Order Paper

1. Prayers

2. Members’ Statements

3. Question Time

3.1 Communities

4. Opposition Business

Motion: Dual Market Access

Proposed:

That this Assembly affirms the huge opportunity afforded to our local economy as a result of the dual market access available to businesses here, allowing the seamless movement of goods into both the EU and UK markets; recognises that this opportunity has the potential to deliver tangible benefits in terms of job creation, inward investment, improved wages and productivity and improved regional balance; acknowledges the importance of continued efforts to ease the flow of goods moving from east to west and also the need to mitigate damage to north-south services and trade not covered by the Protocol/Windsor Framework; notes that deriving full benefits from our advantageous trading position will require focused intergovernmental and interagency work, and calls on the Minister for the Economy to work with the Irish Government to establish a joint Invest NI-IDA Ireland working group, drawing on expertise from Intertrade Ireland, interested business groups and, where relevant, the UK Department for Business and Trade and the EU directorates general, to develop a clearly defined strategy to maximise the huge economic advantages afforded to Northern Ireland, with the aim of providing reports to the North-South Ministerial Council, which will in turn furnish recommendations under Article 14 of the Protocol to the Specialised Committee on the Protocol/Windsor Framework; and further calls on the Minister to provide an update to the Assembly on the establishment of this working group and its actions not later than the end of 2024.

Leader of the Opposition

Motion: Cross-border Healthcare

Proposed:

That this Assembly acknowledges the daunting challenges facing our health service; laments that Northern Ireland has fallen behind the Republic of Ireland and the rest of these isles on several healthcare outcomes; understands that a solution to our healthcare challenges will not come solely through increased funding but also through reform of our services; recognises a key element of this will be further collaboration with the healthcare service in the Republic of Ireland; acknowledges that certain bespoke specialist services, in particular perinatal and paediatric post-mortem services, which are currently not available in Northern Ireland could be delivered more efficiently and compassionately on an all-island basis; calls on the Minister of Health to work with the Irish Minister for Health to identify how the two jurisdictions can work together to reduce waiting lists; harmonise healthcare pay rates, and deliver bespoke specialist services on an all-Ireland basis.

Leader of the Opposition

Motion: All-Ireland Tourism

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the importance of tourism as a driver of an all-island economy; further notes that the biggest port of entry for Northern Ireland visitors remains Dublin Airport; expresses concern that the UK Government’s Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme poses a fundamental risk to all-island tourism; calls on the Minister for the Economy to work with the Irish Government to link the Wild Atlantic Way with the Causeway Coastal Route, promote Derry as the destination city linking both jurisdictions and include counties Armagh and Down in Ireland’s Ancient East; and calls on the Minister for the Economy to work with the First Minister and deputy First Minister to formulate an agreed Executive position against the UK Government’s Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme, and to report to the Assembly on the progress of these issues no later than September 2024.

Leader of the Opposition

5. Executive Committee Business

Further Consideration Stage: Defective Premises Bill (NIA Bill 03/22-27)

Minister for Communities

6.  Adjournment

Statements by Ministers may also be taken at any time subject to the Speaker’s approval.
Notice of Statements will appear on the Annunciator