Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at noon, the Speaker in the Chair.

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Speaker’s Business

2.1 Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil Éireann

The Speaker welcomed the Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil Éireann, Verona Murphy TD, on her first official visit to Parliament Buildings.

3. Members’ Statements

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

Mr Pat Sheehan
Mr David Brooks
Ms Connie Egan
Dr Steve Aiken
Ms Sinéad McLaughlin
Mrs Ciara Ferguson
Mr Alan Robinson
Ms Sian Mulholland
Mr Colm Gildernew
Mrs Diane Dodds
Mr Jonathan Buckley
Mt 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 3 March 2025.

The Executive Office

The Question being put, the motion was carried with cross-community support.

4.2 Motion: Programme for Government

Proposed:

That this Assembly approves the Programme for Government 2024-2027 as agreed by the Executive.

The Executive Office

Debate ensued.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

The sitting was suspended at 1.55pm.

The sitting resumed at 2.00pm, the Speaker in the Chair.

5. Question Time

5.1 The Executive Office

Questions were put to, and answered by, the First Minister, Ms Michelle O’Neill. The junior Minister, Ms Aisling Reilly, also answered a number of questions.

5.2 Communities

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Communities, Mr Gordon Lyons.

6. Executive Committee Business (cont’d)

6.1 Motion: Programme for Government (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

The Question being put, the motion was carried (Division).

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.

6.2 Final Stage: Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Bill (NIA Bill 04/22-27)

The Minister for Communities, Mr Gordon Lyons, moved that the Final Stage of the Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Bill (NIA Bill 04/22-27) do now pass.

Debate ensued.

The Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Bill (NIA Bill 04/22-27) passed Final Stage.

6.3 Second Stage: School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill (NIA Bill 12/22-27)

The Minister of Education, Mr Paul Givan, moved the Second Stage of School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill (NIA Bill 12/22-27).

Debate ensued.

The School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill (NIA Bill 12/22-27) passed Second Stage.

7. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 7.49pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
3 March 2025

 
Northern Ireland Assembly

3 March 2025 – Division

Motion: Programme for Government

Proposed:

That this Assembly approves the Programme for Government 2024-2027 as agreed by the Executive.

The Executive Office

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 70

Noes: 10

AYES

Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Ms D Armstrong, Ms K Armstrong, Mr Baker, Mr Beattie, Mr Boylan, Mr Bradley, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Brett, Miss Brogan, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Mr Crawford, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dillon, Mrs Dodds, Miss Dolan, Mr Donnelly, Mr Dunne, Ms Egan, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Erskine, Mrs Ferguson, Ms Finnegan, Miss Flynn, Ms Forsythe, Mr Frew, Mr Gildernew, Mr Givan, Mrs Guy, Miss Hargey, Mr Harvey, Mr Honeyford, Mr Irwin, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mrs Long, Mr Lyons, Mr McAleer, Mr McGuigan, Miss McIlveen, Mr McMurray, Mr McReynolds, Mr Martin, Mrs Mason, Mr Middleton, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Miss Murphy, Ms Nicholl, Mr O'Dowd, Ms O'Neill, Ms Reilly, Mr Robinson, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Stewart, Ms Sugden.

Tellers for the Ayes: Miss Dolan, Mr Dunne.

NOES

Mr Carroll, Mr Durkan, Mr Gaston, Ms Hunter, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McNulty, Mr O'Toole.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr McGlone, Mr O’Toole.

The motion was carried.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 25 February 2025 to 3 March 2025.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

Draft SR 2025/000 The Welfare Supplementary Payment (Extension) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Communities)

Draft SR 2025/000 The Welfare Supplementary Payment (Universal Credit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Communities)

Draft SR 2025/000 The Welfare Supplementary Payment (Universal Credit) (Social Sector Size Criteria) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Communities)

SR 2025/35 The Police Trainee (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department of Justice)

SR 2025/36 The Pneumoconiosis, Etc., (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Communities)

5. Legislative Consent Motions

6. Assembly Reports

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Publication of the Autism Strategy 2023-28 Monitoring Report 23/24 (Minister of Health)

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Lay Observer Annual Report April 2023 – March 2024 (Department of Finance)

Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission Annual Report and Accounts 2023-2024 for the year ended 31 March 2024 (The Executive Office)

9. Publications Presented to the Northern Ireland Assembly

Press Recognition Panel Annual Report on the Recognition System, 27 February 2025 (Press Recognition Panel)

Our Plan: Doing What Matters Most Programme for Government 2024-2027 (The Executive Office)