Minutes of Proceedings
Session: Session currently unavailable
Date: 16 June 2025
The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair.
1. Prayers
Members observed two minutes’ silence.
2. Speakers’ Business
2.1 The late Mr Seán Neeson
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Members paid tribute to Mr Neeson. |
2.2 Ministerial Availability
The Speaker informed Members that he had received notification from the Minister of Justice that she was unable to deliver her statement on Intergovernmental Agreement on Cooperation on Criminal Justice Matters, as she was unwell, and that the statement would be rescheduled.
3. Members’ Statements
Under Standing Order 24A, the following Members made a statement to the Assembly:
Mr Pat Sheehan
Mr Paul Frew
Dr Steve Aiken
Mr Daniel McCrossan
Ms Aoife Finnegan
Mr Tom Buchanan
Mr Eóin Tennyson
Mr Gerry Carroll
Mr Danny Donnelly
Ms Claire Sugden
Mr Jonathan Buckley
Mr Timothy Gaston
4. Executive Committee Business
4.1 Motion: Suspension of Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4)
Proposed:
That Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4) be suspended for 16 June 2025.
Minister of Finance
The Question being put, the motion was carried with cross-community support.
4.2 Further Consideration Stage: Budget (No. 2) Bill (NIA Bill 14/22-27)
The Minister of Finance, Mr John O’Dowd, moved the Further Consideration Stage of the Budget (No. 2) Bill (NIA Bill 14/22-27).
No amendments were tabled to the Bill.
The Budget (No. 2) Bill (NIA Bill 14/22-27) stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with Section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
4.3 First Stage: Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill (NIA Bill 15/22-27)
The First Minister, Ms Michelle O’Neill, introduced a Bill to make provision relating to a Truth Recovery Public Inquiry into Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses between 1922 and 1995; to establish the Truth Recovery Redress Service and to enable payments to be made to or in respect of certain persons; and for connected purposes.
The Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill (NIA Bill 15/22-27) passed First Stage and was ordered to be printed.
The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.
5. Assembly Business
5.1 Final Stage: Assembly Members (Independent Remuneration Board) Bill (NIA Bill 09/22-27)
Mr Andy Allen, on behalf of the Assembly Commission, moved that the Final Stage of the Assembly Members (Independent Remuneration Board) Bill (NIA Bill 09/22-27) do now pass.
Debate ensued.
The Assembly Members (Independent Remuneration Board) Bill (NIA Bill 09/22-27) passed Final Stage.
6. Ministerial Statements
6.1 Spending Review Outcome, including Interim Fiscal Framework Implementation Update and Level of Need Report
The Minister of Finance, Mr John O’Dowd, made a statement regarding the Spending Review Outcome, including Interim Fiscal Framework Implementation Update and Level of Need Report, following which he replied to questions.
6.2 Review of Post-School Education: Special Educational Needs
The Minister for the Economy, Dr Caoimhe Archibald, made a statement regarding a Review of Post-School Education: Special Educational Needs, following which she replied to questions.
The statement stood suspended for Question Time, the Speaker took the Chair.
7. Question Time
7.1 Education
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Education, Mr Paul Givan.
7.2 Finance
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Finance, Mr John O’Dowd.
8. Questions for Urgent Oral Answer
8.1 Ballymena Disorder: Safe and Appropriate Rehousing
The Minister for Communities, Mr Gordon Lyons, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer tabled by Mr Colm Gildernew.
8.2 Public Disorder: TEO Strategic Action
The deputy First Minister, Mrs Emma Little-Pengelly, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer tabled by Ms Paula Bradshaw.
The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.
9. Ministerial Statements (cont’d)
9.1 Review of Post-School Education: Special Educational Needs (cont’d)
The statement, and questions, resumed.
The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.
10. Executive Committee Business (cont’d)
10.1 Motion: The draft Environmental Protection (Disposal of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and other Dangerous Substances) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025
Proposed:
That the draft Environmental Protection (Disposal of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and other Dangerous Substances) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 be approved.
Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
The Question being put, the motion was carried.
10.2 Motion: The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2025
Proposed:
That the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 be approved.
Minister for Communities
Motion: The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025
Proposed:
That the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 be approved.
Minister for Communities
A single debate ensued on both motions.
The Question being put, the motion on the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 was carried.
The Question being put, the motion on the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 was carried.
10.3 Motion: The Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025
Proposed:
That the Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 be approved.
Minister for Communities
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the motion was carried.
10.4 Legislative Consent Motion: Product Regulation and Metrology Bill
Proposed:
That this Assembly notes the passage of the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill introduced in the House of Lords on 4 September 2024; further notes and supports all relevant provisions of the Bill so far as these matters fall within the legislative competence of the Assembly; and consents to the principle of the extension to Northern Ireland of the provision relating to the regulations making provision within devolved competence as amended at Committee Stage on 13 May 2025.
Minister for the Economy
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the motion was carried.
The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.
10.5 Final Stage: Budget (No. 2) Bill (NIA Bill 14/22-27)
The Minister of Finance, Mr John O’Dowd, moved that the Final Stage of the Budget (No. 2) Bill (NIA Bill 14/22-27) do now pass.
Debate ensued.
The Budget (No. 2) Bill (NIA Bill 14/22-27) passed Final Stage with cross-community support.
11. Adjournment
Proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
The Speaker
The Assembly adjourned at 6.13pm.
Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
16 June 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.
Northern Ireland Assembly
Papers Presented to the Assembly on 11 June 2025 to 16 June 2025.
1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly
2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly
Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill (NIA Bill 15/22-27)
3. Orders in Council
4. Statutory Rules
For Information Only
SR 2025/105 The Road Races (Down Rally) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Infrastructure)
SR 2025/106 The Road Races (Armoy Motorcycle Road Race) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Infrastructure)
SR 2025/107 The Belsize Gardens and Belsize Way, Lisburn (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Infrastructure)
SR 2025/108 The Loading Bays on Roads (Amendment No. 3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Infrastructure)
SR 2025/109 The Public Service (Civil Servants and Others) Pensions (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department of Finance)
5. Legislative Consent Memorandums
UK Mental Health Bill (Department of Health)
Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)
Pensions Scheme Bill (Department for Communities)
6. Assembly Reports
7. Written Ministerial Statements
British Government Publication of a National Technical Specification Notice (NTSN) for the North (Minister for Infrastructure)
8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly
Report to the Assembly on Consultation on Scheme Yield / Member Contributions (Department of Finance)
