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:

Mr Pádraig Delargy
Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr Danny Donnelly
Mr Maolíosa McHugh
Mr Phillip Brett
Ms Kate Nicholl
Mr Timothy Gaston
Mr Gerry Carroll
Ms Emma Sheerin
Mr Brian Kingston
Mr Justin McNulty
Mr Paul Frew
 

3. Ministerial Statement

3.1 Strategic Roadmap on Rating Policy

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

The Minister of Finance, Mr John O'Dowd, made a statement regarding a Strategic Roadmap on Rating Policy, following which he replied to questions.

3.2 Changes to the Funding of New Social Housing

The Minister for Communities, Mr Gordon Lyons, made a statement regarding Changes to the Funding of New Social Housing, following which he replied to questions.

The Speaker took the Chair.

4. Executive Committee Business

4.1 Further Consideration Stage: Deaths, Still-Births and Baby Loss Bill (NIA Bill 13/22-27)

The Minister of Finance, Mr John O’Dowd, moved the Further Consideration Stage of the Deaths, Still-Births and Baby Loss Bill (NIA Bill 13/22-27).

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

Clauses

After debate, Amendment 1 to Clause 11 was made without division.

The Deaths, Still-Births and Baby Loss Bill (NIA Bill 13/22-27) stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

4.2 Motion: The draft Farm Sustainability Payment Scheme (Eligibility etc) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025

Proposed:

That the draft Farm Sustainability Payment Scheme (Eligibility etc) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 be approved.

Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

Debate ensued.

The sitting stood suspended at 12.56pm.

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

5. Question Time

5.1 Education

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Education, Mr Paul Givan.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

6. Executive Committee Business (cont’d)

6.1 Motion: The draft Farm Sustainability Payment Scheme (Eligibility etc) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

The Question being put, the motion was carried (Division 1).

6.2 Legislative Consent Motion: Pension Schemes Bill

Proposed:

That this Assembly agrees, in line with section 87 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, to the principle of the extension to Northern Ireland of the provisions of the Pension Schemes Bill, relating to terminal illness, alienation or forfeiture of occupational pension, validity of certain alterations to salary-related contracted-out pension schemes, pensions dashboard and contractual override, which was introduced in the House of Commons on 5 June 2025.

Minister for Communities

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

7. Ministerial Statement

7.1 Response to the Report of the Independent Review of the Liquor Licensing System including the Surrender Principle

The Minister for Communities, Mr Gordon Lyons, made a statement regarding a Response to the Report of the Independent Review of the Liquor Licensing System including the Surrender Principle, following which he replied to questions.

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.

8. Private Members’ Business

8.1 Motion: Review of Northern Ireland’s Fireworks Legislation

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the widespread distress and disruption caused by the misuse of fireworks across Northern Ireland; acknowledges the serious impact on animals, wildlife, and people, including those living with trauma or heightened sensitivity to noise; notes that the Explosives (Fireworks) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 have not kept pace with modern availability and usage; and calls on the Minister of Justice to commission an urgent and comprehensive review of fireworks legislation to ensure that it provides appropriate safeguards, promotes responsible celebration, and better protects the welfare of people, animals, and communities.

Mr Doug Beattie
Mr Robbie Butler
Mr Jon Burrows
Ms Diana Armstrong

Amendment:

Leave out all after ‘noise;’ and insert:

‘notes that firework regulation in Northern Ireland is among the most robust in these islands; and calls on the Minister of Justice to consider changes to the penalties available for the illegal use and sale of fireworks in the pending review of sentencing issues, to ensure appropriate safeguards, responsible celebration, and better protection for people, animals, and communities in the use of fireworks.’

Ms Connie Egan
Mr Nick Mathison
Mr Stewart Dickson
Mr Andrew McMurray

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the amendment was made (Division 2).

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

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

8.2 Motion: Delivering Better Cancer Services and Outcomes

Proposed:

That this Assembly deplores current waiting times for patients accessing cancer services in Northern Ireland; notes with concern recent analysis by Cancer Research UK which indicates that the percentage of local patients with urgent suspected cancer who start treatment within sixty-two days is much lower than England and Scotland; further notes with concern that Northern Ireland has the lowest one-year survival rate in the United Kingdom for both pancreatic and ovarian cancer, and that the proportion of cancer patients diagnosed at an early stage has not improved in the last ten years; expresses alarm that studies have shown that a four-week delay in cancer treatment increases the risk of death by between six and eight per cent; calls on the Minister of Health to make a concerted effort to drive down wait times, including through the delivery of additional capacity in Health and Social Care Trusts and the ambitious implementation of the Elective Care Framework; and further calls on the Minister to expedite the delivery of a Cancer Research Strategy for Northern Ireland.

Mrs Diane Dodds
Mr Alan Robinson

Amendment:

At end insert:

‘and to maximise the potential for cross-border cancer care collaboration to improve clinical trial access, diagnostic capacity, research outcomes, and integrated treatment pathways.’

Mr Philip McGuigan
Mrs Linda Dillon
Miss Órlaithí Flynn

Debate ensued.

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

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.

9. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

Mr Declan Kearney spoke to his topic regarding the Urgency of Delivering the Birch Hill Centre for Mental Health.

The Assembly adjourned at 7.44pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
18 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

18 November 2025 – Division 1

Motion - The draft Farm Sustainability Payment Scheme (Eligibility etc) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025

Proposed:

That the draft Farm Sustainability Payment Scheme (Eligibility etc) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 be approved.

Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 54
Noes: 21

AYES

Dr Aiken, 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 Chambers, Mr Delargy, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dillon, Miss Dolan, Mr Donnelly, Mr Durkan, Ms Egan, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Finnegan, Miss Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Mrs Guy, Miss Hargey, Mr Honeyford, Ms Hunter, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mr McAleer, Miss McAllister, Mr McGlone, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McMurray, Mr McNulty, Mrs Mason, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Miss Murphy, Mr Nesbitt, Ms Nicholl, Mr O'Dowd, Ms O'Neill, Mr O'Toole, Ms Reilly, Ms Sheerin, Mr Stewart, Mr Tennyson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Donnelly, Mr McMurray.

NOES

Mr Bradley, Mr Brett, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dodds, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Gaston, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Martin, Mr Middleton, Mr Robinson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Bradley, Mr T Buchanan.

The amendment was made.

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

18 November 2025 – Division 2

Amendment - Review of Northern Ireland’s Fireworks Legislation

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘noise;’ and insert:

‘notes that firework regulation in Northern Ireland is among the most robust in these islands; and calls on the Minister of Justice to consider changes to the penalties available for the illegal use and sale of fireworks in the pending review of sentencing issues, to ensure appropriate safeguards, responsible celebration, and better protection for people, animals, and communities in the use of fireworks.’

Ms Connie Egan
Mr Nick Mathison
Mr Stewart Dickson
Mr Andrew McMurray

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 52
Noes: 13

AYES

Ms K Armstrong, Mr Baker, Mr Blair, Mr Boylan, Mr Bradley, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Brett, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Mr Clarke, Mr Delargy, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dillon, Mrs Dodds, Miss Dolan, Mr Donnelly, Ms Egan, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Erskine, Ms Finnegan, Miss Flynn, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Gaston, Mr Gildernew, Mrs Guy, Miss Hargey, Mr Honeyford, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mrs Long, Mr Lyons, Mr McAleer, Miss McAllister, Mr McGuigan, Miss McIlveen, Mr McMurray, Mr Martin, Mrs Mason, Mr Mathison, Mr Middleton, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Miss Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Ms Reilly, Mr Robinson, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Dickson, Mr McMurray.

NOES

Mr Allen, Mr Beattie, Mr Burrows, Mr Butler, Mr Carroll, Mr Chambers, Mr Durkan, Ms Hunter, Mr McGlone, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McNulty, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Stewart.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Beattie, Mr Burrows.

The motion was carried.

Votes cast by proxy:

Mrs Erskine’s vote was cast by Mr Clarke.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 18 November 2025

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

SR 2025/178 The Environmental Protection (Wet Wipes Containing Plastic) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

For Information Only

SR 2025/179 The Farm Sustainability Payment Scheme (Eligibility etc) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

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 18 November 2025
2022-2027 Mandate
Executive Bills

2022-2027 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills