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 Carál Ní Chuilín
Mrs Diane Dodds
Ms Connie Egan
Mr Doug Beattie
Mr Cathal Boylan
Mr Justin McNulty
Mr Jonathan Buckley
Mr Andrew McMurray
Mr Pat Sheehan
Miss Michelle McIlveen
Mr Jon Burrows
Mr Danny Donnelly

3. Speaker’s Business

Valid Petition tabled under Section 28B of the Northern Ireland Act 1998

The Speaker informed Members that he received a valid petition to refer a ministerial decision to the Executive Committee under section 28B of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 regarding a decision by the Minister for the Economy to instruct officials to prepare additional measures to eliminate any risk of public funds being used to support the manufacture of arms or components that are used for genocide. The Speaker informed Members that, having consulted with the parties in accordance with Standing Order 29, he has certified that the Minister’s decision does relate to a matter of public importance and that he had referred the decision to the Executive Committee for consideration (Appendix 1).

4. Ministerial Statement

4.1 North South Ministerial Council Plenary and Institutional Meetings

The First Minister, Ms Michelle O'Neill, made a statement regarding North South Ministerial Council Plenary and Institutional Meetings, following which she replied to questions.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

5. Private Members’ Business

5.1 Motion: Challenging the Harm Posed by the Windsor Framework

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the findings of the Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee’s inquiry on Strengthening Northern Ireland’s Voice in the Context of the Windsor Framework; agrees that the UK Government must work urgently to address the democratic deficit created by the Windsor Framework, as well as the overwhelming complexity of the present arrangements; is alarmed that 3,500 products supplied by Marks and Spencer require daily checks when moving to Northern Ireland, as well as 300 pages of paperwork per lorry; stresses that such barriers are leading to added cost and delay for businesses, reducing consumer choice and causing the diversion of trade outside the UK internal market; believes mere tinkering at the edges of a fundamentally harmful system will not suffice; condemns the failure of successive governments to implement pre-existing agreements and honour commitments to restoring Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom; and calls on the UK Government to bring forward solutions which challenge the flawed foundational assumption at the heart of the Windsor Framework that the direct application of EU law in Northern Ireland is necessary.

Mr David Brooks
Mr Jonathan Buckley
Mr Phillip Brett

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 1.57pm and resumed at 2.00pm for Question Time, the Speaker in the Chair.

6. Question Time

6.1 Communities

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

6.2 Economy

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

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

7. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)

7.1 Motion: Challenging the Harm Posed by the Windsor Framework (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

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

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.

7.2 Motion: Impact of the Ongoing Increase in the Cost of Living

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes that, according to data published by the Office for National Statistics on 22 October 2025, the inflation rate is at 3.8 per cent which is higher than the EU average; further notes that this rate of inflation is nearly double the Bank of England's 2 per cent target; is deeply concerned with the persistent rise in the cost of living and the impact it is having on workers, families and communities; commends the Executive on its firm refusal to impose unfair taxes and charges on already struggling workers and families; recognises that many will face increased financial pressure in the weeks leading up to Christmas and throughout the winter; further recognises the vital work being carried out by voluntary and community sector organisations in supporting vulnerable groups who are disproportionately affected by the rise in the cost of living; acknowledges the ongoing concerns expressed by the sector with regards to the shortcomings of the draft anti-poverty strategy published by the Minister for Communities; and calls on the Minister for Communities to revise his draft anti-poverty strategy to set out what actions he will take to support and equip those organisations and communities dealing with the increased cost of living challenges.

Mr Colm Gildernew
Ms Emma Sheerin
Mrs Cathy Mason
Miss Áine Murphy

Amendment:

Leave out all after ‘published by the Minister for Communities;’ and insert:

‘notes with concern that food prices have risen sharply in recent years, contributing to increasing levels of food insecurity and worsening health inequalities across Northern Ireland; further notes the recent announcement by the Education Authority regarding the increase to the cost of school meals, which will add further pressure on already stretched household budgets; recognises that affordable access to food, including school meals, is vital in tackling child poverty and reducing health inequalities; believes that departmental and arm’s-length body decisions must align with the objectives of the Executive’s Anti-Poverty Strategy; calls on the Minister of Education to review the Education Authority’s decision, to increase the eligibility threshold for free school meals, and to work with the Minister for Communities to ensure a coordinated approach to supporting low-income families; and further calls on the Minister for Communities to strengthen the draft Anti-Poverty Strategy to include measurable poverty reduction targets and clear actions to address food and fuel poverty.’

Mr Andy Allen
Mr Robbie Butler
Mr Jon Burrows
Ms Diana Armstrong

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the amendment was made.

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

8. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 5.47pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker

17 November 2025

Northern Ireland Assembly (Appendix 1)

The undersigned Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly presented a petition expressing concern that the Minister for the Economy’s decision to instruct officials to prepare additional measures to eliminate any risk of public funds being used to support the manufacture of arms or components that are used for genocide, specifically that her Department:

• expects companies seeking grant support to confirm that they are not manufacturing arms or components for countries committing genocide;

• will not engage in the UK Government’s trade talks with Israel;

• is developing a new Ethic Investment Framework.

(a) may have been taken in contravention of section 28A(1) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998;

(b) relates to a matter of public importance.

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

17 November 2025 – Division

Motion - Challenging the Harm Posed by the Windsor Framework

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the findings of the Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee’s inquiry on Strengthening Northern Ireland’s Voice in the Context of the Windsor Framework; agrees that the UK Government must work urgently to address the democratic deficit created by the Windsor Framework, as well as the overwhelming complexity of the present arrangements; is alarmed that 3,500 products supplied by Marks and Spencer require daily checks when moving to Northern Ireland, as well as 300 pages of paperwork per lorry; stresses that such barriers are leading to added cost and delay for businesses, reducing consumer choice and causing the diversion of trade outside the UK internal market; believes mere tinkering at the edges of a fundamentally harmful system will not suffice; condemns the failure of successive governments to implement pre-existing agreements and honour commitments to restoring Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom; and calls on the UK Government to bring forward solutions which challenge the flawed foundational assumption at the heart of the Windsor Framework that the direct application of EU law in Northern Ireland is necessary.

Mr David Brooks
Mr Jonathan Buckley
Mr Phillip Brett

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 27
Noes: 44

AYES

Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Ms D Armstrong, Mr Beattie, Mr Bradley, Mr Brett, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mr Burrows, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dodds, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Gaston, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Martin, Mr Robinson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Buckley, Mr Martin.

NOES

Dr Archibald, Ms K Armstrong, Mr Baker, Mr Blair, Mr Boylan, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Carroll, Mr Delargy, Mr Dickson, Miss Dolan, Mr Donnelly, Mr Durkan, Ms Egan, Mrs Ennis, Ms Finnegan, Miss Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Mrs Guy, Miss Hargey, Mr Honeyford, Ms Hunter, Mr Kearney, Ms Kimmins, Mr McAleer, Miss McAllister, Mr McGlone, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McMurray, Mr McNulty, Mrs Mason, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Miss Murphy, Ms Nicholl, Mr O'Dowd, Ms O'Neill, Mr O'Toole, Ms Reilly, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Tennyson.

Tellers for the Noes: Miss Dolan, Mr McMurray.

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 12 November 2025 to 17 November 2025

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

SR 2025/175 The Occupational Pension Schemes (Collective Money Purchase Schemes) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Communities)

SR 2025/177 The Insolvency Practitioners (Amendment and Transitional Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for the Economy)

For Information Only

SR 2025/174 The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Derry/Londonderry) (Amendment No. 3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2025/176 (C.3) The Welfare Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 (Commencement No. 18) (Abolition of Benefits) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Communities)

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

6. Assembly Reports

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Fiftieth Report 13 November 2025 (NIA 131/22-27) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 (The Executive Office)

Victims’ Payments Board Troubles Permanent Disablement Scheme Annual Report 2023-24 (The Executive Office)

Consumer Council for Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 (Department for the Economy)

9. Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Statistical Review of Northern Ireland Agriculture 2024 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

Letter from the Minister of Health Indemnity Arrangements in Support of the Royal College of Physicians Participation in the DOH Neurology Review (Phase Three) (Department of Health)

Partnership Agreement between The Executive Office (TEO) and The Northern Ireland Community Relations Council (NICRC) (The Executive Office)

Partnership Agreement between Department for the Economy (DfE) and Tourism Northern Ireland (TNI) 2025/26 (Department for the Economy)

DfI Roads Western Division 2025 Annual Report to Derry City and Strabane District Council (Department for Infrastructure)