Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at 11.30am, the Speaker in the Chair.

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Matters of the Day

2.1 Tributes to Outgoing President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins

Mrs Sinéad Ennis, under Standing Order 24, made a statement on Tributes to Outgoing President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins. Other Members were also called to speak on the matter.

3. Members’ Statements

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

Mr Harry Harvey
Mr Maolíosa McHugh
Miss Michelle McIlveen
Ms Kate Nicholl
Ms Diana Armstrong
Ms Sinéad McLaughlin
Mr Colm Gildernew
Mrs Michelle Guy
Ms Diane Forsythe
Mr Nick Mathison
Mr Timothy Gaston
Mr Alan Robinson

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

4. Assembly Business

4.1 Motion: Assembly Commission Budget for 2026-30

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes that the Assembly Commission presented its budget for 2026-30 to the Audit Committee on 17 September 2025; further notes the report of the Audit Committee on the scrutiny of the Assembly Commission's budget for 2026-30, laid in the Assembly on 23 October 2025 [NIA 115/22-27]; and agrees the Assembly Commission's budget for 2026-30, as set out in the Audit Committee report.

Assembly Commission

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

5. Ministerial Statement

5.1 Equality Commission Review of the Ulster Boxing Council

The Minister for Communities, Mr Gordon Lyons, made a statement regarding an Equality Commission Review of the Ulster Boxing Council, following which he replied to questions.

The statement, and sitting, stood suspended at 12.54pm.

The sitting resumed at 2.00pm, the Speaker in the Chair.

6. Question Time

6.1 Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Mr Andrew Muir.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

7. Ministerial Statement (cont’d)

7.1 Equality Commission Review of the Ulster Boxing Council (cont’d)

Questions on the statement resumed.

8. Executive Committee Business

8.1 Legislative Consent Motion: Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill

Proposed:

That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension to Northern Ireland of the provisions of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill, as introduced in the House of Commons on 14 May 2025, dealing with the establishment of a revenue certainty mechanism that supports the production of sustainable aviation fuel as contained in clauses 1-5 and 10-15 of the Bill.

Minister for the Economy

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

9. Private Members’ Business

9.1 Motion: Opposition to the British Government’s Mandatory Digital ID Scheme

Proposed:

That this Assembly is united in its opposition to the proposal from the British Government to introduce a mandatory digital ID for people here; expresses concern that this flawed proposal could result in the squandering of millions of pounds of public money at a time when public services are increasingly stretched; and calls for an exemption to be put in place so that citizens here are not included, if the British Government proceeds with its ill-considered digital ID scheme.

Mr Colm Gildernew
Ms Aoife Finnegan
Mr Pádraig Delargy
Miss Órlaithí Flynn

Amendment:

Leave out all after ‘stretched;’ and insert:

‘stresses that these plans would also jeopardise personal privacy and creates the potential for misuse of citizens’ personal data; and calls on the Prime Minister to immediately withdraw plans for an ill-considered digital ID scheme in all parts of the United Kingdom.’

Mr Paul Frew
Mr Phillip Brett
Mr Jonathan Buckley

Debate ensued.

The Speaker took the Chair.

The Question being put, the amendment was made.

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

9.2 Motion: Audit and Re-imaging of Memorials

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises that people should have the right to remember the dead in a respectful, sensitive and dignified manner; acknowledges that this should also be done in a way that avoids causing pain or hurt to others; expresses concern that there are memorials on public land that were erected without lawful authority and include imagery and emblems that can be seen as marking territory and glorifying terrorism; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister, in partnership with other Ministers and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, to conduct an audit to assess the number of memorials on public land, to lead a programme of supporting communities to re-image these memorials by removing paramilitary imagery and emblems and references to acts of violence or events that caused pain and misery, and to develop guidance to ensure that future memorials expressly require planning permission and are displayed in accordance with agreed standards.

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Mr Stewart Dickson
Ms Kellie Armstrong
Mr Andrew McMurray

Amendment 1:

Leave out all after ‘in a way that’ and insert:
‘upholds the rule of law and avoids causing pain or hurt to others, including innocent victims; expresses concern that there are memorials on public land that were erected without lawful authority and include imagery and emblems that can be seen as marking territory and glorifying terrorism; calls on the Executive, in consultation with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, to determine the need for an audit to assess the number of memorials on public land, and to promote a consistent approach to enforcement where planning permission is not sought; and further calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister, building on work to date through the Communities in Transition programme, to support communities to re-image these memorials, including by removing paramilitary imagery and emblems and references to criminal acts of violence.’

Mr Phillip Brett
Mrs Pam Cameron

Amendment 2:

Leave out all after ‘glorifying terrorism;’ and insert:

‘calls on the Minister of Justice to acknowledge that glorifying terrorism is a crime, which retraumatises innocent victims, and to ensure the criminal justice system is configured to address this with the powers to take affirmative action; and further calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister, and all statutory agencies, to conduct and publish an audit of all harmful and illegal memorials glorifying terrorism, give support to the Minister of Justice in delivering a criminal justice response to illegal imagery and memorials glorifying terrorism, give further support to the Minister for Infrastructure for the removal of illegal memorials which contravene planning permission, align with the Minister for Communities to lead a programme to support communities to re-image these memorials by removing all imagery and emblems that glorify terrorism and reference acts of violence or events that caused pain and misery, and to develop guidance to ensure that memorials glorifying terrorism are not erected in the future.

Mr Doug Beattie
Mr Alan Chambers
Mr Jon Burrows
Mr Robbie Butler

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

The Question being put, Amendment 1 was made.

As Amendment 1 was made, the Question was not put on Amendment 2.

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

10. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

Mr Robbie Butler spoke to his topic regarding On-street Parking Charges in Lisburn.

The Assembly adjourned at 6.28pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
11 November 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.

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

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 11 November 2025

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

Memorandum Not Seeking Consent - Northern Ireland Troubles Bill 2025 (Department of Justice)

6. Assembly Reports

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

The Commissioner for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 (The Executive Office)

9. Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Northern Ireland Assembly Legislation:

Stages in Consideration of Public Bills

First Stage: Introduction of Bill.
Second Stage: General debate of the Bill with an opportunity for Members to vote on its general principles.
Committee Stage (Comm. Stage): Detailed investigation by a Committee which concludes with the publication of a report for consideration by the Assembly.
Consideration Stage (CS): Consideration by the Assembly of, and an opportunity for Members to vote on, the details of the Bill including amendments proposed to the Bill.
Further Consideration Stage (FCS): Consideration by the Assembly of, and an opportunity for Members to vote on, further amendments to the Bill.
Final Stage: Passing or rejecting of Bill by the Assembly, without further amendment.
Royal Assent.

Proceedings as 11 November 2025
2022-2027 Mandate
Executive Bills

2022-2027 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills

/ Bills progressing by accelerated passage