Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at 10.30am, 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
Mrs Emma Little-Pengelly
Ms Sian Mulholland
Mr Robbie Butler
Mr Daniel McCrossan
Ms Emma Sheerin
Mr Paul Givan
Ms Connie Egan
Mr Colm Gildernew
Mr Stephen Dunne
Mr David Honeyford
Ms Diane Forsythe
Mr Timothy Gaston

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

Mr Gerry Carroll

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Further Consideration Stage: Child Support Enforcement Bill (NIA Bill 05/22-27)

The Minister for Communities, Mr Gordon Lyons, moved the Further Consideration Stage of the Child Support Enforcement Bill (NIA Bill 05/22-27).

No amendments were tabled to the Bill.

The Child Support Enforcement Bill (NIA Bill 05/22-27) stood referred to the Speaker for consideration in accordance with section 10 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

3.2 Motion: The draft Welfare Supplementary Payment (Universal Credit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025

Proposed:

That the draft Welfare Supplementary Payment (Universal Credit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 be approved.

Minister for Communities

Motion: The draft Welfare Supplementary Payment (Universal Credit) (Social Sector Size Criteria) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025

Proposed:

That the draft Welfare Supplementary Payment (Universal Credit) (Social Sector Size Criteria) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 be approved.

Minister for Communities

Motion: The draft Welfare Supplementary Payment (Extension) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025

Proposed:

That the draft Welfare Supplementary Payment (Extension) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 be approved.

Minister for Communities

A single debate ensued on all three motions.

The Question being put, the motion on the draft Welfare Supplementary Payment (Universal Credit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 was carried.

The Question being put, the motion on the draft Welfare Supplementary Payment (Universal Credit) (Social Sector Size Criteria) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 was carried.

The Question being put, the motion on the draft Welfare Supplementary Payment (Extension) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 was carried.

3.3 Motion: The Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025

Proposed:

That the Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 be affirmed.

Minister for Communities

Debate ensued.

The question being put, the motion was carried.

3.4 Legislative Consent Motion: Property (Digital Assets etc) Bill

Proposed:

That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension to Northern Ireland of the provisions of the Property (Digital Assets etc) Bill, as amended in the House of Lords on 3 February 2025, dealing with territorial extent as contained in clause 2 of the Bill.

Minister of Finance

Debate ensued.

The question being put, the motion was carried.

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.

4. Private Members’ Business

4.1 Motion: Delivering an Irish Language Strategy

Proposed:

That this Assembly acknowledges the enormous historical, cultural and social importance of the Irish language; recognises the vibrancy and growth of the language in music, education and film; commends all those who have participated in another Seachtain na Gaeilge, celebrating and appreciating the vibrancy of the Irish Language across our island; and calls on the Minister for Communities to deliver the long overdue Irish Language Strategy.

Miss Nicola Brogan
Ms Emma Sheerin
Mr Colm Gildernew
Mr Maolíosa McHugh

Amendment:

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘social importance of’ and insert:

‘Irish and Ulster Scots languages in Northern Ireland; recognises the vibrancy and growth of both in music, education and film; commends all those who have participated in another Seachtain na Gaeilge celebrating and appreciating the vibrancy of the Irish Language; further commends the Ulster Scots Agency for its continued development of the use of Ulster Scots; and calls on the Minister for Communities to deliver the long overdue Irish and Ulster Scots language strategies.’

Mr Robbie Butler
Mr Doug Beattie
Mr John Stewart
Mr Colin Crawford

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 12.56pm.
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 Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.

6. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)

6.1 Motion: Delivering an Irish Language Strategy (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

The Question being put, the amendment was made.

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

7. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

Miss Nicola Brogan spoke to her topic regarding the Education Authority's Published Admission Number Allocations for Community and Voluntary Playgroups in West Tyrone.

The Assembly adjourned at 3.39pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker

18 March 2025

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 12 March 2025 to 18 March 2025.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

SR 2025/52 The Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Communities)

SR 2025/53 The Social Security Revaluation of Earnings Factors Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Communities)

SR 2025/55 The Public Service Pensions Revaluation Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department of Finance)

For Information Only

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

SR 2025/51 The Traffic Weight Restriction (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2025/54 The Road Races (Tour of the Sperrins) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Infrastructure)

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

6. Assembly Reports

Report on Legislative Consent Memorandum on The Employment Rights Bill (NIA 82/22-27) (Committee for Communities)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

British Wool Marketing Board Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 (Department of Education)

Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 (Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland)

9. Publications Presented in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Welfare Mitigations Review, Independent Advisory Panel Report 2022 (Department for Communities)

Independent Advisory Panel Report on Welfare Mitigations, Full Year Estimated Cost of Implementation (Department for Communities)

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 18 March 2025
2022-2027 Mandate
Executive Bills

2022-2027 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills

/ Bills progressing by accelerated passage