This week in the Assembly - 9 March 2009

An overview of upcoming business at the Assembly from 9 to 13 March 2009.

Monday 9 March 2009

Executive Committee Business

Consideration Stage - Presumption of Death Bill (NIA 23/07)

Proposed by the Minister of Finance and Personnel.

Question Time

Questions to the Minister for Regional Development

West Tyrone MLA Thomas Buchanan will ask the Minister for Regional Development what financial commitment he has made to the upgrading of the A32, given its importance as a key transport corridor between Omagh and the new acute hospital in Enniskillen.

Lagan Valley MLA Basil McCrea will ask the Minister for his assessment of progress on the Belfast rapid transport scheme.

North Antrim MLA Mervyn Storey will ask the Minister for an update on the dualling of the A26.

South Antrim MLA David Ford will ask the Minister what contribution the Regional Transportation Strategy will make to the reduction of greenhouse gases.

Newry and Armagh MLA Cathal Boylan will ask the Minister for an update on public transport reform and to detail what progress has been made, with a timeframe for the reform.

Mid Ulster MLA Francis Molloy will ask the Minister what progress has been made on the Collaborative Spatial Planning Framework for the North West and across the island of Ireland.

Foyle MLA Mary Bradley will ask the Minister for his assessment of plans to slash rural transport and the importance of developing integrated public transport services.

South Down MLA Willie Clarke will ask the Minister for an update on the fundamental review of the Regional Development Strategy and to detail what public engagement has taken place to date.

Questions to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development

Strangford MLA Kieran McCarthy will ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what progress has been made on the environmental aspects of the Rural Development Programme.

South Down MLA Willie Clarke will ask the Minister for an update on the European Fisheries Fund and when it is expected to start.

East Antrim MLA Sean Neeson will ask the Minister what progress has been made on the rural life aspects of the Rural Development Programme.

East Antrim MLA David Hilditch will ask the Minister what plans her Department has to market the forests in the East Antrim area for outdoor pursuits.

Newry and Armagh MLA Cathal Boylan will ask the Minister what funding is paid to farmers to enhance the environment.

Upper Bann MLA Samuel Gardiner will ask the Minister for her assessment of the impact that changes in inheritance tax on conacre land will have on farming and rural communities.

East Antrim MLA Roy Beggs will ask the Minister what recommendations she has put forward in relation to voluntary and compulsory modulation to the EU Health Check.

Questions to the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure

South Antrim MLA Thomas Burns will ask the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, following his announcement on the proposed stadium at the Maze site, if he has sought additional funding from the Executive to provide additional resources for the elite facilities programme.

North Antrim MLA Declan O'Loan will ask the Minister what discussions his Department has had with the three sporting codes in relation to the future international standard sports stadia.

Newry and Armagh MLA Dominic Bradley will ask the Minister for an update on the formulation of the Irish Language Strategy and to outline which Irish Language groups he has met in the last month in relation to this strategy.

South Belfast MLA Anna Lo will ask the Minister for a progress report on the Lyric Theatre site.

South Down MLA PJ Bradley will ask the Minister for his assessment of the benefits for Northern Ireland arising from the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Strangford MLA David McNarry will ask the Minister when he will make an announcement on the upgrading of existing facilities for all the main sporting codes, within the timescale of the 2012 Olympic Games.

West Belfast MLA Sue Ramsey will ask the Minister to detail the level of support available from his Department to Creative Youth Partnerships.

Private Members' Business

Social Security Offices

DUP MLAs George Robinson, Adrian McQuillan and David Simpson have proposed a joint motion that: "this Assembly calls on the Minister for Social Development to withdraw her plans to revise services at Social Security Offices as recommended under the Strategic Business Review, following a similar decision being taken in England".

Country of Origin Labelling

DUP MLAs William Irwin and Edwin Poots have proposed a joint motion that: "this Assembly recognises the importance of adding value to local produce in an increasingly competitive international market; notes the benefits of having rigorous traceability systems; and calls on the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to ensure the early introduction of accurate country-of-origin labelling based on where animals are reared".

Tuesday 10 March 2009

Private Members' Business

Mortgage Rescue Plan

Sinn Fein MLAs Mickey Brady, Fra McCann, Caral Ni Chuilin and Jennifer McCann have proposed a joint motion that: "this Assembly expresses concern at the increasing levels of house repossessions and calls on the Minister for Social Development to bring forward a Mortgage Rescue Plan as soon as possible".

Dual Mandates

UUP MLAs Danny Kennedy and Tom Elliott have proposed a joint motion that: "this Assembly calls on the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to request the U.K. Government to bring forward legislation to prohibit dual mandates of the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and the U.K. Parliament".

Violence Against Teachers

SDLP MLAs Dominic Bradley and Mary Bradley have proposed a joint motion that: "this Assembly notes the increasing reports of violence towards school principals and teachers; and calls on the Minister of Education to address this matter urgently, by establishing a joint working party with the recognised teachers' unions, statutory agencies and other stakeholders, to ensure that uniform recording and reporting mechanisms are in place for all schools, that a training and awareness programme is developed for all teachers, and that principals and governors are provided with appropriate advice and guidance on dealing with violence against staff in schools".

Adjournment Debate

DUP MLA Ian Paisley Jnr has proposed an adjournment debate on "The Hope Centre, Ballymena".

Committee Business

Tuesday 10 March 2009
10.00am Committee for Education Room 21 - Ministerial Briefing on Transfer 2010 Arrangements
11.00am Assembly and Executive Review Committee Senate Chamber
12.30pm Business Committee (Closed) Room 106
Assembly Commission (Closed) Room 106

Wednesday 11 March 2009
10.00am Committee for Finance and Personnel Room 152
10.00am Committee for Employment and Learning Room 135
- Briefing from the Association of Sector Skills (ASSC) on the Committee's investigation into the way forward for apprenticeships.
- Briefing from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) on the Committee's investigation into the way forward for apprenticeships.
- Briefing from the NI Committee, Irish Congress of Trade Unions (NIC/ICTU) on Workplace Dispute Resolution.
- Departmental briefing on the Legislative Consent Motion on Apprenticeships, Children, Skills and Learning Bill
10.00am Committee for Education Room 144
10.30am Committee for Regional Development Room 21
2.00pm Committee on Standards and Privileges Room 135
2.00pm Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister Room 106

Thursday 12 March 2009
10.30am Committee for the Environment Visit to Armagh
- Committee inquiry into Climate Change
10.30am Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment Room 21
10.30am Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure Flowerfield
- Inquiry into the funding of the arts in NI Arts Centre, Portstewart
11.00am Committee for Social Development Room 135
- Social Housing - briefing by Habinteg Housing Association
- Fuel Poverty Measures - briefing by Antrim Borough Council
- Town Centre Regeneration - Clerk's paper
2.00pm Public Accounts Committee Intertrade - Evidence on NIAO report 'Financial Accounting Ireland,
and Reporting: Accountability of Newry
North / South Bodies 1999-2007'
2.00pm Committee for Health, Social Services and Senate
Public Safety Chamber
Committee for the Environment Visit to Armagh

All Party/All Party Assembly Group Meetings

All Party Group on Ethnic Minority Communities
Tuesday 10 March, Stormont, Room 144 at 12.00pm