Assembly Monitor 20 June 2011
Assembly Monitor is a weekly update on the work of the NI Assembly and in particular the issues which are of interest to the voluntary and community sector.
We have linked the Assembly Monitor to the official record Hansard and the MLAs to their Assembly profile pages.
- Last week at the Assembly
- Monday 13 June
- Tuesday 14 June
- This week at the Assembly
- Monday 20 June
- Executive Committee Business - Second Stage – Budget (No.2) Bill
- Questions to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
- Questions to the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
- Committee Business
- Private Members’ Business – Reduction of Coastguard Services
- Private Members’ Business - Mortgage Relief Scheme
- Tuesday 21 June
- Committees
- Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development
- Wednesday 22 June
- Committee for Employment and Learning
- Committee for Education
- Committee for Regional Development
- Committee for Finance and Personnel
- Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety
- Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister
- Thursday 23 June
- Committee for Social Development
- Committee for the Environment
- Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure
- Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment
- Committee for Justice
Last week at the Assembly
Monday 13 June
Matters of the Day
Mr Brian Lenihan
The Speaker allowed members to make a statement on the death of Brian Lenihan. A number of members spoke.
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh: Ninetieth Birthday
The Speaker also allowed members to speak on the Duke of Edinburgh’s Ninetieth Birthday.
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Executive Committee Business
The Minister of Finance and Personnel (Mr S Wilson) proposed two motions:
Motion – Supply Resolution for the Northern Ireland Main Estimates 2011-12
That this Assembly approves that a sum, not exceeding £8,141,695,000, be granted out of the Consolidated Fund, for or towards defraying the charges for Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Audit Office, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2012 and that resources, not exceeding £8,656,468,000, be authorised for use by Northern Ireland Departments, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Audit Office, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2012 as summarised for each Department or other public body in Columns 3 (b) and 3 (a) of Table 1.3 in the volume of the Northern Ireland Estimates 2011-12 that was laid before the Assembly on 6 June 2011.
Motion – Supply Resolution for the 2009-2010 Excess Votes
The Minister of Finance and Personnel (Mr S Wilson) will propose:
That this Assembly approves that a sum, not exceeding £23,278,781.13, be granted out of the Consolidated Fund, for or towards defraying the charges for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for the year ending 31 March 2010 and that resources, not exceeding £17,836,994.70, be authorised for use by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Department of Education Teachers’ Superannuation, for the year ending 31 March 2010, as summarised for each Department in Part II of the 2009-2010 Statement of Excesses that was laid before the Assembly on 6 June 2011.
This debate was for the Executive to be given the authority to draw down a proportion of the budget for this financial year. The estimates set out detailed spending limits based on the budget, and provide the basis for the Northern Ireland Executive to seek authority from the Northern Ireland Assembly for funding.
During the debate a number of members spoke.
Both motions were passed.
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First Stage – Budget (No.2) Bill (NIA 1/11-15)
The Minister of Finance and Personnel (Mr S Wilson) introduced the First Stage of the Budget (No.2) Bill.
The Bill passed the First Stage and was ordered to be printed.
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Question Time
Questions to the Minister of Employment and Learning
Mr J Byrne (West Tyrone, SDLP) asked the Minister for Employment and Learning whether he has had any discussions with his ministerial colleagues about forward planning for implementation of the Pathways to Success strategy.
Dr S Farry (The Minister for Employment and Learning): My Department has taken the lead on behalf of the Executive in developing a draft cross-departmental strategy to tackle the issues facing those young people who are not in education, employment or training. Pathways to Success is out for consultation, the closing date for which is 30 June. During the previous mandate, that draft strategy was discussed by the Executive, and it was the subject of a major cross-party review by the previous Committee for Employment and Learning. The development of the strategy involved seven Departments in addition to mine. Responses to the consultation will help to inform the development of a final strategy, including a cross-departmental delivery mechanism.
Following further engagement with the Committee for Employment and Learning, I intend to bring the strategy to the Executive at the earliest opportunity. At that stage, I expect further engagement with Executive colleagues about forward planning for its implementation, and I will report back on the outcomes of the consultation.
It is through that process that I expect Departments to commit to playing a full role in tackling this important issue. The issue will not be resolved overnight, but I am committed to moving this important work forward in and across the Executive.
Mr P Maskey (West Belfast, Sinn Fein) asked the Minister for Employment and Learning what action he has taken to ensure the retention of the Education Maintenance Allowance.
Dr S Farry (The Minister for Employment and Learning): First, I should stress that there are no plans to abolish education maintenance allowance (EMA) in Northern Ireland, and the current scheme will operate as usual in the forthcoming academic year, 2011-12.
In December 2010, ministerial predecessors in the Department for Employment and Learning and the Department of Education received the findings of the jointly commissioned review of the education maintenance allowance scheme in Northern Ireland. Officials from both Departments are assessing the findings of the report, and, therefore, no decisions have been made on the future of the scheme.
The review found that, in the majority of cases, the provision of an allowance makes no difference to young people’s decisions to remain in education or training. However, in some cases, it makes a real difference. I am determined that young people from lower income families, for whom the allowance makes a real difference, continue to be assisted to stay in education and training. Furthermore, I can advise that the review report was shared with the previous Employment and Learning Committee, which has, itself, recommended that the allowance could be better targeted.
Any proposals to change the current provision of the EMA scheme in Northern Ireland are subject to public consultation and appropriate equality considerations. They must also take account of the very difficult budgetary position facing my Department.
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Questions to the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment
Mr A Maskey (South Belfast, Sinn Fein) asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what plans her Department has to increase job promotion and creation within socially disadvantaged areas.
Mrs Foster (The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment): I am acutely aware of the need to provide support to the most vulnerable, and I am contributing fully, along with my Executive colleagues, to the development of policies and strategies in the next Programme for Government to help alleviate poverty and economic deprivation in our society. That having been said, my Department, through Invest Northern Ireland, will continue where it can to support programmes that are most likely to assist the most vulnerable to enter the workplace. Included in the short-term employment scheme are a number of specific measures that are designed to support job creation in socially disadvantaged areas. Those include a £1,000 business start grant for people resident in one of Northern Ireland’s 36 neighbourhood renewal areas who successfully complete the Go For It programme; a £1,500 business start grant for disadvantaged young people not in education, employment or training who successfully complete the Go For It programme; and a range of initiatives that are designed to further develop employment opportunities in the social economy sector.
In a supplementary question Mr Maskey asked: Has there been any discussion between her Department and the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister (OFMdFM) about the social investment fund and how that may be used as an additional stimulus for job creation in such areas?
Mrs Foster (The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment): I have been arguing for some time that the matter goes across Departments. Certainly, the social investment fund will be very useful in helping young unemployed people in particular to get back into work. One of the points that I made at the genesis of the social investment fund was that it could be a great help in trying to deal with the difficulties in some areas that lead young people to be unemployed. The social investment fund, along with work that we are doing in our Department and work in conjunction with the Minister for Employment and Learning, will, we hope, make a difference for those who find themselves unemployed at present.
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Committee Business
Motion – Membership of the Business Committee
Mrs Karen McKevitt has replaced Mr Conall McDevitt as a member of the Business Committee.
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Tuesday 14 June
Assembly Business
Mr J Allister (North Antrim, DUP) made a point of order in relation to written questions; he asked why 10 questions are outside the guideline for answer.
The Speaker told the members that he will write to the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
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Executive Committee Business
Second Stage – Budget (No.2) Bill (NIA 1/11-15)
The Minister of Finance and Personnel (Mr S Wilson) did not introduce the Second Stage of the Budget (No.2) Bill as he was at the funeral of Brian Lenihan.
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Committee Business
The Assembly debated changes to the office of the Speaker in creating a new role of Principal Deputy Speaker
Motion – Amend Standing Order 1(3)
Motion – Amend Standing Order 5
Motion – Amend Standing Orders
An amendment was made;
‘The position of Principal Deputy Speaker shall be filled by annual rotation between the Deputy Speakers who have been elected in accordance with Standing Order 5(1). The order of such rotation to be as agreed between the Deputy Speakers, or in the absence of agreement as directed by the Speaker. Throughout the term the Principal Deputy Speaker may be called ‘Mr Principal Deputy Speaker’, ‘Madam Principal Deputy Speaker’ or ‘Principal Deputy Speaker’.
During a heated debate a number of members gave their views on whether there should be a Principal Deputy Speaker.
The motion and the amendment required cross community support.
The amendment was not passed, Ayes 22; Noes 60.
The motion was passed with cross community support, Ayes 52; Noes 25.
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Question Time
Question to the Minister of the Environment
Mrs J Dobson (Upper Bann, UUP) asked the Minister of the Environment for his assessment of the use of incineration as a form of waste management.
Given that there are a number of live procurements in respect of waste management through the three clusters of councils, the Member will appreciate that I need to be careful about what I say in answer to her question.
