Committee for Education
Minutes of Proceedings - 24 June 2025
Committee for Education - 24 June 2025.pdf (152.36 kb)
Meeting Location: Room 29 Parliament Buildings
Present:
Mr Nick Mathison MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Pat Sheehan MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Danny Baker MLA
Ms Cheryl Brownlee MLA
Mrs Michelle Guy MLA
Ms Cara Hunter MLA
Mr Peter Martin MLA
Mrs Cathy Mason MLA
Ms Aoibhinn Treanor (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Glenda Doherty (Senior Assistant Clerk)
Mr Mark McQuade (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Jim Nulty (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Thomas McConville (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Colin Crawford MLA
The meeting commenced at 4:00pm in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies were received from Colin Crawford.
2. Chairperson’s Business
There was no Chairperson’s business.
3. School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill – Oral Briefing by RAISE
The Committee noted a paper from Assembly Research and Information Service (RaISe) ‘Clarifications and further literature on gender-neutral school uniforms’.
The following witnesses joined the meeting at 4:02pm:
Ms Gillian Kane, Research Officer, NIA RaISe
Ms Arifah Aftab, Researcher, NIA RaISe
The witnesses provided the Committee with a briefing on the School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill.
Mrs Guy joined the meeting at 4:05pm.
This was followed by a question and answer session.
4. School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill – Oral Briefing by Northern Ireland Assembly Bill Office
The Committee noted:
- draft amendments under consideration in the Committee Stage of the School Uniforms;
- a briefing paper from the Bill Clerk setting out revisions to amendments; and
- a response from the Department of Education providing a response to the Committee’s queries and to the potential amendments currently being considered by the Committee.
The following witness joined the meeting at 4:07pm:
Mr Stephen Orme, Assembly Clerk, Bill Office
The witness provided the Committee with a briefing on the School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill.
Mr Martin joined the meeting at 4:09pm
This was followed by a question and answer session.
5. School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill - Informal clause-by-clause consideration.
The Committee considered the Clauses of and proposed amendments to the Bill.
6. Any Other Business
No other business was discussed.
7. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next Committee for Education meeting will be held on Wednesday 25 June 2025 at 2:00pm in Room 29, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:05pm.
Nick Mathison MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Education
25 June 2025
