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Assembly Monitor 6 February 2012

By Colm Burns - last updated on Fri, 03/02/2012 - 13:32

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 30 January

Speaker’s Business

Public Petition: Future of Bangor Central Integrated Primary School

Mr S Agnew (Green Party)  presented a public petition on the future of the Bangor Central Integrated Primary School

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Private Members’ Business

Motion: Tenancy Deposit Scheme

Mr M Copeland (East Belfast, UUP) proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the safeguards which Tenancy Deposit Schemes offer to landlords and tenants within the private rented sector; expresses concern that many landlords often make unjustified deductions or are slow to return deposits at the end of a tenancy, particularly for tenants living in student accommodation; and calls on the Minister for Social Development to urgently bring forward his plans to introduce a mandatory Tenancy Deposit Scheme which would safeguard tenants' deposits and provide a fair and effective mechanism to resolve disputes.

Mr F McCann (West Belfast, Sinn Fein) proposed an amendment: After “Social Development” insert:

“to consider the workings of the Private Residential Tenancies Board, which is based in Dublin, as a potential way forward for dealing with unscrupulous landlords who cheat their tenants out of deposits; and”

A number of members took part in the debate and Mr M Durkan highlighted “The Simon Community is working on a scheme through which it provides assurances or sureties to landlords, which is helping to alleviate the ongoing problem of homelessness.”

The Amendment was defeated.

The motion was passed.

Link to Hansard

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Motion: Marian Price

Mr P Ramsey (Foyle, SDLP) proposed:

That this Assembly notes with concern the continuing detention of Marian Price in Maghaberry Prison, by reason of the Secretary of State’s decision to revoke her licence; further notes her on-going medical and social needs; believes that reliable evidence and the necessary process should govern judicial and quasi-judicial actions; and calls on the Minister of Justice to engage with the Secretary of State on the reasons for the revocation of her licence, and for her detention, by reason of the Secretary of State’s decision, to be reviewed urgently.

Before the Debate the Speaker warned members about their conduct and said “More importantly, there are currently a number of prosecutions before the courts. Members should not make any remarks that may interfere with those ongoing legal proceedings in anything that they say or do today.”

In a heated debate a number of members spoke.

The motion was defeated Ayes 37; Noes 54.

Link to Hansard Part One

Link to Hansard Part Two

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Questions to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development

Mr McNarry (Strangford, Independent) asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for her assessment of the ability of the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute to produce accurate, complete fish stock assessments.

Mrs O’Neill (The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development): The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) contributes fully to an extensive Europe-wide marine data collection programme and, along with other institutes, provides accurate information on the state of Irish Sea fish stocks. Fish stocks are assessed in an international forum, primarily through an independent scientific body, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). The basis of the assessments includes the biological data gathered by fisheries research institutes, such as AFBI, as well as commercial landings data from member states’ fishing fleets. Numerical models process that data to provide estimates of what the future fish catch should be in order to maintain sustainable stock sizes. If any of the data streams are missing, which can be for numerous reasons, the models may not work. That can lead to an inability to provide a complete stock assessment.

The work of AFBI has been essential in securing fishing opportunities for our fishing fleet. Pioneering work using new stock assessment methods such as underwater camera surveys of prawn burrows in the Irish Sea has helped us to demonstrate that prawns are being fished in a very sustainable manner, and that information has been used to maintain our prawn quotas.

In recent years, AFBI has also used acoustic methods to survey our herring stocks to address uncertainties in the traditional assessments. Again, that work assures us that the stock is being fished sustainably. Ultimately, we hope that it will result in an increase in the quota figures. I assure the Member that AFBI is supplying all the data required and more. In addition, AFBI scientists fill senior roles in ICES, including representation on its advisory committee that drafts the overall management advice. Therefore, I am satisfied that, where we are required to submit data on fish stocks, it is accurate and complete.

Link to Hansard

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Questions to the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure

Mr B Hale (Lagan Valley, DUP) to ask the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure for an update on the development of the plans for the Olympic torch relay.

Ms Ní Chuilín (The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure): The Olympic torch will travel round the North for five days from 3 June to 7 June and will visit all 26 councils, with evening celebrations in Portrush, Derry, Newry and Belfast. The street-level route will be released closer to the time of the relay. The torch will also visit Dublin on 6 June. The route in the North and the involvement of local community, cultural and sporting groups is the responsibility of the relevant councils. In order to identify opportunities and allocate roles and responsibilities, councils hosting an evening celebration have each set up a community task force. The other councils have also been encouraged to set up their own task force in relation to the torch relay. My officials are liaising with the task forces and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) to ensure that a joined-up approach is taken and opportunities are maximised. In October, a local panel met to select torch-bearers for the North. LOCOG issued conditional offers in December last year. Places will be confirmed in February this year.

Link to Hansard

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Adjournment Debate

Tourism development in the South Down area, in particular St Patrick’s Country and the Early Christian Heritage Signature Project.

Ms M Ritchie (South Down, SDLP) held an adjournment debate on tourism development in the South Down area, in particular St Patrick’s Country and the Early Christian Heritage Signature Project.

A number of members spoke.

Link to Hansard

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Tuesday 31 January

Assembly Business

The Speaker informed the Assembly that Mr David McNarry has been replaced as Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Education by Mr M Nesbitt.

Link to Hansard

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Ministerial Statement

Royal Jubilee Maternity Service, Belfast: Neonatal Unit

Mr Poots (The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety) made a statement to the Assembly on the Royal Jubilee Maternity Service, Belfast: Neonatal Unit.  The Minister informed the Assembly that “There have been no new cases of pseudomonas infection in the Royal or, indeed, in any of our other neonatal units in the past week. Last week, I reported that six babies who had been associated with the Royal had been colonised but had no signs of infection. A further baby tested positive a few days later, but the number has remained at seven since then. Six babies who have no association with the Royal have been colonised with pseudomonas: two in Altnaglevin, three in Craigavon and one in Antrim.”

The Minister also told members “as a precautionary measure, we are changing every tap on every clinical hand washing basin in every neonatal unit in Northern Ireland.”

The Minister then answered a number of questions from Members.

Link to Hansard

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Executive Committee Business

Second Stage – Pensions Bill (NIA Bill 3/11-15)

Mr McCausland (The Minister for Social Development)  introduced the Second Stage of the Pensions Bill.  The Minister told the Assembly that part of this Bill is a parity measure to raise the retirement age in line with the rest of the UK.

Members spoke in favor and against the Bill.

The Bill passed the second stage Ayes 50; Noes 33.

Link to Bill

Link to Hansard  

Consideration Stage – Rates (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 2/11-15)

Mr Wilson (The Minister of Finance and Personnel) introduced the Consideration Stage of the Rates (Amendment) Bill.  The Minister outlined all the Amendments to members.  In a very technical debate a number of members spoke about the amendments.

Link to Bill

Link to Hansard

Motion: Draft Pharmacy (1976 Order) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012

Mr Poots (The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety) proposed:

That the draft Pharmacy (1976 Order) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012 be approved.

The motion was passed.

Link to Hansard

Motion: Draft Sunbeds (Fixed Penalty) (Amount) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012

Mr Poots (The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety) proposed:

That the draft Sunbeds (Fixed Penalty) (Amount) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 be approved.

The motion was passed.

Link to Hansard

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Questions to the Minister of Education

Mr B Hale (Lagan Valley, DUP) asked the Minister of Education when he will publish the consultation responses to the Review of Special Educational Needs and Inclusion.

Mr O’Dowd (The Minister of Education): A summary report of responses to the consultation on ‘Every School a Good School: The Way Forward for Special Educational Needs and Inclusion’ was published on Monday 30 January 2012 and is available on the Department of Education’s website. The report provides an analysis of the responses received and an indication of my preferred policy options. Ahead of the publication of the summary report, I gave a presentation to the Committee for Education on 18 January to detail my key proposals. I said that I planned further engagement with stakeholders to inform how best my proposals can be taken forward.

In a supplementary question: The Minister will be aware that there are children in primary school who have complex special needs and that a number of them are statemented. Has the Minister any plans to review the guidelines on the administration of insulin in primary schools?

Mr O’Dowd (The Minister of Education): In the near future, I will meet Diabetes UK to discuss that and a number of other issues related to how we support young people with diabetes in schools. I will listen carefully to the case presented to me. I am aware that the matter has been brought to the media’s attention. There was an event in the Long Gallery, which, I think, Mr McDevitt was involved in. I will listen carefully to the presentation of the cases that I will undoubtedly hear at that meeting and will make my views known on the matter at a later date.

Link to Hansard

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Questions to the Minister of Employment and Learning

Mr S Douglas (East Belfast, DUP) asked the Minister for Employment and Learning for his assessment of whether youth unemployment will rise in the short and medium term, and whether he will continue to seek additional resources to enable young people to gain work experience through employment initiatives such as the Step Ahead programme.

Dr S Farry (The Minister for Employment and Learning): In Northern Ireland, the increase in youth claimants — those aged 24 and under — between November 2007 and November 2011 was 155%, compared with the overall UK rise of 97%. Although the youth unemployment rate may be marginally lower in Northern Ireland at 18.4%, compared with 21.1% in the UK as a whole, it nevertheless constitutes a major challenge in absolute terms. Around 20,000 young people are unemployed here.

