Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee
Minutes of Proceedings - 15 January 2026
Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee - Minutes of Proceedings - 15 January 2026.pdf (165.05 kb)
Meeting Location: Room 30
Present:
Ciara Ferguson MLA (Chairperson)
David Brooks MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Cathal Boylan MLA
Declan Kearney MLA
Peter Martin MLA
Eóin Tennyson MLA
Present by Video or Teleconference:
Steve Aiken MLA
Jonathan Buckley MLA
Kate Nicholl MLA
Apologies:
None.
In Attendance:
Marie Austin, Clerk
Chris Dickison, Senior Assistant Clerk
Jessica Jacques, Senior Assistant Clerk
Sean McCann, Assistant Clerk
Damien Brown, Clerical Officer
Shelley Garner, Clerical Officer
In Attendance by Video or Teleconference:
Oliver Bellew, Assistant Clerk
Carla Campbell, Clerical Supervisor
Lisa Chestnutt, Clerical Supervisor
The meeting commenced at 10.01am in public session.
1. Apologies
None.
2. Declaration of Interests
Peter Martin MLA joined the meeting at 10.02am.
3. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 8 January 2026.
4. Matters Arising
There were no matters arising.
5. Regulation (EU) 2025/2509 on the safety of toys and repealing Directive 2009/48/EC – Departmental Oral Evidence
As part of its Inquiry, the Committee considered the following replacement EU act:
Regulation (EU) 2025/2509 on the safety of toys and repealing Directive 2009/48/EC.
The following officials joined the meeting at 10.04am:
- Lynsey Moore, Director of Europe Strategy and International Relations
- Stephen Hamilton-Shields, Assistant Director, Windsor Framework and Democratic Scrutiny Branch
The Deputy Chairperson joined the meeting at 10.08am.
The officials gave oral evidence on matters relating to the provision of departmental assessments of impact on EU acts, including on Regulation (EU) 2025/2509.
A question and answer session followed.
During the evidence session, officials agreed to provide information on the four pieces of EU legislation for which there is no departmental policy interest / which are not considered to be within the remit of any Executive department. Officials also agreed to seek information on the number of UK-only toy suppliers/manufacturers which supply Northern Ireland.
The evidence session was reported by Hansard.
The officials left the meeting at 10.18am.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to write to the Cabinet Office to ask which public body will carry out regional engagement, stakeholder engagement, and a regulatory impact assessment on the replacement EU act.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to write to the First Minister and deputy First Minister to raise the issues around non-provision of assessments of impact to the Committee on reserved matters which are not considered to be within the remit of any Executive department, and to ask the Executive Office to explore possible solutions.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Cabinet Office to state that it is strongly of the view that the work undertaken by Executive departments, including the Executive Office, to enable the Committee to properly carry out its statutory functions, is also a ‘direct cost’ of the Windsor Framework and should be funded accordingly.
6. Regulation (EU) 2025/2509 on the safety of toys and repealing Directive 2009/48/EC – Office for Public Safety and Standards Oral Evidence
As part of its Inquiry, the Committee continued its consideration of Regulation (EU) 2025/2509 on the safety of toys and repealing Directive 2009/48/EC.
The Committee had formally requested that officials from the Office for Public Safety and Standards (OPSS) attend the meeting to give oral evidence on Regulation (EU) 2025/2509. OPSS officials did not attend the meeting.
The Committee noted that a Citizen Space survey had launched, with a closing date of 18 January 2026 and that the survey responses, the draft report, and the final report would be considered at the meeting on 22 January 2026.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Cabinet Office to express its disappointment that OPSS officials did not attend the meeting to provide oral evidence on the replacement EU act, and to ask the Ministers to encourage UK departments and agencies to engage with the Committee when needed, noting that on establishment of the Committee, there was an assurance that the UK Government would “endeavour to ensure the Assembly has timely access to all the necessary information and analysis it needs to carry out its work”.
7. COM/2025/386 – Proposal for a Regulation on the European Chemicals Agency and amending Regulations (EC) No 1907/2006, (EU) No 528/2012, (EU) No 649/2012 and (EU) 2019/1021 – Updated Legal Advice
The Committee noted updated legal advice on COM/2025/386 Proposal for a Regulation on the European Chemicals Agency.
8. Committee Work Planning
The Committee noted an update on all the proposed EU acts which it is monitoring and gathering evidence on.
9. Correspondence
9.1 The Committee considered correspondence from the EU Affairs Office regarding the European Committee of the Regions - UK Contact Group.
Jonathan Buckley declared an interest as the Chairperson of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee (AERC).
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence to the AERC for consideration as part of its Review of the arrangements for Assembly Members’ participation in interparliamentary and international bodies.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to advise the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) that it had referred the matter to the AERC.
9.2 The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs regarding veterinary medicines supply to Northern Ireland.
9.3 The Committee noted an update from RaISe on COM/2023/451 Proposal for a Regulation on circularity requirements for vehicle design and on management of end-of-life vehicles.
9.4 The Committee noted an update from RaISe on COM/2025/137 Proposal for a Regulation as regards certain market rules and sectoral support measures in the wine sector and for aromatised wine products.
9.5 The Committee noted an update from RaISe on COM/2025/503 Proposal for a Directive and COM/2025/504 Proposal for a Regulation as regards digitalisation and common specifications.
9.6 The Committee noted an update from RaISe on COM/2025/386 Proposal for a Regulation on the European Chemicals Agency.
9.7 The Committee noted an update from RaISe on COM/2023/258 Proposal for a Regulation stablishing the Union Customs Code and the European Union Customs Authority.
9.8 The Committee noted an update from RaISe on COM/2025/531 Proposal for a Regulation as regards simplification of certain requirements and procedures for chemical products.
10. Chairperson’s Business
The Committee noted a written summary of the meeting between the Chairperson, deputy Chairperson and the Minister for the Economy on 8 January 2026, regarding the Department’s review of its internal procedures and working relationships with the UK Government.
11. Any Other Business
None.
12. Date, Time and Place of the next meeting
The next meeting will be held on 22 January 2026 at 10.00am in Room 30.
The meeting was adjourned at 10.45am.
Ciara Ferguson MLA
Chairperson, Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee
