Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at 10.30am, the Speaker in the Chair.

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Matter of the Day

2.1 Springhill Inquest Findings

Mr Gerry Carroll, under Standing Order 24, made a statement on the Springhill Inquest Findings. Other Members were also called to speak on the matter.

3. Members’ Statements

Under Standing Order 24A, the following Members made a statement to the Assembly:

Mr Philip McGuigan
Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr Andrew McMurray
Ms Diana Armstrong
Ms Cara Hunter
Ms Aisling Reilly
Mr Paul Frew
Mrs Michelle Guy
Mr Colm Gildernew
Mrs Diane Dodds
Mr Jon Burrows
Mr Maurice Bradley
Ms Claire Sugden

4. Public Petition

Install Street Lighting at Drumaness Bus Stop

Mr Nick Mathison was granted leave, in accordance with Standing Order 22, to present a Public Petition to Install Street Lighting at Drumaness Bus Stop.

5. Assembly Business

5.1 Motion: Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Mrs Julie Middleton replace Mr Peter Martin as a member of the Committee for Education.

Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr Harry Harvey
Mr David Brooks

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.

6. Ministerial Statement

6.1 The Katie Simpson Review

The Minister of Justice, Mrs Naomi Long, made a statement regarding The Katie Simpson Review, following which she replied to questions.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

7. Executive Committee Business

7.1 Consideration Stage: Northern Ireland Fiscal Council Bill (NIA Bill 18/22-27)

The Minister of Finance, Mr John O’Dowd, moved the Consideration Stage of the Northern Ireland Fiscal Council Bill (NIA Bill 18/22-27).

Five amendments were 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 Clause 2 stand part of the Bill.

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 12.58pm and resumed at 2.00pm, the Speaker in the Chair.

8. Question Time

8.1 Health

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Health, Mr Mike Nesbitt.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

9. Executive Committee Business (cont’d)

9.1 Consideration Stage: Northern Ireland Fiscal Council Bill (NIA Bill 18/22-27) (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

After debate, Amendment 1 to Clause 3 was negatived on division (Division 1).

After debate, Amendment 2 to Clause 3 was negatived on division (Division 2).

After debate, Amendment 3 to Clause 3 was negatived on division (Division 3).

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 3 stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 4 to Clause 4 was negatived on division (Division 4).

After debate, Amendment 5 to Clause 4 was negatived on division (Division 5).

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

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

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

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

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 8 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 9 stand part of the Bill.

Schedules

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

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

Long Title

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

The Northern Ireland Fiscal Council Bill (NIA Bill 18/22-27) stood referred to the Speaker.

9.2 Motion: The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Extension of Provisions Relating to Live Links for Courts and Tribunals) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026

Proposed:

That the Coronavirus Act 2020 (Extension of Provisions Relating to Live Links for Courts and Tribunals) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 be approved.

Minister of Justice

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

10. Committee Business

10.1 Motion: Extension of Committee Stage – Areas with Natural Constraints (Payments) Bill (NIA Bill 24/22-27)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 22 January 2027, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Areas with Natural Constraints (Payments) Bill.

Chairperson, Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

11. Private Members’ Business

11.1 Motion: Voluntary and Community Sector Funding

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the social and economic value of the voluntary and community sector and the vital role it plays across Northern Ireland in supporting vulnerable people, strengthening communities and delivering essential public services; regrets that many organisations have been forced to scale back or withdraw services and lay off valued staff due to the mishandling of the Local Growth Fund by the British Government; notes that the Northern Ireland Executive has realised savings from European Structural and Investment Fund succession without reinvestment in community and voluntary services; laments the failure to put in place timely and adequate replacement funding arrangements when it became clear that the British Government would not change the funding profile on the Local Growth Fund; and calls on the Minister of Finance to ring-fence sufficient funding in the multi-year budget to fully address the shortfall and provide long-term stability for the voluntary and community sector.

Mr Mark Durkan
Mr Matthew O’Toole

Amendment 1:

Leave out all after ‘Local Growth Fund by the’ and insert:

‘UK Government; notes that the Northern Ireland Executive has realised savings from European Structural and Investment Fund succession without reinvestment in community and voluntary services; notes the financial challenges facing all Executive Departments and therefore does not believe it would be prudent to add to these challenges by devolving the administration for these schemes to local Ministers; laments the failure of the UK Government to put in place timely and adequate replacement funding arrangements; and calls on the Minister of Finance to press the UK Government to align the aims and funding objectives of the Local Growth Fund with the Executive’s Programme for Government to provide clarity for the voluntary and community sector.’

