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 Philip McGuigan
Ms Diane Forsythe
Mrs Michelle Guy
Ms Sinéad McLaughlin
Ms Aisling Reilly
Mr Jonathan Buckley
Ms Liz Kimmins
Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr Colin McGrath
Ms Emma Sheerin
Mr David Brooks
Mr Timothy Gaston
Mr Robbie Butler

3. Ministerial Statement

3.1 Revaluation 2026

The Minister of Finance, Mr John O’Dowd, made a statement regarding Revaluation 2026, following which he replied to questions.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

4. Assembly Business

4.1 Motion: Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Ms Diana Armstrong replace Mr Robbie Butler as a member of the Business Committee.

Dr Steve Aiken
Mr Jon Burrows

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

5. Executive Committee Business

5.1 Legislative Consent Motion: Crime and Policing Bill

Proposed:

That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension to Northern Ireland of the provisions of the Crime and Policing Bill, introduced as amendments in the House of Commons and House of Lords, dealing with an offence of child criminal exploitation and civil prevention orders (contained in Part 4, clauses 40 to 55 and Schedule 5); an enabling power for the Department for Infrastructure to make relevant regulations to restrict the granting of replacement driving licences to registered sex offenders in a new name (contained in clause 94(3)); a new offence of child sexual abuse image-generators (contained in clause 63); a new offence of child abduction by retention of a child abroad without appropriate consent (contained in clause 104); Stalking Protection Orders to be available on acquittal and conviction (contained in clauses 97 and 98); new stalking guidance about disclosure of information by the PSNI (contained in clause 100); power for law enforcement agencies to access remotely stored electronic data (contained in clauses 130 to 137 and 190 and Schedule 14); provision regarding the bulk and suspicious sales of knives (contained in clause 36); removal of supervision exemption from the definition of regulated activity (contained in clause 105); access to driver licensing information to expand the lawful purposes for which the police can access the DVLA driving license database (contained in clause 138); an enabling power to allow regulations to be made which will provide defences to certain offences for authorised testing of child sexual abuse related material (new clause to be inserted after clause 84); and new offences to criminalise the possession or publication of pornography portraying strangulation or suffocation (new clause to be inserted after clause 84).

Minister of Justice

Amendment:

After ‘clause 94’ leave out ‘(3)’ and insert ‘(2)’

Minister of Justice

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the amendment was made.

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

The Speaker took the Chair.

6. Question Time

6.1 The Executive Office

Questions were put to, and answered by, the deputy First Minister, Mrs Emma Little-Pengelly. The junior Minister, Ms Joanne Bunting, also answered a number of questions.

6.2 Education

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

7. Committee Business

7.1 Motion: Report on a Complaint against Mr Timothy Gaston MLA

Proposed:

That this Assembly, having considered the report of the Committee on Standards and Privileges (NIA 103/22-27), notes its conclusion to recommend that a sanction be imposed on Mr Timothy Gaston MLA, and imposes upon Mr Gaston the sanction of exclusion from proceedings of the Assembly for a period of two sitting days, beginning on the first sitting day after the resolution.

Chairperson, Committee on Standards and Privileges

The sitting suspended at 3.37pm and resumed at 3.46pm, the Speaker in the Chair.

Debate ensued.

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

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

8. Private Members’ Business

8.1 Motion: Development of a Sports Museum

Proposed:

That this Assembly is proud of Northern Ireland’s exceptional sporting legacy; notes that individuals who have been successful in their sport do not always receive the standalone recognition they deserve; recognises the need for a sports museum in Northern Ireland to celebrate their success and encourage future generations to consider taking up a sport and to continue to add to our sporting legacy; highlights the economic benefit this museum could bring to our local economy, including increased tourism; and calls on the Minister for Communities to work with the Minister for the Economy to establish a working group, comprised of key sporting stakeholders, to explore the feasibility and appetite for such a museum.

Mr Alan Chambers
Ms Diana Armstrong
Dr Steve Aiken

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

9. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 5.55pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker

2 February 2026

 
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 11 November 2025 to 10 August 2026.

Northern Ireland Assembly

2 February 2026 – Division

Motion: Report on a Complaint against Mr Timothy Gaston MLA

Proposed:

That this Assembly, having considered the report of the Committee on Standards and Privileges (NIA 103/22-27), notes its conclusion to recommend that a sanction be imposed on Mr Timothy Gaston MLA, and imposes upon Mr Gaston the sanction of exclusion from proceedings of the Assembly for a period of two sitting days, beginning on the first sitting day after the resolution.

Chairperson, Committee on Standards and Privileges

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 46
Noes: 31

AYES

Dr Archibald, Mr Baker, Mr Blair, Mr Boylan, Miss Brogan, 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, Mr Honeyford, Ms Hunter, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mrs Long, Mr McAleer, Miss McAllister, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McMurray, Mr McNulty, Mr McReynolds, Mrs Mason, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Miss Murphy, Mr O'Dowd, Ms O'Neill, Ms Reilly, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Tennyson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr McMurray, Miss Murphy.

NOES

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 Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Martin, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Robinson, Mr Stewart, Mr Wilson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Buckley, Mr Gaston.

The following Members voted in both Lobbies and are therefore not counted in the result:

Mr Carroll.

The motion 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 28 January 2026 to 2 February 2026

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

SR 2026/6 The Disclosure of Victims' and Witnesses' Information (Prescribed Bodies) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department of Justice)

SR 2026/11 The Payment and Electronic Money Institution Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Rules 2026 (Department of Justice)

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

6. Assembly Reports

Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill – Committee Stage Report (NIA 135/22-27) (Committee for the Executive Office)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

The Introduction of the Armed Forces Bill in Parliament (Minister of Education)

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Northern Ireland Police Fund Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 (Northern Ireland Police Fund)

9. Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 (Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council)