Youth unemployment brings its own challenges. Young people risk being denied the opportunity to apply their recently acquired skills, and insufficient experience to compete for job vacancies is a particular problem for them because it is difficult to get such experience without having a job. There is a danger of young people being lost to long-term unemployment.

Youth unemployment is, of course, an international issue, and many Governments have made targeted interventions. Notably, in Great Britain, the Government recently announced a new Youth Contract, an initiative that will invest £940 million in new measures over the next three years to help young people to progress in the labour market. The contract provides for increased time with personal advisers, weekly job search reviews, 100,000 work placements over the next three years, a new wage incentive to encourage employers to offer jobs and a new programme targeted at the most persistent young people who are not in employment, education or training.

In addition to Youth Contract measures, Wales has put in place the Jobs Growth Wales programme, a £75 million scheme designed to create 4,000 jobs a year for young people. Scotland has introduced the Community Jobs Scotland scheme, whereby organisations are offered a grant of up to £6,000 for each job created. That scheme will create 2,000 jobs over the next three years and represents additional investment of £12.·4 million.

My Department already has a comprehensive range of measures in place to help unemployed people, including young unemployed people, to find work, but more needs to be done. Therefore, I recently circulated to my Executive colleagues a set of proposals to help young people and to address the threats to the future of our economy if we do not take effective action now. The Executive should, shortly, consider the options, and it is for the Minister of Finance and Personnel to consider the issue of funding in the first instance. I will make a full statement to the Assembly when a package of measures has been agreed.

Link to Hansard

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This week at the Assembly

Monday 6 February

Assembly Business

Motion: Suspension of Standing Orders

Proposed:

That Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4) be suspended for 6 February 2012.

Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Mrs Sandra Overend replace Mr Mike Nesbitt as a member of the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment; that Mr Fra McCann replace Mrs Sandra Overend as a member of the Committee for Employment and Learning; and that Mr David McNarry replace Mr Michael Copeland as a member of the Committee for Regional Development.

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Executive Committee Business

Further Consideration Stage – Rates (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 2/11-15)

Mr Wilson (The Minister of Finance and Personnel) will propose the Further Consideration Stage of the Rates (Amendment) Bill.

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Committee Business

Motion: Widening Access to Education Maintenance Allowance

Mr B McCrea (The Chairperson of the Committee for Employment and Learning) will propose:

That this Assembly calls on the Minister for Employment and Learning, in conjunction with his Executive colleagues, to expedite the finalisation and implementation of an effective and cross-departmental strategy for young people Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEETs) and the on-going Review of Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA), in order to address the issues of record levels of youth unemployment and increasing disengagement with mainstream education; and to make the necessary improvements to ensure that EMA is targeted at those in greatest need.

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Questions to the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister

Ms S Ramsey (West Belfast, Sinn Fein) to ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister when they will bring forward a revised Sexual Orientation Strategy.

Mr Alban Maginness (North Belfast, SDLP) to ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on progress in achieving the target of increasing the drawdown of European funding by 20 percent.

Mr C Lyttle (East Belfast, Alliance) to ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the development of a Childcare Strategy.

Ms J Dobson (Upper Bann, UUP) to ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline the specific actions they are taking to address child poverty.

Mr David McIlveen (North Down, DUP) to ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister if there is a long-term policy to assist immigrants who are facing destitution.

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Questions to the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment

Ms S Ramsey (West Belfast, Sinn Fein) to ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment whether her Department has considered the introduction of means tested social tariffs for electricity.

Ms J McCann (West Belfast, Sinn Fein) to ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment for an update on the introduction of legislation at Westminster to give Credit Unions greater lending powers.

Mr M Durkan (Foyle, SDLP) to ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment for her assessment of the impact of Welfare Reform on the economy.

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Private Members’ Business

Motion: Car Insurance

Mr A McQuillan (East Londonderry, DUP) and Mr G Campbell (East Londonderry, DUP) will propose:

That this Assembly notes with concern the soaring cost of insurance in Northern Ireland; and calls on the Minister of Justice to intervene to ensure that the payment of compensation claims is capped, and that cases are heard in lower courts.

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Private Members Business

Motion: Regulation of the Local Home Heating Oil Industry

Mr P Flanagan (Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Sinn Fein), Mr D McKay (North Antrim, Sinn Fein) and Ms S Ramsey (West Belfast, Sinn Fein) will propose:

That this Assembly notes that home heating oil has the most variable price of any heating fuel; further notes that a growing number of households have no choice but to purchase 20 litre drums of oil that are significantly more expensive per litre than buying in bulk; and calls on the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to introduce legislation, as soon as possible, to regulate the local home heating oil industry.

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Tuesday 7 February

Executive Committee Business

Final Stage – Rates (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 2/11-15)

Mr Wilson (The Minister of Finance and Personnel) will introduce the Final Stage of the Rates (Amendment) Bill.

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Questions to the Minister of the Environment

Mr P Flanagan (Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Sinn Fein) to ask the Minister of the Environment for his assessment of the restrictions that current planning policy might place on the potential for reaching the 2020 renewable energy targets.

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Questions to the Minister of Finance and Personnel

Mrs K McKevitt (South Down, SDLP) to ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel to outline the benefits of having social clauses in contracts.

Mr C Murphy (Newry and Armagh, Sinn Fein) to ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel what measures are in place to ensure that PEACE and INTERREG funds are fully spent by the Special EU Programmes Body in the current programmes.

Ms A Lo (South Belfast, Alliance) to ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel what further action his Department will consider in future budget discussions to address the cost of division within our society.

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Private Members’ Business

Motion: Surety Bonds for New Housing Developments

Miss M McIlveen (Strangford, DUP) and Mr J Wells (South Down, DUP) will propose:

That this Assembly notes with concern, the number of housing developments where roads and footpaths remain unfinished and sewerage systems have not been completed to a satisfactory standard, despite developers having entered into Surety Bonds under The Private Streets (Northern Ireland) Order 1980, The Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 and any preceding legislation; and calls on the Minister for Regional Development to carry out a review of the bond system in relation to roads, footpaths and sewerage systems in new developments and to review when a bond can be invoked by the relevant authority to address this on-going problem.

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Motion: Human Trafficking

Ms J McCann (West Belfast, Sinn Fein), Ms C Ruane (South Down, Sinn Fein) and Ms S Ramsey (West Belfast, Sinn Fein) will propose:

That this Assembly expresses concern at the increase in human trafficking where people are brought in illegally and forced into a life of sexual exploitation, forced labour or domestic servitude; or are transported onward to other jurisdictions for similar purposes; and calls on the Executive to use all its powers to raise public awareness of this crime to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice, and that victims are given the support and help they need.

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Adjournment Debate

The completion of Millennium Way in Lurgan

Mr S Moutray (Upper Bann, DUP)

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Committees

Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development

The Reservoir Bill

EU Floods Directive - Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment

Rural Support Network - Anti-Poverty and Rural Development Programmes

Public Session – Room 30, Parliament Buildings at 1.30pm

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Wednesday 8 February

Committee for Employment and Learning

Consideration of Staffing Issues at the North West Regional College

Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists - The Giving Voice Campaign

The Further Education Division - Departmental Briefing

“Hard to Reach" Learners - Departmental Briefing

Discussion of Committee responses to the Consultations on the draft Programme for Government, Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland, Economic Strategy and Action Plans

Public Session, Room 29 – Parliament Buildings at 10.00am

Committee for Finance and Personnel

Barnett Formula – Assembly Research Briefing

Barnett Formula - Expert Witness Evidence Session

Spring Supplementary Estimates and Budget Bill – DFP Evidence Session

Public Session – Room 30, Parliament Buildings at 10.00am

Committee for Education

Research Briefing - Area Planning and Schools Estate

Sustainable Schools - Evidence Session

Public Session – Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings at 10.30am

Committee for Regional Development

Winter Readiness

Consumer Council: Work Programme 2012-13

Belfast Rapid Transit - Outcome of consultation

Public Session – Road 21, Parliament Buildings at 10.30am

Committee for Health Social Services and Public Safety

Evidence session on Group B Streptococcus – DHSSPS

Evidence session on Shared Services with Trade Union officials

Public Session – Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings at 2.00pm

Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister

Delivery of Equality and Human Rights - Equality Commission briefing

Victims and Survivors - Departmental briefing on Victims and Survivors Service

Programme for Government - Consideration of responses

Public Session – Room 30, Parliament Buildings at 2.00pm

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Thursday 9 February 

Committee for Social Development

Accounting for the Effects of Cancer Treatment - Macmillan Cancer Support

Development of the Housing Strategy - Departmental Briefing

Public Session – Room 29, Parliament Buildings at 10.00am

Committee for the Environment

Guidance on nuisance parking and abandoned vehicles legislation - synopsis of response

Consultation on Planning and Demolition Control

Consultation on simplification of the Climate Change Agreements Scheme - Government response to consultation

Consultation on draft Guidance on Councillors' Allowances - synopsis of responses

Public Session – Room 30, Parliament Buildings at 10.00

Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure

Inquiry on Maximising the Potential of the Creative Industries

Public Session – Room 21, Parliament Buildings at 10.30am

Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment

InterTradeIreland: Agri-Food Report

Electricity Market Reform

Draft Economic Strategy-update on public consultations

Public Session – Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings at 10.30am

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Assembly Monitor is part of the PEACE III Programme, Vital Links. The Special EU Programmes Body is the Managing Authority for the European Union's PEACE III Programme (www.seupb.eu)

For more information on Vital Links, visit www.nicva.org

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