Image source, Getty

MLAs halt their questioning of there finance minister on the draft budget and turn their attention to Question Time.

It takes place during plenary sessions every Monday and Tuesday between 14:00-15:30.

It's an opportunity for members to question ministers about the work of their departments.

There are two slots during each Question Time session, the first will be taken by the deputy first minister with the second going to the health minister.

Thirty minutes will be spent on Listed Questions with a further 15 allocated to Topical Questions.

Andrew Muir of Alliance asks what attempts will be made "to ensure that we tackle both the causes and the symptoms of ill health".

The finance minister says these lie beyond the responsibility of the Department of Health and a range of departments have a contribution to make.

Image source, NI Assembly

Maolíosa McHugh, the minister's Sinn Féin colleague, asks about deaths on the A5 road in his constituency.

He wants to know what provision is made in the budget for major redevelopment of the road.

Conor Murphy outlines the funding to come from the Irish government and flowing from New Decade New Approach.

He says that he is "very confident" that "the funding will be there for it".

Keith Buchanan of the DUP asks the finance minister about the revaluation of businesses.

Conor Murphy says it has to be based on a date and that 1 October “takes into account the experience of the pandemic and the period running up to that”.

“We hope the worst of lockdown situations that businesses have experienced are well behind us,” he adds.

Image source, NI Assembly

SDLP MLA Matthew O’Toole says he welcomes the “prioritisation of health”.

He asks what considerations were made to make a “salami 2% cut” across departments.

Mr Murphy responds that departments had been consulted from summer on this matter.

“There was a clear sense that a higher level than 2% in any department was going to be really challenging,” he adds.

Image source, NI Assembly

Steve Aiken is chair of the assembly's Finance Committee.

He says he believes the committee will welcome three-year budget if it is agreed.

Dr Aiken asks for clarification regarding the rates holiday:

"Is this contingent on the passing of the Non-domestic Rates Valuation Coronavirus Bill?"

Conor Murphy responds that if the rates bill is not passed in Westminster "then the Barnett consequential wouldn't arise" so it would be lost.

The finance minister says the executive “remain in dispute” with the British government over the funding of the troubles pension scheme.

Conor Murphy adds “it’s important this dispute does not impact the delivery of payments to victims and therefore funding is included in this draft budget”.

The focus of the draft budget has been on “providing significant additional resources” for transforming the health service and reducing waiting lists on a permanent basis, says Conor Murphy.

The finance minister explains that the “funding provided by the chancellor’s spending review” didn’t hit what the executive had hoped and therefore a proposal for departments to provide 2% of their baseline to help was put on the table, which the minister says would see an additional £523m over the three years.

That, he says, would form part of an overall £1.9bn which “could be used at the health minister's discretion” to ease identified pressures.

Image source, NI Assembly

Conor Murphy, the Finance Minister, begins his statement on the draft budget.

He refers to some aspects of funding which have followed from the New Decade, New Approach (NDNA) agreement.

“The executive has agreed that both the domestic and non-domestic regional rate will be frozen over this budget period,” explains the finance minister.

A further £50m has been set aside to provide rate support for businesses,” he adds.

“All businesses with the exception of larger food stores and utilities will receive a one-month rates holiday” next year, explains Mr Murphy.

“As some sectors have been harder hit by the pandemic, retail, tourism, hospitality, leisure, childcare and airports will receive a total of three-months rate relief.”

With the education minister's rather dramatic statement completed, it's time to move on to the next item on the agenda.

It's another statement, this time from Finance Minister Conor Murphy on the 2022-25 Draft Budget.

Image source, NI Assembly

The education minister’s DUP colleague Robin Newton asks what type of support the department has had to provide the GTCNI in recent years.

Michelle McIlveen outlines that the support included “guidance to council staff on business case completion”, “written advice to the chair on numerous issues” and “securing joint legal advice” among various other forms of assistance.

Image source, NI Assembly

This is “a wholly damning report” says SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan.

He asks the minister is she will “leave no stone unturned” in the development of a replacement body to the General Teaching Council.

“That would be my intention,” responds Ms McIlveen.

Rosemary Barton, a former teacher and an Ulster Unionist MLA, raises the issue of fees for teachers to be registered with the GTCNI.

Will the registration fee continue with whatever new body is established?

Ms McIlveen says the fee is £44 per annum, adding that it is still a legal requirement for teachers to be registered with the GTCNI.

She adds that fees will still be a feature of any new body.

Image source, NI Assembly

Chris Lyttle, the Alliance MLA and chair of the Education Committee, asks “how on earth such a depth of organisational failure” developed.

When will a new body be formed and what timeframe will this be completed within?

Michelle McIlveen responds “the department did task action on a number of occasions” and put the GTCNI into special measures on two occasions.

The education minister adds that “there have been a catalogue of issues which have come to light”.

“It would be my intention that a consultation document with regard to a new model would be published in advance of purdah,” she adds.

Image source, NI Assembly

“This is a body which was established to regulate the teaching body profession here but completed failed on its functions,” says Pat Sheehan.

The West Belfast Sinn Féin MLA asks how regulation of teachers will now be carried out going forward.

Ms McIlveen says “there are gaps” in terms of teacher regulation.

Michelle McIlveen says the review into GTCNI shows that despite the support of her department "little progress is being made".

"I can not allow this situation to persist," she adds.

"I have instructed my officials to begin work immediately to bring forward a bill for the dissolution of the General Teaching Council," the education minister says.

She says she has also decided to stand down the current GTCNI council with immediate effect.

Immediate oversight of GTCNI executive team will pass to the department to allow for registration of teachers.

A consultation will consider the future replacement of the council.

It is intended to introduce a GTCNI bill in the new Assembly mandate following the next election.

The education minister outlines the basis for the independent review, which delivered its report to the department on 12 November.

The review found that the General Teaching Council (GTCNI) had "an inadequate governance framework and has failed to hold itself to account effectively".

Other failures included "a breakdown of working relationships within the council" and a general "lack of open and effective communication".

Michelle McIlveen says those carrying out the review have concluded that it "demonstrates a council which is functioning but not functional, which is not providing leadership or advocacy to the profession".

They concluded that the council is "irretrievably broken" and as such "we believe that DE should move to dissolve GTCNI with immediate effect".

"I fully accept this recommendation," the minister says.

Image source, NI Assembly

The education minister says the statement regards the outcome of an independent effectiveness review of the General Teaching Council and its committees.

She outlines the role of GTCNI and says it should have a membership of 33, the majority of whom are teachers.

"In practice, GTCNI has not fulfilled its responsibilities and been the voice for the teaching profession that it was intended to be," says Michelle McIlveen.

She says that due to weaknesses in its legislative base the body "has not been able to exercise regulation of the profession as intended".

The minister says GTCNI has focused "an inordinate amount of its time and effort on nugatory internal discussions and disagreements alongside personal and at times bitter in-fighting among its membership".

She says that since 2019, 13 members have resigned or been withdrawn from the council with some citing "the divisive and toxic atmosphere within the council".

Ms McIlveen outlines a list of failures on the part of GTCNI.

She notes that the department has placed the council into special measures on two occasions.

Image source, Getty Images

That next item on today’s agenda is a statement from the Education Minister Michelle McIlveen on the General Teaching Council for NI (GTCNI).

The GTCNI is an arm's-length body of the Department of Education (DE).

If a teacher wants to be employed in a school they have to be registered with the body.

Image source, NI Assembly

Andrew Muir of Alliance wants to talk about "the future of Kinnegar Logistics Base in Holywood".

He appeals to local and regional government to grasp on the opportunity offered by the decision of the Ministry of Defence to delay disposal by two years.

Mr Muir says the base offers a wealth of potential but it must be agreed with local people.

Image source, NI Assembly

SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan rises to discuss the “mental health pandemic”.

He says “we’re seeing unfortunately an increase in the level of suicide in our communities”.

“I would urge all of those in our communities, who are battling with mental health, who need support” to reach out and seek assistance.

Image source, NI Assembly

UUP leader Doug Beattie discusses “our historical heritage” which he believes is “being undermined”.

Mr Beattie refers to a number of historic sites, including the Newry Canal which sits in disrepair and is “in desperate need of restoration”.

Dr Caoimhe Archibald makes a statement criticising the "so-called Nationality and Borders Bill".

The bill is currently passing through Westminster.

"This bill with its many regressive provisions is an extension of the Home Office's hostile environment and concerns have been raised about it for some time," the Sinn Féin MLA says.

She says the bill runs contrary to the Good Friday Agreement.

Image source, NI Assembly

Deborah Erskine is next on her feet.

She calls for a plan to "be put in place to recruit and retain more nurses".

The DUP MLA says nurses are "angels" who have taken on enormous responsibility.

Image source, NI Assembly

Speaker of the House, Alex Maskey, opens the plenary meeting to the public.

He brings members to order before moving to MLAs’ statements.

Each member who is called during this period has three minutes to discuss a topic of current interest.

Sinn Féin's Caoimhe Archibald is first to address the chamber.