Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair.

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Members’ Statements

Under Standing Order 24A, the following Members made a statement to the Assembly;

Mrs Sinéad Ennis
Mr Paul Frew
Mr Peter McReynolds
Dr Steve Aiken
Mr Daniel McCrossan
Ms Emma Sheerin
Mr Stephen Dunne
Ms Sorcha Eastwood
Mr Mike Nesbitt
Mr Matthew O’Toole
Mr Maolíosa McHugh
Mr Jim Allister

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

3. Assembly Business

3.1 Motion: Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Mr Pádraig Delargy be appointed as a member of the Committee for the Executive Office.

Mrs Sinéad Ennis
Mr Trevor Clarke
Ms Paula Bradshaw
Mr John Stewart
Mr Colin McGrath
Ms Claire Sugden

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

3.2 Motion: Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Miss Jemma Dolan and Mr Stephen Dunne be appointed as members of the Committee on Standards and Privileges; and that Mr Nick Mathison be appointed as a member of the Audit Committee.

Mrs Sinéad Ennis
Mr Trevor Clarke
Ms Paula Bradshaw
Mr John Stewart
Mr Colin McGrath
Ms Claire Sugden

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

4. Private Members' Business

4.1 Motion: Implementation of the Strategic Framework to End Violence against Women and Girls

Proposed:

That this Assembly affirms that the Executive Office's Strategic Framework to End Violence against Women and Girls must recognise that misogyny is a root cause of violence against women and girls; laments that since 2021, we have had the joint highest rate of femicide in Europe; expresses deep sadness that violence against women and girls is endemic here, with one woman killed every three months; regrets that victims of sexual and gender-based violence still face obstacles within the justice system and within society itself and that these obstacles prevent many women from reporting their abuse; condemns the budget cuts imposed by the British Government which significantly cut funding for public services, early intervention and rehabilitation services, community and voluntary sector services and Women's Aid; and calls on the Executive Office to urgently implement, in full, the Strategic Framework to End Violence against Women and Girls to transform how society understands and responds to violence against women and girls.

Ms Emma Sheerin
Miss Deirdre Hargey
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín

Amendment:

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘abuse;’ and insert:

‘condemns inadequate levels of UK Government funding for public services, early intervention and rehabilitation services, community and voluntary sector services and Women’s Aid; and calls on the Executive Office to urgently implement, in full, the Strategic Framework to End Violence against Women and Girls, including by prioritising funding for the delivery of programmes contained in the associated Action Plan, to transform how society understands and responds to violence against women and girls.’

Mr Brian Kingston
Mr Harry Harvey

Debate ensued.

The debate stood suspended for Question Time, the Speaker took the Chair.

5. Question Time

5.1 Economy
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for the Economy, Mr Conor Murphy.

5.2 Education
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Education, Mr Paul Givan.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

6. Private Members' Business (cont’d)

6.1 Motion: Implementation of the Strategic Framework to End Violence against Women and Girls (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

The Question being put, the amendment was made.

The Question being put, the motion as amended was carried.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

6.2 Motion: Special Educational Needs and Disability – Investment and Transformation

Proposed:

That this Assembly commits to prioritising the needs of our most vulnerable children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND); notes that the current system for supporting children with SEND has failed to deliver appropriate and timely support for parents, pupils and schools; and calls on the Minister of Education to prioritise and invest in SEND transformation, to ensure that the End to End Review of Special Educational Needs produces an action plan that will be implemented urgently, and to make a commitment that all children with SEND in key transition years are notified of a school placement which meets their needs no later than children without special educational needs.

Mr Nick Mathison
Ms Kate Nicholl
Ms Sian Mulholland
Ms Sorcha Eastwood

Amendment:

Proposed:

At end insert:

‘; and to work with Executive colleagues to provide a clear pathway for children with SEND to transition from education to post-education settings’

Mr Robbie Butler

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the amendment was made.

The Question being put, the motion as amended was carried.

7. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 5.56pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
26 February 2024

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 21 February 2024 to 26 February 2024.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

SR 2024 No 0000 DRAFT The Period Products (Department of Education Specified Public Service Bodies) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department of Education)

SR 2024/20 The Pension Protection Fund and Occupational Pension Schemes (Levy Ceiling) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (Department for Communities)

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

6. Assembly Reports

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Additional Support for Business Impact by Flooding (Minister for the Economy)

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

SI 2024-192 The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) Order 2024 (Privy Council)

Major Capital Projects: Follow-up Report (Northern Ireland Audit Office)

9. Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly