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Time for questions to the Education Minister, Peter Weir.

The SDLP's Colin McGrath has the first question and he wants to know when the minister "intends to permit the return of sporting activities to schools".

Mr Weir says that some school activities "that have a somewhat high risk" must remain paused at the moment.

He says this will form part of wider executive considerations and that the next review of restrictions will be tomorrow.

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The next item on today's agenda is Question Time.

It takes place during plenary sessions every Monday and Tuesday between 14:00-15:30 and is an opportunity for members to question ministers about the work of their departments.

There are two slots during each Question Time session.

Thirty minutes is spent on Listed Questions, external, with a further 15 allocated to Topical Questions.

Today it's the turn of the education and finance ministers.

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Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw says the bill, in its current form, is “utterly inadequate”.

“The bill is really not about disability discrimination,” says the MLA.

She adds, “this bill is really about the ongoing denial of women’s rights”.

“One of the few advantages of three years of having the assembly in cold storage is that a historic wrong was put right,” says Ms Bradshaw in relation to the passage of legislation at Westminster which made changes to abortion law in NI.

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Rosemary Barton says she wants to express her "wholehearted support" for the bill.

The Ulster Unionist MLA says that "women in England in Wales have sat with the clinicians involved in their antenatal care and just weeks before their due date they have been forced to consider their pregnancy ending with the intentional death of their much-wanted child".

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“The legislation imposed on us from Westminster gave no consideration to the lack of support that should accompany women through any pregnancy,” says Sinéad Bradley.

The SDLP MLA says there’s “never been a concerted effort to address the absence of critical support needed for those women who feel they are in crisis”.

“Where is their support?”

“I choose to see your ability, not your disability,” she says, adding that she will be supporting the bill.

Deirdre Hargey rises to her feet. She’s speaking in this debate as a member of Sinn Féin and not in her role as Communities Minister.

She says that one year on from abortion legislation coming into effect in Northern Ireland, “women are still being failed.”

She claims the DUP are intent on “unpicking this legislation”.

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“We must not allow this debate to detract from the fact that women are still being denied services, women are still being denied care, women are still be forced to travel to England which is inhumane and traumatic especially in the midst of a global health pandemic.

“This is a crude attempt to pit vulnerable women and couples against people with disabilities.”

She ends her remarks by questioning the DUP on whether the party will support an “urgent commissioning” of abortion services here.

Paul Givan is on his feet to make the opening speech on his bill.

"This bill tackles disability discrimination and how the law perpetuates stereotypes," says the DUP MLA.

"The bill has one clause of substance that gives expression to the determination of an overwhelming majority of members, representative of our whole community, to reject the provision of abortion on the basis of non-fatal disability," the DUP MLA adds.

He says that the current abortion regulations permit "abortion up to term in the cases of non-fatal disabilities for conditions such as Down's Syndrome, cleft palate and club foot".

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"The support of many people in the medical profession for this bill speaks volumes for the positive attitude within our health service that they have in providing the best care for both families and pre-born children," the Lagan Valley MLA continues.

"I urge you to join with me in sending a clear and unequivocal message that in Northern Ireland people with disabilities are equally valued," he concludes.

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This is a private members’ bill which has been brought forward by DUP MLA Paul Givan.

It seeks to prevent abortions being carried out in NI in cases of non-fatal disabilities.

Last year, NI’s abortion laws changed significantly after legislation passed at Westminster.

There is no time limit for terminations when there is a “substantial risk” a fetus would suffer a severe mental or physical impairment., external

Campaigners have argued the law allows abortions without time limit for conditions such as Down’s Syndrome.

You'll find a timeline of key events related to abortion in Northern Ireland here.

Up next MLAs turn their attention to the Severe Fetal Impairment Abortion (Amendment) Bill.

Before the debate begins, Assembly Speaker Alex Maskey says he hopes members will be respectful in their contributions.

He says many in the chamber have strong views on the matter and appeals to MLAs to be mindful of those in the chamber and members of the public who may be watching the discussion online.

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“I personally think that how this debate is addressed sets a marker for the integrity of this assembly,” he adds.

Mr Maskey then calls Paul Givan, the sponsor of the bill, to begin the debate.

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John Stewart of the UUP says “this is good news” for businesses.

He asks for clarification on whether the CRBSS scheme (Covid Restrictions Business Support Scheme), which is lead by the Economy Department, will be extended.

Minister Conor Murphy responds that the LRSS (Localised Restrictions Support Scheme) will continue to “pay out” for as long as restrictions remain in place.

“The sooner we’re out of restrictions and lockdown, the better for everyone,” adds the finance minister.

He adds that he “hopes that it is the case” that the CRBSS will continue.

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How can we ensure there will be value for money in the schemes being implemented?

That’s the question from Andrew Muir of Alliance.

“Lessons from the previous experience have been applied,” responds Conor Murphy.

“I’d be surprised if there isn’t some slippage, we have to try and manage that,” adds the minister.

Matthew O’Toole of the SDLP asks what specific research the finance department is completing to find out the impact of the funding on businesses in Northern Ireland.

Mr O’Toole says this information will be “critical” in understanding where the economy is.

The South Belfast MLA tells the chamber that it appears that “we’re flying blind” in terms of what the high street might face in the future.

Conor Murphy responds by acknowledging that it’s not the ideal way to be spending money but it will be valuable to businesses across Northern Ireland. He adds that analysis has been carried out by Ulster University.

Foyle Sinn Féin MLA Maolíosa McHugh welcomes how quickly the finance minister has brought proposals forward.

He asks Conor Murphy when business can apply for the larger grant amount of £50,000 and how the application process will be communicated.

Mr Murphy says payments can't be made until the regulations are made but applications can be made once the proposals are legislated for in the usual manner.

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Paul Frew says the minister’s statement will be good news for businesses.

The DUP MLA asks Conor Murphy if his department will have to return any money to Westminster for 2021 once these schemes have been implemented.

“I don’t intend or expect to return any unspent money,” responds Finance Minister Conor Murphy.

“There are a number of allocations that I intend to bring to the executive next week,” he adds.

The next item of business is a statement from the finance minister on additional business support schemes.

Conor Murphy begins by explaining that these schemes will provide financial support to businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic which have not already benefited from government support or have lost significant business.

The schemes will be funded by monies that remained unallocated from earlier schemes.

"I am bringing forward three schemes of financial assistance for business worth £178 million," says Mr Murphy.

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The first is a scheme which will provide a one-off grant of £50,000 for certain businesses which occupy premises with a net annual value over £51,000.

The second scheme will provide a one-off grant of £25,000 to industrial businesses operating from premises with a total net annual value between £15,001 and £51,000.

The third scheme will make an additional payment to businesses which received either the £10,000 Small Business Grant or £25,000 Grant for Retail, Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure in the first lockdown but have been unable to access further support through the autumn and winter.

"These financial support schemes for businesses will be implemented rapidly to make use of the remaining Covid funding within the current financial year," the minister says.

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Claire Sugden says her thoughts are with Sarah Everard’s family as well as “every woman” who has felt fear when they should not.

“I’m asking every man in this chamber to stand up for this issue and to recognise it for what it is,” says the Independent MLA.

She adds, “I was triggered by some of the commentary at the weekend."

People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll also condemns the killing of Sarah Everard.

“It was disgusting and should never have happened to anybody, any woman in any circumstance," he says.

He adds that more needs to be done to protect women in society.

“We do have a problem with male violence towards women in our society and it needs stamped out and eradicated," says the West Belfast MLA.

“Women should be able to walk, run, cycle or use public transport at any time of the day or night without having to fear for the safety or their lives, and tragically so many do.”

He closes by referring to proposed legislation brought forward in Westminster today regarding noise levels at protests as "disgraceful".

John Blair of Alliance says the Matter of the Day "is to highlight that men are generally the culprits and women are the victims, and we as an assembly need to address that fact and tackle that issue before we can move forward with this debate".

"The collective socialisation of men has led to some men becoming predatory and that is why we are at this tipping point," he adds.

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Clare Bailey of the Green Party says the images being beamed across the world on social media show how "we as a society respect and value women".

"Legislation is not enough. If it's not resourced it is simply legislation," she says.

Dolores Kelly of the SDLP says she has five sisters and three daughters.

“I can’t even begin to imagine the heartbreak of her mother today,” she says in relation to Sarah Everard’s mother.

“I support the call of Women’s Aid, who launched a petition last week, calling on the executive and justice minister to put forward a strategy,” says the MLA.

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“I also have a sister and a daughter, slightly younger than Sarah so I can empathise in many ways with what they’re going through at this moment in time,” says Ulster Unionist Rosemary Barton.

“Women should have the right to walk on our streets, feel safe in our streets, feel safe in our countryside, go out for walks on their own,” she adds.

“This cannot go on. Violence is wrong, cat-calling is also wrong.”

Liz Kimmins of Sinn Féin rises next.

She tells the Assembly that she sends solidarity to everyone who came out to share their “shock anger and sadness” regarding Ms Everard’s death.

“Last Monday we all came together to celebrate International Women’s Day and I think the matter of today shows a stark contrast to everything that represents and everything that we celebrated.”

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Ms Kimmins then raises the point that Northern Ireland as yet, has no gender-based strategy in tackling violence against women.

“The north is the only place in these islands that doesn’t have a strategy in place and it is time that we get that in place immediately," she says.

She closes by highlighting what she believes was a "disproportionate response” from the Metropolitan Police in how it handled a vigil at the weekend.

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"The death of Sarah Everard was an appalling and tragic act," says Pam Cameron of the DUP.

"The reality is that this could have been any of our daughters, sisters or mothers," she adds.

Ms Cameron says her party will be reaching out to organisations such as Women's Aid "to talk to them about what is a very important subject".