By Feargal O'Kane from NICVA
Published on 11 Jun 2007
An overview of business carried out at the Assembly from 04 June 2007 to 08 June 2007.
Monday 04 June
Executive Business
First Stage - Welfare Reform Bill
A Bill to make provision about social security and for connected purposes.
Minister for Social Development
Motion Accelerated passage Welfare Reform Bill
Proposed: That the Welfare Reform Bill proceed under the accelerated passage procedure, in accordance with Standing Order 40(4).
Minister for Social Development
Read the official report of this debate here.
Committee Business
Report on Devolution of Policing and Justice Matters
That this Assembly calls on the Assembly and Executive Review Committee to report, by 29 February 2008, on the work which needs to be undertaken, in accordance with section 18 of the Northern Ireland (St. Andrews Agreement) Act 2006 –
- (a) as to the preparations that the Assembly has made, and intends to make, having regard to paragraph 7 of the St. Andrews Agreement, for or in connection with policing and justice matters ceasing to be reserved matters;
- (b) as to which matters are likely to be the subject of any request under section 4(2A) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 that policing and justice matters should cease to be reserved matters; and
- (c) containing an assessment of whether the Assembly is likely to make such a request before 1 May 2008.
Chairperson of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee
Read the official report of this debate here.
Private Members Business
Single Farm Payments
Proposed: That this Assembly expresses serious concern at the unjustified delay in payment of Single Farm Payments to some farmers and calls on the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to initiate the Single Farm Payment timescale for 1st December to 31st March each year; and to ensure that no farm inspections relating to the Single Farm Payment scheme take place outside the timescale of the scheme.
G Savage & T Elliott
Read the official report of this debate here.
Rights of Caravan Owners
That this Assembly calls on the Minister of the Environment to put in place legislation, similar to that applying in the rest of the United Kingdom, to protect the rights of caravan owners on private sites in Northern Ireland.
Mr A Easton & Mr J Wells & Mr J Shannon
Read the official report of this debate here.
Shared Future Framework
That this Assembly endorses the documents entitled ‘A Shared Future: Policy and Strategic Framework for Good Relations in Northern Ireland’ and the ‘First Triennial Action Plan 2006-2009’, and calls upon the Executive to make the creation of a shared society a top priority.
Mrs N Long & Dr S Farry
Read the official report of this debate here.
Tuesday 05 June
Executive business
First Stage - Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill
A Bill to amend the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 in relation to the provision of health care; to amend the Smoking (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 to provide that in certain circumstances premises may not be smoke-free only in relation to performers; and for connected purposes.
Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Committee Business
Agriculture and Rural Development Committee (Room 144 at 2.00pm)
- Statutory Rule – Presentation by Departmental officials
- Ministerial visit from Michelle Gildernew MP, who will deliver a short presentation to the Committee and then answer questions from members.
Enterprise, Training and Investment Committee (Room 135 at 2.00pm)
Varney Review of Tax Policy in Northern Ireland
- DETI Finance Issues (June Monitoring Round, CSR 2007)
Attending:
Stephen Quinn (Perm Secretary),
Noel Lavery (Head of Management Services Group),
Trevor Cooper (Head of Finance & EU Programmes - EU Programmes
Attending:
Stephen Quinn (Perm Secretary),
Noel Lavery (Head of Management Services Group),
Trevor Cooper (Head of Finance & EU Programmes)
Private Members' Business
Rural Health Taskforce
That this Assembly calls for the establishment of a Rural Health Taskforce with the objective of delivering a focused and co-ordinated response to the health needs of people living in rural areas, including:
- a shared vision and co-ordination of activities;
- the development of strategic alliances;
- proper healthcare as part of a Bill of Rights; and
- an assessment of best practice and examination of how other European countries which share common borders deal with access to healthcare.
Ms C Ní Chuilín & Mr B McElduff
Provision of Speech and Language Therapy
That this Assembly notes the inequalities in the provision of speech and language therapy throughout Northern Ireland, and calls on the Executive to provide adequate and equitable resources and financial support.
Mr P Ramsey & Mr D Bradley
Commissioner for Older People
Proposed: That this Assembly calls upon the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to prioritise, as a matter of urgency, the appointment of a Commissioner for Older People, as previously supported by the Transitional Assembly.
Mrs M Bradley
Post Offices
That this Assembly notes the grave threat to rural communities with the closure of up to two hundred Post Offices in Northern Ireland, and calls upon the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister to use their office to support the retention of Post Offices by advocating the use of Post Office services for governmental and council business as far as is practicable.
Mr J Shannon & Lord Morrow & Mr A McQuillan
Wednesday 06 June
Regional Development Committee (Senate Chamber at 10.00am)
Finance and Personnel Committee (Room 152 at 10.00am)
- Varney Review – Taxation Policy and Economic Growth
- Briefing on DFP’s Proposed Bids and Easements for June Monitoring Round
Witnesses:
Chris Thompson, Head of Corporate Services Group,
Jim O’Hagan, Finance Director,
Deborah McNeilly, Assistant Finance Director - Briefing from DFP on Workplace 2010 and Public Sector Jobs Location
Witnesses:
Chris Thompson, Head of Corporate Services Group,
Olive Maybin, Communications Manager – Workplace 2010,
Emma Wilson, Project Manager – Public Sector Jobs Location.
Education and Learning Committee (Room 135 at 10.00am)
- Briefing from the Association of Northern Ireland Colleges (ANIC).
Attending:
Tom Place - Chairman
John D’Arcy – Chief Executive - Departmental Briefing on Pathways to Work / Welfare Reform.
Attending:
Patricia McAuley, Director, Preparation for Work Division, DEL
Jim Russell, Preparation for Work Division, DEL - Subordinate Legislation - Increase in holiday leave entitlement.
Attending
Greg McConnell, Deputy Secretary, DEL
Valerie Reilly, Employment Rights Branch, DEL
Thursday 7 June
Environment Committee (Room 144 at 10.00am)
- Taxis Bill
- Proposal for Secondary Legislation - SL1 - Irish Hare·
- Proposal for Secondary Legislation - SL1 – (Clean Air) – Smoke Control Regulations
Culture Arts and Leisure Committee (Room 152 at 10.30am)
- Forward Work Programme
- Terms of Reference for inquiry
- Presentation from Sport Northern Ireland
Attending:
Professor Eric Saunders,
Eamonn McCartan,
John News - Interim PfG 2007/2008
- Briefing from Departmental Officials
Social Development Committee (Room 135 at 11.00am)
- Draft Corporate/Business Plan 2007-2008 for the Department for Social Development
- Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy - Briefing by Department for Social Development officials
Attending:
John McGrath- Deputy Secretary-Urban Regeneration and Community Development Group,
Linda MacHugh-Director-Urban Regeneration Strategy Directorate,
Angela Clarke-Head of Neighbourhood Renewal Unit
Heath, Social Services and Public Safety (Senate Chamber at 2.30 pm)
Evidence session with the Royal College of Nursing Northern Ireland.
Friday 8 June
Education Committee (Room 135 at 10.00am)
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