Summary

  • The Organ and Tissue Donation Bill, which will be known as 'Dáithí's Law', passed its final stage at the assembly

  • The Infrastructure Committee brought forward a motion in support of measures to tackle MoT backlogs

  • MLAs backed changed to Covid-19 regulations brought forward by the health minister

  • MLAs debated a Police Ombudsman report which found 'collusive behaviour' in loyalist murders

  • Edwin Poots, the Agriculture Minister, faced MLAs' questions on the floor of the assembly

  • Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey opened the debate on Welfare Supplementary Payment Regulations

  • The Charities Bill reached its final stage debate in the assembly chamber

  • Education Minister Michelle McIlveen sought accelerated passage for the School Age Bill

  • Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson opened the consideration stage debate of the Welfare Supplementary Payments Bill

  • The School Age Bill passed its consideration stage

  1. Organ Donation Bill debate resumespublished at 14:52 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2022

    That concludes Question Time and so MLAs return to their earlier final stage debate on the Organ and Tissue Donation (Deemed Consent) Bill.

    One person who is delighted to see the legislation going through its last hurdle at the assembly is five-year-old Dáithí MacGabhann.

    His family have campaigned for the law change as he needs a heart transplant.

    When opening the debate, the health minister said the legislation will be known as Dáithí’s Law once it’s enacted.

    Our health correspondent Marie-Louise Connelly snapped a picture of Mr MacGabhann outside parliament buildings earlier today.

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  2. Four points you need to know from Question Timepublished at 14:52 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2022

    Four key points you need to know from questions to the agriculture minister:

    • Between 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021 the cost of additional staff needed to complete checks under the Ireland / NI Protocol was £4,447,580 says Edwin Poots
    • The minister says the British Veterinary Association has written to him outlining their concerns that an end of grace periods could see “40% of medicines currently available to them" no longer be available
    • “The UK is not on its knees as a consequence of Brexit in spite of the desires of the remoaners,” says Mr Poots
    • “Organised dog fighting is relatively small” in Northern Ireland and “tends to be carried out in the underworld” says the minister
  3. Action on illegal breeding of puppiespublished at 14:51 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2022

    Chris LyttleImage source, NI Assembly

    It's time for Topical Questions - a period of 15 minutes when MLAs can raise matters not discussed in Listed Questions.

    Alliance Party MLA Chris Lyttle asks the agriculture minister what action he has taken with local councils "to tackle the illegal breeding and movement of puppies and dogs".

    "We have identified that around 55% of puppies that were being exported through our ports didn't have the documentation, chips and so forth," Edwin Poots says.

    He says a course of action is being taken to clamp down on this.

  4. 'Australia and New Zealand trade agreements will offer few benefits'published at 14:38 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2022

    Diane DoddsImage source, NI Assembly

    The agriculture minister's DUP colleague Diane Dodds asks "for his assessment of the ability of the agri-food sector to benefit from UK Free Trade Agreements".

    Edwin Poots says the UK government has signed a free-trade agreement with Australia and an agreement with New Zealand.

    He lists other ongoing free trade negotiations.

    Mr Poots says he believes the Australia and New Zealand free trade agreements will offer few benefits to the NI agri-food sector.

    "However, free-trade agreements that are in negotiations or planned for the future could offer a significant exporting opportunity for NI's high-quality food and drink products," he adds.

  5. Cost of checks under the protocolpublished at 14:29 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2022

    Jim AllisterImage source, NI Assembly

    TUV leader Jim Allister asks the agriculture minister "what is the cost to date of the checks his department has operated at ports under the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland".

    Edwin Poots replies that between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2021 "the cost for the additional staff needed to complete the checks required by the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol during this period were £4,447,580".

    He outlines a a further cost of £4.2m for other matters including seal checks at ports in GB.

    In reply to a follow-up question from Mr Allister, Mr Poots says there are other costs including those incurred to local councils, which are paid by the Food Standards Agency.

  6. 'These are complicated issues'published at 14:14 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2022

    Edwin PootsImage source, NI Assembly

    Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots takes his place at the lectern.

    Green Party MLA Rachel Woods has the first question.

    She asks when the minister "will publish the ammonia strategy".

    The minister says the Agriculture Department has put together "a comprehensive ammonia strategy, which they are currently finalising for publication".

    Ms Woods says MLAs have been told that "work is ongoing on the strategy since the minister took office".

    She says there are 600 people dying each year from dirty air and asks how much longer the wait will be for the strategy.

    "I suppose these are complicated issues," says the minister.

    He says that there are people who think that stopping all agricultural development is the answer

  7. Question Timepublished at 13:59 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2022

    StormontImage source, PA Media

    MLAs continue the final stage debate on the Organ and Tissue Donation (Deemed Consent) Bill.

    The conclusion of the debate is held back as Question Time has a fixed place on the agenda at 14:00.

    There is one slot allocated in today’s Question Time with the spotlight on Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots.

    MLAs will spend 30 minutes on listed questions and a further 15 on topical questions.

  8. Join us again shortlypublished at 13:03 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2022

    coffee

    It's been a busy morning at the assembly.

    MLAs halt their debate on the Organ and Tissue Donation Bill to take a short break to grab some lunch and to enable members of the Business Committee to meet and schedule next week's agenda.

    They're due to be back in the chamber at 13:30 and will resume their debate then.

    We'll see you at 14:00 for Question Time with the Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots.

  9. Organ and Tissue Donation (Deemed Consent) Billpublished at 13:03 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2022

    Assembly chamberImage source, NI Assembly

    Next on the agenda is a debate on amending standing orders concerning the the Organ and Tissue Donation (Deemed Consent) Bill.

    Health Minister Robin Swann explains that the standing order requires five working days between each consideration stage of any bill.

    He says no amendments have been to the bill.

    The motion passes on an oral vote.

    Mr Swann then opens the debate on the final stage of the bill.

    The minister says: "I have great pleasure and some relief today in moving the final stage of this bill.

    "This has been long awaited for by so many who are involved in organ donation and transplantation," he adds.

  10. 'We are in uncharted waters'published at 12:49 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2022

    Robin SwannImage source, NI Assembly

    Robin Swann is called to wind on the debate on changes to Covid-19 regulations.

    The health minister says he’s still waiting to hear legal advice regarding what powers he has or hasn’t got to be able to make future changes to Covid-19 regulations in the absence of first and deputy first ministers.

    “Not for the first time, unfortunately, we are in uncharted waters,” says Minister Swann.

    Roy Beggs, the Deputy Speaker, puts the amendments to the Covid-19 regulations to an oral vote and all pass without dissent.

  11. 'Significant and greater freedoms'published at 12:42 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2022

    Kellie ArmstrongImage source, NI Assembly

    Kellie Armstrong of Alliance says she supports the amendments to the Covid-19 regulations which the health minister has laid out to MLAs.

    "These regulations constitute a very sensible way out of restrictions. They allow for significant and greater freedoms to be restored," she adds.

    "As we know, we were due to take further steps on 10 February but some have opted to make that difficult and make those decisions on the shoulder of the minister for health," the Strangford MLA adds.

  12. 'Vaccine was a game changer'published at 12:38 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2022

    Colin McGrathImage source, NI Assembly

    Colin McGrath of the SDLP says “it’s been a period of unprecedented crisis” during the Covid-19 pandemic.

    He targets his next comments at the DUP following last week’s resignation of the first minister: “Suddenly the hard Brexit they championed seems to be more important than Covid restrictions and more important than public health.”

    DUP MLA Deborah Erskine intervenes: “I am here and I am debating on important legislation here today.”

    Alan ChambersImage source, NI Assembly

    The development of a vaccination for Covid-19 was a “game changer” says Alan Chambers.

    The health minister’s UUP colleague puts on record his thanks to health and social care staff and volunteers who “not only nursed the sick” but also “rolled out this vaccination programme which is such a huge success and credit to everyone who was involved”.

    “This House does send out its sympathy to all those who have lost loved ones,” adds the North Down representative, “and we must also not also forget the hundreds of people who are suffering from the various long-term symptoms from this virus”.

  13. 'Further changes if no first or deputy first ministers?'published at 12:28 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2022

    Colm Gildernew chairs the assembly's Health Committee.

    He thanks all those who have followed the Covid restrictions and everyone who has taken part in the vaccination programme.

    Mr Gildernew outlines the committee's consideration of the amendments.

    "I would ask the minister if he could provide some clarity around the process for bringing forward further Covid rules if there's no first minister or deputy first minister in place," he adds.

