Marshalled List of Amendments
Tuesday 7 October 2025
Item 5: Order Paper 124/22-27 - Tuesday 7 October 2025
Motion: Mother and Baby Unit
Proposed:
That this Assembly recognises the importance of a regional mother and baby unit to support mothers with postpartum mental health issues; acknowledges that such a unit would enable mothers to remain with their babies while accessing specialist inpatient care; notes that giving birth can be one of the most fulfilling and joyous times in a mother's life; further notes that some mothers experience serious mental health challenges after birth, including postpartum psychosis; affirms that mothers deserve access to inpatient care that allows them to stay with their babies while receiving the support they need; further acknowledges that we remain the only part of these islands without a dedicated mother and baby unit; expresses concern at the ongoing lack of provision; calls on the Minister of Health to provide an update on the current business case for the establishment of a mother and baby unit; and further calls on the Minister of Health to put in place interim measures, including a dedicated ward with staff trained in conditions such as postpartum psychosis, to ensure mothers in crisis can access appropriate support until that unit is developed, and to engage with his Ministerial counterpart in the Department of Health in Dublin to ensure that services in that unit will be available to support mothers and babies throughout Ireland.
Miss Órlaithí Flynn
Mr Philip McGuigan
Mrs Linda Dillon
Amendment 1
Leave out all after 'remain the only part of' and insert:
'the United Kingdom without a dedicated mother and baby unit; expresses concern at the ongoing lack of provision; calls on the Minister of Health to provide an update on the current business case for the establishment of a mother and baby unit; and further calls on the Minister to put in place interim measures, including a dedicated ward with staff trained in conditions such as postpartum psychosis, to ensure mothers in crisis can access appropriate support until that unit is developed, and to engage with his Ministerial counterparts in Great Britain to ensure that services in that unit apply best practice to best support mothers and babies living in Northern Ireland.'
[Mr Alan Robinson]
[Mrs Pam Cameron]
[Ms Cheryl Brownlee]
Amendment 2 (mutually exclusive to amendment 1)
Leave out all after 'lack of provision;' and insert:
'regrets that the clinical advice is that there is no safe way to provide an interim arrangement; calls on the Minister of Health to provide an update on the current business case for the establishment of a mother and baby unit; and further calls on the Minister to commission a short, urgent review of possible alternative options before finally committing to the proposed site at Belfast City Hospital.'
[Mr Alan Chambers]
[Mr Robbie Butler]
[Ms Diana Armstrong]
[Mr John Stewart]
Motion: Reducing Household Energy Costs
Proposed:
That this Assembly acknowledges the role that poorly insulated and energy-inefficient social housing plays in driving up energy costs, thus contributing to fuel poverty; notes the benefits of reducing carbon emissions from the housing sector; recognises the value of interventions, such as retrofitting, which will deliver affordable warmth and reduce household energy bills; further recognises the role of renewables in creating energy security and the value of the targets and objectives for electricity consumption from renewable sources outlined in the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 and agreed by all Executive parties; and calls on the Minister for Communities to bring forward proposals for the redesign of social homes, incorporating higher energy efficiency standards and renewable energy integration.
Ms Kellie Armstrong
Ms Sian Mulholland
Mr David Honeyford
Mr John Blair
Amendment 1
Leave out all after 'energy security' and insert:
'and recognises the considerable vulnerability in our grid infrastructure; stresses the need for an independent review of SONI and NIE Networks' failure to properly invest in our grid and the exorbitant prices paid for grid connection by consumers and renewable generators, in comparison with Great Britain; further recognises the need for green hydrogen and anaerobic digestion electricity incentives; advocates for the early building of a second east-west interconnector, in light of the earliest in-service date of 2031 of the North-South Interconnector and the virtual only operation of the Integrated Single Electricity Market; and calls on the Minister for the Economy to outline any discussions she has had with her Executive colleagues on the possibility of joining Ofgem to ensure the continuity, security and appropriate regulation of our electricity supply and to allow the opening up of our renewable market.'
[Dr Steve Aiken]
[Ms Diana Armstrong]
[Mr Andy Allen]
[Mr Robbie Butler]
Amendment 2 (mutually exclusive to amendment 1)
Leave out all after 'energy security' and insert:
'but expresses concern at the undeliverable nature of emissions targets, and sectoral objectives for electricity consumption from renewable sources, outlined in the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022, particularly in light of the major infrastructural challenges facing the Executive; and calls on the Minister for Communities to bring forward proposals for the redesign of social homes, incorporating higher energy efficiency standards and renewable energy integration.'
[Mrs Pam Cameron]
[Mr Maurice Bradley]
Amendment 3 (mutually exclusive to amendments 1 and 2)
Leave out all after 'Minister for Communities' and insert:
'to work with Executive colleagues on the introduction of a low carbon housing roadmap, with measurable time-bound targets to increase retrofitting, improved energy efficiency standards for new builds and targeted support to improve energy efficiency for low-income households.'
[Ms Sinéad McLauglin]
[Mr Mark Durkan]
