John Campbell
BBC News NI Economics and Business Editor

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The fact that the Northern Ireland Protocol overrides part of the Act of Union is not "shattering" for the union, a government barrister has said.

Tony McGleenan QC was making submissions to the Court of Appeal in Belfast.

The court is hearing a challenge to the lawfulness of the protocol.

A group of unionist politicians claim it is unlawful as it conflicts with the Act of Union and the Good Friday Agreement.

Read more on this story here.

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Ulster Unionist Rosemary Barton says she supports the committee's amendments.

"In a survey of employees completed in NI, one in seven bereaved parents said they had not been offered a single day of paid bereavement leave," she explains.

Stewart Dickson says that "out there, there is a population of people who have been through this or ultimately face the circumstances that this bill is trying to provide for".

The Alliance MLA also adds his backing to the committee's amendments.

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Matthew O’Toole says he’ll be supporting the committee’s amendments today.

The SDLP MLA adds that “this is a major step forward” in terms of having the bill.

The South Belfast representative says “there is an added burden” on the assembly to show the electorate “that we’re doing something for them” following the three-year collapse of the power-sharing institutions.

Turning to the cost of the bill, Mr O’Toole says there are currently only “guesstimates” available to members.

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With Question Time completed the members return to the debate on the Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay Bill, which was suspended before lunch.

The DUP's Peter Weir is first to speak.

He notes that there is "a divergence of opinion" regarding the route to be taken with the bill.

The North Down MLA says he thinks there are at least three members on the committee who have lost a parent in recent months.

"The grief that is there for parents when they lose a child somehow seems to go against the natural order of things," he says.

He says the divergence is over precisely how to make allowance for parents who have suffered miscarriage.

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

• This year's Winter Fuel Payments have started and to date 289,762 payments have been made to a value of £51.6m
• The minister appreciates the support of the finance minister, her Sinn Féin colleague, in seeking funding for a proposed energy support scheme for people in receipt of certain benefits
• The number of empty houses in NI fell from around 55,000 in 2006 to 29,000 in 2016
• Since 25 October a one-off payment of up to £1,500 has been available for people whose upfront childcare costs are a barrier to employment
• The minister hopes to have legislation in place for terminal illness provision in social security benefits before the end of the mandate

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The community minister has been on her feet for 30 minutes in the chamber.

Deirdre Hargey has another 15 to go - this time answering topical questions.

These are focused on issues which have not yet been addressed during question time, but which lie within the minister’s remit.

Justin McNulty of the SDLP says he’s glad there’s been agreement at the executive to extend welfare mitigations, but when will legislation be brought forward?

“I’m hopeful it will progress very shortly,” says the minister, adding that she hopes it'll be discussed at the executive table on Thursday.

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DUP MLA William Irwin raises the issue of the Caravans Act.

He says he is aware of a constituent who owned a caravan, had been on a site for 50 years, couldn’t afford to buy a replacement and “the crane was brought in and his caravan was set out”.

Deidre Hargey says she has “heard it myself” in terms of similar stories.

The communities minister adds that her remit under the act is for those who own a caravan as a residential property, while caravans for tourism lie with the Economy Department.

She says she’s hopeful “greater protections” will be added to the act following a review of the 2011 act.

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Jim Allister of the TUV refers to large increases in pitch fees for caravan owners, in some cases up to 35%.

Ms Hargey says there are a wide range of issues that need to be addressed under the caravan act review.

“I would encourage all members if they have stakeholders there within their community to come forward and tell their experience,” she adds.

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What’s the community minister’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Empty Homes Strategy and Action Plan 2013-2018?

That’s the question from SDLP MLA Justin McNulty.

Deirdre Hargey says “it is important we look beyond the headline figures to clearly understand the full picture”.

“There are positive benefits of bringing vacant properties back into use,” she adds, and explains that she will continue to look at this issue.

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Ainé Murphy, the minister’s Sinn Féin colleague, asks what action the department is taking to increase the provision of social housing.

Ms Hargey responds that “land availability” is a “critical issue”.

She outlines that she has been encouraging local housing associations to identify and secure sites.

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Deirdre Hargey’s first question of the day comes from Ulster Unionist Rosemary Barton.

She wants to know what measures will be put in place to ensure that people who are entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment will receive it by the end of 2021.

The communities minister says there are numerous schemes being run by her department to help ease “soaring energy costs”.

Payments have already started to be made, explains Ms Hargey.

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SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone says he is aware of 40 families in Mid-Ulster who are unable to heat their homes.

Ms Hargey responds that she’s “hopeful” more money will be available to help support “those on lowest incomes” as well as “targeting families”.

