Order Paper
Date: 16 February 2026
The Assembly to sit at noon.
Indicative Timings for Order of Business.
Marshalled List of Amendments.
1. Prayers
2. Members’ Statements
3. Executive Committee Business
Motion: The draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) Order 2026
Proposed:
That the draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) Order 2026 be approved.
Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
Motion: The draft Energy Bill Relief Scheme and Energy Bills Discount Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026
Proposed:
That the draft Energy Bill Relief Scheme and Energy Bills Discount Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 be approved.
Minister for the Economy
4. Question Time
4.2 Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
5. Private Members’ Business
Motion: Tackling the Rise in Dangerous Potholes on our Roads
Proposed:
That this Assembly expresses concern at the increase in dangerous potholes following Storm Chandra and worsening winter surface conditions on our roads; is concerned with the increasing risk this poses to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians; believes the continued deterioration of the public road network has now reached a crisis point; notes with alarm that in 2025 an estimated 127,109 surface defects were recorded across Northern Ireland, including 97,897 potholes; condemns the long-standing and short-sighted Department for Infrastructure policy of only repairing the highest priority defects and, even then, doing only the minimum work necessary to remove any immediate safety risk; further believes the Minister for Infrastructure has failed to address the roads crisis; expresses disappointment that the new draft Road Maintenance Strategy lacks clear prioritisation and detailed, costed and time-bound actions to deliver measurable improvements; and, following the closure of the public consultation on the new draft Strategy, calls on the Minister for Infrastructure to urgently bring forward an updated Roads Maintenance Strategy and detailed action plan that addresses these concerns.
Mr Stephen Dunne
Mr Peter Martin
Mr Harry Harvey
Motion: Accessing Mental Health Data
Proposed:
That this Assembly recognises the urgent need for accurate and consistent mental health data to support effective planning, delivery and accountability of mental health, addiction and suicide prevention services across Health and Social Care Trusts; expresses concern that the absence of a centralised data system and the fragmented approach to data management across Trusts have created major gaps in understanding service capacity, demand and outcomes, including information on bed availability, planned versus actual spending, referral numbers, people in contact with support services, and performance against waiting-time targets; notes that such information is routinely published in other jurisdictions; believes that this data deficit undermines the effectiveness of the Mental Health Strategy 2021-2031 and transparency across the system; and calls on the Minister of Health to prioritise the creation of a single, standardised mental health data system with regular public reporting across all Trusts, to underpin evidence-based decision-making and improve outcomes for the population.
Mr Philip McGuigan
Mrs Linda Dillon
Miss Órlaithí Flynn
