Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Speaker’s Business

2.1 Safety of Elected Representatives

The Speaker condemned recent attacks and acts of intimidation directed at elected representatives and said that the notion that politicians should somehow be able to accept abuse, attacks and intimidation as a normal part of their job must be challenged.

3. Matters of the Day

3.1 Intimidation Towards Naomi Long at her Home

Mr Eóin Tennyson, under Standing Order 24, made a statement on the Intimidation Towards Naomi Long at her Home. Other Members were also called to speak on the matter.

3.2 The Gaza Ceasefire Agreement

Mr Timothy Gaston, under Standing Order 24, made a statement on the Gaza Ceasefire Agreement. Other Members were also called to speak on the matter.

4. Members’ Statements

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

Miss Jemma Dolan
Ms Diane Forsythe
Mrs Michelle Guy
Mr Jon Burrows
Mr Justin McNulty
Mr Maolíosa McHugh
Mr Phillip Brett
Miss Nuala McAllister
Mrs Cathy Mason
Ms Joanne Bunting
Mr Alan Robinson

5. Assembly Business

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

Proposed:

That Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4) be suspended for 13 October 2025.

Business Committee

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

6. Speaker’s Business (cont’d)

6.1 Speaker

The Speaker informed Members that he would not be in the Chamber on Tuesday 14 October 2025.

7. Executive Committee Business

7.1 Final Stage: School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill (NIA Bill 12/22-27)

The Minister of Education, Mr Paul Givan, moved that the Final Stage of the School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill (NIA Bill 12/22-27) do now pass.

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.

The debate stood suspended for Question Time.

8. Question Time

8.1 Justice

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

8.2 Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

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

The Speaker took the Chair.

9. Executive Committee Business (cont’d)

9.1 Final Stage: School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill (NIA Bill 12/22-27) (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

The School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill (NIA Bill 12/22-27) passed Final Stage.

9.2 Motion: The Executive Committee’s Legislation Programme 2025-2026

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the Executive Committee’s Legislation Programme for the 2025-26 session of the Assembly, published in the written ministerial statement on 3 October 2025.

The Executive Office

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried (Division 1).

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

10. Committee Business

10.1 Motion: Extension of Committee Stage – Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill (NIA Bill 17/22-27)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 3 July 2026, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill.

Chairperson, Committee for Infrastructure

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

11. Private Members’ Business

11.1 Motion: Replacing Irish Language Street Signage Policy in Belfast

Proposed:

That this Assembly deplores that, since 2022, only 12 per cent of applications for Irish language street signs approved by Belfast City Council commanded the majority support of residents living there, according to recent media reports; contends that with the wishes of the minority trumping the view of the majority in almost nine out of ten cases, this policy is undemocratic and oppressive; is alarmed that in a number of cases residents have been surveyed repeatedly in an attempt to garner the necessary support; condemns the marking of territory in this way, as well as the imposition of minority rule on residents from all backgrounds and traditions; and calls on Belfast City Council to urgently review, and replace, its policy that Irish language street signs can be imposed upon communities with just 15 per cent support.

Mr Phillip Brett
Mr Brian Kingston
Mr David Brooks

Debate ensued.

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

12. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 8.05 pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker

13 October 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.

Northern Ireland Assembly

13 October 2025 – Division 1

Motion - The Executive Committee’s Legislation Programme 2025-2026

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the Executive Committee’s Legislation Programme for the 2025-26 session of the Assembly, published in the written ministerial statement on 3 October 2025.

The Executive Office

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 63

Noes: 7

AYES

Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Mr Baker, Mr Blair, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Brett, Miss Brogan, 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 Delargy, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dillon, Mrs Dodds, Miss Dolan, Mr Donnelly, Mr Dunne, Ms Egan, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Erskine, Mrs Ferguson, Ms Finnegan, Miss Flynn, Ms Forsythe, Mr Gildernew, Mrs Guy, Miss Hargey, Mr Harvey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Mr McAleer, Miss McAllister, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Mr McMurray, Mr Martin, Mrs Mason, Mr Mathison, Mr Middleton, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Miss Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Ms Reilly, Mr Robinson, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Stewart, Mr Tennyson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Brett, Ms Ferguson.

NOES

Mr Durkan, Mr Gaston, Ms Hunter, Mr McGlone, Mr McNulty, Mr O'Toole, Ms Sugden.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Durkan, Mr O'Toole.

The motion was carried.

Votes cast by proxy:

Mrs Erskine’s vote was cast by Mr Clarke.

Northern Ireland Assembly

13 October 2025 – Division 2

Motion - Replacing Irish Language Street Signage Policy in Belfast

Proposed:

That this Assembly deplores that, since 2022, only 12 per cent of applications for Irish language street signs approved by Belfast City Council commanded the majority support of residents living there, according to recent media reports; contends that with the wishes of the minority trumping the view of the majority in almost nine out of ten cases, this policy is undemocratic and oppressive; is alarmed that in a number of cases residents have been surveyed repeatedly in an attempt to garner the necessary support; condemns the marking of territory in this way, as well as the imposition of minority rule on residents from all backgrounds and traditions; and calls on Belfast City Council to urgently review, and replace, its policy that Irish language street signs can be imposed upon communities with just 15 per cent support.

Mr Phillip Brett
Mr Brian Kingston
Mr David Brooks

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 28

Noes: 41

AYES

Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, 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, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Gaston, Mr Harvey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Mr Martin, Mr Middleton, Mr Robinson, Mr Stewart.

Tellers for the Ayes: Ms Brownlee, Ms Forsythe.

NOES

Mr Baker, Mr Blair, Ms Bradshaw, Miss Brogan, Mr Carroll, Mr Delargy, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dillon, Miss Dolan, Mr Donnelly, Mr Durkan, Ms Egan, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Ferguson, Ms Finnegan, Miss Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Mrs Guy, Miss Hargey, Ms Hunter, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mr McAleer, Miss McAllister, Mr McGlone, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Mr McMurray, Mr McNulty, Mrs Mason, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Miss Murphy, Mr O'Dowd, Mr O'Toole, Ms Reilly, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Tennyson.

Tellers for the Noes: Miss Hargey, Mr McNulty.

The motion was negatived.

Votes cast by proxy:

Mrs Erskine’s vote was cast by Mr Clarke.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 8 October 2025 to 13 October 2025

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

SR 2025/164 - The Student Fees (Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for the Economy)

SR 2025/XXXX - Draft SR The Farm Sustainability Payment Scheme (Eligibility etc) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

6. Assembly Reports

Report on Managing the Schools’ Estate (NIA 117/22-27) (Public Accounts Committee)

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Forty-seventh Report (NIA 124/22-27) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

Report on the Legislative Consent Memorandum for the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill (NIA 118/22-27) (Committee for the Economy)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

The Commission for Victims and Survivors for Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 (The Executive Office)

An Inspection of Airport and Harbour Policing in Northern Ireland: The Belfast International Airport Constabulary and the Belfast Harbour Police (Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland)

9. Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Department for the Economy Minute 10th October 2025 under guidance in relation to Managing Public Money Northern Ireland to inform the Northern Ireland Assembly of the proposal to provide a pension scheme letter of comfort for Tourism NI (Department for the Economy)