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 Aisling Reilly
Mr Trevor Clarke
Ms Connie Egan
Mr Jon Burrows
Mr Mark Durkan
Ms Emma Sheerin
Mr Stephen Dunne
Mr Danny Donnelly
Mrs Cathy Mason
Mr Tom Buchanan
Ms Diana Armstrong
Ms Cheryl Brownlee

3. Public Petition

Urgent Call for Action on Fairhill Street, Ballycastle

Mr Philip McGuigan was granted leave, in accordance with Standing Order 22, to present a Public Petition on an Urgent Call for Action on Fairhill Street, Ballycastle.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

4. Executive Committee Business

4.1 Second Stage: Budget Bill (NIA Bill 25/22-27)

The Minister of Finance, Mr John O’Dowd, moved the Second Stage of the Budget Bill (NIA Bill 25/22-27).

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 12.55pm.
The sitting resumed at 2.00pm, the Speaker in the Chair.

5. Question Time

5.1 Finance

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Finance, Mr John O’Dowd.

6. Executive Committee Business (cont’d)

6.1 Second Stage: Budget Bill (NIA Bill 25/22-27) (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

The Budget Bill (NIA Bill 25/22-27) passed Second Stage.

6.2 Motion: Suspension of Standing Order 39(2)

Proposed:

That Standing Order 39(2) be suspended in respect of the passage of the Budget Bill 2026.

Minister of Finance

Debate ensued.

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

 
7. Speaker’s Business

7.1 Resignations and Appointments

The Principal Deputy Speaker informed Members that the Speaker had been notified by the Nominating Officer of Democratic Unionist Party that Mr Tom Buchanan had replaced Ms Diane Forsythe as Deputy Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee, and that Diane Forsythe had replaced Mr Gary Middleton as Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for the Economy, with effect from 24 February 2026.

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.

8. Executive Committee Business (cont’d)

8.1 Legislative Consent Motion: Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill

Proposed:

That this Assembly endorses the extension to Northern Ireland of the provisions within the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill.

Minister of Health

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

9. Private Members’ Business

9.1 Motion: Tackling Disrepair, Damp and Mould

Proposed:

That this Assembly expresses deep concern regarding the state of disrepair of many social and private rented properties; recognises the serious adverse impact that damp and mould have on human health; welcomes the introduction of Awaab’s Law following the tragic death of Awaab Ishak; is concerned that much of our housing stock is in urgent need of retrofitting to ensure it meets the minimum standards required for human habitation, and the challenges posed by climate change; further recognises that many private tenants feel disempowered and unable to ask their landlords for basic repairs due to the fear of a retaliatory eviction; and calls on the Minister for Communities to urgently introduce legislation, similar to Awaab’s Law, to compel landlords to tackle damp, mould and disrepair in both social and private rented accommodation.

Mr Gerry Carroll

Amendment 1:

Leave out all after ‘retaliatory eviction;’ and insert:

‘further expresses serious concern that single let temporary accommodation utilised by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive is not subject to routine, ongoing inspection beyond initial acquisition; notes that maintenance responsibility rests with private providers, with the Housing Executive acting as an intermediary where issues are reported; and calls on the Minister for Communities to urgently introduce legislation, similar to Awaab’s Law, to compel landlords to address damp, mould and disrepair within strict timeframes across both social and private rented sectors, and to place a clear statutory duty on the Housing Executive to regularly inspect and enforce minimum fitness standards across all temporary accommodation.’

Mr Mark Durkan
Mr Daniel McCrossan

Amendment 2:

After ‘retaliatory eviction;’ and insert:

‘calls on the Minister for Communities and the Minister of Finance to make access to borrowing for the Housing Executive their top priority in order to target additional investment in our housing stock; and further calls on the Minister for Communities to reflect the principles of Awaab’s Law in the development of Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards and a revised Decent Home Standard so as to require landlords to tackle damp, mould and disrepair in both social and private rented accommodation.’

Mr Maurice Bradley
Mrs Pam Cameron

Debate ensued.

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

Miss Jemma Dolan spoke to her topic regarding the Potential of the South West Acute Hospital as a Cross-Border Hospital.

The Assembly adjourned at 7.14pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
24 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

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 24 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

Review of the salary arrangements for the Comptroller & Auditor General (NIA 120/22-27) (Audit Committee)

6. Assembly Reports

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

The Local Government Auditor’s Code of Audit Practice 2026 (Department for Communities) (Withdrawn)

9. Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Partnership Agreement between The Executive Office (TEO) and Maze Long Kesh Development Corporation (MLKDC) (The Executive Office)

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 24 February 2026
2022-2027 Mandate
Executive Bills

2022-2027 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills