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 Royal Assent

The Speaker advised Members that Royal Assent had been signified on 23 June 2025 to the Child Support Enforcement Bill. It will be known as the Child Support Enforcement Act (Northern Ireland) 2025.

3. Members’ Statements

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

Mr Philip McGuigan
Mr Paul Frew
Ms Kellie Armstrong
Mr Robbie Butler
Ms Cara Hunter
Mr Declan McAleer
Mr Stephen Dunne
Ms Connie Egan
Mr Colm Gildernew
Mr Jonathan Buckley
Mrs Sinéad Ennis
Mrs Deborah Erskine
Dr Steve Aiken

4. Public Petition

Stop the Nutrients Action Programme

Miss Michelle McIlveen was granted leave, in accordance with Standing Order 22, to present a Public Petition to Stop the Nutrients Action Programme.

5. Assembly Business

5.1 Motion: Suspension of Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4)

Proposed:

That Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4) be suspended for 30 June 2025.

Business Committee

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

5.2 Motion: Committee Membership

Proposed:

That Mr David Brooks replace Ms Cheryl Brownlee as a member of the Committee for Education.

Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr Gary Middleton
Mr Harry Harvey

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

6. Ministerial Statements

6.1 43rd British-Irish Council Summit Meeting

The deputy First Minister, Mrs Emma Little-Pengelly, made a statement regarding the 43rd British-Irish Council Summit Meeting, following which she replied to questions.

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.

6.2 North South Ministerial Council 29th Plenary Meeting

The First Minister, Ms Michelle O’Neill, made a statement regarding the North South Ministerial Council 29th Plenary Meeting, following which she replied to questions.

6.3 East-West Council Meeting

The deputy First Minister, Mrs Emma Little-Pengelly, made a statement regarding the East-West Council Meeting, following which she replied to questions.

The sitting suspended at 1.56pm and resumed at 2.00pm, the Speaker in the Chair.

7. Question Time

7.1 Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Mr Andrew Muir.

7.2 Communities

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

8. Ministerial Statements (cont’d)

8.1 2024-25 Provisional Outturn and 2025-26 June Monitoring

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

The Minister of Finance, Mr John O’Dowd, made a statement regarding the 2024-25 Provisional Outturn and 2025-26 June Monitoring, following which he replied to questions.

9. Executive Committee Business

9.1 Final Stage: Agriculture Bill (NIA Bill 08/22-27)

The Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Mr Andrew Muir, moved the Final Stage of the Agriculture Bill (NIA Bill 08/22-27).

Debate ensued.

The Agriculture Bill (NIA Bill 08/22-27) passed Final Stage.

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.

9.2 Second Stage: Adult Protection Bill (NIA Bill 16/22-27)

The Minister of Health, Mr Mike Nesbitt, moved the Second Stage of the Adult Protection Bill (NIA Bill 16/22-27).

Debate ensued.

The Adult Protection Bill (NIA Bill 16/22-27) passed Second Stage.

9.3 Legislative Consent Motion: Rare Cancers Bill

Proposed:

That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension to Northern Ireland of Clause 1 to the Rare Cancers Bill, as introduced, to provide for a mandated requirement on the Secretary of State for Health to conduct a review of the law on marketing authorisations for orphan medicinal products and how regulations incentivise research and development into medicinal products for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of rare cancers in the UK.

Minister of Health

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

9.4 Motion: Data (Use and Access) Act 2025

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the successful passage of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025; and further notes the relevant provisions of the dealing with Smart Data, the National Underground Asset Register and the amendment of Section 35 of the Digital Economy Act 2017 insofar as these matters fall within the legislative competence of the Assembly.

Minister of Finance

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was negatived.

10. Committee Business

10.1 Motion: Restrictive Practices in Educational Settings

Proposed:

That this Assembly acknowledges the painful, ongoing debate and campaign for minimisation, if not eradication, of restrictive practices in schools and other education settings; applauds parents for bringing this subject to the awareness of the Assembly and the public; commends the efforts of the Department of Education, Department of Health and partners in working to establish guidance for use in both health and education settings; calls on the Minister of Education to commit to guidance and training that is non-discriminatory, person-centred and in the best interests of the child, namely from a human rights perspective; further calls on the Minister to repeal Article 4(1)(c) of the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1998, and make other appropriate legislative changes, to respond compassionately to the difficult circumstances which can arise due to pupils’ challenging behaviours; calls on the Minister to undertake data gathering and monitoring and to review the special school and wider school estate to address the environmental factors which exacerbate distressed and dysregulated behaviours by pupils; and further calls on the Minister to commission an update to the 2013 Education and Training Inspectorate report on persistent and challenging behaviours in special schools and to provide a safe school environment in which the human rights of everyone in the school community are respected and avoidable harm liability is not a concern.

Chairperson, Committee for Education

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

11. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 8.52pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
30 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 25 June 2025 to 30 June 2025

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

For Information Only

SR 2025/114 The Road Races (Garron Point Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2025/115 The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Lisburn) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2025/116 The Loading Bays on Roads Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2025/117 The Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (General) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (The Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland) Department of Health)

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

6. Assembly Reports

Report on Legislative Consent Memorandum – Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill (UK Government) (Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs) (NIA 106/22-27)

Report on the Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Mental Health Bill (Committee for Health) (NIA 108/22-27)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Announcement of the Northern Ireland Community Infrastructure Fund (Minister for Communities)

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

The Insolvency Service Annual Report and Account for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department for the Economy)

InterTradeIreland Annual Report 2023 (Department for the Economy)

The North South Language Body Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2022 (Department for Communities)

Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25 for the year ended 31 March 2025 (Department of Finance)

Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 (Department of Finance)

United Kingdom Debt Management Office, Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt, Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Investment Account Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 (Department of Justice)

9. Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Criminal Justice Inspectorate Business Plan and Inspection Programme for 2025-26 (Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland)

Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25 (Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta)