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 Cathy Mason
Mrs Deborah Erskine
Ms Kate Nicholl
Mr Alan Chambers
Mr Justin McNulty
Mr Pat Sheehan
Mr Phillip Brett
Mrs Ciara Ferguson
Ms Cheryl Brownlee
Mr Tom Buchanan

3. Ministerial Statements

3.1 North South Ministerial Council Institutional and Plenary meetings

The First Minister, Ms Michelle O’Neill, made a statement regarding a North South Ministerial Council Institutional Meeting and the North South Ministerial Council Plenary Meeting, following which she replied to questions.

3.2 Update on the Affordable Rent Award of Funding and Delivery of Affordable Rent Homes by Maple and May

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.

The Minister for Communities, Mr Gordon Lyons made a statement regarding an update on Affordable Rent Award of Funding and Delivery of Affordable Rent Homes by Maple and May, following which he replied to questions.

4. Executive Committee Business

4.1 Consideration Stage: Dilapidation Bill (NIA Bill 21/22-27)

The Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Mr Andrew Muir, moved the Consideration Stage of the Dilapidation Bill (NIA Bill 21/22-27).

36 amendments were selected for debate.

Clauses

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 1 stand part of the Bill.

Debate ensued

The sitting stood suspended at 12.59pm.

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

5. Question Time

5.1 Economy

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for the Economy, Dr Caoimhe Archibald.

6. Executive Committee Business (cont’d)

6.1 Consideration Stage: Dilapidation Bill (NIA Bill 21/22-27) (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.

After debate, Amendment 1 to Clause 2 was made without division.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 2, as amended, stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 3 stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 2 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.

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

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 6 stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 3 to Clause 7 was made without division.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 7, as amended, 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.

After debate, Amendment 4 to Clause 11 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 5 to Clause 11 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 6 to Clause 11 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 7 to Clause 11 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 8 to Clause 11 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 9 to Clause 11 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 10 to Clause 11 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 11 to Clause 11 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 12 to Clause 11 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 13 to Clause 11 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 14 to Clause 11 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 15 to Clause 11 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 16 to Clause 11 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 17 to Clause 11 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 18 to Clause 11 was made without division.

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

After debate, Amendment 19 to Clause 12 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 20 to Clause 12 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 21 to Clause 12 was made without division.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 12, as amended, 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.

After debate, Amendment 22 to Clause 16 was made without division.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 16, as amended, stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 23 to Clause 17 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 24 to Clause 17 was made without division.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 17, as amended, stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 25 to Clause 18 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 26 to Clause 18 was made without division.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 18, as amended, stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 27 to Clause 19 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 28 to Clause 19 was made without division.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 19, as amended, 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 29 to Clause 21 was made without division.

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

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.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 24 stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 30 to Clause 25 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 31 to Clause 25 was made without division.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 25, as amended, stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 26 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 27 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 28 stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 32 inserting new clause ‘Review of Act’ was made without division and it was agreed that the new clause stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 33 inserting new clause ‘Periodic review of dilapidated buildings, dangerous structures and neglected sites’ was negatived on division (Division).

After debate, Amendment 34 inserting new clause ‘Accessible register of action taken under this Act’ 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 29 stand part of the Bill.

Amendment 35 was not called.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 30 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 31 stand part of the Bill.

Schedules

After debate, Amendment 36 to Schedule 1 was made without division.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Schedule 1, as amended, stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Schedule 2 stand part of the Bill.

Long Title

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

The Dilapidation Bill (NIA Bill 21/22-27) stood referred to the Speaker.

7. Assembly Business

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

Proposed:

That Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4) be suspended for 22 June 2026.

Business Committee

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

8. Speaker’s Business

8.1 Resignations and Appointments

The Deputy Speaker informed Members that the Speaker had been notified by the Nominating Officer of the Democratic Unionist Party that Mrs Pam Cameron had replaced Ms Diane Forsythe as the Deputy Chairperson of the Audit Committee, with effect from 16 June 2026.

The Speaker took the Chair.

8.2 The Speaker made some remarks on the debate on the Consideration Stage of the Justice Bill [NIA Bill 07/22-27], on previous points of order made by Members on the use of the Petition of Concern and the proposal at the previous day’s sitting to close the debate.

9. Executive Committee Business (cont’d)

9.1 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 6.25pm and resumed at 7.00pm, the Speaker in the Chair.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair

The Consideration Stage of the Justice Bill [NIA Bill 07/22-27] was suspended until Monday 22 June 2026.

10. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 10.48pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
16 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

16 June 2026 – Division

Amendment 33 – Consideration Stage: Dilapidation Bill (NIA Bill 21/22-27)

Proposed:

New Clause

After clause 28 insert—

"Periodic review of dilapidated buildings, dangerous structures and neglected sites

28A.—(1) The Department must appoint such person or body as it considers appropriate to conduct a review of the prevalence of—

(a) dilapidated buildings;
(b) dangerous structures; and
(c) neglected sites,

in Northern Ireland, broken down by district council.

(2) Regulations made by the Department under this section must set out the terms of the review.

(3) The Department must ensure that—

(a) the first review under this section is completed within 3 years and before the commencement of the first review of the Act under Section 28A, [inserted by Amendment 32]
(b) following the completion of the first review under this section, the Department must carry out subsequent reviews at intervals of no more than 10 years.

(4) As soon as reasonably practicable after completing a review under this section, the Department must—

(a) prepare a report setting out the findings of the review; and
(b) lay a copy of that report before the Assembly.".

Mr Daniel McCrossan
Mr Colin McGrath

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 8

Noes: 68

AYES

Mr Beattie, Mr Gaston, Ms Hunter, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McNulty, Ms Sugden

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr McGlone, Mr McNulty.

NOES

Mr Allen, Dr Archibald, Ms D Armstrong, Ms K Armstrong, Mr Baker, Mr Blair, Mr Bradley, Ms Bradshaw, Miss Brogan, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Mr Delargy, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dodds, Miss Dolan, Mr Donnelly, Mr Dunne, Mr Durkan, Ms Egan, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Erskine, Mrs Ferguson, Ms Finnegan, Miss Flynn, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Gildernew, Mr Givan, Mrs Guy, Mr Harvey, Mr Honeyford, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mrs Long, Mr Lyons, Mr McAleer, Miss McAllister, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Miss McIlveen, Mr McMurray, Mr McReynolds, Mr Martin, Mrs Mason, Mr Mathison, Mrs Middleton, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Miss Murphy, Mr Nesbitt, Mr O'Dowd, Ms O'Neill, Ms Reilly, Mr Robinson, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Wilson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Honeyford, 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 16 June 2026.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

For Information Only

SR 2026/112 The Legal Complaints and Regulation (2016 Act) (Commencement No.2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department of Finance)

5. Assembly Reports

6. Written Ministerial Statements

7. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

8. Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Department of Finance Memorandum on the Thirteenth Report from the Public Accounts Committee Mandate 2022-2027 - Road Openings by Utilities (Department of Finance)

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 16 June 2026

2022-2027 Mandate
Executive Bills

2022-2027 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills