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:

Ms Emma Sheerin
Mr Gareth Wilson
Mr Danny Donnelly
Ms Sinéad McLaughlin
Mrs Ciara Ferguson
Ms Cheryl Brownlee
Ms Connie Egan
Mr Maolíosa McHugh
Ms Diane Forsythe
Mr Timothy Gaston
Mr Jonathan Buckley
Miss Deirdre Hargey

The Deputy Speaker, Mr John Blair, took the Chair.

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Consideration Stage: Insolvency (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 20/22-27)

The Minister for the Economy, Dr Caoimhe Archibald, moved the Consideration Stage of the Insolvency (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 20/22-27).

One amendment was tabled to the Bill and selected for debate.

Clauses

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

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clauses 2 to 4 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clauses 5 and 6 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clauses 7 to 87 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clauses 88 and 89 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clauses 90 and 91 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 92 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 93 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clauses 94 to 100 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 101 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clauses 102 to 106 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clauses 107 to 117 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 118 stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 1 to Clause 119 was made without division.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 119, as amended, stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clauses 120 and 121 stand part
of the Bill.

Schedules

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Schedules 1 to 4 stand part of the Bill.

Long Title

The question being put, the Long Title was agreed without division.

The Insolvency (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 20/22-27) stood referred to the Speaker.

4. Private Members’ Business

4.1 Motion: Clawback of Public Funds from non-GAA Events at Casement Park

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the scale of public funding committed to the redevelopment of Casement Park; further notes that the stadium will host major non-GAA commercial events, including international concerts and sporting fixtures generating substantial private revenue; believes that it is unjustifiable for public money to underwrite the scale of funding required for this major commercial venue without provision for the recovery of a proportion of revenues arising from non-GAA use; and calls on the Executive to require, as a condition of any further public funding for Casement Park, that a legally enforceable clawback mechanism be put in place to return an agreed proportion of net revenues from all non-GAA events to the public purse.

Mr Timothy Gaston

Amendment:

Leave out all after ‘non-GAA use;’ and insert:

‘and calls on the Executive to require, as a condition of any public funding for any stadia currently in construction or to be constructed in future, that a legally enforceable clawback mechanism be put in place to return an agreed proportion of net revenues from all non-sporting events to the public purse.’

Mr Gerry Carroll

Debate ensued.

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

5. Question Time

5.1 Communities

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Communities, Mr Gordon Lyons.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

6. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)

6.1 Motion: Clawback of Public Funds from non-GAA Events at Casement Park (cont’d)

The Question being put, the amendment fell (Division 1).

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

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.

6.2 Motion: Troubles-Related Sexual Crimes and Child Sexual Abuse

Proposed:

That this Assembly accepts that crimes of a sexual nature, including child sexual abuse, have a particularly insidious effect on society and have a long-lasting physical and psychological impact on the victim and their wider family; calls on the UK Government to ensure that victims of Troubles-related sexual violence can seek a legacy investigation as part of the proposed Legacy Commission and that crimes of a sexual nature, including rape and child sexual abuse, are included as a separate qualifying criteria alongside serious injury and death; and further calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to write to the UK Government to ensure these often-overlooked crimes are included in the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill.

Mr Doug Beattie
Ms Diana Armstrong
Mr Jon Burrows

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

The Speaker took the Chair.

7. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

Dr Steve Aiken spoke to his topic regarding Flooding Along the Six Mile River.

The Assembly adjourned at 4.57pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
17 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

17 February 2026 – Division 1

Amendment: Clawback of Public Funds from non-GAA Events at Casement Park

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘non-GAA use;’ and insert:

‘and calls on the Executive to require, as a condition of any public funding for any stadia currently in construction or to be constructed in future, that a legally enforceable clawback mechanism be put in place to return an agreed proportion of net revenues from all non-sporting events to the public purse.’

Mr Gerry Carroll

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 31
Noes: 46

AYES

Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Ms D Armstrong, Mr Beattie, Mr Bradley, Mr Brett, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Mr Burrows, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Carroll, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Harvey, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Martin, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Robinson, Mr Stewart, Mr Wilson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Butler, Mr Carroll.

NOES

Dr Archibald, Ms K Armstrong, Mr Baker, Mr Blair, Mr Boylan, Ms Bradshaw, Miss Brogan, Mr Delargy, Mrs Dillon, Mr Donnelly, Mr Durkan, Ms Egan, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Ferguson, Ms Finnegan, Miss Flynn, Mr Gaston, Mr Gildernew, Mrs Guy, Miss Hargey, Mr Honeyford, Ms Hunter, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mr McAleer, 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: Mrs Dillon, Mrs Mason.

The amendment fell.

Votes cast by proxy:

Mrs Erskine’s vote was cast by Mr Clarke.
Miss Brogan’s vote was cast by Mrs Ennis.

Northern Ireland Assembly

17 February 2026 – Division 2

Motion: Clawback of Public Funds from non-GAA Events at Casement Park

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the scale of public funding committed to the redevelopment of Casement Park; further notes that the stadium will host major non-GAA commercial events, including international concerts and sporting fixtures generating substantial private revenue; believes that it is unjustifiable for public money to underwrite the scale of funding required for this major commercial venue without provision for the recovery of a proportion of revenues arising from non-GAA use; and calls on the Executive to require, as a condition of any further public funding for Casement Park, that a legally enforceable clawback mechanism be put in place to return an agreed proportion of net revenues from all non-GAA events to the public purse.

Mr Timothy Gaston

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 31
Noes: 46

AYES
Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Ms D Armstrong, Mr Beattie, Mr Bradley, Mr Brett, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Mr Burrows, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Gaston, Mr Harvey, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Martin, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Robinson, Mr Stewart, Mr Wilson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Butler, Mr Gaston.

NOES

Dr Archibald, Ms K Armstrong, Mr Baker, Mr Blair, Mr Boylan, Ms Bradshaw, Miss Brogan, Mr Carroll, Mr Delargy, 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, Mr Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mr McAleer, 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: Mrs Dillon, Mrs Mason.

The motion was negatived.

Votes cast by proxy:

Mrs Erskine’s vote was cast by Mr Clarke.
Miss Brogan’s vote was cast by Mrs Ennis.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 17 February 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 17 February 2026

2022-2027 Mandate
Executive Bills

2022-2027 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills

Insolvency (Amendment) Bill Annotated Marshalled List of Amendments Consideration Stage