Image source, NI Assembly

Rachel Woods opens the final stage debate on her domestic abuse safe leave bill.

She says “home, as we know, is not always a safe place”.

The Green Party MLA outlines that “domestic abuse is not confined to the home it always finds its way into the workplace”.

Survivors have relayed their experiences of not being allowed to go to work, and often being consistently contacted by their abuser while working, says Ms Woods.

“Today is the day we address the inequality of workers who have some access to safe leave and those who don’t.”

Next on the agenda is the Domestic Abuse (Safe Leave) Bill.

It's a private member's bill brought by Green Party MLA Rachel Woods.

You can read more about the bill here., external

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Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey replies to the debate on the period products free provision bill.

"There's been a lot of good work has been done even within a shortened mandate," she says.

The minister welcomes the passing of "progressive and rights-based legislation" on the assembly's final day.

She thanks the bill's sponsor, Pat Catney, "for listening to your daughters.

Mr Catney, an SDLP MLA, winds the debate.

He says he can get emotional at times and says he's "delighted to be part of this assembly".

The bill is put to an oral vote and passes. It will now be set to receive royal ascent.

Mark Simpson
BBC News NI

Image source, NI Assembly

Portraits of republican leaders Michael Collins and Éamon de Valera have been put up at Stormont as part of a new permanent display.

They are among dozens of pictures of politicians from all sides of the political divide in Northern Ireland added to the Stormont corridors.

In 1921, both men were elected to the first Northern Ireland parliament but refused to take their seats.

They opposed the partition of Ireland and pushed for Irish independence.

A century later, they have been included at Stormont as part of a new display entitled Parliament Buildings - a Journey of People, Politics and Peacebuilding.

Read more here.

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"This is a good news story" says Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson.

She says the provision of free period products in schools and health settings is the first step towards "universal access to free period products to all those who need them for personal use".

The DUP's Diane Dodds says this is "a bill about inclusivity, it is a bill about equality and it will change the lives of some young people in NI".

Chris Lyttle, who chairs the Education Committee, outlines its work on the bill.

He pays tribute to the voluntary groups who campaigned for the legislation.

Ulster Unionist Robbie Butler says he is "envious" of this piece of legislation as it's a bill

"You can be very proud of what you've done," Mr Butler says to Pat Catney, the bill's sponsor.

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Pat Catney opens his final stage speech by saying “menstruation matters”.

“No one should feel ashamed or embarrassed by their period.”

The Period Products Free Provision Bill “makes it clear that menstruation is normal and access to period products should be universal,” says the Lagan Valley representative.

Passing this legislation would make NI the second country in the world to provide universal period product provision.

Mr Catney thanks the communities minister for taking forward the bill to this stage.

The SDLP MLA says “there was a bit of toing and froing” but it was “brave and correct” for the Communities Department to help progress the bill, he adds.

Roy Beggs puts the amendments to the vote.

Amendments 1 and 3 are passed on oral votes, the remaining amendments are not moved .

The Preservation of Documents (Historical Institutions) Bill completes it's further consideration stage and will return to the House later today for its final reading.

Next on the agenda is the final reading of the Period Products (Free Provision) Bill.

It's a private member's bill being brought by the SDLP's Pat Catney.

You can read more about the bill here., external

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Robin Swann the Health Minister is called to respond to the debate.

He says he appreciates members’ work on the preservation of documents bill as he recognises they’ve been tight for time.

He reflects on each of the amendments.

Alan Chambers, the sponsor of the bill, shares his views on the proposed amendments and the implications of each.

“I again want to thank members for their ongoing interest and support for the bill.”

Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw who has proposed the amendments winds up the debate and responds to each of the points raised by MLAs.

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DUP health spokesperson Pam Cameron says her party will be supporting amendments 1 and 3 as proposed to the preservation of documents bill.

She thanks her committee colleague Paula Bradshaw for "her thoughtful amendments on what is an incredibly difficult and emotional area".

She says the cases of the 27 babies are "a very stark example" of why the records must be conserved.

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Sinead McLaughlin of the SDLP is the chair of the Executive Office Committee.

She outlines the scrutiny which members have given to the bill and relays the powerful evidence which was give at the committee by victims and survivors.

“We are just looking forward to this bill making its final passage later on today,” she adds.

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Sinn Féin’s Linda Dillon shares her thoughts on each of the amendments proposed to the preservation of documents relating to historical institutions bill.

“If there is a way we can include these children and those who were fostered out” says Ms Dillon “it is incumbent upon us to do so”.

“Let’s deliver for these people as quickly as we possibly can in the most compassionate fashion that we possibly can.”

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Alan Chambers formally moves the motion.

Deputy Speaker Roy Beggs explains that there is a single group of six amendments.

Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw opens the debate on the amendments, which are all brought in her name.

Turning to amendment 1, she refers to "at least 27 babies' bodies" that were bequeathed from mother and baby homes to Queens University Belfast for medical research.

"It is our understanding that this was done without the mothers' consent," she adds.

Ms Bradshaw explains that amendments 1 and 3 will extend the legislation to include documentation concerning this practice.

She says she will not be moving her amendments 2 and 6.

Next up, MLAs turn their attention to pieces of legislation which they hope to pass before the end of the day.

First up is Alan Chamber’s preservation of documents relating to historical institutions bill.

The Ulster Unionist is called to open the further consideration stage debate.

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This morning, Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots has been making a series of statements on issues relating to the agri-sector.

The first of these related to future agricultural policy decisions for NI.

The minister outlined that he has consulted on his proposals and has directed officials to research measures to further reduce emissions and examine technologies to support this.

Turning to the eradication of Bovine Tuberculosis in NI, Mr Poots explained that the hope is to do this “in the most effective way” and in a timely manner.

“It is costing the public pursue around £40m each year,” he added.

The agriculture minister’s final statement looked at an environment strategy for NI which he said is “an executive endorsed strategy”.

Welcome back to live reporting of events at the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Here’s a brief overview of what’s on the agenda for members’ final plenary session in this mandate.

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That concludes the health minister’s final briefing to his department’s scrutiny committee.

At this stage in proceedings we’re going to leave the Health Committee to continue its deliberations in private. You can watch proceedings on the NI Assembly website, external.

We’re going to take a brief break in live reporting, but you can watch live events in the main assembly chamber via the video feed at the top of this lived page.

We’ll be back at 12:00. Join us then.

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Gerry Carroll of People Before Profit has a question about health service pay.

He says the best case scenario appears to be an increase of 4.1% and inflation is predicted to run at just over 8%.

Has there ben any further work "to press for an increased pay offer?" the West Belfast MLA asks.

Health Minister Robin Swann says he's not sure where Mr Carroll got the 4.1% figure from.

He says there was a 3% increase and £25m was sourced with one-off payments coming into pay packets this month.

The minister says he cannot comment ahead of an announcement from the independent pay review panel.

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Carál Ní Chuilín of Sinn Féin asks the health minister about ambulance services.

She explains that there is “concern there” about staffing issues for the service as well as Accident and Emergency settings.

Robin Swann responds that a three-year budget would enable a long-term investment and recruitment of staff.

The health minister adds that a safe staffing legislation team has been established within the department and “that will be in place for the next minister when they come into post”.

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Alan Chambers is the health minister's Ulster Unionist colleague.

"How has dealing with the Covid pandemic curtailed the work of your department in delivering the changes you have been seeking to achieve and just how damaging and frustrating is the absence of a multi-year budget?" he asks.

Health Minister Robin Swann responds that he would have liked to have been able to do more and believes more could have been achieved in the absence of the pandemic.

He says a funding proposal sits alongside each of the health strategies "so that people would know what they were getting for their money".

The minister says that with one-year budgets it makes it difficult to get beyond pilot projects.

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Paula Bradshaw of Alliance asks about rapid cancer diagnosis centres.

Will they be open to general referrals?

“They are open for direct referral for suspected cancers but the intention would be” to roll out more rapid diagnosis centres, “the scope of what they can do and what they can deliver will be ramped up as well”, responds the Health Minister Robin Swann.

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DUP MLA Deborah Erskine asks about the funding for MDTs (primary care multi-disciplinary teams) in the south-west.

Health Minister Robin Swann says he thinks the figure for the area was "over £7m".

He says about 30 GP teams across the south-west area will have access to the ability to develop the MDT programme.