MLAs opened their Consideration Stage debate on the Climate Change (No. 2) Bill
Justice Minister Naomi Long delivered a statement on Care and Supervision Units in the Northern Ireland Prison Service
Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots made a statement on support for Northern Ireland Search and Rescue Services
Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon answers members' questions on the floor of the House
Image source, NI AssemblyDeclan McAleer of Sinn Féin chairs the Agriculture Committee and outlines the committee’s consideration of the Climate Change (No. 2) Bill.
“We are responsible for the harm caused to the planet,” says the MLA.
“The challenge is clear and stark, we all have a responsibility.”
Image source, NI AssemblyGreen Party MLA Clare Bailey now addresses the remainder of the amendments in the group.
She indicates which of these her party will support.
The South Belfast MLA expresses her party's opposition to the purchase of carbon credits by the department for the purposes of carbon offsetting.
One of her amendments would place a limit on the purchasing of credits.
"The department cannot say that they have met their targets, for example, if this is met through buying carbon credits," she adds.
John Campbell
BBC News NI Economics and Business Editor
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Climate Change (No.2) Bill sets a target of reducing emissions by 82% by 2050.
A rival bill from the Green Party has a target of net-zero emissions by 2045.
Around 80 amendments have been proposed to the bill, which include proposals to switch its target to net zero.
The bill itself has been brought forward by Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots.
Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK without its own climate legislation, though it is contributing to wider UK reduction targets.
With Question Time completed the MLAs resume their debate on the consideration stage of the Climate Change (No. 2) Bill, which was suspended before lunchtime.
The first speaker is the Green Party's Clare Bailey. She continues her opening comments on Group One amendments., external
You can read the full list of proposed amendments to the Bill here. , external
Here are four key points raised during Question Time with the infrastructure minister:
Image source, NI AssemblyNichola Mallon is 30 minutes in to her 45 minute Question Time session.
The infrastructure minister will face a series of topical questions, addressing issues which have not yet been discussed, during the remaining time.
Joanne Bunting of the DUP asks when the current backlog in MOT’s will end.
Ms Mallon says from 1 September to 1 December 2021, the DVA carried out 264,540 vehicle tests.
“The DVA has steadily increased vehicle testing capacity,” says the SDLP minister.
It’s expected that waiting times will further reduce over time, she explains.
Image source, NI AssemblyKeith Buchanan of the DUP says the Lough Neagh rescue is not able to “go down the Blackwater (River)” as there’s only a “foot and a half of water”.
Is the infrastructure minister aware of the issue?
Nichola Mallon responds that officials are continuing to engage on this issue and work towards a solution.
Image source, NI AssemblySinéad Bradley of the SDLP focuses in on the issues of the Narrow Water Bridge project.
Can the infrastructure minister give an assurance that the project has been developed sufficiently for any future minister taking on the infrastructure brief in the next assembly mandate?
Nichola Mallon responds: “We have been working to advance all of the stages required as quickly as possible.”
“It is a New Decade, New Approach commitment,” adds the minister, and outlines that she would expect any future minister to continue engagement with colleagues in the Republic of Ireland.
Image source, NI AssemblyHas the infrastructure minister got a timeline for the delivery of the third phase of the Coleraine to Londonderry railway line?
That’s the question from Sinn Féin Ciara Ferguson.
Nichola Mallon says the business case will be completed this year and is hopeful construction will start shortly after.
Image source, NI AssemblyMark Durkan, the minister’s SDLP colleague, asks when this line will have additional carriages added?
Ms Mallon says the plan is that they’ll be used from Spring of this year.
Image source, NI AssemblyNichola Mallon, the Infrastructure Minister, is in the chamber and ready to field MLAs’ questions.
Her first comes from across the chamber.
DUP MLA Christopher Stalford asks if the minister will engage with business on proposals around Rapid Transport on the Ormeau Road in Belfast.
She puts on record her commitment to do this and outlines her department’s current interactions with businesses.
Image source, NI AssemblyCarál Ní Chuilín of Sinn Féin asks about the possibility of extending rapid transport out to “Glengormley and beyond” in North Belfast.
“I am happy to meet with elected representatives and businesses” to discuss new issues, says Ms Mallon.
The next item on today's agenda is Question Time.
It takes place during plenary sessions every Monday and Tuesday at 14:00 and is an opportunity for members to question ministers about the work of their departments.
There are usually two slots during each Question Time session but today only one minister will appear - the Infrastructure Minister, Nichola Mallon.
Thirty minutes will be spent on Listed Questions , externalwith a further 15 allocated to Topical Questions.
The Deputy Principal Speaker, Christopher Stalford, intervenes in proceedings.
He calls the debate to a halt in order for members of the Business Committee to meet and plan next week's assembly schedule.
It's been a busy start to the Climate Change (No.2) Bill debate and it's far from finished.
MLAs will return to this item of business after Question Time at 14:00.
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Amendment 1 was proposed by Clare Bailey.
It sought to change the timeframe in which greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced in NI.
In the bill as drafted, the target for a 82% reduction in carbon emissions is 2050.
Ms Bailey's amendment sought to see this reduced to 2045.
She wasn't in the chamber to move the amendment when it was called, and no other member stepped in to do so in her place, therefore it's not being debated.
It is understood, however, that the Green Party MLA will seek to make another attempt to change the target date at a later stage.
Green Party MLA Clare Bailey has now arrived in the chamber and is invited to address Amendment 2.
She says a strong emissions target "will be absolutely key to providing and underpinning the emissions reductions that will follow this bill".
The South Belfast MLA says the Green Party has proposed that the deadline year for the emissions target should be 2045.
TUV MLA Jim Allister intervenes and says that this date was included in Amendment 1 and since it was not moved it cannot be included.
Deputy Principal Speaker Christopher Stalford agrees that this is the case.
Image source, NI Assembly"We still believe that NI needs strong and ambitious climate targets," Ms Bailey says.
"Net zero for NI is possible and it brings certainty and investment from a global market that is getting ever more focused on climate credentials for investment," she adds.
Turning to arguments around the future of agriculture, Ms Bailey says, "the level of misinformation and scaremongering that has taken place fuelled by some on these benches and agri-food lobby is shameful".
"The existential threat to agriculture is a red herring," the Green Party leader says.
You'll find a helpful list of all of the amendments proposed for the Climate Change (No.2) Bill here. , external
Each amendment has been grouped into a lists for debate.
You'll find the amendment groupings here., external
Principal Deputy Speaker Christopher Stalford calls Clare Bailey of the Green Party to move the first of the first group of amendments which she has proposed, but she’s not in her place in the chamber.
He then calls the agriculture minister to move Amendment 4.
Edwin Poots starts the debate but Mr Stalford interrupts him mid-flow.
“I have been advised by the clerk, that although Ms Bailey wasn’t in her place to move Amendment 1, any member would have had the right so to do, so I’m making the House aware of that before the minister proceeds,” says Mr Stalford.
After a brief discussion about whether other MLAs can move other amendments tabled by Ms Bailey, Mr Stalford leaves the top table and seeks advice from clerks.
When he returns to the microphone, he explains that Amendment 1 will not be called as it wasn’t moved by the proposer or any other MLAs when it was initially called.
“We’ll move on now to Amendment 2,” he says.
Clare Bailey is finally in the chamber. She moves Amendment 2 and apologises to the House for her delay.
If you’ve managed to follow along this far grab a bar of chocolate. You, and we, deserve one.
Ahead of schedule, MLAs turn their attention to the further considerate stage debate of the Organ and Tissue Donation Bill.
It’s brought to the chamber by the Health Minister Robin Swann.
There are no amendments to discuss, but MLAs will have a further chance to share their thoughts and views during the final stage debate.
Up next it’s time for the main item on today’s agenda.
A debate on the Climate Change (No.2) Bill, brought forward by Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots.
There are 80 amendments to be considered so we’ll be staying with this debate for some time.
The Finance Minister, Conor Murphy, opens the debate on the suspension of standing orders on Non-domestic Rates Valuations (Coronavirus) Bill.
This is a technical move.
The Sinn Féin minister is asking for the usual five days given between each debate stage of a bill to be removed in this instance.
He’s asking for this to enable the final stage debate on the bill to take place next week, ahead of 15 February when councils will set their rates.
Image source, NI AssemblySteve Aiken, the Finance Committee chair, says "The committee has not taken a formal view on the suspension of this standing order”.
The minister’s Sinn Féin colleague Maolíosa McHugh says “councils need certainty in the coming weeks” and adds his backing to the motion.
The minister winds on the debate before the motion is put to an oral vote and passes without dissent.
Next to on the agenda are two items brought by the Finance Minister, Conor Murphy.
The Further Consideration Stage of the Non-domestic Rates Valuations (Coronavirus) Bill is dealt with in a couple of minutes as there are no amendments.
The next debate is on suspending standing orders for the Non-domestic Rates Valuations (Coronavirus) Bill.
Image source, NI AssemblyDUP MLA Thomas Buchanan asks his party colleague, the agriculture minister, what engagement he’s had with search and rescue organisations.
Edwin Poots responds that he’s been out with volunteers on boats and at the gorse fires in the Mourne mountains.
“There is just a wonderful reservoir of human beings here in NI who are prepared to go out there and give up their time for nothing to help others,” he says.
“That is something we need to encourage people on and therefore providing appropriate funding to ensure they have appropriate equipment to do that, strikes me as a no-brainer.”