Mr Attwood (The Minister of the Environment): In respect of taking waste management forward — incineration in particular — I will look at any recommendations that come forward to the Department. I will assess any proposal against the current planning and wider policies. I will determine whether it is sustainable and does not jeopardise any further opportunities for recycling. I will assess any proposals for waste incineration by judging them against what is known as the waste hierarchy.
That said, I want opportunities for waste management and recycling to be exploited more during my tenure. Although Belfast has a domestic waste recycling rate of 30%, comparable cities in Britain, such as Cardiff, have a recycling rate of 40%. Particularly if we go down the road of reorganising local government, I want to see how we can push the new councils, in the run-up to that reorganisation, to up their game on recycling, reusing and maximising opportunities that could mitigate the need for incineration. I should point out that incineration is not merely a matter of burning waste, and opportunities to get energy from waste make the incinerator option more attractive.
Mr R McCartney (Foyle, Sinn Fein) asked the Minister of the Environment what road safety measures he intends to introduce during this Assembly term.
Mr Attwood (The Minister of the Environment): I am minded to introduce new road safety measures during this Assembly term. Although we continue to scope those out in the Department, one example is the introduction of further measures to deter drink-driving. Perhaps we should not only reduce the minimum level of alcohol in a person’s blood that can lead to prosecution for certain designated drivers, such as R-drivers, but introduce a requirement for a blood-alcohol reading of nil to avoid prosecution. Nil does not necessarily mean a zero reading, as there are reasons, such as the taking of medicines, that could lead to partial traces of alcohol in a person’s blood. Reducing the blood-alcohol level required for prosecution is an area that we should explore.
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Questions to the Minister of Finance and Personnel
Mr T Clarke (South Antrim, DUP) asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel what discussions have taken place between his Department and Her Majesty’s Treasury on corporation tax.
Mrs Foster (The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment) answered questions as Mr S Wilson was attending the funeral of Brian Lenihan.
The First Minister, the deputy First Minister, the Minister of Finance and Personnel and I met David Gauke and Owen Paterson in February and March 2011 to discuss the then draft ‘Rebalancing the Northern Ireland economy’ paper, which is currently out for public consultation, ending on 24 June. At those meetings, we made it clear that the United Kingdom Government needed to work with the Executive to look at the different options for varying corporation tax. We also identified a need to examine the costs, which remain very high and at the upper end of the previous estimates. We asked that the paper be more explicit about the benefits that we might expect. Further work is needed in those areas, and we will continue to engage with the Treasury in that regard following the close of the consultation.
More recently, we all attended a consultation event in London on 8 June, which was chaired by the Exchequer Secretary, at which we heard views from multinational businesses and other private sector stakeholders on the impact that a corporation tax reduction would have on the attractiveness and ease of doing business in Northern Ireland.
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Upgrade of the A26 Glarryford to Ballycastle Junction
Mr M Storey (North Antrim, DUP) introduced an adjournment debate on the Upgrade of the A26 Glarryford to Ballycastle Junction.
During this debate Mr R Swann (North Antrim UUP) made his maiden speech.
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This week at the Assembly
Monday 20 June
Executive Committee Business
Motion - Suspension of Standing Orders
Proposed:
That Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4) be suspended for 20 June 2011.
Second Stage – Budget (No.2) Bill (NIA 1/11-15)
The Minister of Finance and Personnel (Mr S Wilson) will introduce the Second Stage of the Budget (No.2) Bill.
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Question Time
Questions to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
Mr D McNarry (Strangford, UUP)
To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for an update on the draft Rural White Paper Action Plan.
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Questions to the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Mrs S Overend (Mid Ulster, UUP)
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether he is committed to the retention of the Public Health Agency.
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Committee Business
Motion – Appointment of an Assembly Commissioner for Standards
Proposed:
That this Assembly notes that the Assembly Members (Independent Financial Review and Standards) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 provides for a Northern Ireland Assembly Commissioner for Standards; and delegates to the Assembly Commission those functions referred to in section 19(4) of that Act in relation to the appointment of the Commissioner.
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Private Members’ Business
Motion – Reduction of Coastguard Services
Mr P Weir (North Down, DUP) and Mr W Humphrey (North Belfast, DUP) will propose:
That this Assembly notes with grave concern HM Government's proposal to reduce the number of coastguard centres throughout the United Kingdom and, in particular, the threat to Bregenz House in Bangor, which if closed would leave Northern Ireland without effective coastal protection; and calls on HM Government to revise its proposals to ensure the retention of Bregenz House.
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Motion – Mortgage Relief Scheme
Mr F McCann (West Belfast, Sinn Fein), Mr A Maskey (Sinn Fein, South Belfast) and Mr M Brady (Sinn Fein, Newry and Armagh) will propose:
That this Assembly calls on the Minister for Social Development to implement a mortgage relief scheme to help those people who are experiencing difficulties in paying their mortgages and are at risk of losing their homes.
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Tuesday 21 June
Executive Committee Business
Consideration Stage – Budget (No.2) Bill (NIA 1/11-15)
The Minister of Finance and Personnel (Mr S Wilson) will introduce the Consideration Stage of the Budget (No.2) Bill.
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Question Time
Questions to the Minister of Justice
Ms J McCann (West Belfast, Sinn Fein)
To ask the Minister of Justice what percentage of the policing and justice budget has been allocated for community safety in the current financial year.
Ms S Ramsey (West Belfast, Sinn Fein)
To ask the Minister of Justice what plans there are to introduce a fund for victims of domestic violence who need protection but who do not have access to public funds.
Mr M Copeland (East Belfast, UUP)
To ask the Minister of Justice to outline the timescale for the implementation of Policing and Community Safety Partnerships.
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Questions to the Minister for Regional Development
Mr P Givan (Lagan Valley, DUP)
To ask the Minister for Regional Development for an update on the review of on-street car parking charges.
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Committee Business
Motion – The Agency Workers Directive
The Chairperson of the Committee for Employment and Learning (Mr B McCrea) will propose:
That this Assembly notes the EU Directive on conditions for temporary agency workers (Directive 2008/104/EC); and calls on the Minister for Employment and Learning to ensure, in implementing the Directive, that both the needs of workers and minimising the costs to business are taken into account.
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Adjournment Debate
Mr T Elliott (Fermanagh and South Tyrone, UUP) will introduce an adjournment debate on ‘Justice for Colin Worton’.
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Committees
Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development
Presentation: Rivers Agency Business Plan 2011-12
Presentation: Forest Service Business Plan 2011-12
Presentation Ulster Farmers' Union - key issues for the industry
Public Session – Room 30, Parliament Buildings at 1.30pm
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Wednesday 22 June
Committee for Employment and Learning
Stranmillis/QUB Merger - Departmental Briefing
June Monitoring Round - Departmental briefing on outcome
Public Session – Room 29, Parliament Buildings at 10.00am
Committee for Education
Procurement Briefing
Departmental - Spending Proposals / Savings Delivery Plans
Infrastructure Investment
Identification of options for Committee Inquiries
Public Meeting – Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings at 10.30am
Committee for Regional Development
Briefing from the Minister for Regional Development
Review of existing properties not served by a water main - outcome of the public consultation
New Equality Scheme - Briefing on implementation for Department
Public Meeting – Room 21, Parliament Buildings at 10.30am
Committee for Finance and Personnel
Review of Financial Process - Assembly Research Briefing
Outcome of June 2011 Monitoring Round - DFP Evidence Session
Public Meeting – Room 30, Parliament Buildings at 10.45am
Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Evidence session with the NEXUS Institute
Public Session – Denis Desmond Room, Altnagelvin Hospital, Derry at 1.30pm
Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister
Community Relations Council - Briefing on CSI
Proposal to Update Legislation to Reform The Office of the Northern Ireland Ombudsman - Pre Legislative consultation
Closed Session, 2.40 – 3.30pm
Public Session – Room 30, Parliament Building at 2.00pm
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Thursday 23 June
Committee for Social Development
DWP Green Paper: "A State Pension for the 21st Century"
DSD Corporate Plan
Fuel Poverty in Northern Ireland - Briefing by National Energy Action & Fuel Poverty Coalition, Ms Pat Austin, National Energy Action
Public Session – Room 29, Parliament Buildings at 10.00am
Committee for the Environment
Departmental briefing: PPS 23 and 24
Briefing by Research and Information Service - Tyre Disposal paper
Closed from 2:00 PM (180 mins)
Stakeholder Engagement Event - Implementation of the Taxis Act 2008
Public Session – Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings at 10.00am
Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure
Presentation from Waterways Ireland
Briefing from Sport NI
Briefing from Ulster Rugby regarding Stadia Development
Public Session – Room 21, Parliament Buildings at 10.30am
Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment
Invest NI: Overview
DETI Energy Division
Public Session – Room 30, Parliament Buildings at 10.30am
Committee for Justice
Briefing on Update on Defence Representation in Crown Court Cases
EU Justice and Home Affairs Legislative Programme
Public Session – Room 30, Parliament Buildings at 2.00pm
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