Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee
Minutes of Proceedings - 27 August 2026
Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee - 27 August 2026.pdf (163.4 kb)
Meeting Location: Room 30
Present:
Steve Aiken MLA
Kate Nicholl MLA
Eóin Tennyson MLA
Present by Video or Teleconference:
Ciara Ferguson MLA (Chairperson)
Padraig Delargy MLA
Peter Martin MLA
Apologies:
David Brooks MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Cathal Boylan MLA
Jonathan Buckley MLA
In Attendance:
Marie Austin, Clerk
Chris Dickison, Senior Assistant Clerk
Jessica Jacques, Senior Assistant Clerk
Oliver Bellew, Assistant Clerk
Carla Campbell, Clerical Supervisor
Lisa Chestnutt, Clerical Supervisor
The meeting commenced at 10.09am in closed session.
1. Apologies
As above.
2. Declaration of Interests
None.
3. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 20 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 – Agreement of Final Report
The Committee considered correspondence from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs which contained information from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency regarding the export of used vehicles to the EU market.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to publish the correspondence and include it in the Inquiry report.
Kate Nicholl MLA joined the meeting at 10.12am.
The Committee considered the final draft report on its Inquiry into 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.
Purpose and Membership
The Committee considered the Purpose and Membership section of the report as drafted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Purpose and Membership section of the report.
Introduction
The Committee considered the Introduction section of the report (paragraphs 1 to 8) as drafted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Introduction section of the report.
The Replacement EU Act
The Committee considered The Replacement EU Act section of the report (paragraphs 9 to 13) as drafted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with The Replacement EU Act section of the report.
The Committee’s Examination of the Proposed Replacement EU Act
The Committee considered The Committee’s Examination of the Proposed Replacement EU Act section of the report (paragraphs 14 to 28) as drafted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with The Committee’s Examination of the Proposed Replacement EU Act section of the report.
The Committee’s Decision on Whether to Hold an Inquiry
The Committee considered The Committee’s Decision on Whether to Hold an Inquiry section of the report (paragraphs 29 to 33) as drafted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with The Committee’s Decision on Whether to Hold an Inquiry section of the report.
The Inquiry Process
The Committee considered The Inquiry Process section of the report (paragraphs 34 to 45) as drafted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with The Inquiry Process section of the report.
The Committee’s Conclusions
The Committee considered The Committee’s Conclusions section of the report (paragraphs 46 to 51) as drafted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with The Committee’s Conclusions section of the report.
Some members noted that the Committee’s agreed conclusion on whether the replacement EU act would have a significant impact specific to everyday life of communities in Northern Ireland in a way that is liable to persist was subject to a division at the meeting on 20 August 2026.
Next Steps
The Committee considered the Next Steps section of the report (paragraphs 52 and 53) as drafted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Next Steps section of the report.
Appendices
The Committee considered the Appendices section of the report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content that the Appendices be included in the report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Report on its Inquiry into 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/ECbe the Twelfth Report of the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee to the Assembly.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that any formatting or typographical errors would be corrected by the Secretariat team in advance of the publication of the final report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Chairperson to agree the Minutes of Proceedings of this meeting for inclusion in Appendix A of the report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Report on its Inquiry into 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/ECto be published.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to issue its Report on its Inquiry into 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 to all MLAs, those who provided evidence to the Committee on the proposed EU act and the published EU act, the Committee of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, and the Committee for Infrastructure.
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 – Agreement of Final Report
The Committee considered the final draft report on its Inquiry into 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.
Purpose and Membership
The Committee considered the Purpose and Membership section of the report as drafted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Purpose and Membership section of the report.
Introduction
The Committee considered the Introduction section of the report (paragraphs 1 to 9) as drafted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Introduction section of the report.
The Replacement EU Act
The Committee considered The Replacement EU Act section of the report (paragraphs 10 to 12) as drafted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with The Replacement EU Act section of the report.
The Committee’s Examination of the Proposed Replacement EU Act
The Committee considered The Committee’s Examination of the Proposed Replacement EU Act section of the report (paragraphs 13 to 26) as drafted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with The Committee’s Examination of the Proposed Replacement EU Act section of the report.
The Committee’s Decision on Whether to Hold an Inquiry
The Committee considered The Committee’s Decision on Whether to Hold an Inquiry section of the report (paragraphs 27 to 31) as drafted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with The Committee’s Decision on Whether to Hold an Inquiry section of the report.
The Inquiry Process
The Committee considered The Inquiry Process section of the report (paragraphs 32 to 44) as drafted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with The Inquiry Process section of the report.
The Committee’s Conclusions
The Committee considered The Committee’s Conclusions section of the report (paragraphs 45 to 50) as drafted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with The Committee’s Conclusions section of the report.
Some members noted that the Committee’s agreed conclusion on whether the replacement EU act would have a significant impact specific to everyday life of communities in Northern Ireland in a way that is liable to persist was subject to a division at the meeting on 20 August 2026.
Next Steps
The Committee considered the Next Steps section of the report (paragraphs 51 and 52) as drafted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Next Steps section of the report.
Appendices
The Committee considered the Appendices section of the report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content that the Appendices be included in the report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Report on its Inquiry into 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 supplychain be the Thirteenth Report of the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee to the Assembly.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that any formatting or typographical errors would be corrected by the Secretariat team in advance of the publication of the final report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Report on its Inquiry into 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 to be published.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to issue its Report on its Inquiry into 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 to all MLAs, those who provided evidence to the Committee on the proposed EU act and the published EU act, and the Committee of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.
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) – Agreement of Final Report
The Committee considered the final draft report on its Inquiry into 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).
Purpose and Membership
The Committee considered the Purpose and Membership section of the report as drafted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Purpose and Membership section of the report.
Introduction
The Committee considered the Introduction section of the report (paragraphs 1 to 8) as drafted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Introduction section of the report.
The Replacement EU Act
The Committee considered The Replacement EU Act section of the report (paragraphs 9 and 10) as drafted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with The Replacement EU Act section of the report.
The Committee’s Decision on Whether to Hold an Inquiry
The Committee considered The Committee’s Decision on Whether to Hold an Inquiry section of the report (paragraphs 11 to 15) as drafted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with The Committee’s Decision on Whether to Hold an Inquiry section of the report.
The Inquiry Process
The Committee considered The Inquiry Process section of the report (paragraphs 16 to 26) as drafted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with The Inquiry Process section of the report.
The Committee’s Conclusions
The Committee considered The Committee’s Conclusions section of the report (paragraphs 27 to 32) as drafted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with The Committee’s Conclusions section of the report.
Some members noted that the Committee’s agreed conclusion on whether the replacement EU act would have a significant impact specific to everyday life of communities in Northern Ireland in a way that is liable to persist was subject to a division at the meeting on 20 August 2026.
Next Steps
The Committee considered the Next Steps section of the report (paragraphs 33 and 34) as drafted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Next Steps section of the report.
Appendices
The Committee considered the Appendices section of the report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content that the Appendices be included in the report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Report on its Inquiry into 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) be the Fourteenth Report of the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee to the Assembly.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that any formatting or typographical errors would be corrected by the Secretariat team in advance of the publication of the final report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Report on its 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) to be published.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to issue its Report on its 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) to all MLAs, those who provided evidence to the Committee on the proposed EU act and the published EU act, and the Committee for the Economy.
8. Chairperson’s Business
None.
9. Any Other Business
None.
10. Date, Time and Place of the next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 10 September at 10.00am in Room 30.
The meeting was adjourned at 10.30am.
Ciara Ferguson MLA
Chairperson, Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee
27 August 2026
