The health minister says the debate is taking place today, following an agreement by the executive at the end of November.

Robin Swann says the Covid-19 passport scheme was agreed by the Health Committee with no opposing voices.

He says the executive had hoped that the agreed autumn and winter plan would not have to be implemented, but it was evident that new measures were required to reduce the spread of the virus.

Minister Swann says a Covid certification scheme “is not without it’s challenges” and had hoped it wouldn't be necessary but was “realistic enough to recognise that if or when the time came for it to be necessary the executive should have had a fully-considered system on the books and ready to go”.

“On the 15 November I was looking at the situation in hospitals,” explains Mr Swann, as well as the high rate of community transmission” and adding that “the choice was to either continue with the stalemate or say 'Enough is enough' and look to the executive’s Autumn and Winter plan.

"Not for the first time it was left to my department and a limited number of officials within it to take on a very significant piece of work at pace.

“As a result, the introduction of Covid certification will not be as smooth as it might have been had it have been taken forward under cross-departmental basis.”

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Robin Swann opens the debate by providing the House “with a quick assessment of today’s position”.

The health minister says there is much more to be learned about the new Omicron variant but that with increased levels of infection projected “it is possible we are going to face acute hospital pressures at least as bad as January of this year”.

He says this is not to shock anyone, but to give an “honest assessment” of the situation.

“We all know what winters like for the Northern Ireland health service,” says the minister, adding that “we do have the rare advantage of a little more time” than other regions.

Minister Swann says 525,000 of the eligible population had received their booster by last weekend.

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The next item on today’s agenda is a debate on the introduction of Covid-19 passports in Northern Ireland.

The debate is brought to the chamber by Health Minister Robin Swann.

Regulations are now legally enforceable and venues who breach them could face fines of up to £10,000.

Customers must show either proof of vaccination, a negative test or recent recovery from Covid to enter licensed premises and entertainment venues.

Paula Bradshaw of Alliance asks the health minister about the minimum unit price of alcohol.

She asks if this was discussed at the NSMC meeting.

Robin Swann says he is “all too aware” of the impact alcohol and other drugs can have.

The minister says “we’ve been keeping an eye on what the Scottish government has introduced”.

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Ulster Unionist Rosemary Barton asks for an update on cancer services in the northwest

"We are now part of an Ireland/Northern Ireland National Cancer Institute," the health minister responds.

Robin Swann says there "is cooperation in research and technologies and also information on future drugs".

Sinn Féin's Colm Gildernew chairs the Health Committee.

He asks about cross-border health cooperation including paediatric pathology, which is not available in NI.

Robin Swann says "there are a number of cross-border initiatives underway that we did discuss".

He makes particular reference to living donor exchange kidney transplant scheme and the cancer services in the northwest

The health minister says paediatric pathology was discussed as it's also a problem in the Republic of Ireland and officials have been tasked to see what can be done and whether a service could be set up to serve both jurisdictions.

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The DUP's Deborah Erskine asks about data on Covid-19 being hared between the two jurisdictions.

Robin Swann says the chief medical officers meet on a weekly basis, stepping down to once a fortnight in quieter periods.

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The next item on the agenda is a statement from Health Minister Robin Swann on the North-South Health and Food Safety Sectoral meeting.

He outlines the discussion topics, which included all-island cardiology services and the public consultation on the cancer strategy in NI.

Mr Swann says ministers agreed the next meeting would be held in early 2021.

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With Question Time completed, the members return to the finance minister's statement on the 2022-25 draft budget.

The minister's Sinn Féin colleague, Liz Kimmins welcomes the provision of £16.3m for a city park in Newry.

"Does the minister agree that this will be a huge asset to the community in Newry?" she asks.

Conor Murphy says Newry is one of the few cities across the island that doesn't have a major city centre park.

He looks forward to "rapid implementation of the park".

Key issues raised with the Health Minister Robin Swann during Question Time:

• Robin Swann says the department is “exploring the utilisation of medical students” to assist the rollout of the Covid-19 booster programme
• The minister says at some walk-ins “we’re seeing more people turn up than we actually have capacity”
• Over the last week over 100,000 vaccinations have been delivered, “including boosters, averaging around 13,000 per day”
• Any under 18-year-old does not currently need a domestic Covid passport, but may need one if they are travelling to a foreign country where one is required

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On to topical questions, where members can raise issues not already covered in listed questions.

The Green Party's Clare Bailey refers to tomorrow's debate on the Severe Fetal Impairment Abortion (Amendment) Bill.

"If that bill passes how will that impact on your office?" she asks.

Robin Swann says "I have indicated to the executive before I can bring any further papers to them I need to see the out-workings of that legislation in regards to how it may impact any commissioning of services that my department may deem to be necessary to meet the direction of 2021".

Ms Bailey asks for an update on the minister's commissioning of abortion services.

"I have indicated to executive colleagues that I do intend to bring a paper to them in the new year," the minister says.

Daniel McCrossan of the SDLP asks "why ad-hoc agency staff were not eligible for the HSC Staff Recognition Payment.".

Robin Swann says that when the scheme was set-up he specifically requested that it be extended to agency workers on "longer-term placements".

"I didn't have to do this, but I did," says the minister, adding that there is a 12-week qualifying period and that this follows the precedent set by equality law for equal treatment for agency workers.

"The design of the scheme reflects my intention to recognise the contribution of those agency workers on longer-term placements".

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The DUP's Trevor Clarke asks "what additional support has been provided to GPs to administer the Covid-19 vaccine booster programme".

Robin Swann says Department of Health officials hold meetings with both trust and GP representatives.

"To assist primary care, vaccinators have been provided on request to ensure that Covid-19 vaccination clinics can be held," the health minister says.

"To date, 139 GP practices have requested 1,626 vaccinators to support 953 sessions," he adds.

Thirty-eight additional admin staff have been assigned to assist GPs.

An appeal has gone out for additional vaccinators.

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The DUP's Keith Buchanan asks "what plans are in place to alleviate pressures on breast cancer services in the Northern Health and Social Care Trust".

"The trust continues to receive a high volume of referrals with every effort being made to see patients as soon as possible," the health minister says.

Robin Swann says a range of actions have been implemented to alleviate pressures on services and these have made "a significant impact".

Mr Swann adds that in November 2021 there were 697 patients awaiting breast screening.

There has been no delay to the high-risk screening service, he says.

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Health Minister Robin Swann steps into the Question Time spotlight.

Liz Kimmins of Sinn Féin asks the minister "whether he will review the financial support available to healthcare students".

The minister replies that the evidence shows that the health care courses "are attractive under the current support arrangements".

He says that courses at the universities have historically been heavily oversubscribed.

The minister outlines the payments and bursaries available to students.

Mr Swann says the current arrangements appear to be effective in attracting good quality candidates.

Here are five key points raised during Question Time with the deputy first minister.

• Michelle O'Neill uses sign language to welcome members to "the very inclusive" assembly. This marks the first time a sign language service has been operated at Stormont

• Women in "low-paid precarious employment" have been particularly affected by the Covid pandemic, the deputy first minister says
• Ms O'Neill says the British government's legacy proposals represent "a real affront to all victims and survivors"
• Junior Minister Declan Kearney says "blocking, delay and obfuscation must come to an end" if progress is to made on Flags, Identity, Culture and Tradition
• Asked about the introduction of the Covid-19 certification scheme, the deputy first minister says "we want to keep society open and safe"

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It’s now time for topical questions to the deputy first minister.

DUP MLA Christopher Stalford focuses on the introduction of Covid-19 passports.

He asks the deputy first minister if she’ll commit to “publish the evidence that was used to justify such a scheme?”

Michelle O’Neill responds that the evidence lies with the Health Department and should be available on the health website.

“We want to keep society open and safe,” adds Ms O’Neill.

“We have a duty to look after our health service and health care workers.”

She says the objective behind the passport scheme is to give people reassurance and “keep doors open”.

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Jonathan Buckley of the DUP asks the deputy first minister about Covid-19 recovery.

He says a “huge burden” has been placed on businesses and hospitality due to the introduction of Covid passports.

“Does she personally believe those businesses should receive compensation?”

Michelle O’Neill responds that the executive has tried to mitigate losses where possible “but we could never replace all the funding that they would’ve made in their normal run of business”.

She says she “very much” supports the health departments Covid passport proposals.

“Your party is absolutely out of kilter with the rest of the assembly who are behind the public health message,” adds Ms O’Neill.

She says of the Omicron variant, “we’re probably about two weeks behind England and Scotland”.

“My priority is to keep businesses open and safe.”

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A number of MLAs focus on the recently published Flags, Identity, Culture and Tradition (FITC) report.

Sinéad McLaughlin of the SDLP asks if it was £800,000 well spent?

Junior Sinn Féin Minister Declan Kearney takes the question on behalf of the Executive Office.

He says every report will “have a price tag” adding that this was a “very costly report to compile but these were complex and challenging issues”.

“The disgrace is, not so much that we spent this quantum of funding on the report, but that we now actually have a report and we’re not being allowed to effect implementation of that report,” says the junior minister.

“The test of the money spent will be the degree to which members in this House allow for the report to be implemented.”

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What’s the first and deputy first minister’s “assessment of a letter to the US Secretary of State, dated 10 November 2021, from a group of US Congress members calling for the US Government to oppose the British Government’s legacy proposals”.

That’s the question from Maolíosa McHugh of Sinn Féin.

Michelle O’Neill responds that the executive noted the concerns outlined in the letter and that it opposes “the current legacy proposals”.

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“There are those in the United States that simply can’t wring their hands of any culpability in ration to the legacy issues that we face where many of them funded illegal organisations such as the Provisional IRA for many years,” says Jonathan Buckley of the DUP.

Ms O’Neill says the executive has “made it very clear to Brandon Lewis” the Secretary of State than an amnesty is not the way forward.

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Michelle O’Neill, the Deputy First Minister, is in the chamber and ready to field MLAs questions.

Before starting the session she uses sign language to mark this being the “first Question Time with sign language”.

It is a pilot which was announced by the speaker of the assembly and will last until the end of this current mandate.

Ms O’Neill’s first question of the day comes from Maurice Bradley of the DUP.

He asks “in light of the new restrictions on international travel, whether there are any plans to provide additional funding through the Travel Agents Coronavirus Financial Assistance Scheme 2021”.

Ms O’Neill responds that the Travel Agency scheme has concluded and says £1.208m was paid out in support.

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Dolores Kelly of the SDLP asks how the money which was due to be used for the Holiday at Home scheme, which is no longer being progressed, will now be used.

“It was funding that was found within” the Economy Department, says the minister, adding that she expects they will now reallocate those funds.