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 Minister for the Economy

The Speaker informed Members that the Minister for the Economy was unable to be in the Chamber for that day’s business and that the Minister for Infrastructure would move and respond to relevant items of business on her behalf.

2.2 Sub Judice Rule

The Speaker reminded Members that the sub judice rule exists to minimise the risk of prejudice to active proceedings arising from statements in the Chamber, Standing Order 73 therefore provides that a Member shall not, in any proceedings of the Assembly, refer to any matter in respect of which legal proceedings are active (within the meaning of section 2 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981) except to the extent permitted by the Speaker.

2.3 Legislative Culture in the Assembly

The Speaker provided Members with an update on work to strengthen legislative culture and to support Members. He advised that he would be providing Members with information in the coming weeks.

2.4 Challenges to the Authority of the Chair

The Speaker reminded Members that Standing Orders are clear: that the rulings of the Chair are final. He reminded Members that it is out of order for Members to challenge the Chair once a ruling had been made, whether or not Members agreed with the ruling. The Speaker also highlighted that there was a clear precedent for how he had dealt with such matters previously.

3. Matter of the Day

3.1 Potential Job Losses at Ulster University

Ms Kate Nicholl, under Standing Order 24, made a statement on Potential Job Losses at Ulster University. 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:

Ms Emma Sheerin
Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr David Honeyford
Mr Jon Burrows
Mr Justin McNulty
Mr Pat Sheehan
Mr Phillip Brett
Ms Kate Nicholl

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

Mr Maolíosa McHugh
Mr Keith Buchanan
Mr Timothy Gaston

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 20 April 2026.

Business Committee

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

 
6. Executive Committee Business

6.1 First Stage: Utility Regulator (Support for Decarbonisation Preparation) Bill (NIA Bill 32/22-27)

On behalf of the Minister for the Economy, the Minister for Infrastructure, Ms Liz Kimmins, introduced a Bill to confer functions on the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation to assist the Department for the Economy in developing plans for the decarbonisation of the energy sector.

The Utility Regulator (Support for Decarbonisation Preparation) Bill (NIA Bill 32/22-27) passed First Stage and was ordered to be printed.

6.2 Second Stage: Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill (NIA Bill 30/22-27)

The Minister of Finance, Mr John O'Dowd, moved the Second Stage of the Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill (NIA Bill 30/22-27).

Debate ensued.

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

7. Question Time

7.1 Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

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

7.2 Communities

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

8. Question for Urgent Oral Answer

8.1 Excess Deaths Linked to Long Emergency Department Waits

The Minister of Health, Mr Mike Nesbitt, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer tabled by Mr Danny Donnelly.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

9. Executive Committee Business (cont’d)

9.1 Second Stage: Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill (NIA Bill 30/22-27) (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

The Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill (NIA Bill 30/22-27) passed Second Stage.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

9.2 Further Consideration Stage: Sign Language Bill (NIA Bill 10/22-27)

The Minister for Communities, Mr Gordon Lyons, moved the Further Consideration Stage of the Sign Language Bill (NIA Bill 10/22-27).

Eight amendments were tabled to the Bill and selected for debate.

Debate ensued.

Clauses

After debate, Amendment 1 to Clause 2 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 2 to Clause 2 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 3 to Clause 2 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 4 to Clause 2 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 5 to Clause 12 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 6 to Clause 12 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 7 to Clause 12 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 8 to Clause 12 was made without division.

The Sign Language Bill (NIA Bill 10/22-27) stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with Section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

9.3 Further Consideration Stage: RHI (Closure of Non-Domestic Scheme) Bill (NIA Bill 22/22-27)

On behalf of the Minister for the Economy, the Minister for Infrastructure, Ms Liz Kimmins, moved the Further Consideration Stage of the RHI (Closure of Non-Domestic Scheme) Bill (NIA Bill 22/22-27).

No amendments were tabled to the Bill.

The RHI (Closure of Non-Domestic Scheme) Bill (NIA Bill 22/22-27) stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with Section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

 
9.4 Consideration Stage: Administrative and Financial Provisions Bill (NIA Bill 19/22-27)

The Minister of Finance, Mr John O'Dowd, moved the Consideration Stage of the Administrative and Financial Provisions Bill (NIA Bill 19/22-27).

Three amendments were tabled to the Bill and selected for debate.

Clauses

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 1 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 2 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 3 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 4 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 5 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 6 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 7 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 8 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 9 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 10 stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 1 inserting new clause ‘Training of teachers’ was made without division and it was agreed that the new clause stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 11 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 12 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 13 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 14 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 15 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 16 stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 2 to Clause 17 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 3 to Clause 17 was made without division.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 17, as amended, stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 18 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 19 stand part of the Bill.

After debate, the question that Clause 20 stand part of the Bill was negatived without division.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 21 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 22 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 23 stand part of the Bill.

Long Title

The question being put, the Long Title was agreed without division.

The Administrative and Financial Provisions Bill (NIA Bill 19/22-27) stood referred to the Speaker.

9.5 Final Stage: Hospital Parking Charges Bill (NIA Bill 29/22-27)

The Minister of Health, Mr Mike Nesbitt, moved that the Final Stage of the Hospital Parking Charges Bill (NIA Bill 29/22-27) do now pass.

Debate ensued.

The Hospital Parking Charges Bill (NIA Bill 29/22-27) passed Final Stage (Division).

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

10. Private Members’ Business

10.1 Motion: Clean Biomethane for Northern Ireland’s Energy, Food and Environmental Security

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes that Northern Ireland produces significant volumes of slurry, poultry litter and food waste; recognises that Northern Ireland faces a defining moment in securing its energy future, strengthening its agri-food sector, and addressing nutrient surplus and food waste in a way that protects both the environment and the Northern Ireland economy; further recognises that anaerobic digestion and, in particular, the production of biomethane for injection into the gas grid represents a reliable, dispatchable and indigenous renewable energy source capable of reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels and insulating households and businesses from global price volatility; acknowledges that biomethane production transforms a nutrient liability into a strategic asset, stabilising slurry, improving nutrient management, and creating a circular system in which waste becomes energy and digestate supports sustainable food production, improving nutrient security and returning value back to the farmer; believes that a scaled and regionally balanced biomethane sector would cement Northern Ireland’s food security by strengthening farm viability, delivering genuine energy security through the production of green gas, and providing a credible pathway to long-term price stability for consumers; affirms that Northern Ireland must seize this opportunity to lead in green gas production, securing affordable energy, protecting the environment, and ensuring that the economic value of decarbonisation is retained within rural communities rather than exported overseas; and calls on the Executive to bring forward, as a matter of urgency, a cross-departmental biomethane and anaerobic digestion strategy, which includes a stable and inflation-proofed support mechanism, streamlined planning and grid connection processes, and investment in nutrient recovery technologies to directly tackle surplus phosphorus and ammonia challenges.

Mr Robbie Butler
Ms Diana Armstrong
Dr Steve Aiken

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

11. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 7.57pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
20 April 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

20 April 2026 – Division

Final Stage: Hospital Parking Charges Bill (NIA Bill 29/22-27)

Minister of Health

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 42
Noes: 25

AYES

Mr Allen, Ms D Armstrong, Ms K Armstrong, Mr Beattie, Mr Bradley, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Brett, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, 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, Mrs Guy, Mr Harvey, Mr Honeyford, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Miss McAllister, Miss McIlveen, Mr McMurray, Mr McReynolds, Mr Martin, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Robinson, Mr Stewart, Mr Wilson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Butler, Mr Chambers.

NOES

Mr Baker, Miss Brogan, Mr Carroll, Mr Delargy, Mrs Dillon, Miss Dolan, Mrs Ennis, Ms Finnegan, Miss Flynn, Mr Gaston, Mr Gildernew, Miss Hargey, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Mr McAleer, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Ms McLaughlin, Mrs Mason, Miss Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Toole, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan.

The Hospital Parking Charges Bill (NIA Bill 29/22-27) 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 15 April 2026 to 20 April 2026.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Utility Regulator (Support for Decarbonisation Preparation) Bill (NIA Bill 32/22-27)

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

SR 2026/79 The Motor Vehicles (Exchangeable Licences) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department for Infrastructure)

For Information Only

SR 2026/78 The Road Races (Drumhorc Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department for Infrastructure)

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

6. Assembly Reports

Report on the Minister of Finance’s 2026-29/30 Draft Budget (NIA 163
22-27) (Committee for Finance)

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Sixty-second Report (NIA 165/22-27) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

New Statutory Assessment Framework for Northern Ireland (Minister of Education)

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Charities Annual Report 2025 (Department for Communities)

The Executive Office - Retention and Disposal Schedule (The Executive Office)

9. Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly

The Pollution Prevention and Control (District Councils) Charging Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

Further Consideration Stage Sign Language Bill Annotated Marshalled List of Amendments

Consideration Stage Administrative and Financial Provisions Bill Annotated Marshalled List of Amendments