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:

Ms Carál Ní Chuilín
Mr Trevor Clarke
Ms Diana Armstrong
Mr Matthew O’Toole
Mr Pádraig Delargy
Mr Harry Harvey
Mr Andrew McMurray
Mr Pat Sheehan
Mr Phillip Brett
Mr Daniel McCrossan
Mr Jonathan Buckley
Ms Cheryl Brownlee

3. Ministerial Statement

3.1 British-Irish Council Environment Ministerial Meeting

The Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Mr Andrew Muir, made a statement regarding a British-Irish Council Environment Ministerial Meeting, following which he replied to questions.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

4. Private Members’ Business

4.1 Motion: Access to Dental Care

Proposed:

That this Assembly expresses severe concern at the challenges many people experience in accessing dental care; notes the testimony from the British Dental Association that the shortfall between Department of Health fees for dentists and the cost of providing services means many dental practices are not financially viable and are struggling to continue seeing NHS patients; further notes that early and preventative oral healthcare can help improve health outcomes for patients and reduce demand for wider health services; calls on the Minister of Health to develop a new oral health strategy to address access to services and workforce challenges; and further calls on the Minister to conclude and publish the general dental services cost-of-service review as soon as possible.

Miss Nuala McAllister
Mr Danny Donnelly
Ms Paula Bradshaw
Mr Stewart Dickson

Amendment:

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘wider health services;’ and insert:

‘calls on the Minister of Health to urgently develop, and present, proposals to increase access to dental services and address regional inequalities, alongside consideration of a new oral health strategy to address access to services and workforce challenges; and further calls on the Minister to conclude and publish the general dental services cost-of-service review as soon as possible.’

Mrs Diane Dodds
Mr Alan Robinson

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the amendment was made.

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

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

4.2 Motion: Additional Funding for North South Bodies

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the significant strain placed on public finances as a result of 14 years of austerity cuts by the British Government; expresses deep concern that the current British Government is continuing their predecessor's austerity agenda, as evidenced by the cuts to winter fuel payments and planned cuts to welfare payments; welcomes the willingness of the Irish Government to increase its funding allocation for the six North South Bodies including Waterways Ireland, the Loughs Agency, the Special European Union Programmes Body, InterTrade Ireland, Foras na Gaelige, and the Ulster Scots Agency; notes that such additional funding, at no cost to the Executive, would help deliver better outcomes in terms of environmental conservation, language and cultural rights, food quality and safety, and investment and job creation; believes that the rejection of this additional funding is nonsensical, particularly at a time when public finances are stretched and when additional money could make a real difference; and calls on all Ministers to agree the new funding model to allow additional funding to help deliver and sustain services.

Ms Emma Sheerin
Mr Declan Kearney
Mr Cathal Boylan

Amendment:

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘agenda’ and insert:

‘regrets that the Minister of Finance has not secured more fiscal powers to invest more in public services; welcomes the willingness of the Irish Government to increase its funding allocation for the six North South Bodies; believes that the rejection of this additional funding is nonsensical; calls on all Ministers to agree the new funding model to allow additional funding to help deliver and sustain services; and further calls on the Minister of Finance to work with the Irish and UK Governments on the development of a cross-border development strategy which fills funding shortfalls covered by the loss of access to EU structural funds.’

Mr Matthew O’Toole
Mr Colin McGrath
Mr Daniel McCrossan

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 12.58pm.

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 junior Minister, Ms Aisling Reilly, also answered a number of questions.

The Principal Deputy Speaker took the Chair.

6. Question for Urgent Oral Answer

6.1 Cardiac Surgery Unit: Royal Victoria Hospital

The Minister of Health, Mr Mike Nesbitt, responded to a Question for Urgent Oral Answer tabled by Mrs Diane Dodds.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Blair, took the Chair.

7. Private Members’ Business (cont’d)

7.1 Motion: Additional Funding for North South Bodies (cont’d)

Debate resumed.

The Question being put, the amendment fell (Division 1).

The Question being put, the motion was carried (Division 2).

The Deputy Speaker, Dr Aiken, took the Chair.

8. Adjournment

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

Mr Danny Donnelly spoke to his topic regarding Drug-related Deaths in East Antrim.

The Assembly adjourned at 5.05pm.

Mr Edwin Poots
The Speaker
27 May 2025

Northern Ireland Assembly

27 May 2025 – Division 1

Amendment: Additional Funding for North South Bodies

Proposed:

Leave out all after ‘agenda’ and insert:

‘regrets that the Minister of Finance has not secured more fiscal powers to invest more in public services; welcomes the willingness of the Irish Government to increase its funding allocation for the six North South Bodies; believes that the rejection of this additional funding is nonsensical; calls on all Ministers to agree the new funding model to allow additional funding to help deliver and sustain services; and further calls on the Minister of Finance to work with the Irish and UK Governments on the development of a cross-border development strategy which fills funding shortfalls covered by the loss of access to EU structural funds.’

Mr Matthew O’Toole
Mr Colin McGrath
Mr Daniel McCrossan

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 20
Noes: 35

AYES

Ms K Armstrong, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Carroll, Mr Dickson, Mr Donnelly, Ms Egan, Mrs Guy, Mr Honeyford, Mr McCrossan, Mr McGlone, Mr McGrath, Ms McLaughlin, Mr McMurray, Mr McReynolds, Mr Mathison, Mr Muir, Ms Mulholland, Ms Nicholl, Mr O'Toole, Mr Tennyson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr McCrossan, Mr McGrath.

NOES

Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Ms D Armstrong, Mr Beattie, Mr Bradley, Mr Brett, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Mr Crawford, 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 Nesbitt, Mr Robinson, Mr Stewart.

Tellers for the Noes: Ms Forsythe, Mr Kingston.

The amendment fell.

Votes cast by proxy:

Ms Nicholl’s vote was cast by Ms Bradshaw.

Northern Ireland Assembly

27 May 2025 – Division 2

Motion: Additional Funding for North South Bodies

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the significant strain placed on public finances as a result of 14 years of austerity cuts by the British Government; expresses deep concern that the current British Government is continuing their predecessor's austerity agenda, as evidenced by the cuts to winter fuel payments and planned cuts to welfare payments; welcomes the willingness of the Irish Government to increase its funding allocation for the six North South Bodies including Waterways Ireland, the Loughs Agency, the Special European Union Programmes Body, InterTrade Ireland, Foras na Gaelige, and the Ulster Scots Agency; notes that such additional funding, at no cost to the Executive, would help deliver better outcomes in terms of environmental conservation, language and cultural rights, food quality and safety, and investment and job creation; believes that the rejection of this additional funding is nonsensical, particularly at a time when public finances are stretched and when additional money could make a real difference; and calls on all Ministers to agree the new funding model to allow additional funding to help deliver and sustain services.

Ms Emma Sheerin
Mr Declan Kearney
Mr Cathal Boylan

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 46
Noes: 35

AYES

Dr Archibald, Ms K Armstrong, Mr Baker, Mr Boylan, Ms Bradshaw, Mr Carroll, Mr Delargy, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dillon, Miss Dolan, Mr Donnelly, Ms Egan, Mrs Ennis, Mrs Ferguson, Ms Finnegan, Miss Flynn, Mr Gildernew, Mrs Guy, Miss Hargey, Mr Honeyford, Mr Kearney, Mr Kelly, Ms Kimmins, Mr McAleer, Mr McCrossan, 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 Ní Chuilín, Ms Nicholl, Mr O'Dowd, Ms O'Neill, Mr O'Toole, Ms Reilly, Mr Sheehan, Ms Sheerin, Mr Tennyson.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Boylan, Mrs Dillon.

NOES

Dr Aiken, Mr Allen, Ms D Armstrong, Mr Beattie, Mr Bradley, Mr Brett, Mr Brooks, Ms Brownlee, Mr K Buchanan, Mr T Buchanan, Mr Buckley, Ms Bunting, Mr Butler, Mrs Cameron, Mr Chambers, Mr Clarke, Mr Crawford, 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 Nesbitt, Mr Robinson, Mr Stewart.

Tellers for the Noes: Ms Forsythe, Mr Kingston.

The motion was carried.

Votes cast by proxy:

Ms Nicholl’s vote was cast by Ms Bradshaw.

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 21 May 2025 to 27 May 2027.

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 2025/93 The Road Races (Drumhorc Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2025/94 The Parking Places on Roads (Coaches) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2025/95 The Road Races (Tandragee 100) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Infrastructure)

SR 2025/ 96 The Road Races (Cairncastle Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (Department for Infrastructure)

5. Legislative Consent Memorandums

6. Assembly Reports

Report on the Agriculture Bill (NIA 95/22-27) (Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committee Fortieth Report of Session 2024 – 2025 (NIA 98/22-27) (Examiner of Statutory Rules)

Report on Developing the Skills for Northern Ireland’s Future (NIA 91/22-27) (Public Accounts Committee)

Report on the Legislative Consent Memorandum for the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill (NIA 97/22-27) (Committee for the Economy)

7. Written Ministerial Statements

Animal Welfare Pathway 2025-27 (Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)
Seventh Rural Needs Annual Monitoring Report (Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)

8. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Northern Ireland Main Estimates 2025-26 (Department of Finance)

Police Service of Northern Ireland Retention and Disposal Schedule (Department for Communities)

Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) Annual Report and Statement of Accounts 2023-24 (Department of Health)

Maze/Long Kesh Development Corporation Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 (The Executive Office)

Northern Ireland Social Care Council Annual Reports and Accounts 1 April 2023 - 31 March 2024 (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 27 May 2025

2022-2027 Mandate
Executive Bills

2022-2027 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills

/ Bills progressing by accelerated passage