Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Speaker’s Business

Valid Petition tabled under Section 28B of the Northern Ireland Act 1998

The Speaker informed Members that he had received correspondence from the First Minister and deputy First Minister, under section 28B(4) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, in relation to his referral to the Executive of the decision of the Minister for the Economy to instruct officials to prepare additional measures to eliminate any risk of public funds being used to support the manufacture of arms or components that are used for genocide. The Speaker reported that the First Minister and deputy First Minister had advised that no consensus had been reached on whether or not the decision by the Minister for the Economy contravened section 28A(1) of the Northern Ireland Act, whether or not the decision related a significant or controversial matter, or regarding any actions.

3. Members’ Statements

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

Mrs Sinéad Ennis
Mr Alan Robinson
Mrs Michelle Guy
Mr Jon Burrows
Mr Mark Durkan
Mr Pádraig Delargy
Mr Jonathan Buckley
Mr Danny Donnelly
Miss Jemma Dolan
Mr Harry Harvey
Ms Aoife Finnegan
Ms Kate Nicholl

4. Private Members’ Business

4.1 Motion: Observer Status in the European Parliament

A valid Petition of Concern was presented under section 42 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, on Monday 8 December 2025, in relation to the vote on the Motion (Appendix 1). The Speaker informed Members that as a result there would now be a 14-day consideration period which would end on 21 December 2025. The Speaker said that if the petition was confirmed on 22 December the vote on the motion, whether or not amended, would require cross-community support. The Speaker explained that the debate could still proceed, as could the vote on the amendment which had not been petitioned and, which therefore, required a simple majority.

Proposed:

That this Assembly recalls that the majority of people here voted to remain in the European Union; acknowledges that our long-term future would be best served by rejoining the European Union; recognises the democratic deficit as a result of Brexit; supports the request made by Irish MEPs in a recent letter to the President of the European Parliament for observer status in the European Parliament for our locally elected political representatives; and agrees to write to the European Parliament to express this Assembly’s position with regards to the observer status.

Mr Declan Kearney
Mrs Ciara Ferguson
Mr Pádraig Delargy
Mrs Sinéad Ennis


Amendment:

At end insert:

‘and its support for the establishment of a European Commission office in Belfast.’

Mr Matthew O’Toole
Mr Colin McGrath

Debate ensued.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

The sitting was suspended at 1.58pm and resumed at 2.00pm, the Speaker in the Chair.

5. Question Time

5.1 The Executive Office

Questions were put to, and answered by, the deputy First Minister, Mrs Emma Little-Pengelly.

5.2 Communities

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

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

6. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)

6.1 Motion: Observer Status in the European Parliament (cont’d)

The Question being put, the amendment was made (Division).

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.

6.2 Motion: Protecting Privacy and Dignity at Traffic Collision Sites

Proposed:

That this Assembly expresses concern at the increasing trend of individuals and media outlets capturing and distributing distressing footage at the scenes of fatal or critical road traffic collisions; recognises the trauma this causes to the families affected by these activities; supports the campaign for Caoimhe’s Law, which would make it a criminal offence to record or share images and videos of victims at the scene of a fatal or critical traffic collision without lawful authority or family consent; and calls on the Minister of Justice to work with the Minister for Infrastructure to pass legislation to this affect by the end of this mandate.

Mr Patsy McGlone
Mr Justin McNulty
Mr Mark Durkan

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

7. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 4.51pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker

8 December 2025

Northern Ireland Assembly (Appendix 1)

The undersigned Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly presented a Petition of Concern, in accordance with Standing Order 28, on Monday 8 December 2025, in relation to the vote on the Motion on Observer Status in the European Parliament

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 4 November 2025 to 10 August 2026.

Northern Ireland Assembly

8 December 2025 – Division

Amendment - Observer Status in the European Parliament

Proposed:

At the end insert:

‘and its support for the establishment of a European Commission office in Belfast.’

Mr Matthew O’Toole
Mr Colin McGrath

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 42
Noes: 33

AYES

Ms K Armstrong, Mr Baker, Mr Blair, Ms Bradshaw, 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, Ms Hunter, Mr Kearney, Ms Kimmins, Mr McAleer, Miss McAllister, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McMurray, Mr McNulty, Mrs Mason, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Miss Murphy, Ms Nicholl, Mr O'Dowd, Mr O'Toole, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Tennyson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mrs Dillon, Mr Durkan.

NOES

Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Ms Armstrong, Mr Beattie, Mr Brett, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T 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 Harvey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Martin, Mr Middleton, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Robinson, Mr Stewart.

Tellers for the Noes: Ms Brownlee, 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

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 3 December 2025 to 8 December 2025

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

SR 2025/190 The Police Pensions (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department of Justice)

SR 2025/191 The Farm Sustainability Standards (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

SR 2025/194 The U5390 Church Hill, Jonesborough (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Infrastructure)

For Information Only

SR 2025/192 The Parking Places on Roads (Coaches) (Amendment No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2025/193 The Waiting Restrictions (Springfield Road, Belfast) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2025/195 The Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for the Economy)

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

6. Assembly Reports

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committee Fifty-second Report (NIA 134/22-27) (Northern Ireland Assembly)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Comptroller and Auditor General’s Report on Financial Audit Findings 2025 – Central Government (Northern Ireland Audit Office)

9. Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly