Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at noon, the Principal Deputy Speaker in the Chair.

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Matters of the Day

2.1 Explosive Device left at the Office of Sinn Féin Representatives Liz Kimmins MLA and Dáire Hughes MP

Mrs Sinéad Ennis, under Standing Order 24, made a statement on an explosive device left at the office of Sinn Féin representatives Liz Kimmins MLA and Dáire Hughes MP. Other Members were also called to speak on the matter.

2.2 Israel’s Interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla to Gaza

Mr Pat Sheehan, under Standing Order 24, made a statement on Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud flotilla to Gaza. Other Members were also called to speak on the matter.

2.3 Attack on the Manchester Synagogue and its Implications for the Jewish Community in Northern Ireland

Mr Timothy Gaston, under Standing Order 24, made a statement on the attack on the Manchester Synagogue and its implications for the Jewish Community in Northern Ireland. Other Members were also called to speak on the matter.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

3. Members’ Statements

Under Standing Order 24A, the following Members made a statement to the Assembly:

Mr Stewart Dickson
Ms Aisling Reilly
Mr Phillip Brett
Ms Kate Nicholl
Mr Jon Burrows
Mr Mark Durkan
Mr Timothy Gaston
Mr Philip McGuigan
Mr Tom Buchanan
Ms Claire Sugden
Mr Nick Mathison

4. Assembly Business

4.1 Motion: Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Mr Jon Burrows be appointed as a member of the Public Accounts Committee.

Mr Robbie Butler
Mr John Stewart
Ms Diana Armstrong

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

5. Ministerial Statement

5.1 The draft Disability and Work Strategy

The Minister for Communities, Mr Gordon Lyons, made a statement regarding the draft Disability and Work Strategy, following which he replied to questions.

The statement stood suspended for Question Time, the Principal Deputy 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 Health

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Health, Mr Mike Nesbitt.

7. Question for Urgent Oral Answer

7.1 PSNI Support at London Protest

The Minister of Justice, Mrs Naomi Long, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer tabled by Mr Gerry Carroll.

8. Speaker’s Business

8.1 Authority of the Chair

The Principal Deputy Speaker made some remarks regarding a lack of respect by some Members following her earlier rulings. from the Chair.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

9. Ministerial Statement (cont’d)

9.1 The draft Disability and Work Strategy (cont’d)

Questions on the Statement resumed.

10. Executive Committee Business

10.1 First Stage: RHI (Closure of Non-Domestic Scheme) Bill (NIA Bill 22/22-27)

The Minister for the Economy, Dr Caoimhe Archibald, introduced a Bill to enable the Department for the Economy to make regulations to close the Non-Domestic RHI Scheme.

The RHI (Closure of Non-Domestic Scheme) Bill (NIA Bill 22/22-27) passed First Stage and was ordered to be printed.

11. Private Members’ Business

11.1 Motion: Addressing Regional Imbalance

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes with concern the recent resignation from the Invest NI Board due to concerns regarding regional imbalance; further notes that recent Executive decisions, including the allocation of the Northern Ireland Football Fund, appear to have paid little regard to the need for regional balance; calls on the Minister for the Economy to urgently publish an assessment on the progress of the Sub-Regional Economic Plan; and further calls on the Minister to outline what steps she will take to ensure all Executive departments contribute to its successful implementation, including any proposals that aim to strengthen accountability where regional balance is not being delivered.

Mr Mark Durkan
Ms Sinéad McLaughlin

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

12. Assembly Business

12.1 Motion: Extension of Sitting on Monday 6 October 2025 under Standing Order 10(3A)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 10(3A), the sitting on Monday 6 October 2025 be extended to no later than 9.00pm.

Business Committee

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

13. Ministerial Statement

13.1 The launch of the new JobStart Scheme

The Minister for Communities, Mr Gordon Lyons, made a statement regarding the launch of the new JobStart Scheme, following which he replied to questions.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

14. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)

14.1 Motion: Failure to Transform the Criminal Justice System

Proposed:

That this Assembly expresses concern that the Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland (CJINI) report, Transforming the Criminal Justice System in Northern Ireland: A Strategic Overview, published in November 2024, found limited improvement in performance, or the experience of victims, witnesses and staff, since the devolution of policing and justice; is alarmed that this outcome was reported despite numerous strategies and policy development; notes, in particular, the increasing need to tackle the factors that contribute to delay, including long police investigations, slow prosecutorial decision-making and cases not ready to proceed at court; further notes that delay may have the perverse effect of allowing alleged serious offenders, ordinarily held on remand for the purposes of public protection, to develop a strong claim for bail, or for those remanded to be released for time served at the time of sentencing; highlights the negative impact this has on victims and wider public confidence in the criminal justice system; believes transformational change must be system-wide, rather than the product of many, often disparate, strategies or workstreams; and calls on the Minister of Justice, more than nine months on from the CJINI recommendations, to outline her action plan and timeline to reach agreement with members of the Criminal Justice Board on a shared future vision and aligned strategic priorities for improving the effectiveness of the criminal justice system without further delay.

