for the Noes: Mr Durkan, Ms McLaughlin.
The amendment was negatived.
Northern Ireland Assembly
Papers Presented to the Assembly on 8 May 2024 to 13 May 2024.
1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly
2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly
3. Orders in Council
4. Statutory Rules
Draft SI 2024/0000 The Human Medicines (Amendments Relating to Registered Dental Hygienists, Registered Dental Therapists and Registered Pharmacy Technicians) Regulations 2024 (Department of Health)
SR 2024/107 The Universal Credit (Administrative Earnings Threshold) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Communities)
Draft SR 2024/No. The Human Medicines (Amendment Relating to Original Pack Dispensing) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department of Health)
SR 2024/108 The Planning (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Infrastructure)
5. Legislative Consent Memorandums
Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Bill (Department of Justice)
6. Assembly Reports
Report on Legislative Consent Memorandum – Pet Abduction Private Member’s Bill (UK Government). (Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)
Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committee Thirteenth Report of Session 2023 – 2024 (Northern Ireland Assembly)
7. Written Ministerial Statements
8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly
Mineral Development and Petroleum Production Receipts and Payments Accounts for 2022/23 (Department for the Economy)
Advancing Shared Education - 4th Report to the Northern Ireland Assembly, May 2024 (Department of Education)
The Northern Ireland Assembly Members’ Pension Fund Annual Report Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023 (NIA25/22-27) (Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland)
