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:

Mrs Linda Dillon
Mr Brian Kingston
Dr Steve Aiken
Mr Alan Robinson
Ms Cheryl Brownlee
Ms Cara Hunter
Ms Diane Forsythe
Mr Timothy Gaston
Mr Nick Mathison
Mr Jonathan Buckley

3. Ministerial Statement

3.1 Northern Ireland Water’s 2024/2025 Budget Position

The Minister for Infrastructure, Ms Liz Kimmins, made a statement regarding Northern Ireland Water’s 2024/2025 Budget Position, following which she replied to questions.

4. Executive Committee Business

4.1 First Stage: Deaths, Still-Births and Baby Loss Bill (NIA Bill 10/22-27)

The Minister of Finance, Mr John O’Dowd, introduced a Bill to amend the law relating to the manner of notification of deaths, still-births and births and the manner of giving particulars relating to them; and to make provision for the issue of certificates recognising the loss of a baby.

The Deaths, Still-Births and Baby Loss Bill (NIA Bill 13/22-27) passed First Stage and was ordered to be printed.

5. Committee Business

5.1 Motion: Extension of Committee Stage – Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill (NIA Bill 09/22-27)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 16 May 2025, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill.

Chairperson, Ad Hoc Committee on the Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill

Debate ensued.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

6. Private Members’ Business

6.1 Motion: Hydrogen Innovation Strategy

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises that Northern Ireland is fast emerging as an innovator in green hydrogen technology; believes there is a need to seize opportunities flowing from the production and storage of green hydrogen to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, improve our energy security and decarbonise transport; is committed to making Northern Ireland a hub for low-carbon and advanced manufacturing within the United Kingdom by harnessing our region’s open coastlines and expanding our hydrogen skills base even further, including through dedicated apprenticeships; calls on the Minister for the Economy to develop, and consult on, a dedicated hydrogen innovation strategy for Northern Ireland; and further calls on the Minister to open discussions with the UK Government to target greater access to funding streams and incentives for businesses, including small and medium enterprises, in the local hydrogen sector.

Mr Phillip Brett
Mr Gary Middleton
Mr Jonathan Buckley

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the motion was carried.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

6.2 Motion: Tackling the Financial and Societal Impacts of Division

Proposed:

That this Assembly expresses grave concern at the cost of division in Northern Ireland, resulting in duplication of public services, additional policing and justice costs and foregone economic opportunities; notes that the cost of division was estimated to be up to £833 million per year by Ulster University’s Economic Policy Centre in 2016; believes that is an unaffordable waste of the Executive’s scarce budget and would be better invested in tackling waiting lists, building social homes, improving education provision, increasing police officer numbers and delivering other priorities shared by local communities; further believes that there should be an updated assessment of the cost of division; calls on the Minister of Finance to include a statutory duty on the Northern Ireland Fiscal Council to assess the cost of division; and further calls on the Executive to develop a cross-departmental plan to tackle the financial and societal impacts of division in Northern Ireland.

Mr Eóin Tennyson
Miss Nuala McAllister
Mr Nick Mathison
Ms Connie Egan


Amendment 1:

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘That this Assembly’ and insert:

‘notes concern at the cost of division in Northern Ireland, including the perceived duplication of public services, additional policing and justice costs and foregone economic opportunities; further notes that the cost of division is one of a range of factors which contribute to the overall additional cost of public service delivery in Northern Ireland compared to other regions of the UK, which was estimated to be up to £833 million per year by Ulster University’s Economic Policy Centre in 2016; believes that all examples of unaffordable waste of the Executive’s scarce budget would be better invested in tackling waiting lists, building social homes, improving education provision, increasing police officer numbers and delivering other priorities shared by local communities; further believes that there should be an updated and ongoing assessment of government waste, inefficiency and our higher cost of public service delivery, including the cost of division; calls on the Minister of Finance to place the Northern Ireland Fiscal Council on a statutory footing to this end; and further calls on the Executive to develop a cross-departmental plan to tackle both the root causes, and financial and societal impacts of, division in Northern Ireland.’