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 normally two slots during each Question Time session although today we have a single session

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

Today it's the turn of the Communities Minister.

The deputy speaker intervenes in proceedings.

It’s time for lunch. This is also an opportunity for the Business Commtitee to meet and agree items for next week’s agenda.

We’ll be back at 14:00 for Question Time with the Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey.

See you again shortly.

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Deputy Speaker Roy Beggs explains that members will debate amendments three to 10 first.

These deal with miscarriage leave and pay.

Dr Caoimhe Archibald opens the debate in her role as chair of the Economy Committee.

The Sinn Féin MLA says today's debate follows a very in-depth scrutiny process in the committee.

The committee is bringing seven of the ten amendments.

"The committee focused specifically on two main areas where it felt the support and protections offered by this bill could be widened and improved," Dr Archibald says, adding that "these were in relation to including miscarriage and allowing for a Day One right to pay rather than applying a 26-week qualifying period as intended in the bill".

There’s plenty more legislation up for debate this afternoon, with the Parental Bereavement Leave Bill up next.

It’s brought by Gordon Lyons the Economy Minister for its consideration stage.

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Edwin Poots is called to wind on the debate.

The agriculture minister says it is a “very reasonable” approach to protect service animals.

“It’s very easy to identify that this is giving added protection to animals which are put in circumstances to protect society,” he adds.

“It’s important that we do this and it’s important we recognise these animals are being put on the front line.”

The bill is put to an oral vote and passes its second stage.

It'll now bypass the committee stage, as it's been granted accelerated passage, and will be referred to the speaker's office.

Ulster Unionist Rosemary Barton says that "unfortunately these service animals have increasingly become the object of deliberate harm or abuse, occasionally being maimed for life".

She says this is a welcome piece of legislation and that the overwhelming number of consultees supported the measure.

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"Our brave service animals in NI carry out invaluable work and that work can often place them in unpredictable and dangerous situations," says Alliance MLA John Blair.

He says it's only appropriate that they should be protected under law "as they are in neighbouring jurisdictions".

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Philip McGuigan is the deputy chair of the Agriculture Committee and outlines members’ consideration of the legislation.

The North Antrim MLA says some stakeholders told the committee that some of the protections should be further extended.

He concludes by stating that the committee supports the bill.

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“The vast majority of people” who hear the details of an attack on a service dog would be “in shock”, says Patsy McGlone.

The SDLP MLA says the legislation has already been changed in England, Scotland and Wales and “it’s right the assembly address this” as well.

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The agriculture minister opens the second stage debate, where members will debate the broad principles of the bill.

Edwin Poots says this is a short bill that aims to provide "enhanced welfare protection for NI service animals".

By way of background he outlines some of the existing animal protection legislation in NI.

The minister also relays the case of Finn, a police dog that was stabbed and seriously hurt in England in 2016.

Since it was possible for the alleged perpetrator to claim they were acting in self defence it was decided to proceed via a claim for criminal damage.

As a result "Finn was treated as a piece of police property," Mr Poots says.

A high profile public campaign resulted in the passing of "Finn's Law" in England.

This provides that whether someone who has done harm to a service animal did so because they were protecting a person, property or another animal is to be disregarded when deciding whether or not the harm was unnecessary.

The minister says there is now an opportunity for similar legislation to be passed in NI.

The votes have been cast and counted.

The clerk reads the result - accelerated passage has been granted under cross community support.

MLAs stay with the Animal Welfare Bill now as they immediately turn to the second stage debate on the legislation.

Edwin Poots, the Agriculture Minister, is back on his feet and ready to outline the content of the draft legislation.

The Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Louise Haigh is moving jobs as part of a wide-ranging reshuffle of senior posts within the Labour Party.

The Sheffield MP will move to the shadow transport secretary brief and will be replaced by Peter Kyle who was the shadow schools minister.

Ms Haigh held the Northern Ireland post for just over a year and a half, having been appointed in April 2020.

In a tweet, she said it had been an "incredible honour to serve".

Read more on this story here.

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Agriculture Committee deputy chair Philip McGuigan explains the deliberations of the committee which led its members to the recommendation that the bill be granted accelerated passage.

The minister's DUP colleague, William Irwin also adds his backing to "this welcome piece of legislation".

John Blair of Alliance also backs the bill and its accelerated passage.

The TUV's Jim Allister says he has no objection to the proposed legislation but "I do fundamentally take issue with the second attempt in a week to abuse the process of accelerated passage".

Deputy chair Roy Beggs puts the question to the members and since there is a dissenting voice from Jim Allister the House divides.