Minutes of Proceedings
Session: Session currently unavailable
Date: 23 June 2025
The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair.
1. Prayers
Members observed two minutes’ silence.
2. Speaker’s Business
2.1 Royal Assent
The Speaker advised Members that Royal Assent had been signified on 18 June 2025 to the Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Bill. It will be known as the Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2025.
2.2 Questions to The Executive Office
The Speaker informed Members that he had received notification from the First Minister and deputy First Minister that they were unavailable to answer questions during Question Time due to unforeseen circumstances. The Speaker informed members that the Business Committee would reschedule this business.
3. Members’ Statements
Under Standing Order 24A, the following Members made a statement to the Assembly:
Ms Aoife Finnegan
Mr Paul Frew
Mr Danny Donnelly
Mr Doug Beattie
Ms Cara Hunter
Mr Pat Sheehan
Mr Stephen Dunne
Ms Sian Mulholland
Mr Colm Gildernew
Ms Diane Forsythe
Dr Steve Aiken
Mrs Michelle Guy
Mr Jonathan Buckley
4. Assembly Business
4.1 Motion: Suspension of Standing Order 20(1)
Proposed:
That Standing Order 20(1) be suspended for 23 June 2025.
Business Committee
The Question being put, the motion was carried with cross-community support.
The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.
5. Ministerial Statement
5.1 Intergovernmental Agreement on Co-operation on Criminal Justice Matters
The Minister of Justice, Mrs Naomi Long, made a statement regarding Intergovernmental Agreement on Co-operation on Criminal Justice Matters following which she replied to questions.
6. Executive Committee Business
6.1 First Stage: Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill (NIA Bill 17/22-27)
On behalf of the Minister for Infrastructure, the Minister for the Economy, Dr Caoimhe Archibald, introduced a Bill to make provision for the regulation of water use; to provide for the regulation of sustainable drainage systems; to make provision in relation to flood prevention and remediation; to make provision in relation to communication with sewers; and for connected purposes.
The Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill (NIA Bill 17/22-27) passed First Stage and was ordered to be printed.
6.2 First Stage: Northern Ireland Fiscal Council Bill (NIA Bill 18/22-27)
The Minister of Finance, Mr John O’Dowd, introduced a Bill to make provision for the establishment and functions of the Northern Ireland Fiscal Council; and for connected purposes.
The Northern Ireland Fiscal Council Bill (NIA Bill 18/22-27) passed First Stage and was ordered to be printed.
6.3 First Stage: Administrative and Financial Provisions Bill (NIA Bill 19/22-27)
The Minister of Finance, Mr John O’Dowd, introduced a Bill to make further provision with respect to the administration and financing of public services in Northern Ireland, in particular, measures to provide powers to undertake certain activities, to enable charging for certain activities and to modify arrangements for financial governance.
The Administrative and Financial Provisions Bill (NIA Bill 19/22-27) passed First Stage and was ordered to be printed.
6.4 First Stage: Insolvency (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 20/22-27)
The Minister for the Economy, Dr Caoimhe Archibald, introduced a Bill to amend the law relating to insolvency; and for connected purposes.
The Insolvency (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 20/22-27) passed First Stage and was ordered to be printed.
6.5 First Stage: Dilapidation Bill (NIA Bill 21/22-27)
The Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Mr Andrew Muir, introduced a Bill to confer functions on district councils in connection with the dilapidation of buildings and other land.
The Dilapidation Bill (NIA Bill 21/22-27) passed First Stage and was ordered to be printed.
6.6 Motion: The draft Human Medicines (Amendments Relating to Hub and Spoke Dispensing etc.) Regulations 2025
Proposed:
That the draft Human Medicines (Amendments Relating to Hub and Spoke Dispensing etc.) Regulations 2025 be approved.
Minister of Health
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the motion was carried.
6.7 Legislative Consent Motion: Crime and Policing Bill
Proposed:
That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension to Northern Ireland of the provisions of the Crime and Policing Bill, as introduced in the House of Commons on 25 February 2025, dealing with: an offence of cuckooing (contained in Part 4 Clauses 32 to 34 and 35(2), (3) and (4)(c) and Part 3 of Schedule 5); an updated offence to deal with advice or guidance on creating child sexual abuse material (contained in Part 5 Clause 37); management of sex offenders (contained in Part 5 Clauses 59, 61 to 63, 65, 66(1), 67 and 68 and Schedule 9); administrating etc harmful substances (including by spiking) (contained in Part 7 Clause 73); encouraging or assisting serious self-harm (contained in Part 7 Clauses 74 and 75); electronic devices for use in vehicle offences (contained in Part 8 Clauses 78 and 79); proceeds of crime relating to confiscation (contained in Part 11 Clause 102(2) and Schedule 15); proceeds of civil recovery: costs and expenses (contained in Part 11 Clause 103); international law enforcement data sharing agreements (contained in Part 15 Clauses 127, 128 and 129); and criminal liability of bodies and partnerships (contained in Part 15 Clause 130).
Minister of Justice
Debate ensued.
The Question being put, the motion was carried.
6.8 Legislative Consent Motion: Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill
Proposed:
That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension to Northern Ireland of the provisions of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, as amended in the House of Commons on 19th March 2025, dealing with sharing of information (sharing of trailer data by DVLA) (contained in Part 1, Clauses 30 to 33); offences relating to articles for use in serious crime (contained in Part 3, Clause 45-47); breach of an Interim Serious Crime Preventions Order in non-terrorist cases (contained in Part 3, Clause 49); and validation of fees charged in relation to qualifications (Clause 53) (in respect of the Department of Education’s (England) UK ENIC services insofar as they relate to education) of the Bill.
Minister of Justice
Debate ensued.
The Speaker took the Chair.
The Question being put, the motion was carried.
7. Private Members’ Business
7.1 Motion: Improving Sentencing Practices in Northern Ireland
Proposed:
That this Assembly recognises the independence and vital role of the Northern Ireland judiciary and acknowledges the complex nature of the cases that come before the courts; supports the requirement for all judges to take part in ongoing personal and professional development, as directed by the Lady Chief Justice; expresses deep concern at the lenient sentences handed down in some of the most serious cases, including those involving sexual offences; further recognises the lasting harm such sentences can cause to victims and the damage they do to public confidence in the justice system; is alarmed by recent figures showing that nearly 80 per cent of prisoners in Northern Ireland are repeat offenders, highlighting the urgent need for sentencing policy to do more to deter reoffending and protect the public; believes that sentencing should reflect the seriousness of such crimes and meet the expectations of victims and wider society; calls on the Minister of Justice to take urgent and proactive steps to address these concerns, including launching a public consultation on the establishment of a Sentencing Council for Northern Ireland to support greater consistency, transparency and robustness in sentencing; and further calls on the Minister to ensure that, in all relevant cases, victims are provided with written copies of sentencing remarks, at no cost and without delay.
Mr Doug Beattie
Mr Robbie Butler
Ms Diana Armstrong
Mr Andy Allen
Amendment
Leave out all after ‘urgent need for’ and insert:
‘a comprehensive rehabilitation and resettlement programme to reduce reoffending and protect the public; believes that sentencing should reflect the seriousness of such crimes and meet the expectations of victims and wider society; calls on the Minister of Justice to take urgent and proactive steps to address these concerns, including launching a public consultation on the establishment of a Sentencing Council for Northern Ireland to support greater consistency, transparency and robustness in sentencing; and further calls on the Minister to ensure that, in all relevant cases, victims are provided with written copies of sentencing remarks, at no cost and without delay.’
Miss Deirdre Hargey
Mrs Ciara Ferguson
Mr Danny Baker
Debate ensued.
The debate stood suspended for Question Time.
8. Question Time
8.1 Infrastructure
Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Infrastructure, Ms Liz Kimmins.
The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.
9. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)
9.1 Motion: Improving Sentencing Practices in Northern Ireland (cont’d)
Debate resumed.
The Question being put, the amendment was made.
The Question being put, the motion, as amended, was carried.
10. Adjournment
Proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
The Speaker
The Assembly adjourned at 4.52pm.
Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
23 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 18 June 2025 to 23 June 2025.
1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly
Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2025
2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly
Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill (NIA Bill 17/22-27)
Northern Ireland Fiscal Council Bill (NIA Bill 18/22-27)
Administrative and Financial Provisions Bill (NIA Bill 19/22-27)
Insolvency (Amendment) Bill (NIA Bill 20/22-27)
Dilapidation Bill (NIA Bill 21/22-27)
3. Orders in Council
4. Statutory Rules
SR 2025/110 The Industrial Training Levy (Construction Industry) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for the Economy)
SR 2025/112 The Agriculture (Student Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)
SR 2025/113 The Compensation Orders (Disqualified Directors) Proceedings Rules (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department of Justice)
5. Legislative Consent Memorandums
6. Assembly Reports
Report on Reducing Adult Reoffending in Northern Ireland (NIA 85/22-27) (Public Accounts Committee)
7. Written Ministerial Statements
Publication of the Draft Climate Action Plan (2023-2027) for Public Consultation (Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)
8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly
Commissioner for Standards Annual Report 2024-25 (Commissioner for Standards, Northern Ireland Assembly)
Consumer Council for Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 (Department for the Economy)
Our Food 2024: An Annual Review of Food Standards across the UK (Food Standards Agency)
Ulster Supported Employment Limited Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department for Communities)
Department of Justice Report on the Operation of the Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings Act (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Justice)
Enhancing Access to Justice For Victims and Survivors Of Domestic Abuse: Report under Section 29 of The Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings Act (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Department of Justice)
