Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at noon, 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:

Mr Declan Kearney
Mr Stephen Dunne
Mr Eóin Tennyson
Dr Steve Aiken
Mr Daniel McCrossan
Mr Pádraig Delargy
Mr Gary Middleton
Ms Paula Bradshaw
Mr Alan Robinson
Mr Timothy Gaston
Mr Brian Kingston
Ms Claire Sugden

3. Ministerial Statement

3.1 Executive’s Response to Storm Éowyn

The First Minister, Ms Michelle O’Neill, made a statement regarding the Executive’s Response to Storm Éowyn, following which the First Minister and deputy First Minister replied to questions.
The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.

4. Private Members’ Business

4.1 Motion: Emergency Food Parcels for Children

Proposed:

That this Assembly expresses grave alarm that the number of emergency food parcels distributed by Trussell food banks to children in Northern Ireland increased by 90 per cent during the last five years; is further alarmed that the proportion of emergency food parcels provided to children is higher in Northern Ireland than any other part of the UK; is concerned by the recent report on child poverty from the Public Accounts Committee, which found that delivery of the Child Poverty Strategy has been characterised by failure; recognises that an adequate standard of living is essential for children’s physical, social and developmental needs; calls on the Minister for Communities to urgently publish the new anti-poverty strategy; and further calls on the Minister to work with the Department for Work and Pensions to create a progressive social security system that better supports families with children.

Ms Sian Mulholland
Ms Kellie Armstrong
Mrs Michelle Guy
Mr Andrew McMurray

Amendment:

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘developmental needs;’ and insert:

‘welcomes the commitment of the Minister for Communities to delivering a new anti-poverty strategy; calls on the Minister to urgently bring that draft strategy to the Executive for consideration, with view to launching a public consultation on the proposals; and further calls on the Minister to work with the Department for Work and Pensions to create a progressive social security system that better supports families with children’

Mr Brian Kingston
Mr Maurice Bradley

Debate ensued.

The debate stood suspended for Question Time, the Speaker took the Chair.

5. Question Time

5.1 Infrastructure

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

5.2 Health

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

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

6. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)

6.1 Motion: Emergency Food Parcels for Children (cont’d)

Debate resumed on the motion.

The Question being put, the amendment was made.

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

6.2 Motion: Collection and Recycling Scheme for Disposable Nappies

Proposed:

That this Assembly expresses concern that proposals to address disposable nappies and other absorbent hygiene products were not included in the recent Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs consultation, Rethinking Our Resources: Measures for Climate Action and a Circular Economy in NI, despite making up around 4 per cent of residual waste; highlights the impact that reducing residual waste capacity per household will have on those who dispose of such products, as well as the amount of recyclable material lost to landfill or incineration; recognises that a nappy collection scheme would support delivery against the 70 per cent recycling target by 2030 set out in the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022; calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to promote reusable nappy products as an alternative to disposable nappies; and further calls on the Minister, drawing on best practice in other jurisdictions, to develop a strategy in conjunction with local councils for the collection and recycling of disposable nappies and other absorbent hygiene products in Northern Ireland.

Miss Michelle McIlveen
Mr Tom Buchanan
Mr William Irwin

Amendment:

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘concern’ and insert:

‘that disposable nappies and other absorbent hygiene products make up around 4 per cent of residual waste; welcomes the proposed new guidance for councils on expanding opportunities to recycle more materials, including nappies and other absorbent hygiene products, in the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs consultation, Rethinking Our Resources: Measures for Climate Action and a Circular Economy in NI; highlights the impact that reducing residual waste capacity per household will have on those who dispose of such products, as well as the amount of recyclable material lost to landfill or incineration; recognises that a nappy collection scheme would support delivery against the 70 per cent recycling target by 2030 set out in the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022; calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to promote reusable nappy products as an alternative to disposable nappies; and further calls on the Minister, drawing on best practice in other jurisdictions and in conjunction with local councils, to develop the new guidance for councils on expanding recycling opportunities that is proposed in the Rethinking Our Resources consultation.’

Mr John Blair
Mr Andrew McMurray
Mr Eóin Tennyson
Ms Sian Mulholland

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the amendment was made (Division).

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

6. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 5.40pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
27 January 2025

Northern Ireland Assembly

27 January 2025 – Division

Amendment: Collection and Recycling Scheme for Disposable Nappies

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘concern’ and insert:

‘that disposable nappies and other absorbent hygiene products make up around 4 per cent of residual waste; welcomes the proposed new guidance for councils on expanding opportunities to recycle more materials, including nappies and other absorbent hygiene products, in the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs consultation, Rethinking Our Resources: Measures for Climate Action and a Circular Economy in NI; highlights the impact that reducing residual waste capacity per household will have on those who dispose of such products, as well as the amount of recyclable material lost to landfill or incineration; recognises that a nappy collection scheme would support delivery against the 70 per cent recycling target by 2030 set out in the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022; calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to promote reusable nappy products as an alternative to disposable nappies; and further calls on the Minister, drawing on best practice in other jurisdictions and in conjunction with local councils, to develop the new guidance for councils on expanding recycling opportunities that is proposed in the Rethinking Our Resources consultation.’

Mr John Blair
Mr Andrew McMurray
Mr Eóin Tennyson
Ms Sian Mulholland

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 33
Noes: 23

AYES

Dr Archibald, Ms K Armstrong, Mr Baker, Mr Blair, Mr Boylan, Ms Bradshaw, Miss Brogan, Mr Carroll, Mr Dickson, Miss Dolan, Mr Donnelly, Ms Egan, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Ferguson, Miss Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Miss Hargey, Mr Kearney, Ms Kimmins, Mrs Long, Mr McAleer, Mr McGuigan, Mr McMurray, Mr McReynolds, Mrs Mason, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Miss Á Murphy, Ms Nicholl, Mr O'Dowd, Ms O'Neill, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Dickson, Mr McMurray.

NOES

Mr Bradley, Mr Brett, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Harvey, Mr Irwin, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Miss McIlveen, Mr Martin, Mr Middleton, Mr Nesbitt, Mr Robinson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr T Buchanan, Mr Martin.

The amendment was made.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 22 January 2025 to 27 January 2025.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

SR 2025/5 The Sydenham By-Pass, Belfast (Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2025/7 The U8017 (unnamed road) off Redrock Road, Markethill (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2025/11 The Animals (Identification, Records, Movement and Enforcement) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

SR 2025/10 The Recognition of Professional Qualifications and Implementation of International Recognition Agreements (Amendment) (Extension to Switzerland etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department of Finance)

SR 2025/XXXX The Northern Ireland Climate Commissioner Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (The Executive Office)

For Information Only

SR 2025/6 The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Derry/Londonderry) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2025/8 The Parking Places (Disabled Persons’ Vehicles) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2025/9 The Period Products (Department of Health Specified Public Service Bodies) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department of Health)

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

Great British Energy Bill (Department for the Economy)

6. Assembly Reports

Inquiry into Regulation (EU) 2024/3110 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2024 laying down harmonised rules for the marketing of construction products and repealing Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 (NIA 67/22-27) (Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee)

Inquiry into Regulation (EU) 2024/3115 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2024 amending Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 as regards multiannual survey programmes, notifications concerning the presence of regulated non-quarantine pests, temporary derogations from import prohibitions and special import requirements and establishment of procedures for granting them, temporary import requirements for high-risk plants, plant products and other objects, the establishment of procedures for the listing of high -risk plants, the content of phytosanitary certificates and the use of plant passports, and as regards certain reporting requirements for demarcated areas and surveys of pests and amending Regulation (EU) 2017/625 as regards certain notifications of non-compliance (NIA 66/22-27) (Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee)

Report on the Legislative Consent Memorandum on the UK Government Tobacco and Vapes Bill (NIA 69/22-27) (Committee for Health)

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Thirtieth Report (NIA 71/22-27) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Food Safety Promotion Board (Safefood) Annual Report 2023 (Department of Health)

Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority Annual Report and Accounts 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority Annual Report and Accounts 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

Loughs Agency Annual Report and Accounts for the period ended 31 December 2023 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

9. Publications Presented to the Northern Ireland Assembly

Partnership Agreement between The Executive Office and the Office of the Attorney General for Northern Ireland (The Executive Office)

Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 For the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 (Department of Finance)