Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at 10.30am, 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:

Mrs Linda Dillon
Mrs Julie Middleton
Miss Nuala McAllister
Dr Steve Aiken
Ms Sinéad McLaughlin
Mr Cathal Boylan
Ms Joanne Bunting
Mr Peter McReynolds
Mr Peter Martin
Ms Diana Armstrong
Ms Sian Mulholland

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Further Consideration Stage: Hospital Parking Charges Bill (NIA Bill 29/22-27)

The Minister of Health, Mr Mike Nesbitt, moved the Further Consideration Stage of the Hospital Parking Charges Bill (NIA Bill 29/22-27).

No amendments were tabled to the Bill.

The Hospital Parking Charges Bill (NIA Bill 29/22-27) stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with Section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

3.2 Motion: The Local Government Auditor’s Draft Code of Audit Practice 2026

Proposed:

That the Local Government Auditor’s Draft Code of Audit Practice 2026 be approved.

Minister for Communities

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

4. Private Members’ Business

4.1 Second Stage: Irish-medium Education (Workforce Plan) Bill (NIA Bill 28/22-27)

Mr Pat Sheehan moved the Second Stage of the Irish-medium Education (Workforce Plan) Bill (NIA Bill 28/22-27).

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

The sitting was suspended at 12.56pm. The sitting resumed at 2.00pm, the Speaker in the Chair.

5. Question Time

5.1 Justice

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Justice, Mrs Naomi Long.

6. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)

6.1 Second Stage: Irish-medium Education (Workforce Plan) Bill (NIA Bill 28/22-27) (Cont’d)

Debate resumed.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

The Irish-medium Education (Workforce Plan) Bill (NIA Bill 28/22-27) passed Second Stage (Division 1).

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.

6.2 Motion: Conducting a Cost-Benefit Analysis of Net Zero Policies

Proposed:

That this Assembly expresses deep concern that aspirational climate targets are impeding the delivery of high-quality public services and infrastructure that ratepayers deserve; notes that the provisions of the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 have been found by the courts to obstruct the progression of the A5 Road Upgrade, with far-reaching consequences for other major projects such as the A4 Enniskillen Southern Bypass; is alarmed, furthermore, that the current legal requirement for minimum spend on active travel perversely acts as a barrier to vital investment in roads maintenance and repairs; calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to withdraw the current draft Climate Action Plan 2023-2027, which contains a range of proposals that are not quantified and would place additional burdens on farmers and households during a cost-of-living crisis; and further calls on the Minister to task every department and arm’s length body with conducting a cost-benefit analysis of all net zero-related climate policies and funding streams within their remit.

Miss Michelle McIlveen
Mr Jonathan Buckley
Mr Gareth Wilson
Mr Tom Buchanan

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was negatived (Division 2).

7. Ministerial Statement

7.1 Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute and Associated Governance Matters

The Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Mr Andrew Muir, made a statement regarding Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute and Associated Governance Matters, following which he replied to questions.

8. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

Mr Phillip Brett spoke to his topic regarding the Lack of NHS Dental Places in North Belfast.

The Assembly adjourned at 6.38pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
14 April 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

14 April 2026 – Division 1

Second Stage: Irish-medium Education (Workforce Plan) Bill (NIA Bill 28/22-27)

Mr Pat Sheehan

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 48
Noes: 34

AYES

Dr Archibald, Mr Baker, Mr Boylan, Ms Bradshaw, Miss Brogan, Mr Carroll, Mr Delargy, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dillon, 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 Kearney, Ms Kimmins, Mrs Long, Mr McAleer, Miss McAllister, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McMurray, Mr McReynolds, Mrs Mason, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Miss Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Ms Nicholl, Mr O'Dowd, Ms O'Neill, Mr O'Toole, Ms Reilly, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Tennyson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Baker, Ms Sheerin.

NOES

Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Ms D Armstrong, Mr Beattie, Mr Bradley, 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 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 Noes: Mr Brooks, Mr Martin.

The Irish-medium Education (Workforce Plan) Bill (NIA Bill 28/22-27) passed Second Stage.

Votes cast by proxy:

Miss Brogan’s vote was cast by Mrs Ennis.

Northern Ireland Assembly

14 April 2026 – Division 2

Motion: Conducting a Cost-Benefit Analysis of Net Zero Policies

Proposed:

That this Assembly expresses deep concern that aspirational climate targets are impeding the delivery of high-quality public services and infrastructure that ratepayers deserve; notes that the provisions of the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 have been found by the courts to obstruct the progression of the A5 Road Upgrade, with far-reaching consequences for other major projects such as the A4 Enniskillen Southern Bypass; is alarmed, furthermore, that the current legal requirement for minimum spend on active travel perversely acts as a barrier to vital investment in roads maintenance and repairs; calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to withdraw the current draft Climate Action Plan 2023-2027, which contains a range of proposals that are not quantified and would place additional burdens on farmers and households during a cost-of-living crisis; and further calls on the Minister to task every department and arm’s length body with conducting a cost-benefit analysis of all net zero-related climate policies and funding streams within their remit.

Miss Michelle McIlveen
Mr Jonathan Buckley
Mr Gareth Wilson
Mr Tom Buchanan

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 26
Noes: 56

AYES

Mr Bradley, Mr Brett, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mrs Erskine, 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 Wilson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr T Buchanan, Mr Harvey.

NOES

Mr Allen, Dr Archibald, Ms D Armstrong, Ms K Armstrong, Mr Baker, Mr Beattie, Mr Blair, Mr Boylan, Ms Bradshaw, Miss Brogan, Mr Burrows, Mr Butler, Mr Carroll, Mr Chambers, Mr Delargy, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dillon, 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 Kearney, Ms Kimmins, Mrs Long, Mr McAleer, Miss McAllister, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McMurray, Mr McReynolds, Mrs Mason, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Miss Murphy, Mr Nesbitt, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Ms O'Neill, Mr O'Toole, Ms Reilly, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Stewart, Mr Tennyson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr McMurray, Mr McReynolds.

The motion was negatived.

Votes cast by proxy:

Miss Brogan’s vote was cast by Mrs Ennis.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 14 April 2026.

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

6. Assembly Reports

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

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 14 April 2026

2022-2027 Mandate
Executive Bills

2022-2027 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills