MLAs debated a motion calling for simultaneous interpretation of speeches at the assembly
Following the resignation of Arlene Foster, Sinn Féin and the DUP must agree to appoint new first and deputy first ministers
Sinn Féin has said it will not agree to a new DUP first minister until there is movement on Irish language law
The DUP has said it will not commit to Irish language law before the next election
Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon called for an independent investigation into road resurfacing procurement
Minister of Health Robin Swann made a statement on the publication of the Elective Care Framework
Members of the NI Assembly approved the easement of coronavirus regulations
The Health Committee proposed a motion to the assembly calling for support for carers
The committee motion as amended is passed by 58 votes to 27.
That's all from Stormont for today.
We'll be back at 10:00 tomorrow for full coverage of this week's meeting of the Infrastructure Committee including briefings on MOT and driving tests.
Do join us then. And in the meantime enjoy your evening.
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The votes have been cast and counted.
A total of 85 MLAs voted:
The UUP amendment to the simultaneous interpretation motion is agreed.
The amended motion is put to the House for an oral vote.
There's no agreement and so MLAs return to the voting booths...
The UUP amendment is put to an oral vote, but there’s no agreement.
As such the House divides.
It’ll take members sometime to vote, but stay with us.
Image source, NI AssemblyCarál Ní Chuilín winds for the motion.
Speaking in her role as Procedures Committee chair, she says the members wanted to ensure value for money and consequently gave careful consideration to advice provided "on many different scenarios" including active and passive systems.
She then replies to some points from a non-committee chair perspective.
Referring to the Ulster Unionist amendment, she says "build it and they will come".
"I'm not fluent yet but I hope to be, my kids are fluent and my grandkids are fluent," the Sinn Féin MLA says.
Image source, NI AssemblyMike Nesbitt is called to wind on the amendment proposed by his party, the UUP.
“Do we realise that in five, ten, 15 years, there will still be Irish nationalists and republicans, British loyalists and unionists and people who describe themselves as none of the above, sharing this little postage stamp on the world map?”
“Culture is part of our identity,” says the Strangford MLA, adding that there is a need to respect everyone’s identity.
“Am I out to diminish anyone's culture or identity in this chamber? Absolutely not.”
“We have a responsibility to deliver value for money,” he explains.
Jim Allister of the TUV says that this morning members "paid lip service" to the fact that "there are over half a million people on waiting lists".
"Everyone in this House speaks, understands English and yet we have the farce and the squander that we're going to take precious resources and pour them into an unnecessary provision of simultaneous translation," he says.
Image source, NI AssemblyGerry Carroll of People Before Profit says he's happy to support the motion.
"The least this house can do is allow for more visibility and support for those who want to speak and live their lives through the medium of Irish," he adds.
Image source, NI AssemblyPaula Bradshaw of Alliance says “I have no doubt this step will be welcomed” by those who “cherish the Irish language”.
“Given what is in the NI Act in New Decade, New Approach,” the South Belfast MLA says it’s “inevitable Ulster Scots” is included.
“We have to get away from treating Ulster-Scots as a mirror image to the Irish language,” she adds.
For this reason, she says she’ll be supporting the amendment.
Image source, NI AssemblySDLP MLA Justin McNulty says Irish language “will not threaten the union”.
“This interpretations service will enrich this place,” he adds.
“It will broaden the thinking of everyone here, and by God could we do some broadened thinking around here.”
It's universally accepted that "agreements made should be agreements honoured", says Pat Sheehan.
He says "the refusal of the DUP to commit to any Irish language provisions is the context for this debate and it is a cause of huge concern".
"This can only lead to greater instability in the institutions," the Sinn Féin MLA adds.
"We're now out of time. We need to see delivery, not more broken promises and hollow commitments," Mr Sheehan says.
The West Belfast MLA says the DUP leader, Edwin Poots, has made it clear that he does not intend to deliver on language commitments within the current mandate.
He says it's now time for "the governments to deliver equality and rights to citizens".
Image source, NI AssemblyPatsy McGlone of the SDLP opens his speech in Irish.
He reads from the part of New Decade, New Approach pertaining to culture.
Mr McGlone says he has been an advocate for the Irish language for many years.
He says that when the members come into the chamber it should be to aim for "the betterment of our community".
Image source, NI AssemblySéan Lynch of Sinn Féin says “this is a matter of equality”.
He refers to the systems which other legislatures, such the Welsh parliament, have adopted.
Mr Lynch says simultaneous provision could also be used by committees when required.
A passive system, as proposed in the motion, “strikes an appropriate balance between language rights and costs”.
“The party opposite has insulted and dismissed the Irish language in the past that campaigners have felt the need to repeatedly protest outside this building,” adds the MLA in referring to the DUP.
Image source, NI AssemblyDUP MLA Maurice Bradley rises to support the UUP amendment to the motion.
He says he agreed to the full implementation of New Decade, New Approach, and not “piecemeal” implementation.
“I have never disrespected the Irish language or anything to do with the Irish language at any time in my life and I take a bit of exception to that,” says Mr Bradley in retort to Mr Lynch.
He questions whether finances should be spent on other areas facing pressure at this minute in time, such as Education or Health.
Kellie Armstrong says she's jealous of anyone who can speak another language.
The Alliance MLA says she looks forward "to hearing Irish or Ulster Scots being spoken in this chamber".
She says she thinks her grandmother spoke Ulster Scots but she can't be sure, certainly the word "oxter" appeared a lot.
Ms Armstrong says Alliance came into the executive on the basis of New Decade, New Approach (NDNA) and that all the parties had the opportunity to feed into it.
The MLA adds that the motion "is going to be very good for those of us who have limited hearing".
"As an unintended consequence I will have access to subtitles so if you vote against this you are voting against a member of the deaf community who sits in this House."
Image source, NI AssemblyGary Middleton of the DUP says he and his party colleagues raised concerns at every stage in the committee.
He says there are many aspects of NDNA he would like to see progressed.
Mr Middleton sees a need to prioritise and see money is put into where it is needed.
"When it comes to the cultural aspects of NDNA we made it clear to the committee that it was important to not cherry-pick elements of that agreement because it was a balance," he says.
Image source, NI AssemblySinéad Bradley of the SDLP refers to commitments within the New Decade, New Approach agreement.
She says the committee had to look at “what warranted coming onto our agenda for discussion”.
Ms Bradley adds that it was not for the Procedures Committee to renegotiate the agreement, but to “put in place the agreement that had been made”.
“The motion in front of you is the deal that was made, please honour it.”
Image source, NI AssemblyThomas Buchanan of the DUP is next on his feet and he says the committee was split over this matter.
He says this was not due to "anything to do with language or culture".
Rather, Mr Buchanan says it was to do with "the many financial pressures that this House currently faces".
He says the motion is "reflective of only one political perspective".
The DUP MLA says New Decade, New Approach must be delivered "as a collective package".
Image source, NI AssemblyRobbie Butler of the UUP is up next.
He moves the proposed amendment to the motion. You can read it in full here. , external
The MLA says “there has been a lot said regarding the Irish language in recent years inside and outside this chamber”.
“This conversation has in many instances become divisive, fractious and quite frankly has not been productive,” he adds.
Mr Butler says MLAs are “custodians of the public purse” and outlines that this is why his party’s amendment is needed.
Carál Ní Chuilín of Sinn Féin opens the debate in her role as chair of the Committee on Procedures.
She explains that the motion proposes to introduce simultaneous translation of assembly business in Irish and Ulster Scots "as set out in New Decade, New Approach" (NDNA).
The North Belfast MLA outlines the NDNA provision that "a simultaneous translation system" will made available in the assembly.
Image source, NI AssemblyShe explains difference between active and passive translation.
A passive system would see any Irish or Ulster Scots spoken be interpreted to English "whereas an active service would be one in which business is conducted in English and also interpreted to Irish and Ulster Scots".
The Houses of the Oireachtas (Irish parliament and the Welsh Senedd both use passive systems, Ms Ní Chuilín explains.
The committee is satisfied that a passive service is suitable for the assembly, she adds.
The members have also acknowledged that there may be difficulties in recruiting Ulster Scots interpreters.
The committee chair says the position reflected in the motion was adopted following a vote in the committee and was approved by five votes to four.
The final item on today’s agenda relates to simultaneous interpretation.
It’s brought to the House by the Procedures Committee.
In the New Decade, New Approach agreement it was agreed by parties that there would be simultaneous translation services in Irish - and Ulster-Scots - in the assembly.
Carál Ní Chuilín moves and opens the debate.
Image source, NI AssemblySinéad Bradley of the SDLP says her party welcomes the cautious approach.
“It is at this time, we still believe, it is the right approach to take a precautionary approach,” says the South Down rep.
She adds that “some of those provisions are doing no harm in terms of other objectives that this house wants to meet in terms of trying to meet that work-life balance”.
Image source, NI AssemblyDUP MLA Thomas Buchanan winds on the rather short debate.
He says the pandemic was “much worse than what it is today” when the provisions were previously put to the assembly.
The West Tyrone MLA adds that “we can’t be too complacent” and makes reference to the Delta variant.
Patsy McGlone, the deputy speaker of the House puts the motion to an oral vote and it passes.
Image source, NI AssemblyThe next item on the agenda is a technical matter.
It’s a motion to amend standing order 110.
What does that mean?
It’s basically a motion seeking the extension of current hybrid working arrangements to enable the continuation of operations at the assembly.
The changes first came about due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Carál Ní Chuilín, the chair of the Procedures Committee, moves the motion and opens the debate.
The Sinn Féin MLA says the committee considered the issue recently and agreed to seek a further extension of the provision.
Image source, NI AssemblyDUP MLA Jonathan Buckley winds on the motion.
He outlines the consideration which the committee gave to the motion, along with the contributions gathered from various stakeholders.
Mr Buckley says “a recognition grant would be well deserved and the least we could do” for carers.
“We are all in contact with carers day-by-day who are feeling burnout,” adds the Upper Bann MLA.
He runs through the numerous points raised by other members during the debate.
The motion is put to an oral vote and receives unanimous support.
Health Minister Robin Swann replies to the debate.
He says he would like to see a one-off award for carers "to recognise their contribution over the period of the pandemic".
The minister says that this has proved "more complex and challenging than originally thought".
He says the health trusts operate a register of carers but this is voluntary and "does not offer any true reflection" of the number of carers in the community.
Image source, NI AssemblyThe minister says that at the end of March he announced a £4m fund for projects working with carers but he accepts that this is not the same as an individual payment.
Health Committee chair Colm Gildernew intervenes.
He says the minister's comment that a carers' Covid payment would not be within the legislative scope of the department "will come as a blow to many carers".