Marshalled List of Amendments

Monday 24 November 2025

Item 6 - Order Paper 135/22-27 - Monday 24 November 2025

Motion: Publication of the Joint Census Proposed:

That this Assembly welcomes the Ireland and Northern Ireland: A joint census publication 2021-22 which provides analysis across a range of topics in areas such as demographics, households, religion, ethnicity, place of birth, health, economic status, education, and housing; notes that according to the joint census publication the island's population, while growing to 7.1 million, the largest level since 1851, remains below pre-famine population levels; further notes the findings in relation to the all-island economy whereby over 18,000 workers travel both ways across the border for work on a daily basis; recognises that joint census publications can help identify shared challenges and opportunities for policy and decision making; and calls on Executive departments to take stock of these findings.

Ms Emma Sheerin

Mr Pádraig Delargy

Mr Philip McGuigan

Amendment 1

Leave out all after 'housing;' and insert:

'notes with concern that Northern Ireland lags behind the Republic of Ireland in several key areas, including lower population growth, poorer reported health outcomes, and a significantly higher burden of unpaid care; believes that these disparities are in large part caused by the failure of the Executive to deliver better economic, health and social outcomes; acknowledges that addressing these gaps can be helped through strengthened cooperation with the Irish Government; and calls on all Executive departments to take stock of these findings and to work in structured partnership with counterparts in the Irish Government to produce and implement clear plans that help close the gaps between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in key areas.'

[Mr Matthew O'Toole]

[Mr Colin McGrath]

Amendment 2 (mutually exclusive to amendment 1)

Leave out all after 'population levels' and insert:

' but well above the lowest ever population levels that were recorded in 1961 which were only lower than the all-island low of 1926; further notes the findings in relation to the all-island economy whereby over 18,000 workers travel both ways across the border and a further 6,000 travel to Great Britain for work on a weekly and daily basis; recognises that joint census publications can help identify shared challenges and opportunities for policy and decision making on these islands; and calls on the Minister for the Economy to take stock of how the flow of workers throughout these islands can benefit Northern Ireland's economy.'

[Mr Doug Beattie]

[Mr Robbie Butler]

[Ms Diane Armstrong]

[Mr Jon Burrows]