    Colm GildernewImage source, NI Assembly

    Committee deputy chair Pam Cameron says "it's worth reiterating our support for the frontline healthcare workers who continue to care for those in our hospitals with Covid-19".

    The DUP MLA says the amendments being discussed today represent "the improving situation that we have and the step-by-step move to return to what we once took for granted".

  14. 'Restriction end will require personal and public responsibility'published at 12:17 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2022

    Robin SwannImage source, NI Assembly

    Robin Swann opens the debate on changes to the Covid-19 regulations.

    These amendments relate to wording changes in policy for people staying in seats in performance settings / theatres as well as permitting dancing to resume in specific settings.

    The health minister addresses the face covering amendments, which he explains removes the requirement “to provide proof of exemption if requested by a relative person and reinstating the reasonable excuse of severe distress”.

    The Ulster Unionist minister adds “if we are to step our way out of restrictions it requires both personal and public responsibility”.

  15. Debate on Coronavirus Regulationspublished at 12:09 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2022

    Next on the agenda is a debate on amendments to the Coronavirus Regulations.

    Health Minister Robin Swann opens the debate.

  16. 'Members of the public expect to see improvements'published at 12:06 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2022

    David HilditchImage source, NI Assembly

    David Hilditch of the DUP sits on the Infrastructure Committee and winds-up the debate on measures to tackle DVA backlogs.

    He says the pandemic has shown that “the access to digital forms isn’t available or accessible to everyone”.

    “We have not been able to offer them (the public) solutions,” says the East Antrim representative.

    “This is something we can do for a while but after a while, and rightly so, members of the public expect to see improvements.”

    The motion is put to an oral vote and is passed.

  17. 'Measures to maximise capacity and minimise disruption'published at 11:59 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2022

    Nichola MallonImage source, NI Assembly

    Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon replies to the debate on measures to tackle DVA backlogs.

    "Driving tests and vehicle tests are high-demand public services that have been badly disrupted as a result of this pandemic," she says.

    Ms Mallon says the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) has put measures in place "to maximise capacity and minimise disruption".

    She says that "in the first full eight months since driving tests resumed on 23 April the DVA has conducted 46,525 driving tests".

    The minister outlines some of the measures being taken to reduce the backlog for driving tests and vehicle tests.

    She says she has received 1,200 responses to a consultation on a proposal to introduce biennial MoT testing for passenger vehicles and the responses are currently being considered.

  18. Early Stormont election ruled out by NI secretarypublished at 11:52 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2022

    Jayne McCormack
    BBC News NI political correspondent

    Brandon Lewis

    Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis has ruled out calling an early assembly election at Stormont.

    Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) had called for him to bring the date forward from 5 May, after the power-sharing executive collapsed last week.

    Other parties had warned that an early election would affect legislation due to be passed by next month.

    Mr Lewis said "it is right" that the election date remains 5 May.

    Read more on this story here.

  19. 'Despite efforts, waiting lists are growing'published at 11:32 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2022

    Roy Beggs pays tribute to the staff who have worked considerable overtime on MoT testing.

    "Despite the efforts to date, waiting lists are growing," he says.

    The UUP MLA says there is "an endemic problem with DVA", referring to the breakages of ramps at MoT testing stations.

    He says this was not the fault of the current minister as it only came to light when she took up her position.

    Roy BeggsImage source, NI Assembly

    Andrew Muir of Alliance also refers to cracks that appeared in 52 of the 55 lifts in 15 testing centres resulting in the stopping of all testing in January 2020.

    On delays caused by Covid restrictions, he says this is "a key and serious issue that needs to be addressed but it's not unique to NI".

    Mr Muir draws attention to the "frustrations" associated with the launch of a new bookings system.

  20. Minister took on 'crumbling DVA services'published at 11:20 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2022

    Cathal BoylanImage source, NI Assembly

    DVA (Driver and Vehicle Agency) staff “have been working very hard which has a risen as a consequence of the Covid pandemic,” says Cathal Boylan.

    The Sinn Féin MLA adds that he accepts mitigating measures have been implemented, but says “it’s clear more needs to be done to provide the public with better access”.

    Cara HunterImage source, NI Assembly

    Cara Hunter is an SDLP colleague of the infrastructure minister.

    She says it’s important to recognise that the minister “had to take on crumbling DVA services” due to MoT test lifts breaking, but “she had to turn off and turn on DVA services following the executive’s decision based on public health at that time”.