Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at 12.00pm, the Speaker in the Chair.

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Speaker’s Business

2.1 Electric Vehicle Charging Scheme at Parliament Buildings

The Speaker updated Members on the Assembly Commission’s decision in respect of the Electric Vehicle Charging Scheme at Parliament Buildings.

3. Members’ Statements

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

Mrs Linda Dillon
Ms Diane Forsythe
Ms Sian Mulholland
Mr Jon Burrows
Ms Sinéad McLaughlin
Ms Aisling Reilly
Mr Gareth Wilson
Mrs Cathy Mason
Mr Jonathan Buckley
Mr Colm Gildernew
Dr Steve Aiken

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

4. Matters of the Day

4.1 Racially motivated attack on former Shankill Gospel Hall

Mr Gerry Carroll, under Standing Order 24, made a statement on the Racially motivated attack on a former Shankill Gospel Hall. Other Members were also called to speak on the matter.

5. Private Members’ Business

5.1 First Stage: Regional Balance Bill (NIA Bill 35/22-27)

Ms Sinéad McLaughlin introduced a Bill to make provision for a statutory framework to improve regional balance in Northern Ireland; to impose a duty on the Executive to develop, adopt, maintain and implement a framework setting out how disparities in regional economic performance and living standards are to be addressed across government; to confer functions on the Department for the Economy in relation to the preparation of the framework, its reporting to the Assembly and providing guidance and research; and for connected purposes.

The Regional Balance Bill (NIA Bill 35/22-27) passed First Stage and was ordered to be printed.

6. Executive Committee Business

6.1 Motion: Suspension of Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4)

Proposed:

That Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4) be suspended for 8 June 2026.

Minister of Justice

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

6.2 Consideration Stage: Justice Bill (NIA Bill 07/22-27)

Consideration Stage of the Justice Bill (NIA Bill 07/22-27) resumed.

Clauses

After debate, Amendment 41 to Clause 4 was made without division.

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

After debate, Amendment 42 to Clause 5 was made without division.

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

After debate, Amendment 43 to Clause 6 was made without division.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 6, as amended, 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.

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

After debate, Amendment 44 to Clause 12 was negatived on division (Division 1).

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.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 17 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.

Debate resumed.

The Speaker took the Chair.

The debate stood suspended for Question Time.

7. Question Time

7.1 The Executive Office

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

7.2 Infrastructure

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Infrastructure, Ms Liz Kimmins.

8. Executive Committee Business (cont’d)

8.1 Consideration Stage: Justice Bill (NIA Bill 07/22-27) (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

The sitting was suspended at 5.58pm and resumed at 6.30pm, the Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, in the Chair.

Debate resumed.

After debate, Amendment 45 inserting new clause ‘Organised crime groups: definitions’ was
made without division and it was agreed that the new clause stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 46 inserting new clause ‘Participating in the criminal activities of
an organised crime group’ was made without division and it was agreed that the new clause
stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 47 inserting new clause ‘Directing the criminal activities of an
organised crime group’ was made without division and it was agreed that the new clause
stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 48 inserting new clause ‘Organised crime groups: amendments’ 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 20 stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 49 to Clause 21 was negatived on division (Division 2).

After debate, Amendment 50 to Clause 21 was negatived without division.

After debate, Amendment 51 to Clause 21 was negatived without division.

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

After debate, Amendment 52 inserting new clause ‘Review of use of live links’ was made
without division and it was agreed that the new clause stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 53 inserting new clause ‘Directions for participation by live link’
was made without division and it was agreed that the new clause stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 54 inserting new clause ‘Enabling the public to see and hear
proceedings: limited transmission’ was made without division and it was agreed that the new
clause stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 55 inserting new clause ‘Enabling the public to see and hear
proceedings: broadcast’ was made without division and it was agreed that the new clause stand
part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 56 inserting new clause ‘Effect of live link direction’ was made
without division and it was agreed that the new clause stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 57 inserting new clause ‘Giving a direction under this Chapter’ was
made without division and it was agreed that the new clause stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 58 inserting new clause ‘Presumption of giving evidence by live link
in certain cases’ was made without division and it was agreed that the new clause stand part of
the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 59 inserting new clause ‘Varying or rescinding a direction under
this Chapter’ was made without division and it was agreed that the new clause stand part of
the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 60 inserting new clause ‘Offences in relation to participation
through live link’ was made without division and it was agreed that the new clause stand part
of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 61 inserting new clause ‘Offences in relation to limited
transmission or broadcasting’ was made without division and it was agreed that the new
clause stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 62 inserting new clause ‘Meaning of “live link” for the purposes of
this Chapter’ was made without division and it was agreed that the new clause stand part of
the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 63 inserting new clause ‘Other definitions’ was made without
division and it was agreed that the new clause stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 64 inserting new clause ‘Consequential amendments and
transitional provisions’ was made without division and it was agreed that the new clause stand
part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 65 inserting new clause ‘Review of use of live links’ was negatived
on division (Division 3).

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.

After debate, Amendment 66 inserting new clause ‘Powers to photograph certain persons at a
police station’ was made without division and it was agreed that the new clause stand part of
the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 67 inserting new clause ‘Power to specify date of attendance at police
station for fingerprinting etc’ was made without division and it was agreed that the new clause
stand part of the Bill.

The Consideration Stage of the Justice Bill (NIA Bill 07/22-27) was suspended until Tuesday 9 June 2026.

9. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 8.24pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
8 June 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

8 June 2026 – Division 1

Amendment 44 – Consideration Stage: Justice Bill (NIA Bill 07/22-27)

Proposed:

Clause 12, Page 25, Line 32

Leave out ‘was aged 14 or over’ and insert ‘had attained the age of responsibility specified in Article 3’

Mr Paul Frew
Mr Maurice Bradley
Mr Brian Kingston

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 28
Noes: 46

AYES

Mr Allen, Ms D Armstrong, Mr Beattie, Mr Bradley, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mr Burrows, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Gaston, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Martin, Mrs Middleton, Mr Robinson, Mr Stewart, Ms Sugden, Mr Wilson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Bradley, Mr Kingston.

NOES

Dr Archibald, Mr Baker, Ms Bradshaw, Miss Brogan, Mr Carroll, 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, Mr Honeyford, Ms Hunter, Mr Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mrs Long, Mr McAleer, Miss McAllister, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McMurray, Mr McNulty, Mr McReynolds, Mrs Mason, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Miss Murphy, Ms Nicholl, Mr O'Dowd, Ms O'Neill, Mr O'Toole, Ms Reilly, Ms Sheerin.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Dickson, Mr McReynolds.

The amendment was negatived.

Votes cast by proxy:

Miss Brogan’s vote was cast by Mrs Ennis.

Northern Ireland Assembly

8 June 2026 – Division 2

Amendment 49 – Consideration Stage: Justice Bill (NIA Bill 07/22-27)

Proposed:

Clause 21, page 33, line 36

At end insert—

"(1A) The appropriate consent under paragraph (1)(c) must be—
(a) given in writing or orally by means of the live link;
(b) preceded by an explanation by the custody officer, in language capable of being understood by the detainee, of—
(i) the nature of the live link arrangement;
(ii) the person’s rights; and
(c) capable of being withdrawn at any time, in which case the custody officer must record the withdrawal of consent in the custody record.

(1B) Where the arrested person has not attained the age of 18, the oral explanation provided by the custody officer under Article 46ZA(1A)(b) must also be provided in writing using language that is appropriate to the child’s age, maturity and level of understanding."

Ms Emma Sheerin
Ms Aoife Finegan
Mrs Ciara Ferguson

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 28
Noes: 45

AYES

Mr Baker, Miss Brogan, Mr Carroll, Mr Delargy, Mrs Dillon, Miss Dolan, Mr Durkan, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Ferguson, Ms Finnegan, Mr Gildernew, Miss Hargey, Ms Hunter, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Mr McAleer, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McNulty, Mrs Mason, Miss Murphy, Mr O'Toole, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin

Tellers for the Ayes: Mrs Ferguson, Ms Finnegan.

NOES

Mr Allen, Ms D Armstrong, Mr Beattie, Mr Bradley, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mr Burrows, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dodds, Mr Donnelly, Mr Dunne, Ms Egan, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Gaston, Mr Givan, Mrs Guy, Mr Harvey, Mr Honeyford, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mrs Long, Mr Lyons, Miss McAllister, Miss McIlveen, Mr McMurray, Mr McReynolds, Mr Martin, Mr Mathison, Mrs Middleton, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Ms Nicholl, Mr Robinson, Mr Stewart, Ms Sugden, Mr Wilson

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Donnelly, Mr McMurray.

The amendment was negatived.

Votes cast by proxy:

Miss Brogan’s vote was cast by Mrs Ennis.

Northern Ireland Assembly

8 June 2026 – Division 3

Amendment 65 – Consideration Stage: Justice Bill (NIA Bill 07/22-27)

Proposed

New Clause

After clause 21 insert—

"Review of use of live links

21M.—(1) The Department of Justice must appoint such person as it considers appropriate to—
(a) conduct a review, covering the review period, of the operation of live link arrangements following a live link direction under section 21A ('the live link arrangements'), and
(b) prepare a report, covering the review period.

(2) The report under subsection (1)(b) must include—
(a) an assessment of whether, and if so to what extent, the live link arrangements are effective, following the review under subsection (1)(a);
(b) an assessment of the extent to which, where a court or tribunal has given a live link direction, the rights of persons participating in proceedings have been safeguarded;
(c) the number of directions for participation by live link that have been given during the review period by each of the courts listed in section 21K(2) and by each statutory tribunal falling under section 21K(3); and
(d) any other information the Department considers appropriate.

(3) Before preparing the report, the person appointed under subsection (1) must consult and take into account the views of—
(a) the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service,
(b) the Police Service of Northern Ireland,
(c) the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission,
(d) the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People,
(e) the Incorporated Law Society of Northern Ireland, and
(f) such other persons as the Department considers appropriate.

(4) The review period is the period of 3 years beginning with the day on which Section 21A comes into operation.

(5) The Department must—
(a) lay the report before the Northern Ireland Assembly, and
(b) publish the report as soon as practicable after it is completed, in such manner as it considers appropriate."

Mr Paul Frew
Mr Maurice Bradley
Mr Brian Kingston

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 30
Noes: 46

AYES

Mr Allen, Ms D Armstrong, Mr Beattie, Mr Bradley, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mr Burrows, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Gaston, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Martin, Mrs Middleton, Mr Robinson, Mr Stewart, Mr Wilson

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Bradley, Mr Kingston.

NOES

Dr Archibald, Mr Baker, Ms Bradshaw, Miss Brogan, Mr Carroll, Mr Delargy, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dillon, Miss Dolan, Mr Donnelly, Mr Durkan, Ms Egan, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Ferguson, Ms Finnegan, Mr Gildernew, Mrs Guy, Miss Hargey, Mr Honeyford, Ms Hunter, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Mrs Long, Mr McAleer, Miss McAllister, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McMurray, Mr McNulty, Mr McReynolds, Mrs Mason, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Miss Murphy, Ms Nicholl, Mr O'Dowd, Mr O'Toole, Ms Reilly, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Ms Sugden

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Donnelly, Mr McMurray.

The amendment was negatived.

Votes cast by proxy:

Miss Brogan’s vote was cast by Mrs Ennis.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 3 June 2026 to 8 June 2026.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Regional Balance Bill (NIA Bill 35/22-27)

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

Draft SR 2026/XXXX The Mandatory Use of Closed Circuit Television in Slaughterhouses Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

SR 2026/103 The Jam and Similar Products (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 (The Food Standards Agency)

SR 2026/104 The U7487 Vicarage Road, Portadown (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2026/105 The Farming with Nature Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

SR 2026/107 The Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (Codes of Practice) Order 2026 (Department of Justice)

SR 2026/108 The Whole of Government Accounts (Designation of Bodies) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department of Finance)

For Information only

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

SR 2026/100 The Baby Loss Certificate Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department of Finance)

SR 2026/102 The Road Races (Loughgall Stages Rally) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department for Infrastructure)

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

6. Assembly Reports

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Accelerated Review of Criminal Legal Aid (Minister of Justice)

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Introduction of fees for Marine Licensing Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Screening and Scoping Opinions: Consultation Paper – June 2026 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

9. Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly

A Review of Probation Approved Premises in Northern Ireland: A Follow-Up Review of Recommendation Implementation (Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland)

Justice Bill Annotated Marshalled List of Amendments Consideration Stage