Minutes of Proceedings
Session: Session currently unavailable
Date: 23 February 2026
The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair.
1. Prayers
Members observed two minutes’ silence.
2. Speaker’s Business
2.1 Royal Assent
The Speaker informed Members that Royal Assent was signified to the School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill. The School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Act (Northern Ireland) 2026 became law on 19 February 2026.
3. Members’ Statements
Under Standing Order 24A, the following Members made a statement to the Assembly:
Miss Jemma Dolan
Mrs Diane Dodds
Mr Peter McReynolds
Mr Alan Chambers
Mr Colin McGrath
Mr Declan Kearney
Mr Brian Kingston
Mrs Cathy Mason
Mrs Michelle Guy
Mr Jonathan Buckley
Ms Sinéad McLaughlin
Mr Phillip Brett
4. Public Petition
Retain Bangor Castle as a Civic Building
Mr Timothy Gaston was granted leave, in accordance with Standing Order 22, to present a Public Petition to Retain Bangor Castle as a Civic Building.
The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.
5. Executive Committee 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 23 February 2026.
Minister of Finance
The Question being put, the motion was carried with cross-community support.
5.2 Motion: Supply Resolution for the Northern Ireland Spring Supplementary Estimates 2025-2026
Proposed:
That this Assembly approves that a sum, not exceeding £28,100,470,000, be granted out of the Consolidated Fund, for or towards defraying the charges for the Northern Ireland Departments, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Northern Ireland Audit Office, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation, the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman, and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2026 and that resources, not exceeding £32,672,027,000, be authorised for use by the Northern Ireland Departments, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Northern Ireland Audit Office, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation, the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman, and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2026 as summarised for each Department or other public body in Column 4 of Table 1 in the volume of the Northern Ireland Spring Supplementary Estimates 2025-2026 laid before the Assembly on 16 February 2026.
Minister of Finance
Motion: Supply Resolution for the Northern Ireland Estimates Vote on Account 2026-2027
Proposed:
That this Assembly approves that a sum, not exceeding £12,835,941,000 be granted out of the Consolidated Fund, for or towards defraying the charges for the Northern Ireland Departments, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Northern Ireland Audit Office, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation, the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman, and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2027 and that resources, not exceeding £14,821,328,000, be authorised for use by the Northern Ireland Departments, the Food Standards Agency, the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, the Northern Ireland Audit Office, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation, the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman, and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2027 as summarised for each Department or other public body in Column 4 of table 1 in the Northern Ireland Estimates Vote on Account 2026-2027 that was laid before the Assembly on 16 February 2026.
Minister of Finance
A single debate ensued on both motions.
The sitting stood suspended at 1.55pm for Question Time.
The sitting resumed at 2pm, the Speaker took the Chair.
6. Question Time
6.1 Economy
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for the Economy, Dr Caoimhe Archibald.
6.2 Education
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Education, Mr Paul Givan.
7. Executive Committee Business (cont’d)
7.1 Motion: Supply Resolution for the Northern Ireland Spring Supplementary Estimates 2025-2026 (cont’d)
Motion: Supply Resolution for the Northern Ireland Estimates Vote on Account 2026-2027 (cont’d)
Debate resumed on both motions.
The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.
The Question being put, the motion on the Supply Resolution for the Northern Ireland Spring Supplementary Estimates 2025-2026 was carried.
The Question being put, the motion on the Supply Resolution for the Northern Ireland Estimates Vote on Account 2026-2027 was carried.
7.2 First Stage: Budget Bill (NIA Bill 25/22-27)
The Minister of Finance, Mr John O’Dowd, introduced a Bill to authorise the use for the public service of certain resources for the years ending 31 March 2026 and 2027 (including, for the year ending 31 March 2026, income); to authorise the issue out of the Consolidated Fund of certain sums for the service of those years; to authorise the use of those sums for specified purposes; and to authorise the Department of Finance to borrow on the credit of those sums.
The Budget Bill (NIA Bill 25/22-27) passed First Stage and was ordered to be printed.
The Principal Deputy Speaker informed Members that the Speaker had received a letter from the Chairperson of the Committee for Finance, to inform him that the Committee was satisfied that the consultation with it on the public expenditure proposals contained in the Bill had been appropriate, as required under Standing Order 42(2), and for the Bill to proceed under the accelerated passage procedure.
8. Adjournment
Proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
The Speaker
The Assembly adjourned at 4.00pm.
Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
23 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
Papers Presented to the Assembly on 18 February 2026 to 23 February 2026
1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly
The School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Act (Northern Ireland) 2026
2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly
Budget Bill (NIA Bill 25/22-27)
3. Orders in Council
4. Statutory Rules
SR 2026/19 The Rates (Regional Rates) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department of Finance)
SR 2026/20 The Rates (Temporary Rebate) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department of Finance)
SR 2026/21 The Optical Charges and Payments (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 ((Department of Health)
SR 2026/22 The Rates (Exemption for Automatic Telling Machines in Rural Areas) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department of Finance)
SR 2026/24 The Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department for Communities)
SR 2026/XXXX Draft The Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay (Miscarriage) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department for the Economy)
For Information Only
SR 2026/18 The On-Street Parking (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department for Infrastructure)
SR 2026/23 The Energy Bill Relief Scheme and Energy Bills Discount Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department for the Economy)
5. Legislative Consent Memorandums
6. Assembly Reports
Report on Homelessness in Northern Ireland (NIA 144/22-27) (Public Accounts Committee)
7. Written Ministerial Statements
Update on Departmental Policies in relation to Quality and Safety (Minister of Health)
Update on Departmental Policies in relation to Quality and Safety (revised version) (Minister of Health)
8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly
British Wool Report and Accounts 2025 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)
Safefood Annual Report 2024 (Department of Health)
Northern Ireland Local Government Commissioner for Standards – Commissioner’s Report 2024-25 (Northern Ireland Local Government Commissioner for Standards)
An Inspection of Child Criminal Exploitation in Northern Ireland: How the criminal justice system recognises, assesses and responds to child criminal exploitation (Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland)
School Uniforms Guidelines - School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Act (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department of Education)
School Uniforms Guidelines - School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Act (Northern Ireland) 2026 (revised) (Department of Education)
