Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee

Minutes of Proceedings - 13 August 2026

Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee - 13 August 2026.pdf (149.81 kb)

Meeting Location: Room 30

 

Present:                

Ciara Ferguson MLA (Chairperson)

David Brooks MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Eóin Tennyson MLA

 

Present by Video or Teleconference:

Jonathan Buckley MLA

Pádraig Delargy MLA

Sinéad Ennis MLA[1]

Paul Frew MLA[2]

Kate Nicholl MLA

 

Apologies:            

Steve Aiken MLA

Cathal Boylan MLA

Peter Martin MLA

 

In Attendance:      

Marie Austin, Clerk

Jessica Jacques, Senior Assistant Clerk

Oliver Bellew, Assistant Clerk

Carla Campbell, Clerical Supervisor

 

In Attendance by Video or Teleconference:

Damien Brown, Clerical Officer

The meeting commenced at 10.04am in open session.

 

1. Apologies

As above.

 

2. Declaration of Interests

None.

 

3. Draft Minutes

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 6 August 2026.

 

4. Matters arising

None.

 

5. Regulation (EU) 2026/1738 on circularity requirements for vehicle design and on management of end-of-life vehicles, amending Regulations (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2019/1020 and (EU) 2023/1542 and repealing Directives 2000/53/EC and 2005/64/EC – Departmental Oral Evidence

The Committee considered Regulation (EU) 2026/1738 on circularity requirements for vehicle design and on management of end-of-life vehicles, amending Regulations (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2019/1020 and (EU) 2023/1542 and repealing Directives 2000/53/EC and 2005/64/EC.

The Committee considered further information provided by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), and the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) on the replacement EU act.

David Brooks MLA joined the meeting at 10.07am.

The following officials joined the meeting at 10.07am:

  • Shane Doris, Director, Environmental Resources Policy Division, DAERA
  • Tommy McNamara, Policy Lead for end-of-life vehicles, DAERA
  • Roy Kennedy, Vehicle Policy Branch lead, DfI

The officials gave oral evidence on the published replacement EU act.

Pádraig Delargy MLA joined the meeting at 10.16am.

A question and answer session followed.

Kate Nicholl MLA joined the meeting at 10.18am.

During the evidence session, officials agreed to share with the Committee further information received from stakeholders, and trade information from the UK Government and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency when it becomes available.

The evidence session was reported by Hansard.

The officials left the meeting at 10.25am.

 

6. Regulation (EU) 2026/1739 amending Regulations (EU) No 1308/2013, (EU) 2021/2115 and (EU) 2021/2116 as regards the strengthening of the position of farmers in the food supply chain – Departmental Oral Evidence

The Committee considered Regulation (EU) 2026/1739 amending Regulations (EU) No 1308/2013, (EU) 2021/2115 and (EU) 2021/2116 as regards the strengthening of the position of farmers in the food supply chain.

The Committee considered further information provided by DAERA on the replacement EU act.

The following officials joined the meeting at 10.27am:

  • Elaine McCrory, Head of Supply Chain Transition Branch, DAERA
  • Samantha Stewart, Head of Food Security, Beef, Pig and Sheep Policy, DAERA

The officials gave oral evidence on the published replacement EU act.

A question and answer session followed.

During the evidence session, DAERA was asked to proactively engage with companies such as Tayto to ascertain what the likely impact would be if they were to be affected by the EU act.

The evidence session was reported by Hansard.

The officials left the meeting at 10.50am.

 

7. Regulation (EU) 2026/1744 amending Regulations (EU) 2024/1689, (EU) 2018/1139 and (EU) 2023/1230 as regards the simplification of the implementation of harmonised rules on artificial intelligence (Digital Omnibus on AI) (Article 3 only) - Departmental Oral Evidence

The Committee considered Regulation (EU) 2026/1744 amending Regulations (EU) 2024/1689, (EU) 2018/1139 and (EU) 2023/1230 as regards the simplification of the implementation of harmonised rules on artificial intelligence (Digital Omnibus on AI) (Article 3 only).

The Chairperson reminded Members that only Article 3 of the Regulation qualifies as replacement legislation and would therefore be the only Article under consideration.

The following official joined the meeting at 10.50am:

  • Mark McGregor, Head of Trade/Windsor Framework Branch, Department for the Economy

The official gave oral evidence on the published replacement EU act.

A question and answer session followed.

During the evidence session, the official agreed to ask the Office for Product Safety and Standards for information on the type of machinery products which are expected to meet the high-risk threshold under the EU act, and which companies are manufacturing and/or distributing these in Northern Ireland.

The evidence session was reported by Hansard.

The official left the meeting at 10.57am.

 

8. COM/2025/531 Proposal for a Regulation amending Regulations (EC) No 1272/2008, (EC) No 1223/2009 and (EU) 2019/1009 as regards simplification of certain requirements and procedures for chemical products

The Committee noted an update from DAERA on the provisionally agreed text of COM/2025/531 Proposal for a Regulation amending Regulations (EC) No 1272/2008, (EC) No 1223/2009 and (EU) 2019/1009 as regards simplification of certain requirements and procedures for chemical products.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to publish the update.

 

9. Correspondence

9.1          The Committee considered a RaISe Status Update on Regulation (EU) 2026/1818 on the welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that, if and when the Assembly is notified of the EU act under the applicability motion process, the Chairperson will write to MLAs to provide a link to all the evidence gathered by the Committee, with the intention that it informs any applicability motion debate.  

9.2          The Committee noted a copy of correspondence from the UK Government to the House of Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee regarding Regulation (EU) 2025/2650 amending Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 as regards certain obligations of operators and traders.

 

10. Chairperson's Business

None.

 

11. Any Other Business

None.

 

12. Date, Time and Place of the next meeting

The next meeting will be held on 20 August 2026 at 10.00am in Room 30.

The meeting was adjourned at 10.59am.

 

 

Ciara Ferguson MLA, Chairperson, Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee

20 August 2026


[1] Cathal Boylan MLA appointed Sinéad Ennis MLA as a substitute Member for this meeting.

[2] Peter Martin MLA appointed Paul Frew MLA as a substitute Member for this meeting.