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Pam Cameron of the DUP thanks her party colleague Paul Givan for bringing forward the private member's bill.

The South Antrim MLA says “we must fully comprehend the shadow that is thrown over these children’s lives when one of the very first conversations their parents have with their antenatal teams is about termination."

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Michelle O’Neill, the Sinn Féin Stormont leader, is in the chamber to speak in her capacity as an MLA rather than deputy first minister.

She begins by saying she is speaking on this motion to express her “deep unease at the narrow focus of this piece of legislation”.

“Women are entitled to modern and compassionate health care,” she says.

“I believe that the DUP, alongside the UUP health minister, are failing women by refusing to commission the services that were legislated for,” she adds.

Ms O'Neill explains that her party will abstain on voting on the second stage of this bill.

Now it's time to return to the debate on Paul Givan’s Severe Fetal Impairment Abortion (Amendment) Bill.

Speaker Alex Maskey has a couple of points to make first.

He reminds the members that this is not a general debate on the subject of abortion.

The Speaker says it is not in order to make comments "from a sedentary position or seeking to interrupt members by abusing points of order".

Paula Bradshaw picks up on her speech that was interrupted by Question Time.

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She says that disabled people "should not be cast as a single community of like mind. As the Women's Resource Development Agency put it, 'They are as diverse as any other group, a broad group with a diverse range of views please do not use disability only when it suits your agenda'".

"We should not be forcing women to make life changing decisions in a rush and where there is limited support for those who choose to continue their pregnancy, something this bill does nothing about" she says.

The South Belfast MLA says the bill's sponsor, Paul Givan, wanted "push this bill through without proper consideration and we need to address why he was so keen to do that".

How many lives would be put at risk if the rollout of the vaccination programme was put on hold, asks Paula Bradshaw of Alliance.

Minister Robin Swann responds that he doesn’t have that information readily on hand.

He says yesterday there were “zero deaths” reported, the first time since October 2020.

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Green Party MLA Claire Bailey says she will “gladly and happily take” the AstraZeneca vaccine when she’s called.

Will those who are apprehensive be able to request another vaccine, she asks.

There is not an option to pick and choose what vaccine you receive, responds the minister.

When do you and the executive think you’ll be able to recommend the resumption of non-elite and youth sports?

That’s the question from Justin McNulty of the SDLP.

Minister Robin Swann responds that the executive is due to meet tomorrow to review current Covid-19 regulations.

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Alan Chambers, the UUP minister’s party colleague, is up next.

He asks the minister to reassure members that “there is only cause to celebrate” the protection that the AstraZeneca vaccine provides the public.

Robin Swann refers to comments from the World Health Organisation about the safety of the vaccine.

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Pam Cameron of the DUP says she's "delighted that we're taking an evidence-based approach to the concerns around" the AstraZeneca vaccine.

She emphasise the importance of politicians being "mindful of their language" and the effect it can have on public confidence.

"I would ask all the members today to choose their words very carefully," says the health minister.

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Colm Gildernew says he hopes that everyone will accept the vaccine when it gets to their "cohort".

"I'm one of those 30,000 who has booked a vaccine for this week," he says.

Mr Gildernew wants to know what plans the minister has "to communicate the safety of the vaccine".

Robin Swann refers to the chief medical officer having his vaccination this morning and the fact that the committee chair has booked his, "I think those actions and those displays of public confidence in the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and the vaccination programme here in NI should be a signal and should be a sign to the people of NI".

Roy Beggs, the Deputy Speaker of the House, makes members aware that an urgent oral question relating to the AstraZeneca vaccine has been lodged by Sinn Féin's Colm Gildernew.

It's to be answered by Health Minister Robin Swann.

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Robin Swann says that while he’s aware that some jurisdictions have suspended the use of AstraZeneca “as a precautionary measure,” he will be led by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

“The benefits of the vaccine outweigh any risks,” says the health minister.

Mr Swann urges the public to keep their appointments, and confirms that “within the first three hours of today alone a further 30,000 people booked vaccines”.

“That is very reassuring,” adds the minister.

"The vaccine works, so I would urge people to keep coming forward."

Here are five key points raised during question time with the finance minister:

• £4m has been set aside for school summer schemes and £5m for youth service summer schemes
• From 2025, all new buildings must have low carbon heating
• In relation to Covid-support grants, Conor Murphy said that for the Department of Finance "this is the end of our involvement, I hope"
• The minister wants to ensure that the civil service pay award provides a better outcome for lower paid workers
• Mr Murphy says he wants to meet the chairs of the new fiscal commission and the fiscal council this week

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After 30 minutes of listed questions, it’s now time for Topical Questions.

This is a 15-minute slot where MLAs can ask ministers about anything related to their departmental responsibilities.

Matthew O’Toole of the SDLP asks about appointments made to the Fiscal Council and seeks clarification that it will be independent from the Finance Department.

Although the department is funding the council and “providing some back-up resource for it” it “will have absolute independence from the department,” responds Minister Conor Murphy.

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Martina Anderson asks the minister question five. It relates to the new Security of Supply and Social Value initiative.

The Sinn Féin MLA asks whether the initiative will help increase the capacity of local social enterprises to bid for public contracts.

Conor Murphy says he has appointed Colin Jess, Director of Social Enterprise NI, as an adviser on the initiative’s board. He says Mr Jess will help to deliver “an enhanced model for delivery of social value and public procurement.”

He adds it’s hoped it will encourage local social enterprises to apply.

When will business, that haven’t received payment, expect to receive money for the last phase of the Localised Restrictions Support Scheme (LRSS).

That’s the question from Sin Féin’s Emma Sheerin.

“I hope we’re in the last phase of the scheme,” responds Conor Murphy.

The finance minister says over “98% of cases, at this stage, are dealt with”.

“There have been a lot of challenges with this,” he adds.

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John Blair of Alliance asks the minister if he plans to launch any restart grants.

Mr Murphy says “there’s a very broad recovery piece” to be done and that it would be for the economy minister to bring forward proposals for any sort of restart grant.

Sinn Féin’s Linda Dillon joins the plenary session by video link.

She asks the minister “for an update on funding for the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme”.

You can read more about the scheme here.

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The finance minister says he, the first and deputy first ministers, and the justice minister, met the secretary of state on 23 February 2021 to discuss funding for the scheme.

Conor Murphy says he “pressed him (Brandon Lewis) to resolve the matter urgently so victims can get payments they are entitled to”.

The minister says he is hopeful another meeting scheduled to take place with the secretary of state tomorrow will go ahead.

Second up is Alliance’s Andrew Muir.

He asks what plans he the minister has "to use his power regarding building regulations to achieve the aim of zero carbon buildings".

Conor Murphy says his department is undertaking an “ambitious draft programme of phased uplifts” to the Executive’s energy strategy options consultation. He adds this will be refined further.

Conor Murphy closes his answer by saying that all new buildings after 2025 will routinely have “very high standards and low carbon heating.”

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Next in the hot seat to answer MLAs’ questions is Finance Minister Conor Murphy.

Robbie Butler of the UUP asks him “to outline any bids made by the Department of Education or the Department for Communities for potential summer schemes to mitigate the effects of lost school and socialisation time due to Covid-19”.

The Education Department has bid for £4m “for summer scheme 2021” as well as £5m for a youth service summer scheme, responds the minister.

No bids have been received from the Communities Department, says Mr Murphy, adding a bid of this kind is not expected as this is not part of the department’s remit.

Here are five key points raised during Question Time with the education minister:

• School sports that have a “high risk” in relation to Covid-19 will remain paused until public health advice changes
• A report into educational underachievement is expected to be completed by summer
• Minister Peter Weir expresses his “horror at what appears to be the brutal murder of Sarah Everard”
• Last week the education and justice ministers met to discuss the implementation of recommendations included in the Gillen Report, such as classroom education and teacher training
• “I want to see children directly in school getting face-to-face teaching, and I want that as soon as practically possible” says the minister

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Time now for topical questions, when members can raise current matters that have not appeared in listed questions.

Chris Lyttle of Alliance chairs the Education Committee and asks a question in light of the killing of Sarah Everard.

He asks the minister "if he agrees that standardised relationship and sexuality education is fundamental to promoting appropriate behaviour and to preventing serious sexual offences against women and girls" and what steps Mr Weir has taken towards implementing the recommendations of the Gillen Review into serious sexual offences.

Peter Weir says he met the Justice Minister, Naomi Long, last Thursday to discuss the implementation of the recommendations both in terms of what is taught in the classroom and in teacher training.

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Seán Lynch of Sinn Féin is up next.

He asks for "an update on the provision of B-TEC qualifications through the medium of Irish".

Peter Weir says that towards the end of 2019, the Pearson awarding body announced its intention to end an agreement with the NI awards body CCEA to supply B-TEC qualifications through the medium of Irish and no longer provide the qualifications.

The education minister explains that Pearson is introducing new-style qualifications, including external assessment units, "making them more like A-levels in their assessments and arrangements".

The minister says applied A-levels are offered by CCEA through the medium of Irish.

Foyle MLA Martina Anderson is up next.

She asks for a breakdown of major capital projects and contracts, aided by the Education Department in her constituency, since March 2017.

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Peter Weir lists several examples of where funding has being invested, including £4m in three Londonderry schools.

He says that money formed part of the School Enhancement Programme (SEP2).

The minister adds that he “isn’t in a position” to include exact details of what will be in further contracts at this stage.

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Gerry Kelly of People Before Profit has the third question on the list.

He wants to know what recommendations the minister "has considered in relation to smaller class sizes post Covid-19".

Minister Peter Weir says that in terms of educational attainment "the available evidence suggests that, except in the very early years, class size reduction doesn't have a significant impact on student outcomes".

On support for schools post-Covid, Mr Weir says, "I plan to bring forward proposals for a further support programme for a range of educational settings to the executive shortly".

The Education Minister’s DUP colleague, Jonathan Buckley, asks question two.

It focuses on how the Addressing Bullying in Schools Act2016, external will help to eradicate bullying across the sector. The Act comes into effect on 1st September 2021.

Peter Weir says it’s an "important piece of legislation and strengthens protection".

Mr Buckley responds that “bullying is a scourge on our society and in particular in our classrooms".

"It has a devastating and long-lasting impact on any child as they go throughout their life," he adds.

Periodic reviews are to be carried out at least every four years by Boards of Governors of schools, the minister explains.