Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at 10.30am, the Speaker in the Chair.

1. Prayers

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Speaker’s Business

2.1 Courtesies and Behaviour in the Assembly

The Speaker made some remarks in relation to the courtesies and behaviour expected in the Chamber, and reminded Members of Standing Orders in relation to Members’ Statements and Question Time.

3. Matters of the Day

3.1 The Impact of the Proposed UK Immigration Reforms on Northern Ireland

Mr Matthew O’Toole, under Standing Order 24, made a statement on the Impact of the Proposed UK Immigration Reforms on Northern Ireland. Other Members were also called to speak on the matter.

4. Members’ Statements

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

Mr Philip McGuigan
Mr Alan Robinson
Miss Nuala McAllister
Mr Robbie Butler
Mr Colin McGrath
Ms Aoife Finnegan
Mrs Deborah Erskine
Mr Maolíosa McHugh
Mr David Brooks
Mr John Blair
Mr Brian Kingston
Ms Paula Bradshaw

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

5. Committee Business

5.1 Consideration Stage: Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill (NIA Bill 09/22-27)

Mr Colin McGrath, on behalf of the Assembly Commission, moved the Consideration Stage of the Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill (NIA Bill 09/22-27).

Fourteen amendments were tabled to the Bill and selected for debate.

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 12.52pm.

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

6. Question Time

6.1 Economy

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

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

7. Committee Business (cont’d)

7.1 Consideration Stage: Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill (NIA Bill 09/22-27) (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

Clauses

After debate, Amendment 1 to Clause 1 was made without division.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 1, as amended, stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 2 stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 2 to Clause 3 was negatived without division.

After debate, Amendment 3 to Clause 3 was negatived without division.

After debate, Amendment 4 to Clause 3 was negatived without division.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 3 stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 5 inserting new clause ‘Functions of the panel: review requirement’ was negatived without division.

After debate, Amendment 6 to Clause 4 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 7 to Clause 4 was made without division.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 4, as amended, stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 8 to Clause 5 was negatived without division.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 5 stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 6 stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 9 to Clause 7 was made without division.

After debate, Amendment 10 to Clause 7 was made without division.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 7, as amended, stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 11 inserting new clause ‘Duty to consult’ was negatived without division.

After debate, Amendment 12 to Clause 8 was made without division.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 8, as amended, stand part of the Bill.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 9 stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 13 to Clause 10 was negatived without division.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 10 stand part of the Bill.

After debate, Amendment 14 to Clause 11 was made without division.

The question being put, it was agreed without division that Clause 11, as amended, stand part of the Bill.

Long Title

The question being put, the Long Title was agreed without division.

The Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill (NIA Bill 09/22-27) stood referred to the Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

8. Private Members’ Business

8.1 Motion: Tackling the Impact of Online Harms on Young People

Proposed:

That this Assembly expresses grave concern about the impact of social media and smartphones on young people; recognises that tackling online harms will require genuine cross-departmental working; calls on the Minister of Education to ban smartphones in schools, integrate online safety into the curriculum, provide additional training for teachers on online safety, increase the provision of counselling services in schools and reform Relationships and Sex Education to help tackle drivers of online abuse; and further calls on the Minister of Justice to ensure that funding for the PSNI’s child internet protection team is adequately prioritised as part of any increase in the police workforce.

Ms Cara Hunter
Mr Colin McGrath
Mr Matthew O’Toole

Amendment 1:

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘cross-departmental working’ and insert:

‘; calls on the Minister of Education to advance the ongoing pilot to limit the use of smartphones in schools, integrate online safety into the curriculum, provide training for teachers on online safety, seek to increase the provision of counselling services in schools and ensure Relationships and Sex Education helps tackle drivers of online abuse; and further calls on the Minister of Justice to unlock additional resources for the PSNI’s child internet protection team by ensuring funding for policing is adequately prioritised, including through progressing the Chief Constable’s recovery business case to increase the police workforce.’

Ms Joanne Bunting
Mr David Brooks
Mr Peter Martin

Amendment 2:

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘cross-departmental working’ and insert:

‘calls on the Minister of Education to support post-primary schools to develop appropriate and flexible policies that informs parents of both the risks and the potential educational value of smartphones; further calls for online safety to be embedded across the curriculum and teacher training, for increased provision of counselling services in schools, and for Relationships and Sex Education to be reformed to better address the drivers of online abuse; and calls on the Minister of Justice to ensure that funding for the PSNI’s child internet protection team is adequately prioritised as part of any increase in the police workforce.’

Mr Danny Baker
Ms Deirdre Hargey

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, amendment 1 was made.

As amendment 1 was made the question was not put on amendment 2.

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

9. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

Mr Tom Buchanan spoke to his topic regarding the Impact of the A5 Western Transport Corridor on Local Communities.

The Assembly adjourned at 7.25pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
13 May 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 13 May 2025.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

6. Assembly Reports

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General Continuous improvement arrangements in policing - Performance Summary 2023-24 and Annual Performance Plan 2024-25 (Northern Ireland Audit Office)

9. Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly

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 13 May 2025
2022-2027 Mandate
Executive Bills

2022-2027 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills

/ Bills progressing by accelerated passage