Minutes of Proceedings

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

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Members’ Statements

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

Mr Pat Sheehan
Mrs Diane Dodds

The Speaker welcomed the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Ms Connie Egan
Mr Jon Burrows
Mr Matthew O’Toole
Mrs Linda Dillon
Ms Diane Forsythe
Mrs Michelle Guy
Mr Pádraig Delargy
Mr Alan Robinson
Ms Paula Bradshaw
Ms Diana Armstrong
Mr Daniel McCrossan
Mr Paul Frew

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Bair, took the Chair.

Mr Gerry Carroll
Mr Philip McGuigan
Mr Stephen Dunne
Mr Justin McNulty

3. Ministerial Statements

3.1 North South Ministerial Council Trade and Business Development Meeting

The Minister for the Economy, Dr Caoimhe Archibald, made a statement regarding a North South Ministerial Council Trade and Business Development meeting, following which she replied to questions.

3.2 North South Ministerial Council Tourism Sectoral Meeting

The Minister for the Economy, Dr Caoimhe Archibald, made a statement regarding a North South Ministerial Tourism Sectoral meeting, following which she replied to questions.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

3.3 Benefit Fraud and Error - Task and Finish Report

The Minister for Communities, Mr Gordon Lyons, made a statement regarding the Benefit Fraud and Error - Task and Finish Report, following which he replied to questions.

Questions on the statement stood suspended for Question Time, the Speaker took the Chair.

4. Question Time

4.1 Health

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

The Speaker welcomed a delegation of Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

4.2 Infrastructure

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

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

5. Ministerial Statements (cont’d)

5.1 Benefit Fraud and Error - Task and Finish Report (cont’d)

Questions on the statement resumed.

6. Committee Business

6.1 Motion: Prayer of Annulment – The Shellfish Gathering (Conservation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026

Proposed:

That the Shellfish Gathering (Conservation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 (SR 2026/1) be annulled.

Chairperson, Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

The motion was not moved as the Statutory Rule had been revoked.

7. Private Members’ Business

7.1 Motion: Commissioned Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Services

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the need for commissioned services dedicated to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); further recognises the need for a regional diagnosis service and specific ADHD mental health services to cater for those with both ADHD and mental illnesses; notes that many people have had to seek ADHD assessments and diagnosis privately at their own expense; further notes that many parents have been unable to access ADHD assessments for their children; calls on the Minister of Health to engage with Health and Social Care Trusts on potential options for a regional ADHD service that encapsulates diagnosis, treatment and mental health support; and further calls for improved awareness of ADHD within government agencies, schools and workplaces.

Mr Philip McGuigan
Mrs Linda Dillon
Miss Órlaithí Flynn

Amendment:

Leave out all after ‘Minister of Health’ and insert:

‘to publish his Department’s report into commissioning ADHD services, to engage with Health and Social Care Trusts on potential options for a regional ADHD service that encapsulates diagnosis, treatment and mental health support and to engage with GP representative bodies to address barriers to shared care arrangements; and further calls for improved awareness of ADHD within government agencies, schools and workplaces.’

Miss Nuala McAllister
Mr Danny Donnelly
Mr Peter McReynolds

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the amendment was made.

The Question being put, the motion, as amended, was carried.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

7.2 Motion: UK-EU Customs Union

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises that both north–south and east–west trade are essential to the Northern Ireland economy; notes that the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union has recklessly and predictably resulted in new and unnecessary trade friction; reaffirms the importance of Northern Ireland’s dual market access and the Windsor Framework, which provides practical and necessary protections to mitigate some of the worst consequences of Brexit; acknowledges that despite these protections, substantial Brexit-related bureaucracy continues to place burdens on businesses; further recognises that growing geopolitical uncertainty underlines the need for stable, secure and rules-based trading relationships with our nearest neighbours; further notes that the fastest and clearest way to reduce trade friction is through closer alignment between the United Kingdom and its European neighbours; and calls on the UK Government to commence negotiations with the European Union on establishing a UK–EU customs union, or equivalent comprehensive customs arrangement, in order to address remaining Brexit-related trade bureaucracy and build on the foundations provided by the Windsor Framework.

Mr Eóin Tennyson
Ms Kate Nicholl
Mr David Honeyford
Ms Paula Bradshaw

Debate ensued.

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

8. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 6.35pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker

9 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

9 February 2026 – Division

Motion: UK-EU Customs Union

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises that both north–south and east–west trade are essential to the Northern Ireland economy; notes that the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union has recklessly and predictably resulted in new and unnecessary trade friction; reaffirms the importance of Northern Ireland’s dual market access and the Windsor Framework, which provides practical and necessary protections to mitigate some of the worst consequences of Brexit; acknowledges that despite these protections, substantial Brexit-related bureaucracy continues to place burdens on businesses; further recognises that growing geopolitical uncertainty underlines the need for stable, secure and rules-based trading relationships with our nearest neighbours; further notes that the fastest and clearest way to reduce trade friction is through closer alignment between the United Kingdom and its European neighbours; and calls on the UK Government to commence negotiations with the European Union on establishing a UK–EU customs union, or equivalent comprehensive customs arrangement, in order to address remaining Brexit-related trade bureaucracy and build on the foundations provided by the Windsor Framework.

Mr Eóin Tennyson
Ms Kate Nicholl
Mr David Honeyford
Ms Paula Bradshaw

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 44
Noes: 23

AYES

Ms K Armstrong, Mr Baker, Mr Boylan, 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, Mr Honeyford, Ms Hunter, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Mr McAleer, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McMurray, Mr McReynolds, Mrs Mason, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Miss Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Ms Nicholl, Mr O'Dowd, Mr O'Toole, Ms Reilly, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Tennyson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Honeyford, Mr McMurray.

NOES

Mr Allen, Ms D Armstrong, Mr Bradley, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Robinson, Mr Wilson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Brooks, Mr Harvey.

The motion was carried.

Votes cast by proxy:

Miss Brogan’s vote was cast by Mrs Ennis.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 4 February 2026 to 9 February 2026

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

SR 2026/14 The Bovine Genetics Genotyping Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs)

SR 2026/15 The Shellfish Gathering (Conservation) (Revocation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs)

SR 2026/16 The Health and Social Care Pension Scheme (Member Contributions) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department of Health)

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

6. Assembly Reports

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Five-Year Education Budget Strategy: Delivering a stable, sustainable and high quality education system (Minister of Education)

Announcement of Publication of Warm Healthy Homes Strategy (Minister for Communities)

Public Expenditure: 2025-26 Further Allocations (Minister for Finance)

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Construction Industry Training Board NI Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 (Construction Industry Training Board NI)

South West College Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2025 (Department for the Economy)

9. Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Department for Culture, Media and Sport – Review of the BBC Royal Charter - Terms of Reference (Department for the Economy)