Order Paper
Reference: OP 78 - 2227
Date: 03 February 2025
The Assembly to sit at noon.
1. Prayers
2. Members' Statements
3. Question Time
4. Opposition Business
Motion: Enhancing Accountability and Trust in Government
Proposed:
That this Assembly acknowledges that the Executive has lasted for one year, but affirms that simply existing is not enough; notes with regret the findings of the Life in the UK Report 2024, that Northern Ireland experiences the lowest levels of democratic wellbeing across the UK; further notes that people's low level of trust in our institutions is compounded by repeated institutional collapse, the failure of the Executive to deliver on its promised legislative programme or improve public services; calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to initiate a programme to rebuild trust and accountability in our politics by each making a clear and specific commitment not to resign their respective offices during this mandate under any circumstances; and further calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to write to the UK and Irish Governments to commence a programme of reform, including an amendment to the Pledge of Office, so no party can veto the operation of Government.
Leader of the Opposition
Motion: Fixing the Health Crisis
Proposed:
That this Assembly regrets that, since the restoration of the Assembly, challenges facing our health service have worsened, with extensive waiting times, an escalating mental health crisis, and severe workforce shortages; acknowledges that these pressures are not solely due to a lack of funding, but also the failure of successive Ministers of Health and Executives to implement meaningful reform; and calls on the Minister of Health to work with Executive colleagues to introduce a fully costed and time-bound health service rescue plan to be presented to the Assembly no later than September 2025.
Leader of the Opposition
Motion: Support for First-Time Buyers
Proposed:
That this Assembly expresses regret that, since the restoration of the Assembly, the challenges facing first-time buyers have intensified, with rising house prices and rental costs creating significant barriers for prospective homeowners; acknowledges the limited provisions within the Housing Supply Strategy to address the specific needs of first-time buyers; and calls on the Minister for Communities to introduce a comprehensive suite of interventions aimed at supporting first-time buyers, including the roll out of an equity-based Help to Buy scheme to provide meaningful support and improve access to home ownership.
Leader of the Opposition
Motion: Towards a Shared Island
Proposed:
That this Assembly recognises the transformative potential of cross-border cooperation on the island of Ireland; expresses regret that, due to political dysfunction, the North South Ministerial Council has not lived up to its potential in supporting cross-border cooperation; notes the range of commitments in the Irish Government's Programme for Government on the Shared Island initiative, which compares unfavourably with the lack of ambition in the Executive's Programme for Government; further notes the findings of the recent economic modelling work on an all-island economy undertaken by The Economic and Social Research Institute; and calls on the Minister of Finance to bring forward proposals for shared budgeting between the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government, including, but not limited to cross-border healthcare, all-island infrastructure and economic development.
Leader of the Opposition