Mr Paul Frew
Mr Brian Kingston
Mr Maurice Bradley

Debate ensued.

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

15. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 7.29 pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker

6 October 2025

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.

Northern Ireland Assembly

6 October 2025 – Division

Motion - Failure to Transform the Criminal Justice System

Proposed:

That this Assembly expresses concern that the Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland (CJINI) report, Transforming the Criminal Justice System in Northern Ireland: A Strategic Overview, published in November 2024, found limited improvement in performance, or the experience of victims, witnesses and staff, since the devolution of policing and justice; is alarmed that this outcome was reported despite numerous strategies and policy development; notes, in particular, the increasing need to tackle the factors that contribute to delay, including long police investigations, slow prosecutorial decision-making and cases not ready to proceed at court; further notes that delay may have the perverse effect of allowing alleged serious offenders, ordinarily held on remand for the purposes of public protection, to develop a strong claim for bail, or for those remanded to be released for time served at the time of sentencing; highlights the negative impact this has on victims and wider public confidence in the criminal justice system; believes transformational change must be system-wide, rather than the product of many, often disparate, strategies or workstreams; and calls on the Minister of Justice, more than nine months on from the CJINI recommendations, to outline her action plan and timeline to reach agreement with members of the Criminal Justice Board on a shared future vision and aligned strategic priorities for improving the effectiveness of the criminal justice system without further delay.

Mr Paul Frew
Mr Brian Kingston
Mr Maurice Bradley

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 48

Noes: 12

AYES

Ms D Armstrong, Mr Boylan, Mr Bradley, Mr Brett, Miss Brogan, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mr Burrows, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Mr Delargy, Miss Dolan, Mr Dunne, Mr Durkan, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Erskine, Mrs Ferguson, Ms Finnegan, Miss Flynn, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Gaston, Mr Gildernew, Miss Hargey, Ms Hunter, Mr Irwin, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Mr Kingston, Mr McAleer, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Miss McIlveen, Mr Martin, Mrs Mason, Mr Middleton, Miss Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Ms Reilly, Mr Robinson, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Frew, Mr Kingston.

NOES

Ms K Armstrong, Mr Dickson, Mr Donnelly, Ms Egan, Mrs Guy, Mr Honeyford, Mrs Long, Miss McAllister, Mr McMurray, Mr Mathison, Ms Mulholland, Mr Tennyson.

Tellers for the Noes: Ms Egan, Mr McMurray.

The motion was carried.

Votes cast by proxy:

Mrs Erskine’s vote was cast by Mr Clarke.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 1 October 2025 to 6 October 2025

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

RHI (Closure of Non-Domestic Scheme) Bill (NIA Bill 22/22-27)

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

SR 2025/161 The Agricultural Schemes (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

SR 2025/162 The Farming for Sustainability Innovation Payments Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

For Information Only

SR 2025/160 The Prohibition of Waiting (Schools) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Infrastructure)

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

Pensions Schemes Bill (Department for Communities)

Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill (Department for the Economy)

6. Assembly Reports

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committee Forty-sixth Report of Session 2025-26 (NIA 121/22-27) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Update on Electricity Supply (Minister for the Economy)

The Executive Legislation Programme 2025-2026 (First Minister and deputy First Minister)

Treasury Funding Available 2026 – 2029/30 (Minister of Finance)

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

The North/South Language Body Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023 (Department for Communities)

Report of Proceedings of the Agricultural Wages Board for Northern Ireland Under the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) (Northern Ireland) 2022-2024 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

Department for Infrastructure Roads Southern Division Report to Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Annual Report 2025-26 (Department for Infrastructure)

Planning Addendum to the existing Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Retention and Disposal Schedule (Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, Department for Communities)

Planning Addendum to the existing Derry City and Strabane District Council Retention and Disposal Schedule (Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, Department for Communities)

Planning Addendum to the existing Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council Retention and Disposal Schedule (Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, Department for Communities)

Planning Addendum to the existing Mid Ulster District Council Retention and Disposal Schedule (Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, Department for Communities)

Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 for the year 1 June 2024 - 31 May 2025 (Department of Health)

9. Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Northern Ireland Community Relations Council Annual Report and Accounts for the Year ended 31st March 2025 (Northern Ireland Community Relations Council)