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:

Mr Pádraig Delargy
Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr Andrew McMurray
Mr Colm Gildernew
Ms Diane Forsythe
Mr Danny Donnelly
Miss Áine Murphy
Mr Brian Kingston
Mr Timothy Gaston
Mr Daniel McCrossan
Mr Gareth Wilson

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.

3. Ministerial Statement

3.1 North South Ministerial Council Transport Sectoral Meeting

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.

3.2 North South Ministerial Council Aquaculture and Marine Sectoral Meeting

The Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Mr Andrew Muir, made a statement regarding a North South Ministerial Council Aquaculture and Marine Sectoral Meeting, following which he replied to questions.

3.3 North South Ministerial Council Agriculture Sectoral Meeting

The Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Mr Andrew Muir, made a statement regarding a North South Ministerial Council Agriculture Sectoral Meeting, following which he replied to questions.

4. Executive Committee Business

4.1 Second Stage: Education Inspections Bill (NIA Bill 34/22-27)

The Minister of Education, Mr Paul Givan, moved the Second Stage of the Education Inspections Bill (NIA Bill 34/22-27).

Debate ensued.

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

5. Question Time

5.1 Education

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Education, Mr Paul Givan.

The Speaker took the Chair.

5.2 Finance

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Finance, Mr John O’Dowd.

6. Executive Committee Business (cont’d)

6.1 Second Stage: Education Inspections Bill (NIA Bill 34/22-27) (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

The sitting was suspended at 5.50pm and resumed at 6.16pm, the Principal Deputy Speaker in the Chair.

7. Assembly Business

7.1 Motion: Extension of Sitting on Monday 1 June 2026 under Standing Order 10(3A)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 10(3A), the sitting on Monday 1 June 2026 be extended to no later than 9.30pm.

Business Committee

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

8. Executive Committee Business (cont’d)

8.1 Second Stage: Education Inspections Bill (NIA Bill 34/22-27) (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

The Education Inspections Bill (NIA Bill 34/22-27) passed Second Stage (Division).

8.2 Motion: The draft Mandatory Use of Closed Circuit Television in Slaughterhouses Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026

Proposed:

That the draft Mandatory Use of Closed Circuit Television in Slaughterhouses Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 be approved.

Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

The Deputy Speaker informed the Assembly that, as the draft Regulations to which the motion related had been withdrawn by the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, the motion could not be moved.

The motion was not moved.

9. Private Members’ Business

9.1 Motion: Banning the Use of Aversive Training Tools for Domestic Animals

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the need to promote animal welfare and humane training methods for domestic animals; agrees that aversive training tools including shock collars, prong collars, choke chains and grot collars are a barbaric and cruel way to train domestic animals; acknowledges that such tools can cause physical and psychological distress to animals creating long-term behavioural issues; notes that the use of electronic shock collars on cats and dogs is prohibited in Wales, and that Government guidance on such tools is provided for in Scotland; supports calls from reward-based dog trainers, Dogs Trust and the USPCA that these tools should be banned for sale, use and ownership; welcomes the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs' recent consultation on animal welfare reform and encourages stakeholders to complete that consultation; calls on the Minister to introduce a bill in the current Assembly mandate to prohibit the use and possession of aversive training tools for domestic animals with appropriate exemptions for veterinarians, animal rescuers and dog wardens to use necessary tools when required for safe handling and in cases of emergencies; and further calls on the Minister to work with the Minister of Justice in considering penalties and ensuring any enforcement measures are sufficiently resourced.

Mr Robbie Butler
Mr Doug Beattie
Ms Diana Armstrong
Mr Jon Burrows

Amendment:

Leave out:

‘with appropriate exemptions for veterinarians, animal rescuers and dog wardens to use necessary tools when required for safe handling and in cases of emergencies’

Mr John Blair
Ms Connie Egan

The motion was not moved.

10. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker.

The Assembly adjourned at 9.00pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
1 June 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

1 June 2026 – Division

Second Stage: Education Inspections Bill (NIA Bill 34/22-27)

Minister of Education

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 46
Noes: 27

AYES

Ms D Armstrong, Mr Bradley, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Brett, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mr Burrows, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dodds, Mr Donnelly, Mr Dunne, Ms Egan, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Gaston, Mr Givan, Mrs Guy, Mr Harvey, Mr Honeyford, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mrs Long, Mr Lyons, Miss McAllister, Miss McIlveen, Mr McMurray, Mr McReynolds, Mr Martin, Mr Mathison, Mrs Middleton, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Ms Nicholl, Mr Robinson, Ms Sugden, Mr Tennyson, Mr Wilson

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Brooks, Mrs Middleton

NOES

Mr Baker, Miss Brogan, Mr Carroll, Mr Delargy, Mrs Dillon, Miss Dolan, Mr Durkan, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Ferguson, Ms Finnegan, Miss Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Miss Hargey, Ms Hunter, Mr Kelly, Mr McAleer, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Mr McNulty, Mrs Mason, Miss Murphy, Mr O'Toole, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Baker, Mrs Mason

The Education Inspections Bill (NIA Bill 34/22-27) passed Second Stage.

Votes cast by proxy:

Miss Brogan’s vote was cast by Mrs Ennis.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 27 May to 1 June 2026.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

SR 2026/98 The Meenan Square, Derry/Londonderry (Footways) (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2026/99 The Public Service (Civil Servants and Others) Pensions (Remediable Service) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department of Finance)

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

Memorandum Not Seeking Consent: Health Bill (Department of Health)

Memorandum Not Seeking Consent: Civil Aviation (Consumer Protection and Regulatory Reform) Bill - (Department for Infrastructure)

6. Assembly Reports

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committee Sixty-seventh Report (NIA 178/22-27) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

7. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Withdrawal of the consultation on proposed amendments to firearms licensing fees and the “banded system” (Minister of Justice)

Rural Needs Annual Monitoring Report 1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025 (Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Letter to formally withdraw the Draft SR 2026/XXXX The Mandatory Use of Closed Circuit Television in Slaughterhouses Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

Tackling Social Housing Tenancy Fraud (Northern Ireland Audit Office)

9. Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Consultation on the Future of Limavady Courthouse (Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service)