Ms Diane Forsythe
Mr Harry Harvey
Mr Brian Kingston

Amendment 2:

Leave out all after ‘Local Growth Fund by the British Government’ and insert:
‘notes the failure of the British Government to adequately replace lost European Structural and Investment Funds; and calls on the British Government to properly resource the Executive to allow the Minister of Finance to ring-fence sufficient funding in the multi-year budget to fully address the shortfall and provide long-term stability for the voluntary and community sector.’

Mr Colm Gildernew
Mr Declan Kearney
Mrs Sinéad Ennis

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, amendment 1 was agreed.

As amendment 1 was made, the question was not put on amendment 2.

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

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.

12. Assembly Business

12.1 Adjournment Debate

Deputy Speaker Aiken informed Members that Ms Sian Mulholland did not intend to speak to the Adjournment Debate scheduled in her name that evening, and that she would seek to reschedule it through the Business Committee.

13. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)

13.1 Motion: Protecting Victims of Coercive Control

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the deep and lasting trauma that coercive control has on its victims; notes that perpetrators can exploit court proceedings through coercive behaviours, particularly within family courts, in an effort to re-traumatise their victims; acknowledges that coercive control falls within the definition of abusive behaviour, as defined by the Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings Act (Northern Ireland) 2021; further acknowledges the legal safeguards within the Act, including protecting victims from direct cross-examination, access to civil legal aid, and special measures in court; expresses concern that many of these provisions remain only partially implemented and that victims continue to face barriers to justice due to restrictive eligibility criteria and complex evidential requirements; and calls on the Minister of Justice to urgently commence all outstanding protections under the 2021 Act, to simplify and extend access to legal aid for victims, and to ensure that family court proceedings cannot be exploited by perpetrators to exert coercive control.

Ms Aoife Finnegan
Mrs Ciara Ferguson
Ms Emma Sheerin

Amendment:

Leave out all after ‘evidential requirements;’ and insert:
‘further recognises that the failures exposed by the Máiría Cahill case demonstrate the consequences of systems that do not adequately protect victims of abuse and coercion; calls on the Minister of Justice to ensure that the lessons learned from that case are fully reflected across all relevant proceedings, including family courts, so that victims are not re-traumatised or placed at a disadvantage; and further calls on the Minister to urgently commence all outstanding protections under the 2021 Act, to simplify and extend access to legal aid for victims, and to ensure that family court proceedings cannot be exploited by perpetrators to exert coercive control.’

Mr Timothy Gaston

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the amendment was agreed.

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

14. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 8.10pm.

Mr Edwin Poots

The Speaker

5 May 2026

Northern Ireland Assembly

Proxy Voting Notifications

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

5 May 2026 – Division 1

Amendment 1: Consideration Stage – Northern Ireland Fiscal Council Bill (NIA Bill 18/22-27)

Clause 3, Page 2, Line 11

At end insert –

‘(bb) consideration of the extent to which the proposed budget is aligned with the most recently agreed Programme for Government required under section 20(3) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.’

Mr Matthew O'Toole

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 32
Noes: 46

AYES

Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Ms D Armstrong, Ms K Armstrong, Mr Beattie, Mr Blair, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Burrows, Mr Butler, Mr Carroll, Mr Chambers, Mr Dickson, Mr Durkan, Ms Egan, Mr Gaston, Mrs Guy, Mr Honeyford, Ms Hunter, Mrs Long, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McMurray, Mr McNulty, Mr McReynolds, Mr Mathison, Ms Mulholland, Mr Nesbitt, Mr O'Toole, Mr Stewart, Ms Sugden, Mr Tennyson.
Tellers for the Ayes: Dr Aiken, Mr O'Toole.

NOES

Mr Baker, Mr Bradley, Mr Brett, Miss Brogan, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Mr Delargy, Mrs Dillon, Mrs Dodds, Miss Dolan, Mr Dunne, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Erskine, Mrs Ferguson, Ms Finnegan, Miss Flynn, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Gildernew, Mr Givan, Miss Hargey, Mr Harvey, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Mr McAleer, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Miss McIlveen, Mr Martin, Mrs Mason, Miss Murphy, Mr O'Dowd, Ms Reilly, Mr Robinson, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Wilson.
Tellers for the Noes: Mrs Dillon, Miss Dolan.

The amendment was negatived.

Votes cast by proxy:

Miss Brogan’s vote was cast by Mrs Ennis.

Northern Ireland Assembly

5 May 2026 – Division 2

Amendment 2: Consideration Stage – Northern Ireland Fiscal Council Bill (NIA Bill 18/22-27)

Clause 3, Page 2, Line 11

At end insert –

‘(bb) consideration of the impact of the proposed budget on the economy of Northern Ireland;’

Leader of the Opposition

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 32
Noes: 46

AYES

Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Ms D Armstrong, Ms K Armstrong, Mr Beattie, Mr Blair, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Burrows, Mr Butler, Mr Carroll, Mr Chambers, Mr Dickson, Mr Durkan, Ms Egan, Mr Gaston, Mrs Guy, Mr Honeyford, Ms Hunter, Mrs Long, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McMurray, Mr McNulty, Mr McReynolds, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Mr O'Toole, Mr Stewart, Ms Sugden, Mr Tennyson.
Tellers for the Ayes: Mr McGrath, Ms McLaughlin.

NOES

Mr Baker, Mr Bradley, Mr Brett, Miss Brogan, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Mr Delargy, Mrs Dillon, Mrs Dodds, Miss Dolan, Mr Dunne, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Erskine, Mrs Ferguson, Ms Finnegan, Miss Flynn, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Gildernew, Mr Givan, Miss Hargey, Mr Harvey, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Mr McAleer, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Miss McIlveen, Mr Martin, Mrs Mason, Miss Murphy, Mr O'Dowd, Ms Reilly, Mr Robinson, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Wilson.
Tellers for the Noes: Mrs Dillon, Miss Dolan.

The amendment was negatived.

Votes cast by proxy:

Miss Brogan’s vote was cast by Mrs Ennis.



Northern Ireland Assembly

5 May 2026 – Division 3

Amendment 3: Consideration Stage – Northern Ireland Fiscal Council Bill (NIA Bill 18/22-27)

Clause 3, Page 2, Line 12

At end insert –

After ‘assessment’ insert ‘, which may include consideration of the potential impact of the proposed budget on the economy of Northern Ireland’

Leader of the Opposition

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 33
Noes: 46

AYES

Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Ms D Armstrong, Ms K Armstrong, Mr Beattie, Mr Blair, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Burrows, Mr Butler, Mr Carroll, Mr Chambers, Mr Dickson, Mr Durkan, Ms Egan, Mr Gaston, Mrs Guy, Mr Honeyford, Ms Hunter, Mrs Long, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McMurray, Mr McNulty, Mr McReynolds, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Mr Nesbitt, Mr O'Toole, Mr Stewart, Ms Sugden, Mr Tennyson.
Tellers for the Ayes: Ms Hunter, Mr McGlone.

NOES

Mr Baker, Mr Bradley, Mr Brett, Miss Brogan, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Mr Delargy, Mrs Dillon, Mrs Dodds, Miss Dolan, Mr Dunne, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Erskine, Mrs Ferguson, Ms Finnegan, Miss Flynn, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Gildernew, Mr Givan, Miss Hargey, Mr Harvey, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Mr McAleer, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Miss McIlveen, Mr Martin, Mrs Mason, Miss Murphy, Mr O'Dowd, Ms Reilly, Mr Robinson, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Wilson.
Tellers for the Noes: Mrs Dillon, Miss Dolan.

The amendment was negatived.

Votes cast by proxy:

Miss Brogan’s vote was cast by Mrs Ennis.

Northern Ireland Assembly

5 May 2026 – Division 4

Amendment 4: Consideration Stage – Northern Ireland Fiscal Council Bill (NIA Bill 18/22-27)

Clause 4, Page 2, Line 25

At end insert –

‘(ca) costs of duplicated public service provision,’

Mr Eóin Tennyson

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 32
Noes: 47

AYES

Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Ms D Armstrong, Ms K Armstrong, Mr Beattie, Mr Blair, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Burrows, Mr Butler, Mr Chambers, Mr Dickson, Mr Durkan, Ms Egan, Mr Gaston, Mrs Guy, Mr Honeyford, Ms Hunter, Mrs Long, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McMurray, Mr McNulty, Mr McReynolds, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Mr Nesbitt, Mr O'Toole, Mr Stewart, Ms Sugden, Mr Tennyson.
Tellers for the Ayes: Ms Bradshaw, Mr McMurray.

NOES

Mr Baker, Mr Bradley, Mr Brett, Miss Brogan, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mrs Cameron, Mr Carroll, Mr Clarke, Mr Delargy, Mrs Dillon, Mrs Dodds, Miss Dolan, Mr Dunne, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Erskine, Mrs Ferguson, Ms Finnegan, Miss Flynn, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Gildernew, Mr Givan, Miss Hargey, Mr Harvey, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Mr McAleer, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Miss McIlveen, Mr Martin, Mrs Mason, Miss Murphy, Mr O'Dowd, Ms Reilly, Mr Robinson, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Wilson.
Tellers for the Noes: Mrs Dillon, Miss Dolan.

The amendment was negatived.

Votes cast by proxy:

Miss Brogan’s vote was cast by Mrs Ennis.

Northern Ireland Assembly

5 May 2026 – Division 5

Amendment 5: Consideration Stage – Northern Ireland Fiscal Council Bill (NIA Bill 18/22-27)

Clause 4, Page 2, Line 25

At end insert –

‘(bb) the Council’s view of the impact of duplication in the delivery of public services on fiscal sustainability, and’

Mr Matthew O’Toole

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 32
Noes: 47

AYES

Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Ms D Armstrong, Ms K Armstrong, Mr Beattie, Mr Blair, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Burrows, Mr Butler, Mr Chambers, Mr Dickson, Mr Durkan, Ms Egan, Mr Gaston, Mrs Guy, Mr Honeyford, Ms Hunter, Mrs Long, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McMurray, Mr McNulty, Mr McReynolds, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Mr Nesbitt, Mr O'Toole, Mr Stewart, Ms Sugden, Mr Tennyson.
Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Durkan, Mr McNulty.

NOES

Mr Baker, Mr Bradley, Mr Brett, Miss Brogan, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mrs Cameron, Mr Carroll, Mr Clarke, Mr Delargy, Mrs Dillon, Mrs Dodds, Miss Dolan, Mr Dunne, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Erskine, Mrs Ferguson, Ms Finnegan, Miss Flynn, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Gildernew, Mr Givan, Miss Hargey, Mr Harvey, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Mr McAleer, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Miss McIlveen, Mr Martin, Mrs Mason, Miss Murphy, Mr O'Dowd, Ms Reilly, Mr Robinson, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Wilson.
Tellers for the Noes: Mrs Dillon, Miss Dolan.

The amendment was negatived.

Votes cast by proxy:

Miss Brogan’s vote was cast by Mrs Ennis.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 29 April 2026 to 5 May 2026.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

SR 2026/85 The Comber Road, Dundonald (Abandonment and Stopping Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department for Infrastructure)

For Information Only

SR 2026/82 The Parking Places (Disabled Persons’ Vehicles) (Amendment No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2026/83 The Schools (Part-Time 20mph Speed Limit) (Amendment No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2026/84 The Roads (Speed Limit) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2026/86 The Road Races (Tandragee 100) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 (Department for Infrastructure)

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

6. Assembly Reports

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committee Sixty-Fourth Report of Session 2025-26 (NIA 167/22-27) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

Report on a complaint against Mr Mark Durkan MLA and Ms Cara Hunter MLA (NIA 155 22-27) (Committee on Standards and Privileges)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Extension of the Debt Respite (Breathing Space) Scheme to Northern Ireland via UK statutory instrument and withdrawal of the Debt Respite (Northern Ireland) Bill (Minister for Communities)

Update on Enactment of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill (Minister of Health)

Update on the Progress of the Regional Mother and Baby Unit (Minister of Health)

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Review of implementation of the Nutrient Action Programme Regulations (2019) in Northern Ireland (Office for Environmental Protection)

Northern Ireland Central Investment Fund for Charities Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 30 September 2025 (Department for Communities)

Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the Department for Infrastructure On Regulation of Public Drinking Water Quality by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) (Department for Infrastructure)

Continuous Improvement Arrangements in Policing - Performance Summary 2024-25 and Annual Performance Plan 2025-26 (Northern Ireland Audit Office)

9. Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Partnership Agreement between the Department for the Economy and the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland (Department for the Economy)

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 5 May 2026

2022-2027 Mandate
Executive Bills

2022-2027 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills