Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair.

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Members’ Statements

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

Ms Aoife Finnegan
Ms Cheryl Brownlee
Ms Paula Bradshaw
Ms Diana Armstrong
Mr Justin McNulty
Mr Philip McGuigan
Mr Stephen Dunne
Ms Kellie Armstrong
Mr Danny Baker
Mr Brian Kingston
Mrs Ciara Ferguson
Mr Maurice Bradley

 
3. Assembly Business

3.1 Motion: Suspension of Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4)

Proposed:

That Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4) be suspended for 1 December 2025.

Business Committee

The Question being put, the motion was carried with cross-community support.

4. Ministerial Statements

4.1 Autumn Budget

The Minister of Finance, Mr John O'Dowd, made a statement regarding the Autumn Budget, following which he replied to questions.

4.2 North South Ministerial Council Transport Sectoral Meeting

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

The Minister for Infrastructure, Ms Liz Kimmins, made a statement regarding a North South Ministerial Council Transport Sectoral Meeting, following which she replied to questions.

The sitting was suspended at 1.33pm and resumed at 1.40pm.

4.3 Suspected Case of Bluetongue Virus (BTV) in Bangor

The Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Finance, Mr Andrew Muir, made a statement regarding a Suspected Case of Bluetongue Virus (BTV) in Bangor, following which he replied to questions.

Questions on the statement stood suspended for Question Time, the Speaker took the Chair.

5. Question Time

5.1 Economy

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for the Economy, Dr Caoimhe Archibald.

5.2 Justice

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Justice, Mrs Naomi Long.

6. Question for Urgent Oral Answer

6.1 Belfast City Hall: 19 October 2024

The First Minister, Ms Michelle O'Neill, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer tabled by Mr Phillip Brett.

7. Ministerial Statements (cont’d)

7.1 Suspected Case of Bluetongue Virus (BTV) in Bangor (cont’d)

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

Questions on the statement resumed.

8. Executive Committee Business

8.1 Motion: The draft Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025

Proposed:

That the draft Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 be approved.

Minister for the Economy

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

9. Private Members’ Business

9.1 Motion: Pressure on PSNI due to Health System Failings

Proposed:

That this Assembly expresses grave concern that failings in the health and social care system are forcing the PSNI to act as the service of last resort for those facing mental ill-health or other forms of health crisis; expresses further severe concern that the PSNI responds to over 100 concern for safety calls per day on average, with only three per cent of those incidents linked to crime; agrees that having to make up for gaps in health and social services is having an unaffordable impact on policing resources and capacity; notes that this additional pressure is being put on policing despite the Department of Health receiving more than half of the Executive’s entire 2025-26 resource budget; and calls on the Minister of Health to prioritise delivery of the Mental Health Strategy 2021-2031, Health and Wellbeing 2026: Delivering Together and the Right Care, Right Person model in order to address the unsustainable burden his Department is placing on police services.

Miss Nuala McAllister
Mr Danny Donnelly
Mr Peter McReynolds
Ms Paula Bradshaw

Amendment:

Leave out all after ‘resource budget’ and insert:

‘and the PSNI being in urgent need of additional funding with both staff and officer numbers at a critically low level; calls on the Minister of Health to prioritise delivery of the Mental Health Strategy 2021-2031, including expediting the delivery of a new regional mental health crisis service, as well as Health and Wellbeing 2026: Delivering Together; and further calls on the Minister of Justice to work alongside the Minister of Health to implement the Right Care, Right Person model in order to address the unsustainable burden the Department of Health is placing on police services.’

Mr Trevor Clarke
Ms Cheryl Brownlee

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the amendment was made.

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

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

9.2 Motion: Recognising the Importance of Food Security

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the importance of food security; believes food production should be recognised as a strategic asset in Northern Ireland; further notes Northern Ireland’s role in feeding 10 million people; celebrates the food and drink sector generating £4.9 billion Gross Value Added to Northern Ireland; stresses that investing in agriculture is essential for boosting productivity, job creation and delivering progress toward more environmentally sustainable practices; expresses grave concern that agri-food businesses face significant trading barriers as a result of the Windsor Framework and the application of EU law; condemns, in particular, the ongoing threat to the critical supply of veterinary medicines from Great Britain from 1 January 2026, as well as uncertainty surrounding new EU rules on deforestation-free products; highlights that this could undermine animal welfare and the resilience of UK-wide food supply chains; notes that current, aspirational climate targets would see a reduction in livestock numbers; believes that perfection cannot prevent progress; calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to urgently bring proposals to the Executive to reduce Northern Ireland’s interim 2030 and 2040 emissions reduction targets in the interests of protecting food security and a just transition for agriculture; and further calls on the Minister to unlock greater levels of on-farm investment and innovation by providing immediate clarity on ammonia controls within planning, in keeping with the Executive’s Programme for Government.

Miss Michelle McIlveen
Mr Tom Buchanan
Mr William Irwin

Amendment:

Leave out all after ‘environmentally sustainable practices;’ and insert:

‘recognises that Brexit has had a significant destabilising impact on our agriculture and agri-food sector, negatively affecting our farmers and rural communities; further recognises the all-island nature of the agrifood sector; acknowledges that the Windsor Framework provides a pragmatic way to manage the new trading realities which now exist, preventing a hard border on the island of Ireland and securing dual market access for our food produce; understands that concerns exist for farmers regarding future access to veterinary medicines and the implementation of emerging regulatory requirements; believes that progress toward emissions reduction targets must promote food security, be fair, evidence-based, avoid culls, be consistent with a just transition for agriculture, and avoid carbon leakage whereby higher-emission food imports displace local production; and calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to bring forward measures to unlock greater levels of on-farm investment and innovation, including providing clarity on ammonia controls within planning, in line with the Executive’s Programme for Government.’

Mr Declan McAleer
Ms Aoife Finnegan
Miss Áine Murphy

Debate ensued.

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

The Question being put, the motion, as amended, was carried (Division 2).

10. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 7.18pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker

1 December 2025

Northern Ireland Assembly

Proxy Voting Notifications

In line with Standing Order 27A, Mrs Deborah Erskine arranged for her vote to be exercised by a proxy (Mr Trevor Clarke) during the period 15 September 2025 to 14 June 2026.

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 4 November 2025 to 10 August 2026.

Northern Ireland Assembly

1 December 2025 – Division 1

Amendment - Recognising the Importance of Food Security

Leave out all after ‘environmentally sustainable practices;’ and insert:

‘recognises that Brexit has had a significant destabilising impact on our agriculture and agri-food sector, negatively affecting our farmers and rural communities; further recognises the all-island nature of the agrifood sector; acknowledges that the Windsor Framework provides a pragmatic way to manage the new trading realities which now exist, preventing a hard border on the island of Ireland and securing dual market access for our food produce; understands that concerns exist for farmers regarding future access to veterinary medicines and the implementation of emerging regulatory requirements; believes that progress toward emissions reduction targets must promote food security, be fair, evidence-based, avoid culls, be consistent with a just transition for agriculture, and avoid carbon leakage whereby higher-emission food imports displace local production; and calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to bring forward measures to unlock greater levels of on-farm investment and innovation, including providing clarity on ammonia controls within planning, in line with the Executive’s Programme for Government.’

Mr Declan McAleer
Ms Aoife Finnegan
Miss Áine Murphy

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 38
Noes: 19

AYES

Ms K Armstrong, Mr Baker, Mr Blair, Mr Boylan, Ms Bradshaw, Miss Brogan, Mr Delargy, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dillon, Miss Dolan, Mr Donnelly, Mr Durkan, Ms Egan, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Ferguson, Ms Finnegan, Mrs Guy, Miss Hargey, Mr Honeyford, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mr McAleer, Miss McAllister, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McMurray, Mrs Mason, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Miss Murphy, Ms O'Neill, Ms Reilly, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin.

Tellers for the Ayes: Ms Finnegan, Miss Murphy.

NOES

Mr Bradley, Mr Brett, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr Burrows, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Mrs Erskine, Mr Frew, Mr Harvey, Mr Kingston, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Martin, Mr Middleton, Mr Robinson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr K Buchanan, Mr Harvey.

The amendment was made.

Votes cast by proxy:

Mrs Erskine’s vote was cast by Mr Clarke.
Miss Brogan’s vote was cast by Mrs Ennis.

Northern Ireland Assembly

1 December 2025 – Division 2

Motion (As amended) - Recognising the Importance of Food Security

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the importance of food security; believes food production should be recognised as a strategic asset in Northern Ireland; further notes Northern Ireland’s role in feeding 10 million people; celebrates the food and drink sector generating £4.9 billion Gross Value Added to Northern Ireland; stresses that investing in agriculture is essential for boosting productivity, job creation and delivering progress toward more environmentally sustainable practices; recognises that Brexit has had a significant destabilising impact on our agriculture and agri-food sector, negatively affecting our farmers and rural communities; further recognises the all-island nature of the agrifood sector; acknowledges that the Windsor Framework provides a pragmatic way to manage the new trading realities which now exist, preventing a hard border on the island of Ireland and securing dual market access for our food produce; understands that concerns exist for farmers regarding future access to veterinary medicines and the implementation of emerging regulatory requirements; believes that progress toward emissions reduction targets must promote food security, be fair, evidence-based, avoid culls, be consistent with a just transition for agriculture, and avoid carbon leakage whereby higher-emission food imports displace local production; and calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to bring forward measures to unlock greater levels of on-farm investment and innovation, including providing clarity on ammonia controls within planning, in line with the Executive’s Programme for Government.

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 38
Noes: 19

AYES

Ms K Armstrong, Mr Baker, Mr Blair, Mr Boylan, Ms Bradshaw, Miss Brogan, Mr Delargy, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dillon, Miss Dolan, Mr Donnelly, Mr Durkan, Ms Egan, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Ferguson, Ms Finnegan, Mrs Guy, Miss Hargey, Mr Honeyford, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mr McAleer, Miss McAllister, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McMurray, Mrs Mason, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Miss Murphy, Ms O'Neill, Ms Reilly, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin.

Tellers for the Ayes: Ms Finnegan, Miss Murphy.

NOES

Mr Bradley, Mr Brett, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr Burrows, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Mrs Erskine, Mr Frew, Mr Harvey, Mr Kingston, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Martin, Mr Middleton, Mr Robinson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr K Buchanan, Mr Harvey.

The motion, as amended, was carried.

Votes cast by proxy:

Mrs Erskine’s vote was cast by Mr Clarke.
Miss Brogan’s vote was cast by Mrs Ennis.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 26 November 2025 to 1 December 2025

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

SR 2025/186 The Roads (Speed Limit) (No. 4) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2025/187 The State Pension Revaluation for Transitional Pensions Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Communities)

SR 2025/188 The State Pension Debits and Credits (Revaluation) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Communities)

SR 2025/189 The Government Resources and Accounts Act (Northern Ireland) 2001 (Estimates and Accounts) (Designation of Bodies) (Amendment) Order 2025 (Department of Finance)

SI 2026/XXXX The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) Order 2026 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

6. Assembly Reports

Public Accounts Committee report on Access to General Practice in Northern Ireland (Public Accounts Committee)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Response to Storm Amy (Department of Education)

Launch of the Pilot New Foundations Programme (Department for Communities)
 

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Register of Special Advisers’ Interests (Department of Finance)

Department of Finance Retention and Disposal Schedule (Department of Finance)

Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts for period ending 31 March 2025 (Department for the Economy)

Victims and Survivors Service Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25 (Victim and Survivor Service)

9. Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly

DFI Roads Western Division 2025 Annual Report to Mid Ulster District Council (Department for Infrastructure)