Ad Hoc Committee on the School Uniforms (Trousers) Bill

Minutes of Proceedings - Tuesday 8 September 2026

Ad Hoc Committee on the School Uniforms (Trousers) Bill - Tuesday 8 September 2026.pdf (136.01 kb)

Meeting Location: Room 29

 

Present:                

Aoife Finnegan MLA (Chairperson)

Pam Cameron MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Deborah Erskine MLA

Andrew McMurray MLA

Emma Sheerin MLA

 

Apologies:            

Sinéad McLaughlin MLA

 

In Attendance:                           

Frank Geddis, Clerk Assistant

Jessica Jacques, Senior Assistant Clerk

Oliver Bellew, Assistant Clerk

Carla Campbell, Clerical Supervisor

Damien Brown, Clerical Officer

The meeting commenced at 1.00pm in closed session.

 

1. Apologies

As above.

 

2. Declaration of Interests

None.

 

3. School Uniforms (Trousers) Bill – Oral Briefing from the Bill Office

Stephen Orme, Bill Clerk in the Assembly Bill Office, joined the meeting at 1.01pm.

The Bill Clerk briefed the Committee on the Bill.

A question and answer session followed.

The Bill Clerk left the meeting at 1.12pm.

The Committee moved into public session at 1.12pm.

 

4. Draft minutes

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 2 July 2026.

 

5. Matters Arising

None.

 

6. School Uniforms (Trousers) Bill – Oral Evidence Session with the Bill Sponsor

The following witnesses joined the meeting at 1.14pm:

  • Nick Mathison MLA, Chairperson, Committee for Education
  • Pat Sheehan MLA, Deputy Chairperson, Committee for Education
  • Aoibhinn Treanor, Clerk, Committee for Education

The witnesses gave oral evidence on the Bill.

A question and answer session followed.

The evidence session was reported by Hansard.

The witnesses left the meeting at 1.43pm.

 

7. School Uniforms (Trousers) Bill – Convention Rights Memorandum

The Committee considered a Convention Rights Memorandum on the Bill from Assembly Legal Services.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to publish the Convention Rights Memorandum.

 

8. School Uniforms (Trousers) Bill – RaISe briefing paper

The Committee noted a briefing paper from RaISe on the Bill.

 

9. School Uniforms (Trousers) Bill – Consideration of written evidence

The Committee noted queries received from an individual and a school uniform supplier in relation to the consultation on the Bill.

The Committee noted the written evidence received in response to its consultation on the Bill.

 

10. School Uniforms (Trousers) Bill – Possible extension of Committee Stage

The Committee considered options for an extension to the Committee Stage of the Bill.

Agreed: The Committee agreed not to extend the Committee Stage of the Bill.

 

11. Correspondence

None.

 

12. Chairperson’s Business 

None.

 

13. Any Other Business

None.

 

14. Date, Time and Place of the next meeting

The next meeting will be held on 15 September 2026 at 1.00pm in Room 29.

The meeting was adjourned at 1.49pm.

 

Aoife Finnegan MLA

Chairperson, Ad Hoc Committee on the School Uniforms (Trousers) Bill

15 September 2026