Minutes of Proceedings

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2.   Members’ Statements

Under Standing Order 24A, the following Members made a statement to the Assembly:

         
Mr Philip McGuigan

Mr Alan Robinson

Mr Danny Donnelly

Mr Robbie Butler

Mr Justin McNulty

Miss Áine Murphy

Mrs Pam Cameron

Dr Steve Aiken

Miss Michelle McIlveen

Mr Timothy Gaston

Mr Brian Kingston

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

3.   Opposition Business

3.1     Motion: Change on these Islands

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the outcome of the recent elections in Britain; expresses concern at the rise of right-wing populism embodied by Reform UK; believes that a Reform UK-led government would be hugely damaging for people living here as well as British-Irish relations; further notes recent polling which indicates majority support for a new Ireland within the European Union; affirms that any process of constitutional change must be carefully managed, protecting the relationships and multiple identities outlined in the Good Friday Agreement; and further affirms that the only credible way of decisively exercising democratic control over our future is to build a new Ireland.

Leader of the Opposition

Amendment:

Leave out all after ‘recent polling’ and insert:

‘suggesting that, if a referendum were to be held today, a majority of people in Northern Ireland would vote to rejoin the European Union; affirms the process for managing constitutional issues as set out in the Good Friday Agreement, which recognises the legitimacy of whatever choice is freely expressed by a majority of people in Northern Ireland with regard to its status, whether they prefer to continue to support the Union with Great Britain or a sovereign united Ireland; and commits to creating a shared future through a system of good government and democratic renewal in Northern Ireland for the benefit of everyone.’

Mr Eóin Tennyson
Ms Paula Bradshaw

Debate ensued.

The debate stood suspended for Question Time, the Speaker took the Chair.

4.   Question Time

4.1 Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Mr Andrew Muir.

4.2 Communities

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Communities, Mr Gordon Lyons.

5.   Question for Urgent Oral Answer

^{5.1 Atherton Report on Issues Relating to the Northern Ireland Cervical Screening Programme}

The Minister of Health, Mr Mike Nesbitt, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer tabled by Miss Nuala McAllister.


The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

6.   Opposition Business (cont’d)

6.1 Motion: Change on these Islands (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

The Question being put, the amendment fell (Division 1).

The Question being put, the motion was negatived (Division 2).

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

6.2 Motion: Introducing an Integrated 111 Service for Northern Ireland

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the sustained and growing pressures facing Northern Ireland’s urgent and emergency care system, including increasing attendances and unacceptable waiting times at Emergency Departments; acknowledges the Executive’s commitment to shifting care closer to home through the shift left agenda focused on prevention, early intervention and strengthening community provision; notes that an integrated 111 urgent care service can play a complementary and enabling role in this transformation by providing a single, accessible front door with clinically-led triage and direct booking into appropriate community, primary and urgent care services; and calls on the Minister of Health to bring forward proposals for the establishment of a Northern Ireland-wide 111 service no later than September 2026.

Leader of the Opposition

Debate ensued. 

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.

6.3 Motion: Post-19 Special Educational Needs Support

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the importance of ensuring that all young people with special educational needs (SEN) are supported to reach their full potential beyond the age of 19; acknowledges that every year, families across Northern Ireland face a devastating cliff edge when their child leaves special school, with support falling away and too many young people left without the care, structure and dignity they need to live a full life; further acknowledges that current provision for post-19 SEN support in Northern Ireland lags significantly behind that available in other jurisdictions; and calls on the Executive to bring forward legislation which ensures consistent, high-quality provision and clear entitlements to SEN support for young people between the ages of 19 and 25

Leader of the Opposition

Amendment:

Leave out all after ‘jurisdictions;’ and insert:

‘expresses its support for Caleb’s Cause NI for their work in bringing the issue of post-19 provision onto the political agenda; calls on the Minister of Health to lead on this issue and to develop legislation, ahead of the next Assembly mandate, to ensure that the provision of services for all post-19 adults with SEN are supported in all aspects of their lives; and further calls on the Minister to work proactively with the Minister for the Economy and the Minister of Education to develop legislative proposals which help to facilitate effective transition planning for young people post-19, addressing the potential loss of statutory support when a young person leaves children’s services and transitions into post-19 services, to ensure that families and their loved ones do not face a cliff edge in provision.’

Mr Philip McGuigan
Mr Danny Baker
Mrs Linda Dillon

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the amendment was agreed.

The Question being put, the motion, as amended, was carried.

7.   Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker


The Assembly adjourned at 6.26pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker

18 May 2026

Northern Ireland Assembly

Proxy Voting Notifications

In line with Standing Order 27A, Miss Nicola Brogan arranged for her vote to be exercised by a proxy (Mrs Sinéad Ennis) during the period 11 November 2025 to 10 August 2026.

Northern Ireland Assembly

18 May 2026 – Division 1

Amendment: Change on these Islands

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘recent polling’ and insert:

‘suggesting that, if a referendum were to be held today, a majority of people in Northern Ireland would vote to rejoin the European Union; affirms the process for managing constitutional issues as set out in the Good Friday Agreement, which recognises the legitimacy of whatever choice is freely expressed by a majority of people in Northern Ireland with regard to its status, whether they prefer to continue to support the Union with Great Britain or a sovereign united Ireland; and commits to creating a shared future through a system of good government and democratic renewal in Northern Ireland for the benefit of everyone.’

Mr Eóin Tennyson
Ms Paula Bradshaw

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 16
Noes: 43

AYES

Mr Blair, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Dickson, Mr Donnelly, Ms Egan, Mrs Guy, Mr Honeyford, Mrs Long, Miss McAllister, Mr McMurray, Mr McReynolds, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Ms Nicholl, Mr Tennyson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr McMurray, Mr McReynolds.

NOES

Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Ms D Armstrong, Mr Beattie, Mr Bradley, Mr Brett, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mr Burrows, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Carroll, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mr Durkan, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Gaston, Mr Harvey, Ms Hunter, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Miss McIlveen, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McNulty, Mr Martin, Mrs Middleton, Mr Nesbitt, Mr O'Toole, Mr Robinson, Mr Stewart, Ms Sugden, Mr Wilson.

Tellers for the Noes: Ms McLaughlin, Mr O’Toole.

The amendment fell.
      

Northern Ireland Assembly

18 May 2026 – Division 2

Motion: Change on these Islands

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the outcome of the recent elections in Britain; expresses concern at the rise of right-wing populism embodied by Reform UK; believes that a Reform UK-led government would be hugely damaging for people living here as well as British-Irish relations; further notes recent polling which indicates majority support for a new Ireland within the European Union; affirms that any process of constitutional change must be carefully managed, protecting the relationships and multiple identities outlined in the Good Friday Agreement; and further affirms that the only credible way of decisively exercising democratic control over our future is to build a new Ireland.

Leader of the Opposition

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 33
Noes: 34

AYES

Dr Archibald, Mr Baker, Miss Brogan, Mr Carroll, Mr Delargy, Mrs Dillon, Miss Dolan, Mr Durkan, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Ferguson, Ms Finnegan, Mr Gildernew, Miss Hargey, Ms Hunter, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mr McAleer, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McNulty, Mrs Mason, Miss Murphy, Mr O'Dowd, Ms O'Neill, Mr O'Toole, Ms Reilly, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin.

Tellers for the Ayes: Ms Hunter, Mr McGrath.

NOES

Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Ms D Armstrong, Mr Beattie, Mr Bradley, Mr Brett, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mr Burrows, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Gaston, Mr Harvey, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Martin, Mrs Middleton, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Robinson, Mr Stewart, Ms Sugden, Mr Wilson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Brett, Mrs Cameron.

The following Members voted in both Lobbies and are therefore not counted in the result: Mr Blair, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Dickson, Mr Donnelly, Ms Egan, Mrs Guy, Mr Honeyford, Mrs Long, Miss McAllister, Mr McMurray, Mr McReynolds, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Ms Nicholl, Mr Tennyson.


The motion was negatived.
     

Votes cast by proxy:

Miss Brogan’s vote was cast by Mrs Ennis.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 13 May to 18 May 2026.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

SR 2026/90 The Valuation (Telecommunications, Natural Gas and Water) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department of Finance)

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

6. Assembly Reports

Report on the Dilapidation Bill (NIA 170/22-27) (Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committee Sixty-Fifth Report (NIA 169/22-27) (Northern Ireland Assembly)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

The Atherton Report on Issues related to the Northern Ireland Cervical Screening Programme (NICSP) (Minister of Health)

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland Retention and Disposal Schedule (Department for Communities)

9.   Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly