Committee for The Executive Office
Minutes of Proceedings - Tuesday 6 January 2026
Committee for The Executive Office - 6 January 2026 .pdf (184.21 kb)
Meeting Location: Room 30, 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 Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
Ms Áine Murphy MLA
Ms Sinéad McLaughlin 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
There were no items of Chairperson's Business.
4. Matters Arising
There were no Matters Arising.
5. Further Deliberation: The Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalane Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill
Agreed: The Committee agreed to move into closed session.
Agreed: The Committee agreed for the Bill Clerk to join the meeting for this agenda item.
The meeting moved into closed session at 2:03pm.
Phillip Brett joined the meeting at 2.04pm.
Sinéad McLaughlin joined the meeting at 2.07pm.
The meeting moved into public session at 2.37pm.
The Chairperson advised Members that the Committee had not received any formal notification from the Department regarding any potential amendments it intends to bring forward on the Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalane Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to amend its agenda for meeting on Wednesday 14 January 2026 in order to facilitate the informal clause by clause scrutiny of the Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding Departmental proposed amendments of the Bill and to ask whether an indication of these will be provided within the next working day.
Agreed: The Committee agreed for the Bill Clerk to draft potential amendments on clauses 1, 4, 5, 15, 18, 31, 32, 38, 39 and 40.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to postpone the formal clause by clause scrutiny of the Bill originally scheduled to take place on Thursday 8 January until Monday 19 January 2026.
6. Any Other Business
There was no other business.
7. Date and Time of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 14 January at 2pm in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 2.39pm.
Paula Bradshaw MLA
Chairperson, Committee for the Executive Office
Tuesday 6 January 2026
