Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at 10.30am, the Principal Deputy 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 Cathal Boylan
Mrs Diane Dodds
Mr Peter McReynolds
Dr Steve Aiken
Mrs Cathy Mason
Mr Keith Buchanan
Ms Kellie Armstrong
Mr Declan Kearney
Mr Stephen Dunne
Mrs Deborah Erskine
Ms Cheryl Brownlee
Mr Timothy Gaston

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

3. Private Members’ Business

3.1 Motion: Redevelopment of Craigavon Area Hospital

Proposed:

That this Assembly stresses the importance of sustained capital investment in Northern Ireland’s hospital network; notes, in this regard, the growing need to address inequalities in the allocation of funding for projects between Health and Social Care Trust areas; expresses particular concern that the redevelopment of Craigavon Area Hospital has not yet commenced despite a masterplan being completed in 2016; recalls the Southern Health and Social Care Trust’s Covid-19 Serious Adverse Incident Report, published in 2023, which found that ageing equipment, lack of clinical accommodation, including insufficient beds, theatre, day surgery and endoscopy space, as well as limited toilets and shower facilities, were leading to an increased risk of infection transmission; believes this situation is unsustainable; welcomes engagement between representatives of the Southern Health and Social Care Trust and the Department of Health on plans to advance fresh plans for the redevelopment of Craigavon Area Hospital site; and calls on the Minister of Health to approve, and provide finance for, the Trust’s programme business case for the project in the next financial year.

Mrs Diane Dodds
Mr Alan Robinson

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

3.2 Motion: Social Security Reform and Economic Inactivity

Proposed:

That this Assembly opposes the approach of the UK Government to reforming disability benefits; believes that withdrawing or cutting social security support for those most in need risks exacerbating poverty and increasing pressure on other public services; agrees that there are other, more progressive, ways to generate additional money for government, including tax increases for the super-wealthy; calls on the UK Government to reconsider the punitive elements of its proposals and ensure fairness and dignity for those requiring welfare support; and further calls on the Minister for Communities to work with the UK Government on the establishment of a UK-wide commission to develop holistic, cross-departmental proposals for addressing economic inactivity among those with long-term illnesses and disabilities.

Ms Sian Mulholland
Ms Kellie Armstrong
Mr David Honeyford
Mrs Michelle Guy

Amendment 1:

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘public services’ and insert:

‘expresses regret that the Northern Ireland Executive and the UK Government have failed the most vulnerable in our society through repeated political collapse, block grant underfunding and a failure to transform public services; calls on the UK Government to reconsider the punitive elements of its proposals and ensure fairness and dignity for those requiring welfare support; further calls on the Minister for Communities to work with the Minister of Finance on the development of a mitigation package which protects current and future claimants from reductions in social security entitlements that will arise from the UK Government’s reforms.’

Mr Mark Durkan
Mr Patsy McGlone

Amendment 2:

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘money for government,’ and insert:

‘including tackling fraud and abuse in the welfare system, targeting global corporations who evade tax, and exploring a potential sales tax for online marketplaces; acknowledges calls for tax increases for the super-wealthy but believes any such policy must be fair, deliverable and avoid a detrimental impact on savings or investment; calls on the UK Government to reconsider the punitive elements of its proposals and ensure fairness and dignity for those requiring welfare support, as well as the taxpayer; and further calls on the Minister for Communities to work with the UK Government on the establishment of a UK-wide commission to develop holistic, cross-departmental proposals for addressing economic inactivity among those with long-term illnesses and disabilities.’

Mr Maurice Bradley
Mr Brian Kingston

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 12.58pm.

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

4. Question Time

4.1 Economy

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for the Economy, Dr Caoimhe Archibald.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair

4.2 Assembly Commission

Questions were put to, and answered by, Members of the Assembly Commission.

5. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)

5.1 Motion: Social Security Reform and Economic Inactivity (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

The Question being put, amendment 1 fell.

The Question being put, amendment 2 fell (Division).

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.

6. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

Mr Peter Martin spoke to his topic regarding Lack of Investment in the Road Network in North Down.

The Assembly adjourned at 5.09pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
1 April 2025

Northern Ireland Assembly

1 April 2025 – Division

Amendment 2: Social Security Reform and Economic Inactivity

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘money for government,’ and insert:

‘including tackling fraud and abuse in the welfare system, targeting global corporations who evade tax, and exploring a potential sales tax for online marketplaces; acknowledges calls for tax increases for the super-wealthy but believes any such policy must be fair, deliverable and avoid a detrimental impact on savings or investment; calls on the UK Government to reconsider the punitive elements of its proposals and ensure fairness and dignity for those requiring welfare support, as well as the taxpayer; and further calls on the Minister for Communities to work with the UK Government on the establishment of a UK-wide commission to develop holistic, cross-departmental proposals for addressing economic inactivity among those with long-term illnesses and disabilities.’

Mr Maurice Bradley
Mr Brian Kingston

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 26
Noes: 55

AYES

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

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Bradley, Mr Kingston.

NOES

Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Dr Archibald, Ms D Armstrong, Ms K Armstrong, Mr Baker, Mr Beattie, Mr Boylan, Ms Bradshaw, Miss Brogan, Mr Butler, Mr Carroll, Mr Chambers, Mr Crawford, Mr Delargy, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dillon, Miss Dolan, Mr Donnelly, Mr Durkan, Ms Egan, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Ferguson, Ms Finnegan, Miss Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Mrs Guy, Miss Hargey, Mr Honeyford, Ms Hunter, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mr McAleer, Miss McAllister, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Mr McGuigan, Mr McHugh, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McMurray, Mr McReynolds, Mrs Mason, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Miss Murphy, Ms Nicholl, Mr O'Dowd, Ms O'Neill, Mr O'Toole, Ms Reilly, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Tennyson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Donnelly, Mr McMurray.

The amendment fell.

Votes cast by proxy:

Mr O’Toole’s vote was cast by Mr McGrath.

Ms Nicholl’s vote was cast by Ms Bradshaw.
Northern Ireland Assembly

Proxy Voting Notifications

In line with Standing Order 27A, Mr Matthew O’Toole arranged for his vote to be exercised by a proxy (Mr Colin McGrath) during the period 24 March 2025 to 12 April 2025.

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 1 April 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 2025/70 The Recognition of Professional Qualifications and Implementation of International Recognition Agreements (Amendment) (Extension to Switzerland etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department of Finance)

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

6. Assembly Reports

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

9. Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly

The Pollution Prevention and Control (District Councils) Charging Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

Northern Ireland Assembly Legislation:

Stages in Consideration of Public Bills
First Stage: Introduction of Bill.
Second Stage: General debate of the Bill with an opportunity for Members to vote on its general principles.
Committee Stage (Comm. Stage): Detailed investigation by a Committee which concludes with the publication of a report for consideration by the Assembly.
Consideration Stage (CS): Consideration by the Assembly of, and an opportunity for Members to vote on, the details of the Bill including amendments proposed to the Bill.
Further Consideration Stage (FCS): Consideration by the Assembly of, and an opportunity for Members to vote on, further amendments to the Bill.
Final Stage: Passing or rejecting of Bill by the Assembly, without further amendment.
Royal Assent.

Proceedings as 1 April 2025
2022-2027 Mandate
Executive Bills

2022-2027 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills

/ Bills progressing by accelerated passage