Marshalled List of Amendments

8 September 2025

Item 6: Order Paper 115/22-27 - Monday 8 September 2025

Motion: Moving beyond the Windsor Framework

Proposed:

That this Assembly opposes the continued operation of the Windsor Framework, including the application of EU law in Northern Ireland and the Irish Sea border which it creates; stresses that the present arrangements do not command cross-community support; expresses alarm that a recent UK-wide survey led by the Federation of Small Businesses found that 58 per cent of businesses were having moderate to significant challenges as a result of the Framework and that over a third had already ceased trade in Northern Ireland; though they wish to move beyond current arrangements, condemns the Government's refusal to dismantle border control posts whilst at the same time subjecting movements of business parcels, veterinary medicines and used agricultural machinery to EU law; further condemns the Government's refusal to implement pre-existing agreements; believes the Independent Review of the Windsor Framework was a missed opportunity to propose solutions that are radical in moving beyond the current arrangements; calls on the Government to urgently change course in order to protect businesses, consumers and the integrity of the UK internal market; and further calls on the Government to practically demonstrate its commitment to fully restoring Northern Ireland's place in the UK by insisting on an end to the democratic deficit sustained by the Windsor Framework.

Mr Jonathan Buckley

Mr David Brooks

Mr Peter Martin

Amendment

Leave out all after 'ceased trade in Northern Ireland' and insert:

'notes that the recent Independent Review of the Windsor Framework is a missed opportunity to recognise the trade, economic and sovereignty challenges to both Northern Ireland and to the integrity of the United Kingdom as a whole; further notes that the existing safeguards within the Windsor Framework, including the Democratic Consent Mechanism, the Stormont Brake, voting against applicability motions within the Assembly, the oversight by the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee and the UK Government's role in safeguarding the integrity of the United Kingdom have all failed to arrest continued divergence within the internal UK market, and further, that existing processes as introduced by HMRC and other agencies have added to the cost of doing business within Northern Ireland; is concerned that changes to sanitary and phytosanitary and other germane regulations will not be fully discussed between UK Government and the EU until 2027 with likely implementation not until 2028 and beyond; and calls on the UK Government to use the existing provisions within Article 16 of the Windsor Framework and pause all further implementation of the Windsor Framework until after completion of the UK-EU reset negotiations in 2027, rather than blindly following the faithful implementation approach that is accelerating divergence within our nation.'

[Mr Steve Aiken]

[Mr Doug Beattie]

[Mr Robbie Butler]

[Ms Diana Armstrong]

Motion: Crisis in Special Educational Needs

Proposed:

That this Assembly regrets the continuing challenges faced by children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and their parents across Northern Ireland; notes the ongoing failure to plan strategically to meet the needs of children with SEN as they progress through the education system; further regrets an outworking of this failure is that some children with a statement of SEN being unplaced at the start of this academic year, or deemed to have an allocated place which is impractical and cannot be taken up immediately; regrets that the publication of the SEN Reform Agenda and Delivery Plan does not provide timescales for implementation of services, a clear indication of resource requirements, nor an overview of necessary workforce planning with Department of Health colleagues; and calls on the Minister of Education to provide clarity on the number of children currently without access to an appropriate placement for the 2025-26 academic year and to state when he will publish clear timescales for the implementation and delivery of the SEN Reform Agenda and Delivery Plan with the aim of ensuring that all learners are able fully to access the services they require at the point of need.

Mrs Michelle Guy

Mr Nick Mathison

Miss Nuala McAllister

Mr Danny Donnelly

Amendment 1

Leave out all after 'Department of Health colleagues' and insert:

'recognises the essential and multifaceted contributions of classroom assistants particularly in SEN settings who provide daily, hands-on support with challenging behaviours, emotional regulation, personal care, and individualised learning, often going far beyond their official job descriptions; deeply regrets that in Northern Ireland classroom assistants face systemic disadvantages, including widespread use of insecure temporary or term-time-only contracts, weak employment protections, inconsistent or pro-rata pay, and few opportunities for career progression or professional development; notes with concern that around 68 per cent of classroom assistants remain on temporary contracts, many for several years; condemns the reliance in many SEN schools on insecure engagement, which risks both the stability of provision and child safety, as highlighted by trade unions who warn of a race to the bottom in employment standards; is alarmed that nearly 14,000 classroom assistants are currently on temporary contracts due to fragile SEN funding arrangements; expresses deep concern that many feel undervalued, overworked, and lacking recognition with 82 per cent report not being paid fairly, and 87 per cent support establishment of clear career pathways tied to training and experience; believes that for SEN reform to succeed, the Department for Education must ensure classroom assistants enjoy job security, fair and consistent pay, accredited training, and defined progression routes; and calls on the Minister of Education to bring forward proposals to address these issues as a matter of urgency; and further calls on the Minister to provide clarity on the number of children currently without access to an appropriate placement for the 2025-26 academic year and to state when he will publish clear timescales for the implementation and delivery of the SEN Reform Agenda and Delivery Plan with the aim of ensuring that all learners are able fully to access the services they require at the point of need.'

[Mr Timothy Gaston]

Amendment 2 (mutually exclusive to amendment 1)

Leave out all after 'Department of Health colleagues' and insert:

'; and calls on the Minister of Education to provide clarity on the number of children currently without access to an appropriate placement for the 2025-26 academic year and to state when he will publish clear timescales for the implementation and delivery of the SEN Reform Agenda and Delivery Plan with the aim of ensuring that all learners are able fully to access the services they require at the point of need; and further calls on the Minister to commit to ensuring that each pupil who needs one-to-one support from a SEN Classroom Assistant will receive such support.'

[Mr Gerry Carroll]