Committee for The Executive Office

Minutes of Proceedings - Wednesday 3 December 2025

Committee for The Executive Office - 3 December 2025.pdf (229.71 kb)

Meeting Location: Room 21, Parliament Buildings

 

Present:

Ms Paula Bradshaw MLA (Chairperson)

Mr Stewart Dickson MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Mr Phillip Brett MLA

Ms Pam Cameron MLA

 

Online:

Mr Timothy Gaston MLA

Ms Áine Murphy MLA

Ms Sinéad McLaughlin MLA

Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA

 

Apologies:

Ms Claire Sugden MLA

 

In Attendance:

Mr Nick Mitford (Assembly Clerk)

Ms Aoife Keating-Fitzpatrick (Snr Assist Assembly Clerk)

Ms Sarah-Anne McKinley (Assistant Assembly Clerk)

Mr Neil Porter (Clerical Supervisor)

Ms Andrienne Magee (Clerical Officer)

The meeting commenced at 2.01pm in public session.

 

1. Apologies

As above.

 

2. Declarations of Interest

Áine Murphy declared a standing interest as having a family member who was born in a Mother and Baby institution in relation to the Inquiry (Mother and Baby

Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill.

Pam Cameron declared a standing interest as having worked previously in TEO as a junior Minister from February 2024 until September 2025.

Pam Cameron declared a standing interest on the Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill as it stands, she has a family member who may be entitled to a redress payment as part of the second part of this legislation.

Carál Ní Chuilín declared a standing interest on the Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill serving as Communities Minister in 2020.

 

3. Chairperson's Business

3.1 Community Relations Council

The Chairperson advised Members she attended the 'Making a Difference 2025' Conference organised by the Community Relations Council on Tuesday 2 December at Black Mountain Shared Space in Belfast.

 

4. Draft Minutes

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 26November 2025.

Sinéad McLaughlin joined the meeting online at 2.04pm.

 

5. Matters Arising

5.1 Junior Minister Questions - Email queries by Members

The Chairperson reminded Members that at last week's meeting the Committee discussed emails sent by some Members in relation to the questioning of Junior Ministers. These two items have been included in the pack under Matter's Arising for the Committee record.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department requesting an update on its reply to the Committee and to remind the Department of the Committee's powers to hold Ministers to account.

Agreed: The Committee agreed for the Clerk to seek further advice from the Clerk Assistant regarding the Committee writing to the PSNI to request the Sinn Féin Chief Whip's statement on the incident at City Hall in 2024.

Pam Cameron joined the meeting at 2.16pm.

5.2 Maze Long Kesh Development Corporation

The Chairperson reminded Members that following the Committee's visit to Maze Long Kesh Development Corporation on Wednesday 5 November the Clerk clarified a number of details discussed during the Committee's visit.

The Chairperson advised Members that a draft letter to the First and deputy First Minister outlining the Committee's concerns about the site can be found in the meeting pack.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to send the letter to the First Minister and deputy First Minister subject to an amendment replacing 'apparent indecision' with 'political decision.

 

6. Deliberation: Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalane

Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill

Agreed: The Committee agreed to move into closed session.

The meeting moved into closed session at 2:26pm.

Agreed: The Committee agreed for the Bill Clerk to join the meeting for this agenda item.

The Committee considered clauses 30 to 42 in relation to the Redress section of the

Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalane Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to take a short comfort break and suspend the meeting.

Phillip Brett left the meeting at 2.34pm and returned at 2.36pm.

Phillip Brett left the meeting at 3.29pm and returned at 3.32pm.

The meeting was suspended at 3.33pm.

The meeting resumed at 3.42pm in closed session.

Phillip Brett left the meeting at 4.28pm and returned at 4.30pm.

The meeting moved into open session at 4.57pm.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to request an oral briefing from the Truth Recovery Independent Panel in the first instance, and if that is not possible to seek a written briefing on the list of relevant institutions included in the Bill as drafted and the list of institutions identified through oral testimony received by the Panel.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to seek clarification on a number of queries relating to clauses 30 to 42 of the Redress section of the Inquiry

(Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalane Laundries and Workhouses) Redress Scheme Bill.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to instruct the Bill Clerk to draft amendments as discussed in relation to clause 31.

 

7. Correspondence

  1. The Committee noted the summary of Committee correspondence.
  2. The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for the Economy relating to the RHI Closure Non Domestic Scheme Bill.
    Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this item of correspondence and agreed to write the Department to ask whether they have any views or comments on the Bill, and whether there are any implications, or any role, for TEO arising from this Bill.
  3. The Committee considered a response from TEO to the Committee's correspondence on 22 September 2025 in relation to Legislative Consent Motions.
    Agreed: The Committee agreed to note these items of correspondence and agreed to forward the response to the Committee for Finance.
  4. The Committee considered correspondence from the Chairpersons' Liaison Group regarding new guidance for Departments on Delegated Legislation.
    Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this item of correspondence and for the
  5. Committee team to arrange an oral briefing on the new process as part of the January to April 2026 session.
  6. The Committee noted a response from TEO regarding the
  7. Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat Annual Reports for 202-2023 and 2023-2024.
  8. The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Economy regarding new car registration issues.
  9. The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Communities regarding the Fraud, Error and Recovery Bill.
  10. The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Education regarding the Department of Education interaction with Linking Generations Northern Ireland.
  11. The Committee noted correspondence from the Examiner of Statutory Rules: Fifty-First report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules. There are no rules for the attention of this Committee.
  12. The Committee noted a news release from TEO - Lay Magistrate Commissioner appointed to the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission.
  13. The Committee noted correspondence from an Individual on behalf of a cross-denominational network of survivors of clerical sexual abuse, regarding the issue of decision making by TEO.
  14. The Committee noted a response from the Community Relations Council including a copy of the "Making a Difference Conference" agenda which took place on Tuesday 2 December 2025.
  15. The Committee noted an invitation from the Northern Ireland Human Rights
  16. Commission to the launch of its new independent research report 'Windsor Framework Article 2: Enforcement and Remedies'. The event will take place on Tuesday 16 December from 11am - 12.30pm at the Europa Hotel, Belfast and online.
  17. The Committee noted a response from TEO to the Committee's correspondence on 7 May 2025 in relation to changes of UK parcel rules.
  18. The Committee noted a response from TEO to the Committee's correspondence on 14 November 2025 regarding the wording of the HIA memorial plaque.
  19. The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance in relation to the 2025-26 Public Expenditure Outturn and Forecast Outturn October position.
  20. The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance regarding the review of Arms' Length Bodies.
  21. The Committee noted correspondence from an individual in relation to the scope of the Truth Recovery Process and the Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill.
  22. The Committee noted correspondence from an individual in relation to workhouses and the Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill.

 

8. Forward Work Programme

The Committee considered the draft forward work programme.

The Committee noted an update from the Assistant Clerk regarding the oral briefing with representatives of the cross-denominational network of survivors, the Dromore Group, and Amnesty International on historical clerical childhood abuse which will take place at the meeting on Wednesday 11 March.

The Committee noted an update from the Assistant Clerk in relation to an introductory briefing with the Director of the Office of Identity and Cultural Expression, Irish Language Commissioner, and Commissioner for the Ulster Scots and the Ulster British tradition, which will take place at the meeting on Wednesday 18 March.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to proceed with the remaining briefings as set out in the forward work programme.

 

9. Any Other Business

There was no other business.

 

10. Date and Time of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 10 December at 2.00pm in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 5.06pm.

 

 

Paula Bradshaw MLA

Chairperson, Committee for the Executive Office

Wednesday 3 December 2025