Committee for The Executive Office

Minutes of Proceedings Wednesday - 10 December 2025

Committee for The Executive Office - 10 December 2025.pdf (227.48 kb)

Meeting Location: Room 21, Parliament Buildings

 

Present:

Ms Paula Bradshaw MLA (Chairperson)

Mr Stewart Dickson MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Ms Pam Cameron MLA

Ms Áine Murphy MLA

 

Online:

Ms Sinéad McLaughlin MLA

Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA

Mr Timothy Gaston MLA

 

Apologies:

Ms Claire Sugden MLA

Mr Phillip Brett 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 2.03pm 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 Birth Mothers and Their Children Together

The Chairperson advised Members that Birth Mothers and their Children Together have forwarded correspondence they received from the Department of Health regarding the delay in the implementation of the Adoption and Children Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 (the Act) and access to adoption records in advance of the Inquiry.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this item.

 

4. Draft Minutes

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 3December 2025.

 

5. Matters Arising

5.1 Junior Minister Reilly - Invitation to Glór na Móna event

The Committee considered a response from the Department regarding Junior Minister Reilly's attendance at the event held by Glór Na Móna in Belfast City Hall on 19 October 2024.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this item and agreed to revisit the correspondence when the oral briefing with the First and deputy First Minister, originally scheduled for today's meeting is rescheduled in early 2026.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Police Ombudsman's Office to request further information on its role as part of the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy and to explore the possibility of an oral briefing with the Committee in the April - July 2026 session.

 

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 2:13pm.

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

The Committee considered draft amendments in relation to 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.

 

Áine Murphy left the meeting at 3.02pm and returned 3.05pm.

The meeting was suspended at 3.54pm and resumed at 4.05pm in closed session.

 

Agreed: The Committee agreed to move into open session.

 

Áine Murphy left the meeting at 3.47pm and joined online at 4.05pm.

Áine Murphy left the meeting at 5.02pm.

The meeting moved into open session at 5:27pm.

 

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to seek clarification on a number of queries relating to clauses in Part 1 and Part 2 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 clauses 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17, 20, 21, 26, 27 and 34.

 

8. Correspondence

  1. The Committee noted the summary of Committee correspondence.
  2. The Committee considered a response from TEO to the Committee's correspondence on 10 July regarding the Administrative and Financial Provisions Bill.

    Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this item of correspondence and agreed to forward the correspondence to the Committee for Finance and to confirm that the Committee has completed its scrutiny of the required clauses of the Bill.

  3. The Committee considered correspondence from an Individual in relation to the Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalane Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill and private nursing homes.

    Agreed: The Committee noted this item of correspondence and agreed to forward it to the Department for a response to the queries raised by the individual.

  4. The Committee considered correspondence from JTI Northern Ireland regarding the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.

    Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this item and agreed to forward the correspondence to the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee (WFDSC) for consideration of the issues raised, as it falls within that Committee's remit to examine and consider new EU acts and replacement EU acts.
    Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk would engage with the Clerk of the WFDSC to clarify the remit of that Committee.

  5. The Committee noted an invitation from OFCOM to their 'Plan of Work 2026 Northern Ireland' event which will take place on Thursday 29 January 2026 in the Long Gallery.
  6. The Committee noted a copy of correspondence from the Committee for Finance to the First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding the review of Arm's Length Bodies and ALB Pay Landscape.
  7. The Committee noted a copy of correspondence sent from the Committee for Communities to TEO in relation to ring-fencing of the Rates Support Grant.
  8. The Committee noted a briefing paper from TEO regarding the 2025-2026 December Monitoring Round. Members may provide questions ahead of the oral briefing on Wednesday 4 February 2026 by submitting them to the Clerk, who will collate a list in advance.

    Agreed:     The Committee agreed for the Committee team to this list for this oral briefing further information on the North West Development Fund and the Rates Support Grant.

  9. The Committee noted a response from TEO to the Committee's correspondence of 13 November in relation to the September analysis of 2025-2026 Outturn and Forecast Outturn.
  10. The Committee noted correspondence from an individual regarding the exclusion of workhouse victims in relation to the Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalane Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill.
  11. The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance in relation to the review of Arm's Length Bodies.
  12. The Committee noted a response from TEO to the Committee's correspondence of 21 November regarding Historical Clerical Childhood Abuse research reports.
  13. The Committee noted the 52nd Report from the Examiner of Statutory Rules. There are no rules for the attention of this Committee.
  14. The Committee noted a response from TEO to the Committee's correspondence of 31 October in relation to the HIA Redress Scheme and payments made by religious institutions.
  15. The Committee noted a response from TEO to the Committee's correspondence on 23 September in relation to Regional Government HQ.

 

8. Forward Work Programme

The Committee considered the draft forward work programme.

The Committee noted an update from the Assistant Clerk in relation to the confirmed introductory briefings with the three language bodies, scheduled for the meeting on Wednesday 18 March 2026.

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 Tuesday 06 January at 2.00pm in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 5.37pm.

 

Paula Bradshaw MLA

Chairperson, Committee for the Executive Office

Wednesday 10 December 2025