Marshalled list of amendments
Tuesday 24 March 2026
Item 5 – Order Paper 161/22-27 – Tuesday 24 March 2026
Motion: Renewables to Enhance Northern Ireland’s Energy Security
Proposed:
That this Assembly expresses grave concern at the impact of energy price rises on families and businesses due to conflict in the Middle East; further expresses grave concern that Northern Ireland already had the highest fuel poverty rate in the UK and that this is likely to be compounded by the sharp rise in prices; recognises that Northern Ireland’s dependence on volatile global energy markets is a major risk to our energy security and will always leave local households exposed to internationally-driven price spikes; agrees that greater renewable energy generation offers the clearest and lowest-cost pathway to enhance Northern Ireland’s energy security and, as a result, stable and lower costs for consumers; further agrees that delivering this transition will require stronger north–south collaboration on energy infrastructure, grid connectivity and market integration; condemns those seeking to roll back on renewable energy targets and inhibiting delivery of the North-South Interconnector; regrets that, according to the Northern Ireland Audit Office, there have been significant flaws in implementing the NI Energy Strategy; and calls on the Minister for the Economy to deliver a comprehensive plan to end Northern Ireland’s dependence on planet killing fossil fuels and deliver a green energy transition.
Mr David Honeyford
Ms Kate Nicholl
Amendment 1
Leave out all after ‘internationally-driven price spikes;’ and insert:
‘agrees that an appropriate energy mix, combining greater renewable energy generation with ongoing and essential supplies of fossil fuels, offers the clearest, most realistic and lowest cost pathway to enhance Northern Ireland’s energy security, and, as a result, stable and lower costs for consumers; further agrees that, given the high dispatch-down rate for wind in Northern Ireland, delivering energy security will require stronger east-west and north–south collaboration on energy infrastructure, grid connectivity, long-duration energy storage and market integration; condemns those pursuing renewable energy targets in isolation, and those inhibiting delivery of the North-South Interconnector; regrets that, according to the Northern Ireland Audit Office, there have been significant flaws in implementing the NI 1 Energy Strategy despite the Department for the Economy spending approximately £107 million on this area since 2020; and calls on the Minister for the Economy to progress the case for a further east-west interconnector as part of a comprehensive plan to reduce Northern Ireland’s dependence on harmful fossil fuels and deliver a green energy transition that is able to ensure energy supply can always meet demand.’
[Mr Phillip Brett]
[Ms Diane Forsythe]
Amendment 2
At end insert:
‘; and further calls on the Minister for Communities, as the Minister of the Department responsible for tackling fuel poverty and administering existing fuel support schemes, to urgently bring forward a scheme to ensure the £17 million, allocated to the Executive to support households impacted by the increase in energy costs, reaches those who need it.’
[Mr Colm Gildernew]
[Mrs Cathy Mason]
[Mr Pádraig Delargy]
[Mr Declan Kearney]
