Committee for the Executive Office
Minutes of Proceedings , Wednesday 21 January 2026
Committee for the Executive Office, Minutes of Proceedings , Wednesday 21 January 2026.pdf (192.99 kb)
Meeting Location: Room 30, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Ms Paula Bradshaw MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Stewart Dickson MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Phillip Brett MLA
Mr Timothy Gaston MLA
Ms Áine Murphy MLA
Online:
Ms Sinéad McLauglin MLA
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
Mrs Pam Cameron 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 2.02pm 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
The Chairperson updated Members that she met with Joe McVey, the newly appointed Commissioner for Victims and Survivors for Northern Ireland this morning, for an informal introduction prior to his oral evidence session with the Committee at the meeting on 11 February 2026.
Phillip Brett joined the meeting at 2.03pm.
4. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meetings held on Wednesday 14January 2026.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meetings held on Monday 19January 2026.
5. Matters Arising
5.1 Historical Institutional Abuse Memorial
The Chairperson advised Members that the First and deputy First Minister wrote to the Committee on 16 January 2026 notifying Members that the unveiling of the Historical Institutional Abuse Memorial will take place on Friday 20 February 2026. The event will be held in Parliament Buildings and hosted by the Speaker.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this item.
6. Draft Consideration of Committee Report
Agreed: The Committee agreed to move into closed session.
The meeting moved into closed session at 2:05pm.
Áine Murphy joined the meeting at 2.14pm.
The Committee considered the draft report on the Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill.
Phillip Brett left the meeting at 3.18pm and returned at 3.21pm .
Agreed: The Committee agreed to take a short comfort break and suspend the meeting.
The meeting was suspended at 3.25pm.
The meeting resumed in closed session at 3.32pm.
The Committee moved into open session at 3.41pm.
The Chairperson updated Members that while in closed session there was a proposed amendment to the contents of the Executive Summary.
Phillip Brett proposed that the Committee should include a sentence in the Executive Summary on the rationale for the DUP opposition to the Committee amendment of removing the posthumous date from the Bill.
The Chair then put the question to the Committee that the proposal be agreed.
The Committee divided: Ayes 3; Noes 5; Abstain 0
Noes: Paula Bradshaw MLA; Stewart Dickson; Sinéad McLaughlin; Carál Ní Chuilín and Áine Murphy
Ayes: Mr Phillip Brett, Mrs Pam Cameron and Mr Timothy Gaston
The proposal was not carried.
The Chairperson also updated Members that while in closed session there was a another proposed amendment to the contents of the Executive Summary.
Sinéad McLaughlin proposed that the Committee should include a sentence in the Executive Summary regarding the proposal put forward (which was not carried) during the formal clause by clause consideration of the Bill during last week’s meeting on a potential amendment of amendment to Clause 31 (9).
The Chair then put the question to the Committee that the proposal be agreed.
The Committee did not divide. The proposal was not carried.
Agreed: The Committee agreeda number of amendments to the Draft Report and to consider its Final Report at next week's meeting on Wednesday 28 January 2026.
7. Correspondence
A member raised an issue regarding today’s meeting pack.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to suspend the meeting to enable Committee staff to look into the matter further.
The meeting was suspended at 3.45pm.
The meeting resumed in open session at 3.48pm.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider the correspondence from today’s meeting at next week’s meeting on Wednesday 28 January 2026.
8. Forward Work Programme
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider draft forward work plan at next week’s meeting on Wednesday 28 January 2026.
9. Any Other Business
There was no other business.
10. Date and Time of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 28 January at 2.00pm in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 3.49pm.
Paula Bradshaw MLA
Chairperson, Committee for the Executive Office
Wednesday 21 January 2026
