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 Royal Assent

The Speaker informed Members that Royal Assent was signified to the Budget Bill. The Budget Act (Northern Ireland) 2026 became law on 20 March 2026.

3. Matter of the Day

3.1 The Deaths of Amy Doherty and Ellie Flanagan and the Urgent Need to Address Violence against Women and Girls

Ms Claire Sugden, under Standing Order 24, made a statement on the Deaths of Amy Doherty and Ellie Flanagan and the Urgent Need to Address Violence against Women and Girls. 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:

Mr Philip McGuigan
Mrs Emma Little-Pengelly
Mr Stewart Dickson
Mr Jon Burrows

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

Ms Aoife Finnegan
Mr Jonathan Buckley
Miss Nuala McAllister
Mr Matthew O’Toole
Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr Justin McNulty
Mr Phillip Brett
Mr Timothy Gaston

5. Executive Committee Business

5.1 Motion: The draft Renewables Obligation (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026

Proposed:

That the draft Renewables Obligation (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 be approved.

Minister for the Economy

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

The Speaker took the Chair.

6. Private Members’ Business

6.1 Second Stage: Areas with Natural Constraints (Payments) Bill (NIA Bill 24/22-27)

Mr Declan McAleer moved the Second Stage of the Areas with Natural Constraints (Payments) Bill (NIA Bill 24/22-27).

Debate ensued.

The debate stood suspended for Question Time.

7. Question Time

7.1 Education

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

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

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

The Speaker took the Chair.

8. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)

8.1 Second Stage: Areas with Natural Constraints (Payments) Bill (NIA Bill 24/22-27) (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

The Areas with Natural Constraints (Payments) Bill (NIA Bill 24/22-27) passed Second Stage (Division 1).

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

9. Assembly Business

9.1 Motion: Extension of Sitting on Monday 23 March 2026 under Standing Order 10(3A)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 10(3A), the sitting on Monday 23 March 2026 be extended to no later than 7.30pm.

Business Committee

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

10. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)

10.1 Motion: Tackling Waste and Inefficiency in Government

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the need to drive efficiency and tackle wasteful spending across the public sector; notes with concern recent Northern Ireland Audit Office reports which found that delivery of major capital projects and reform of the Northern Ireland Civil Service workforce has not achieved value for money; expresses alarm at levels of spending by Executive Departments on arm’s-length bodies, agency staff, legal costs, hospitality and external consultants; criticises the use of public money to advance transgender ideology; highlights the Scottish Government’s commitment to reduce public body corporate and core government operating costs by approximately 20 per cent by 2030; calls on the Minister of Finance to agree mandatory, rolling efficiency targets for day-to-day spending by every Executive Department; and further calls on the Minister to seek Executive agreement on a presumption against the creation of new public bodies.

Ms Diane Forsythe
Mr Brian Kingston
Mr Harry Harvey

Amendment:

Leave out all after ‘value for money;’ and insert:

‘further notes the progress that is being made to reduce the number of agency staff by bringing outsourced aspects of recruitment back into the public sector from March 2027; notes the prioritisation of internal recruitment through strategic workforce planning within the NICS People Strategy 2025-2030; further recognises that civil service reform must be thorough and avoid the flaws that underpinned previous reforms; acknowledges the need to avoid creating or maintaining public bodies which result in duplication and unnecessary bureaucracy; and calls on the Executive to agree efficiency targets for every Executive Department and to avoid the creation of new and unnecessary public bodies.’

Mr Pat Sheehan
Mr Colm Gildernew
Mrs Sinéad Ennis

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the amendment was made (Division 2).
The Question being put, the motion, as amended, was carried (Division 3).

11. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 7.12pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
23 March 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

23 March 2026 – Division 1

Second Stage: Areas with Natural Constraints (Payments) Bill (NIA Bill 24/22-27)

Mr Declan McAleer

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 41
Noes: 37

AYES

Dr Archibald, Ms D Armstrong, Mr Baker, Mr Beattie, Miss Brogan, Mr Burrows, Mr Butler, Mr Carroll, Mr Chambers, Mrs Dillon, Miss Dolan, Mr Durkan, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Ferguson, Ms Finnegan, Miss Flynn, Mr Gaston, Mr Gildernew, Miss Hargey, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mr McAleer, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Mr McNulty, Mrs Mason, Miss Murphy, Mr Nesbitt, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Ms O'Neill, Mr O'Toole, Ms Reilly, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Stewart, Ms Sugden.

Tellers for the Ayes: Ms Finnegan, Miss Murphy.

NOES

Ms K Armstrong, Mr Blair, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Brett, Mr Brooks, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dodds, Mr Donnelly, Mr Dunne, Ms Egan, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Givan, Mrs Guy, Mr Harvey, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mrs Long, Mr Lyons, Miss McAllister, Miss McIlveen, Mr McMurray, Mr McReynolds, Mr Martin, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Ms Nicholl, Mr Tennyson, Mr Wilson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Donnelly, Mr McMurray.

The Areas with Natural Constraints (Payments) Bill (NIA Bill 24/22-27) passed Second Stage.

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

23 March 2026 – Division 2

Amendment: Tackling Waste and Inefficiency in Government

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘value for money;’ and insert:

‘further notes the progress that is being made to reduce the number of agency staff by bringing outsourced aspects of recruitment back into the public sector from March 2027; notes the prioritisation of internal recruitment through strategic workforce planning within the NICS People Strategy 2025-2030; further recognises that civil service reform must be thorough and avoid the flaws that underpinned previous reforms; acknowledges the need to avoid creating or maintaining public bodies which result in duplication and unnecessary bureaucracy; and calls on the Executive to agree efficiency targets for every Executive Department and to avoid the creation of new and unnecessary public bodies.’

Mr Pat Sheehan
Mr Colm Gildernew
Mrs Sinéad Ennis

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 40
Noes: 26

AYES

Ms K Armstrong, Mr Baker, Miss Brogan, 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 Kearney, Mr Kelly, Mr McAleer, Miss McAllister, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Mr McMurray, Mr McNulty, Mr McReynolds, Mrs Mason, Mr Mathison, Ms Mulholland, Miss Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Ms Nicholl, Mr O'Dowd, Mr O'Toole, Ms Reilly, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Ms Sugden.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mrs Dillon, Miss Dolan.

NOES

Ms D Armstrong, Mr Beattie, Mr Brett, Mr Brooks, 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 Wilson.

Tellers for the Noes: Ms Forsythe, Mr Kingston.

The amendment was made.

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

23 March 2026 – Division 3

Motion (As amended): Tackling Waste and Inefficiency in Government

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the need to drive efficiency and tackle wasteful spending across the public sector; notes with concern recent Northern Ireland Audit Office reports which found that delivery of major capital projects and reform of the Northern Ireland Civil Service workforce has not achieved value for money; further notes the progress that is being made to reduce the number of agency staff by bringing outsourced aspects of recruitment back into the public sector from March 2027; notes the prioritisation of internal recruitment through strategic workforce planning within the NICS People Strategy 2025-2030; further recognises that civil service reform must be thorough and avoid the flaws that underpinned previous reforms; acknowledges the need to avoid creating or maintaining public bodies which result in duplication and unnecessary bureaucracy; and calls on the Executive to agree efficiency targets for every Executive Department and to avoid the creation of new and unnecessary public bodies.

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 40
Noes: 26

AYES

Ms K Armstrong, Mr Baker, Miss Brogan, 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 Kearney, Mr Kelly, Mr McAleer, Miss McAllister, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Mr McMurray, Mr McNulty, Mr McReynolds, Mrs Mason, Mr Mathison, Ms Mulholland, Miss Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Ms Nicholl, Mr O'Dowd, Mr O'Toole, Ms Reilly, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Ms Sugden.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mrs Dillon, Miss Dolan.

NOES

Ms D Armstrong, Mr Beattie, Mr Brett, Mr Brooks, 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 Wilson.

Tellers for the Noes: Ms Forsythe, Mr Kingston.

The motion, as amended, 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 18 March 2026 to 23 March 2026.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Budget Act (Northern Ireland) 2026

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

SR 2026/56 The Education (Student Support) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department for the Economy)

SR 2026/58 The Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay (General) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department for the Economy)

For Information Only

SR 2026/57 The Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department for the Economy)

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

6. Assembly Reports

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Sixty-first Report (NIA 159/22-27) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

Report on the Northern Ireland Fiscal Council Bill (NIA 150/22-27) (Committee for Finance)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Publication and laying in the Assembly of the Third Northern Ireland Climate Change Adaptation Programme (NICCAP3) (Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

Publication of the Executive Response to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry Module 2 Report (First Minister and deputy First Minister)

Developer Contributions for Wastewater Infrastructure (Minister for Infrastructure)

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Raising Concerns in the Northern Ireland Public Sector (Northern Ireland Audit Office)

Department of Education - Retention and Disposal Schedule (Department for Communities)

Third Northern Ireland Climate Change Adaptation Programme (NICCAP3) (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

Competition and Marks Authority 4th Annual Report: Developments in the UK Internal market 2025-2026 (Office for the Internal Market)

Competition and Markets Authority Annual Plan 2026 to 2027 (Competition and Markets Authority)

Agricultural Wages (Amendment) Order 2026 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

9. Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly