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 Cathal Boylan
Ms Diane Forsythe
Mr Danny Donnelly
Mr John Stewart
Mr Daniel McCrossan
Mr Colm Gildernew
Mr Phillip Brett
Mr Peter McReynolds
Mr Pádraig Delargy
Ms Cheryl Brownlee
Miss Nuala McAllister

3. Ministerial Statement

3.1 Religious Education and Collective Worship in Schools

The Minister of Education, Mr Paul Givan, made a statement regarding Religious Education and Collective Worship in Schools, following which he replied to questions.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

4. Private Members’ Business

4.1 Motion: Ending Academic Selection

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes with concern the continued use of academic selection and transfer tests as a means of determining post-primary school transfer within our education system; recognises the extensive body of evidence from educational experts, including the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which highlights the negative impact of academic selection on children's well-being, educational outcomes, and social mobility; further notes that research consistently shows that transfer tests cause undue stress and anxiety for young people and disproportionately disadvantage those from lower-income and working-class backgrounds, deepening educational inequalities; affirms its commitment to an education system based on equality, inclusion, and the principle that all children, regardless of background or ability, should have the opportunity to reach their full potential in a supportive and non-selective environment; calls on the Minister of Education to take steps to phase out the use of academic selection and transfer tests in post-primary admissions and to develop and implement a fair, inclusive, and non-selective system of post-primary education that ensures equality of opportunity for all children; and further calls on the Minister to prioritise action to tackle educational underachievement and close the attainment gap, particularly for children from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds.

Mr Pat Sheehan
Mrs Cathy Mason
Mr Danny Baker

Amendment:

Leave out all after ‘environment;’ and insert:

‘expresses concern that the Minister of Education’s programme of educational reform will be unsuccessful in addressing educational disadvantage without an end to academic selection; acknowledges the progress made in the Republic of Ireland in addressing educational disadvantage; calls on the Minister of Education to produce a time-bound plan to end academic selection and transfer tests in post-primary admissions and to develop and implement a fair, inclusive and non-selective system of primary education that ensures equality of opportunity for all children; and further calls on the Minister to work with the Minister for Communities to deliver action to tackle educational underachievement and close the attainment gap, particularly for children from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds.’

Ms Cara Hunter
Mr Mark Durkan

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 1.03pm and 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. Question for Urgent Oral Answer

6.1 Potholes: Road Safety Fears

The Minister for Infrastructure, Ms Liz Kimmins, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer tabled by Mr Jonathan Buckley.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

7. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)

7.1 Motion: Ending Academic Selection (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

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

The Question being put, the motion, as amended, was carried (Division 2).

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.

8. Ministerial Statement (cont’d)

8.1 North South Ministerial Council Language Body Meeting

The Minister for Communities, Mr Gordon Lyons, made a statement regarding a North South Ministerial Council Language Body Meeting, following which he replied to questions.

9. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)

9.1 Motion: Reform of the Northern Ireland Civil Service

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the findings of the Northern Ireland Audit Office report, Leading and Resourcing the Northern Ireland Civil Service; recognises the dedication of civil servants in delivering public services under increasing strain; believes that reform is necessary to ensure value for money and effective public service delivery; and calls on the Minister of Finance to bring forward a time-bound plan to reform workforce planning within the Northern Ireland Civil Service, reduce reliance on agency staffing, and improve efficiency.

Ms Diane Forsythe
Mr Brian Kingston
Mr Phillip Brett

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

10. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

Ms Kellie Armstrong spoke to her topic regarding the Impact of Storms on the A20 Portaferry Road.

The Assembly adjourned at 6.06pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
3 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

3 February 2026 – Division 1

Amendment: Ending Academic Selection

Leave out all after ‘environment;’ and insert:

‘expresses concern that the Minister of Education’s programme of educational reform will be unsuccessful in addressing educational disadvantage without an end to academic selection; acknowledges the progress made in the Republic of Ireland in addressing educational disadvantage; calls on the Minister of Education to produce a time-bound plan to end academic selection and transfer tests in post-primary admissions and to develop and implement a fair, inclusive and non-selective system of primary education that ensures equality of opportunity for all children; and further calls on the Minister to work with the Minister for Communities to deliver action to tackle educational underachievement and close the attainment gap, particularly for children from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds.’

Ms Cara Hunter
Mr Mark Durkan

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 48
Noes: 30

AYES

Dr Archibald, Ms K Armstrong, Mr Baker, Mr Boylan, Ms Bradshaw, Miss Brogan, Mr Carroll, Mr Delargy, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dillon, Miss Dolan, 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, Mr O'Dowd, Ms O'Neill, Mr O'Toole, Ms Reilly, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Tennyson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr McGlone, Ms McLaughlin.

NOES

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

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Brooks, Mr Martin.

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

3 February 2026 – Division 2

Motion (As amended): Ending Academic Selection

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes with concern the continued use of academic selection and transfer tests as a means of determining post-primary school transfer within our education system; recognises the extensive body of evidence from educational experts, including the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which highlights the negative impact of academic selection on children's well-being, educational outcomes, and social mobility; further notes that research consistently shows that transfer tests cause undue stress and anxiety for young people and disproportionately disadvantage those from lower-income and working-class backgrounds, deepening educational inequalities; affirms its commitment to an education system based on equality, inclusion, and the principle that all children, regardless of background or ability, should have the opportunity to reach their full potential in a supportive and non-selective environment; expresses concern that the Minister of Education’s programme of educational reform will be unsuccessful in addressing educational disadvantage without an end to academic selection; acknowledges the progress made in the Republic of Ireland in addressing educational disadvantage; calls on the Minister of Education to produce a time-bound plan to end academic selection and transfer tests in post-primary admissions and to develop and implement a fair, inclusive and non-selective system of primary education that ensures equality of opportunity for all children; and further calls on the Minister to work with the Minister for Communities to deliver action to tackle educational underachievement and close the attainment gap, particularly for children from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds.

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 47
Noes: 30

AYES

Dr Archibald, Ms K Armstrong, Mr Baker, Mr Boylan, Ms Bradshaw, Miss Brogan, Mr Carroll, Mr Delargy, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dillon, Miss Dolan, 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, Ms Mulholland, Miss Murphy, Mr O'Dowd, Ms O'Neill, Mr O'Toole, Ms Reilly, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Tennyson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Ms Finnegan, Mrs Mason.

NOES

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

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Brooks, Mr Martin .

The motion, as amended, was carried.

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 3 February 2026

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

SR 2026/12 The Rehabilitation of Offenders (Exceptions) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department of Justice)

SR 2026/13 The Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department of Justice)

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

Department of Finance Memorandum on the Eleventh Report from the Public Accounts Committee Mandate 2022-2027 - Access to General Practice in Northern Ireland (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 3 February 2026

2022-2027 Mandate
Executive Bills

2022-2027 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills