Matters of the Day
The Assembly began its last week before the March 2nd election with a Matter of the Day on the
shooting of a police officer in North Belfast.
Executive Business
The debate on RHI Scheme Regulations, carried over from last week, recommenced.
The regulations passed without a formal vote.
Read the debate here.
The Minister for the Economy made a statement confirming the details of the Public Inquiry on the Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme
Read in full here.
The SDLP, through Colin McGrath (South Down) brought a motion on the
Good Friday Agreement Values and Principles.
An amendment from the Green Party was not successful.
The unamended motion passed as follows:
"That this Assembly calls on the British and Irish Governments to convene all-party talks to identify how to affirm and promote the values and principles of the Good Friday Agreement, to address issues that have arisen in relation to strands one, two and three of the agreement, to comprehensively and conclusively address all matters that have led to political instability and have been an impediment to reconciliation, and to further agree how to best protect the interests of the people."
There were 54 votes in favour (Green, UUP, SF, Alliance, SDLP and 31 against (TUV, DUP)
Read in full here.
Mike Nesbitt (UUP, Strangford) brought a motion on the
Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry Report.
The motion passed unanimously as follows:
"That this Assembly welcomes the publication of the report of the historical institutional abuse inquiry under its chair, Sir Anthony Hart; notes his recommendations for redress for victims and survivors of institutional abuse and deplores that political impasse means that the report is not being actioned."
Read in full here.
Alex Easton (DUP, North Down) brought a motion on
NIHE Properties Cavity Wall Insultation
The motion passed unanimously as follows:
"That this Assembly calls on the Minister for Communities to hold the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to account for its failure to address the lack of, or poor quality of, cavity insulation within many Housing Executive properties; and calls on the Housing Executive to formulate a plan of action to ensure that all its properties have adequate and proper cavity insulation."
Read in full here.
The UUP, through Doug Beattie (Upper Bann) brought a motion entitled
"Review of Bail Policy in Cases of Terrorism and Murder"
The motion passed as follows:
"That this Assembly notes the recent failures in the criminal justice system to ensure that a man suspected of involvement in the murder of prison officer David Black abided by bail conditions; expresses concern at the granting of bail in this case, the low level of sureties required and the length of time taken by the PSNI to realise that this individual had absconded; believes that terrorist suspects should remain in custody for as long as necessary to allow judicial proceedings to be completed; calls on the Minister of Justice to ensure that steps are taken to see that the suspect is returned to custody; and further calls on the Minister of Justice to take urgent steps to review bail policy in Northern Ireland, with particular regard to cases involving murder and terrorism."
There were 51 votes in favour (UUP, DUP, SF and Alliance) and 33 against (Green, SF, SDLP, PBP)
Read in full here.
Steven Agnew (Green Party, North Down) brought a motion on
Ministerial Code: Independent Investigation of Alleged Breaches
The motion passed unanimously as follows:
"That this Assembly acknowledges that it is in the public interest for there to be openness, transparency and accountability in relation to the Northern Ireland Executive; recognises the important role that the Northern Ireland Assembly Commissioner for Standards plays in providing independent investigation of alleged breaches of the Assembly's Code of Conduct by Back-Bench Members; further recognises that the current lack of independent scrutiny of Executive Ministers benefits neither the public nor the Ministers themselves; and calls on the Executive Office to bring forward urgently legislation to expand the role of the Northern Ireland Assembly Commissioner for Standards to allow him to investigate alleged breaches of the ministerial code of conduct."
Read in full here.
