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
Mr Phillip Brett
Mr Peter McReynolds
Mr Robbie Butler
Mr Mark Durkan
Mrs Ciara Ferguson
Mr Alan Robinson
Mr Danny Donnelly
Mr Timothy Gaston
Mr Colm Gildernew
Mr Thomas Buchanan
Ms Kellie Armstrong

3. Committee Business

3.1 Motion: Extension of Committee Stage – Northern Ireland Fiscal Council Bill (NIA Bill 18/22-27)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 27 March 2026, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Northern Ireland Fiscal Council Bill.

Chairperson, Committee for Finance

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

3.2 Motion: Extension of Committee Stage – Administrative and Financial Provisions Bill (NIA Bill 19/22-27)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 27 March 2026, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Administrative and Financial Provisions Bill.

Chairperson, Committee for Finance

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

4. Private Members’ Business

4.1 Motion: Addressing Skills Gaps between Young People and Businesses

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the importance of promoting economic opportunity to deliver social justice and a truly reconciled society; recognises the significant job creation delivered by investment in Northern Ireland over the last few years; acknowledges that a lot of that investment was based on the linkage in skills development, between higher education and businesses in receipt of investment; regrets that opportunities are being missed because too many skills gaps remain and there are too many occasions when that skills linkage does not exist; expresses support for prioritising support into skills development and employment for the 19,000 young people in Northern Ireland not in education, employment or training; and calls on the Minister for the Economy to establish a talent development agency, similar to Skillnet Ireland and other similar agencies in Europe, to ensure greater alignment between skills development in further and higher education and what businesses actually require.

Mr David Honeyford
Mr Eóin Tennyson
Ms Paula Bradshaw
Mrs Michelle Guy

Amendment:

Leave out all after ‘employment or training;’ and insert:

‘and calls on the Minister for the Economy to work with her counterparts in the Irish Government on the creation of an all-island talent development agency, to ensure greater alignment between skills development in further and higher education and what businesses across the island of Ireland actually require.’
Ms Sinéad McLaughlin
Mr Colin McGrath

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the amendment was negatived.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

4.2 Motion: Drug Testing Schemes

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the role of harm reduction initiatives in preventing drug-related deaths at festivals and concerts; acknowledges that the Health Service Executive’s rapid drug checking schemes have operated successfully at events such as Electric Picnic for a number of years, providing warnings to concertgoers on potent and potentially lethal substances; notes the ongoing work between the PSNI, Forensic Sciences Northern Ireland and Queen’s University to develop a rapid drug testing scheme which would enable harmful drugs to be identified and public alerts issued within 24 hours; further notes that we remain the only part of these islands without such provisions; stresses the need for collaboration between the Forensic Sciences laboratory at Seapark and the Health Service Executive, who have developed the capacity to deliver onsite drug testing at festivals across the rest of the island; and calls on the Minister of Health to confirm when these schemes will be rolled out by his Department in conjunction with the relevant agencies.

Miss Órlaithí Flynn
Mr Philip McGuigan
Mrs Linda Dillon

Amendment:

Leave out all after ‘Assembly’ and insert:

‘recognises that there are no safe ways of taking illegal drugs; acknowledges the role of harm reduction initiatives in preventing drug-related deaths at festivals and concerts; believes this must complement the existing PSNI approach of identifying, arresting and placing before the courts those involved in the supply of illicit drugs; further acknowledges that the Health Service Executive’s rapid drug checking schemes have operated successfully at events in the Republic of Ireland, such as Electric Picnic, for a number of years, providing warnings to concertgoers on potent and potentially lethal substances; notes the ongoing work between the PSNI, Forensic Sciences Northern Ireland and Queen’s University to develop a rapid drug testing scheme which would enable harmful drugs to be identified and public alerts issued within 24 hours; further notes that we remain the only part of these islands without such provisions; stresses the need for collaboration between the Forensic Sciences laboratory at Seapark, the Health Service Executive in the Republic of Ireland, and the Home Office, in relation to developing the capacity to deliver, and license, onsite drug testing at festivals across Northern Ireland; and calls on the Minister of Health to confirm when these schemes will be rolled out by his Department in conjunction with the relevant agencies.’

Mrs Diane Dodds
Mr Paul Frew

Debate ensued.

The sitting stood suspended at 12.58pm.

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

5. Question Time

5.1 Finance

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

6. Speaker’s Business

6.1 Speaker’s Absence

The Speaker advised Members that he would be on Assembly business the following week and would not be in the Chamber.

The Deputy Speaker. Mr Blair, took the Chair.

7. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)

7.1 Motion: Drug Testing Schemes (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

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.

8. Ministerial Statement

8.1 Northern Ireland Community Infrastructure Fund

The Minister for Communities, Mr Gordon Lyons, made a statement regarding the Northern Ireland Community Infrastructure Fund, following which he replied to questions.
 

9. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

Mr Phillip Brett spoke to his topic regarding Lack of Development of Tribeca, Belfast.

The Assembly adjourned at 4.46pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
30 September 2025

Northern Ireland Assembly

Proxy Voting Notifications

In line with Standing Order 27A, Ms Kate Nicholl arranged for her vote to be exercised by a proxy (Ms Paula Bradshaw) during the period 31 March 2025 to 28 December 2025.

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.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 30 September 2025

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

Annual Report on Decision Making and Financial Accuracy for the year ended 31 December 2024 (Department for Communities)

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 30 September 2025
2022-2027 Mandate
Executive Bills

2022-2027 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills

/ Bills progressing by accelerated passage