Ms Diane Forsythe
Mr Paul Frew

Amendment 2:

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘communities;’ and insert:

‘calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to introduce a statutory duty to cooperate for all Executive departments to reduce the cost of division, by improving collaboration between departments and avoiding unnecessary duplication of spend; and further calls on the Minister of Finance to introduce a statutory duty on the Northern Ireland Fiscal Council to assess the cost of division across each Executive department.’

Mr Colin McGrath
Mr Mark Durkan

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 12.54pm.

The sitting resumed at 2.00pm, the Principal Deputy 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.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

8. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)

8.1 Motion: Tackling the Financial and Societal Impacts of Division (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

The Question being put, amendment 1 was made (Division).

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

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

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.

9. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

Mr Doug Beattie spoke to his topic regarding concerns around the roads infrastructure leading up to Craigavon Area Hospital.

The Assembly adjourned at 4.38pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
25 March 2025

Northern Ireland Assembly

25 March 2025 – Division

Amendment 1: Tackling the Financial and Societal Impacts of Division

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘That this Assembly’ and insert:

‘notes concern at the cost of division in Northern Ireland, including the perceived duplication of public services, additional policing and justice costs and foregone economic opportunities; further notes that the cost of division is one of a range of factors which contribute to the overall additional cost of public service delivery in Northern Ireland compared to other regions of the UK, which was estimated to be up to £833 million per year by Ulster University’s Economic Policy Centre in 2016; believes that all examples of unaffordable waste of the Executive’s scarce budget would be better invested in tackling waiting lists, building social homes, improving education provision, increasing police officer numbers and delivering other priorities shared by local communities; further believes that there should be an updated and ongoing assessment of government waste, inefficiency and our higher cost of public service delivery, including the cost of division; calls on the Minister of Finance to place the Northern Ireland Fiscal Council on a statutory footing to this end; and further calls on the Executive to develop a cross-departmental plan to tackle both the root causes, and financial and societal impacts of, division in Northern Ireland.’

Ms Diane Forsythe
Mr Paul Frew

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 27

Noes: 20

AYES

Dr Aiken, Ms D Armstrong, Mr Beattie, Mr Bradley, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Clarke, Mr Crawford, Mrs Dodds, Mr Dunne, Mrs Erskine, Ms Forsythe, Mr Gaston, Mr Harvey, Mr Kingston, Mrs Little-Pengelly, Mr Lyons, Miss McIlveen, Mr Martin, Mr Middleton, Mr Robinson, Mr Stewart.

Tellers for the Ayes: Ms Forsythe, Mr Kingston.

NOES

Ms K Armstrong, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Donnelly, Mr Durkan, Ms Egan, Mrs Guy, Mr Honeyford, Ms Hunter, Miss McAllister, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McMurray, Mr McNulty, Mr McReynolds, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Mr O'Toole, Mr Tennyson.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Donnelly, Mr McMurray.

The amendment was made.

Votes cast by proxy:

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

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.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on 25 March 2025.

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Deaths, Still-Births and Baby Loss Bill (NIA Bill 13/22-27)

3. Orders in Council

4. Statutory Rules

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

6. Assembly Reports

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees Thirty-fifth Report of Session 2024 – 2025 (NIA 84/22-27) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Update on approval for NI Housing Executive to purchase up to 600 homes for use as temporary accommodation (Minister for Communities)

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

An Inspection of the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland’s Investigation of Abuse of Position Concerns and Complaints (Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland)

Autism Strategy 2023-2028, Delivery Plan 2023-2025, Year One Progress Report – connected cover letter (Department of Health)

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 25 March 2025
2022-2027 Mandate
Executive Bills

2022-2027 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills

/ Bills progressing by accelerated passage