Minutes of Proceedings
Session: Session currently unavailable
Date: 10 March 2025
The Assembly met at noon, the Principal Deputy Speaker in the Chair.
1. Prayers
Members observed two minutes’ silence.
2. Speaker’s Business
2.1 Royal Assent
The Principal Deputy Speaker informed Members that Royal Assent was signified to the Budget Act (Northern Ireland) 2025 on 6 March 2025.
3. Members’ Statements
Under Standing Order 24A, the following Members made a statement to the Assembly:
Mr Gerry Kelly
Mr Peter Martin
Ms Paula Bradshaw
Dr Steve Aiken
Mr Matthew O’Toole
Mr Gerry Carroll
Mrs Cathy Mason
Mr Phillip Brett
Ms Sian Mulholland
Mr Daniel McCrossan
Mrs Deborah Erskine
The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.
4. Executive Committee Business
4.1 Motion: The Rates (Regional Rates) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025
Proposed:
That the Rates (Regional Rates) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 be affirmed.
Minister of Finance
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the motion was carried with cross-community support (Division 1).
4.2 Motion: The Rates (Temporary Rebate) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025
Proposed:
That the Rates (Temporary Rebate) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 be affirmed.
Minister of Finance
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the motion was carried.
4.3 Motion: The Rates (Exemption for Automatic Telling Machines in Rural Areas) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025
Proposed:
That the Rates (Exemption for Automatic Telling Machines in Rural Areas) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 be affirmed.
Minister of Finance
Debate ensued.
The debate stood suspended for Question Time, the Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.
5. Question Time
5.1 Education
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Education, Mr Paul Givan.
5.2 Health
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Health, Mr Mike Nesbitt.
6. Question for Urgent Oral Answer
6.1 Anti-Poverty Strategy
The Minister of Education, Mr Paul Givan, on behalf of the Minister for Communities, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer tabled by Mr Colm Gildernew.
The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.
7. Executive Committee Business (cont’d)
7.1 Motion: The Rates (Exemption for Automatic Telling Machines in Rural Areas) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (cont’d)
Debate resumed.
The Question being put, the motion was carried.
8. Private Members’ Business
8.1 Motion: Importance of Children’s One-Year-Old Health Review
Proposed:
That this Assembly commends the vital role that health visitors play in supporting the health and development of children under the age of five; expresses alarm that 15 per cent of children in Northern Ireland were not seen by a health visitor for their year 1 review in 2023-24; notes with deep concern that this figure rose to 46 per cent in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust; highlights the critical need to end regional inequalities in the provision of child health reviews in order to ensure that every child and young person has the best start in life; and calls on the Minister of Health to urgently work with all Health and Social Care Trusts to drive down the number of health reviews that take place outside of the accepted timeframes or not at all.
Mrs Diane Dodds
Mr Alan Robinson
Amendment:
Proposed:
Leave out all after ‘best start in life;’ and insert:
‘calls on the Minister of Health to urgently work with all Health and Social Care Trusts to drive down the number of health reviews that take place outside of the accepted timeframes or not at all; and further calls on the Minister to prioritise development of the revised Healthy Child, Healthy Future framework and ensure the recommendations concerning the role of health visitors from the Fair Start report and Independent Review of Education are implemented.’
Mrs Michelle Guy
Mr Danny Donnelly
Mr Nick Mathison
Miss Nuala McAllister
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the amendment was made.
The Question being put, the motion, as amended, was carried.
9. Assembly Business
9.1 Motion: Extension of Sitting on Monday 10 March 2025 under Standing Order 10(3A)
Proposed:
That, in accordance with Standing Order 10(3A), the sitting on Monday 10 March 2025 be extended to no later than 7.30pm.
Business Committee
The Question being put the motion was carried.
The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.
10. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)
10.1 Motion: Paramilitary Groups Transition from Violence and Crime
Proposed:
That this Assembly categorically opposes proposals from the UK and Irish Governments to appoint an independent expert to scope out a new process of engagement to bring about paramilitary group transition to disbandment; agrees that, more than 25 years after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, there is no place for paramilitarism in our society, and that such groups should either immediately disband or face a robust law enforcement approach like other organised crime gangs; welcomes the work of the Executive Programme on Paramilitarism and Organised Crime; and calls on the UK and Irish Governments to abandon plans for this scoping and engagement exercise and reinvest the associated funding in law enforcement approaches to paramilitary activity.
Ms Paula Bradshaw
Mr Stewart Dickson
Ms Connie Egan
Miss Nuala McAllister
Amendment 1:
Proposed:
Leave out all after ‘Assembly’ and insert:
‘notes the UK and Irish Governments’ plans to appoint an independent expert to scope out a new process to bring about paramilitary group transition to disbandment; agrees that, more than 25 years after the signing of the Belfast Agreement, and over 30 years on from the ceasefires, there is no place for paramilitarism in our society, and that such groups should immediately disband; welcomes the work of the Executive on Paramilitarism and Organised Crime; further notes that significant funding has already been allocated to support transitioning since 1998 and believes that the necessary transition pathways should have been grasped during that period; stresses that further funding, prisoner release or sentence reduction to incentivise transitioning should not form part of any new process aimed at bringing about paramilitary group transition to disbandment; and calls on the UK and Irish Governments to ensure that they maintain the policing and justice response against those who are intent on continuing organised illegal activities while empowering those who want to move away from paramilitarism, ensuring any law enforcement approach can be better focused.’
Mr Doug Beattie
Dr Steve Aiken
Mr Andy Allen
Mr Robbie Butler
Amendment 2:
Proposed:
Leave out all after ‘That this Assembly’ and insert:
‘notes the proposals from the UK and Irish Governments to appoint an independent expert to scope out a new process of engagement to bring about paramilitary group transition to disbandment; agrees that, more than 25 years after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, there is no place for paramilitarism in our society, and that such groups should either immediately disband or face a robust law enforcement approach like other organised crime gangs; welcomes the work of the Executive Programme on Paramilitarism and Organised Crime; and calls on the UK and Irish Governments to set out a short and strictly limited timeline for the scoping and engagement exercise.’
Mr Gerry Kelly
Mrs Linda Dillon
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, amendment 1 fell (Division 2).
The Question being put, amendment 2 was made (Division 3).
The Question being put, the motion, as amended, was carried (Division 4).
11. Adjournment
Proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
The Speaker
The Assembly adjourned at 6.54pm.
Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
10 March 2025
Northern Ireland Assembly
10 March 2025 – Division 1
Motion: The Rates (Regional Rates) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025
Proposed:
That the Rates (Regional Rates) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 be affirmed.
Minister of Finance
The Question was put and the Assembly divided.
Ayes: 62
Noes: 9
AYES
NATIONALIST:
Mr Baker, Mr Boylan, Miss Brogan, Mr Delargy, Mrs Dillon, Miss Dolan, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Ferguson, Ms Finnegan, Miss Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Mr Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mr McAleer, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Mrs Mason, Miss Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Ms Reilly, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin.
UNIONIST:
Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Mr Beattie, Mr Brett, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Ms Bunting, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Givan, Mr Harvey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kingston, Miss McIlveen, Mr Martin, Mr Middleton, Mr Robinson, Mr Stewart.
OTHER:
Ms K Armstrong, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Dickson, Mr Donnelly, Ms Egan, Mrs Guy, Mr Honeyford, Mr McMurray, Mr McReynolds, Mr Mathison, Ms Mulholland, Mr Tennyson.
Tellers for the Ayes: Miss Dolan, Miss Murphy.
NOES
NATIONALIST:
Mr Durkan, Ms Hunter, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McNulty, Mr O’Toole.
UNIONIST:
Mr Gaston.
OTHER:
Mr Carroll.
Tellers for the Noes: Mr Carroll, Mr Durkan.
Total Votes 71 Total Ayes 62 [87.3%]
Nationalist Votes 30 Nationalist Ayes 23 [76.7%]
Unionist Votes 28 Unionist Ayes 27 [96.4%]
Other Votes 13 Other Ayes 12 [92.3%]
The motion was carried with cross-community support.
Northern Ireland Assembly
10 March 2025 – Division 2
Amendment 1: Paramilitary Groups Transition from Violence and Crime
Proposed:
Leave out all after ‘Assembly’ and insert:
‘notes the UK and Irish Governments’ plans to appoint an independent expert to scope out a new process to bring about paramilitary group transition to disbandment; agrees that, more than 25 years after the signing of the Belfast Agreement, and over 30 years on from the ceasefires, there is no place for paramilitarism in our society, and that such groups should immediately disband; welcomes the work of the Executive on Paramilitarism and Organised Crime; further notes that significant funding has already been allocated to support transitioning since 1998 and believes that the necessary transition pathways should have been grasped during that period; stresses that further funding, prisoner release or sentence reduction to incentivise transitioning should not form part of any new process aimed at bringing about paramilitary group transition to disbandment; and calls on the UK and Irish Governments to ensure that they maintain the policing and justice response against those who are intent on continuing organised illegal activities while empowering those who want to move away from paramilitarism, ensuring any law enforcement approach can be better focused.’
Mr Doug Beattie
Dr Steve Aiken
Mr Andy Allen
Mr Robbie Butler
The Question was put and the Assembly divided.
Ayes: 25
Noes: 41
AYES
Dr Aiken, Ms D Armstrong, Mr Beattie, Mr Brett, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Ms Bunting, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Mr Crawford, Mr Dunne, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Harvey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kingston, Miss McIlveen, Mr Martin, Mr Middleton, Mr Robinson.
Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Butler, Mr Crawford.
NOES
Ms K Armstrong, Mr Baker, Mr Boylan, Ms Bradshaw, Miss Brogan, Mr Delargy, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dillon, Miss Dolan, Mr Donnelly, Mr Durkan, Ms Egan, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Ferguson, Ms Finnegan, Miss Flynn, Mr Gaston, Mr Gildernew, Mrs Guy, Miss Hargey, Mr Honeyford, Ms Hunter, Mr Kelly, Mr McAleer, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Mr McMurray, Mr McReynolds, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Miss Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Mr O'Toole, Ms Reilly, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Tennyson.
Tellers for the Noes: Ms Bradshaw, Mr Donnelly.
The amendment fell.
Northern Ireland Assembly
10 March 2025 – Division 3
Amendment 2: Paramilitary Groups Transition from Violence and Crime
Proposed:
Leave out all after ‘That this Assembly’ and insert:
‘notes the proposals from the UK and Irish Governments to appoint an independent expert to scope out a new process of engagement to bring about paramilitary group transition to disbandment; agrees that, more than 25 years after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, there is no place for paramilitarism in our society, and that such groups should either immediately disband or face a robust law enforcement approach like other organised crime gangs; welcomes the work of the Executive Programme on Paramilitarism and Organised Crime; and calls on the UK and Irish Governments to set out a short and strictly limited timeline for the scoping and engagement exercise.’
Mr Gerry Kelly
Mrs Linda Dillon
The Question was put and the Assembly divided.
Ayes: 22
Noes: 19
AYES
Mr Baker, Mr Boylan, Miss Brogan, Mr Delargy, Mrs Dillon, Miss Dolan, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Ferguson, Ms Finnegan, Miss Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Miss Hargey, Mr Kelly, Mr McAleer, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Miss Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Ms Reilly, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin.
Tellers for the Ayes: Mrs Dillon, Mrs Ferguson.
NOES
Ms K Armstrong, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Dickson, Mr Donnelly, Mr Durkan, Ms Egan, Mr Gaston, Mrs Guy, Mr Honeyford, Ms Hunter, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McMurray, Mr McReynolds, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Mr O'Toole, Mr Tennyson.
Tellers for the Noes: Ms Bradshaw, Mr Donnelly.
The following Members voted in both Lobbies and are therefore not counted in the result:
Dr Aiken, Ms D Armstrong, Mr Beattie, Mr Brett, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Ms Bunting, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Mr Crawford, Mr Dunne, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Harvey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kingston, Miss McIlveen, Mr Martin, Mr Middleton, Mr Robinson
The amendment was made.
Northern Ireland Assembly
10 March 2025 – Division 4
Motion as Amended: Paramilitary Groups Transition from Violence and Crime
Proposed:
That this Assembly notes the proposals from the UK and Irish Governments to appoint an independent expert to scope out a new process of engagement to bring about paramilitary group transition to disbandment; agrees that, more than 25 years after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, there is no place for paramilitarism in our society, and that such groups should either immediately disband or face a robust law enforcement approach like other organised crime gangs; welcomes the work of the Executive Programme on Paramilitarism and Organised Crime; and calls on the UK and Irish Governments to set out a short and strictly limited timeline for the scoping and engagement exercise.
Ms Paula Bradshaw
Mr Stewart Dickson
Ms Connie Egan
Miss Nuala McAllister
The Question was put and the Assembly divided.
Ayes: 29
Noes: 19
AYES
Dr Aiken, Ms D Armstrong, Mr Baker, Mr Beattie, Mr Boylan, Miss Brogan, Mr Butler, Mr Chambers, Mr Crawford, Mr Delargy, Mrs Dillon, Miss Dolan, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Ferguson, Ms Finnegan, Miss Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Miss Hargey, Mr Harvey, Mr Kelly, Mr McAleer, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Miss Murphy, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr O'Dowd, Ms Reilly, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin.
Tellers for the Ayes: Mrs Dillon, Mrs Ferguson.
NOES
Ms K Armstrong, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Dickson, Mr Donnelly, Mr Durkan, Ms Egan, Mr Gaston, Mrs Guy, Mr Honeyford, Ms Hunter, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McMurray, Mr McReynolds, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Mr O'Toole, Mr Tennyson.
Tellers for the Noes: Mr McMurray, Mr McReynolds.
The following Members voted in both Lobbies and are therefore not counted in the result:
Mr Brett, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Ms Bunting, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Mr Dunne, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Irwin, Mr Kingston, Miss McIlveen, Mr Martin, Mr Middleton, Mr Robinson.
The motion, as amended, was carried.
Northern Ireland Assembly
Papers Presented to the Assembly on 5 March 2025 to 10 March 2025.
1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly
Budget Act (Northern Ireland) 2025
2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly
3. Orders in Council
4. Statutory Rules
SR 2025/38 The Pension Protection Fund and Occupational Pension Schemes (Levy Ceiling) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Communities)
SR 2025/40 The Farming for Sustainability Knowledge Transfer Payments Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)
SR 2025/41 The Suckler Cow Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)
SR 2025/42 The Teachers’ Pension Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department of Education)
SR 2025/43 The Rates (Social Sector Value) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department of Finance)
SR 2025/44 The Valuation (Telecommunications, Natural Gas and Water) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department of Finance)
SR 2025/45 The Emergency Fuel Payment (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Communities)
Draft SR 2025/0000 The Recognition of Professional Qualifications and Implementation of International Recognition Agreements (Amendment) (Extension to Switzerland etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department of Finance)
For information
SR 2025/37 The Prohibition of Right-Hand Turn (Carrickfergus) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Infrastructure)
SR 2025/39 (C. 1) The Private Tenancies (2022 Act) (Commencement No.2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Communities)
5. Legislative Consent Memorandums
6. Assembly Reports
Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committee Thirty-Fourth Report of Session 2024 – 2025 (NIA 83/22-27) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)
7. Written Ministerial Statements
Update on Intermediate Rent Funding Competition and Selection of the Intermediate Rent Operator (Minister for Communities)
Appointment of the Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland (First Minister and deputy First Minister)
Extending the use of Temporary Exemption Certificates to help manage MOT waiting times (Minister for Infrastructure)
8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly
Department for the Economy Annual Report and Accounts For the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Finance)
Ambulance Handovers in Northern Ireland Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (Northern Ireland Audit Office)
