Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee
Minutes of Proceedings - 02 October 2025
Meeting Location: Room 30
Present:
Ciara Ferguson MLA (Chairperson)
David Brooks MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Steve Aiken MLA
Declan Kearney MLA
Peter Martin MLA
Present by Video:
Jonathan Buckley MLA
Emma Sheerin MLA
Apologies:
Kate Nicholl MLA
In Attendance:
Christopher Dickison (Senior Assistant Clerk)
Oliver Bellew (Assistant Clerk)
Carla Campbell (Clerical Supervisor)
Shelley Garner (Clerical Officer)
In Attendance by Video:
Victoria Bourquin (Assistant Clerk)
Damien Brown (Clerical Officer)
The meeting commenced at 10.03am in public session.
The Chairperson thanked Suzanne Walsh for her work on the Committee and wished her well in her new role in the Business Office.
1. Apologies
As above.
2. Declaration of Members' Interest
None.
3. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 18 September 2025.
4. Matters Arising
None.
5. Federation of Small Businesses - Windsor Framework Realities: Barriers to Trade in the UK Internal Market - Oral Evidence
The Committee noted a report from the Federation of Small Businesses Northern Ireland (FSB NI) entitled "Windsor Framework Realities: Barriers to Trade in the UK Internal Market." The Committee noted that representatives of the FSB NI had presented the report to the Committee for the Economy on 2 July 2025, with the Committee for the Economy considering a number elements of the report which sit within its remit.
The Committee noted correspondence between the Committee for the Economy and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Office for the Internal Market, and FSB NI in relation to the report.
The following witnesses joined the meeting at 10.05am:
Roger Pollen Head of FSB NI
Rachel McCorriston Head of Policy, FSB NI
Lorna Muldoon Policy Adviser, FSB NI
Roger Pollen declared an interest as a member of Intertrade UK.
The witnesses gave oral evidence on the findings of the FSB NI report entitled "Windsor Framework Realities: Barriers to Trade in the UK Internal Market."
Declan Kearney joined the meeting at 10.10am.
A question and answer session followed.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the transcript of the evidence session to the UK Government, noting that a number of the recommendations contained in the report, if taken forward, could potentially impact the level of information available to the Committee when considering proposed and published EU acts which fall within its scope.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the transcript of the evidence session to the Committee for the Economy and the House of Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee.
6. Correspondence
6.1 The Committee noted a response from the UK Government regarding COM/2023/462 Proposal for a Regulation on the safety toys.
6.2 The Committee noted correspondence from the UK Government regarding the provision of information to the Committee, and further information on its engagement with departments in Northern Ireland on COM/2023/462 Proposal for a Regulation on the safety toys.
Jonathan Buckley left the meeting at 11.10am.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write again to the First and deputy First Minister to reiterate that a response to its correspondence on COM/2023/462 Proposal for a Regulation on the safety toys is still expected urgently, and to ask what steps were taken - both when the Executive Office was contacted in 2023, and also since the Committee's first request for an assessment of impact in February - to engage relevant departments and properly assess the impact that the proposed EU act may have in Northern Ireland (including by seeking views from departments on its impact on public health and the local economy).
6.3 The Committee noted a copy of correspondence from the House of Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee (NISC) to the UK Government regarding Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 on establishing a framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials.
6.4 The Committee noted a copy of correspondence from NISC to the UK Government regarding veterinary medicines and the Windsor Framework.
6.5 The Committee noted a copy of correspondence from the House of Lords NI Scrutiny Committee to the UK Government in relation to its inquiry on the Windsor Framework.
6.6 The Committee noted a copy of correspondence from the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to the Committee for the Economy in relation to the Retail Car Market in Northern Ireland.
7. Chairperson's Business
None.
8. Any other business
None.
9. Date, time, and place of next meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for 16 October 2025 at 10:00am in Room 30.
The meeting was adjourned at 11.14am.
Ciara Ferguson, MLA
Chairperson, Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee
