Northern Ireland Assembly, 9 September 2025

460 contributions from 68 members. The official report.

Assembly Business

Colm Gildernew (Sinn Féin, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I was here yesterday when you made your remarks about announcing significant issues on the Floor of the Assembly. Following yesterday's sitting, it became clear that it was being reported that, in the Great Hall, the DUP leader indicated that the Minister for Communities will make "a significant announcement" on subregional stadia. Will the Speaker agree that, in keeping with his remarks yesterday, such a significant statement should be made in the House?

Edwin Poots (DUP, Belfast South)

Absolutely. I agree with that.

Members' Statements

Pádraig Delargy (Sinn Féin, Foyle)

Magee has achieved more growth in the past year than it did in the previous decade. That proves that, when we have Sinn Féin Ministers in place, Ministers who truly value the north-west and its people, the potential of our region is unmatched. Let me be unequivocal: Sinn Féin's choosing the Economy portfolio has been a game changer for regional balance and for the Magee expansion in particular. Since my party took up that office, the Magee task force has been established to develop and oversee a comprehensive plan for the campus to reach 10,000 students by 2032. Student numbers have already increased significantly and are set to reach their highest-ever level at Magee this month.

Conor Murphy and Caoimhe Archibald have driven that progress forward, and I commend them for that. I also thank Ulster University for its perseverance and continued commitment to Magee. Sinn Féin and the Department for the Economy will continue working to drive those numbers up and to reach that target, because, while the numbers are positive, they are only the beginning. Derry is turning a page to a new chapter and is looking ahead to a future that is filled with hope and prosperity. With Sinn Féin in the driving seat, pushing this matter forward and delivering real change, the north-west will reach its full potential.

Paul Frew (DUP, North Antrim)

I have been contacted today by a number of teachers who are absolutely appalled by the stance of some of the teachers' unions and by the commentary and wording of the Justice Minister, Naomi Long.

She said there will potentially be:

"open season on bullying of young people, not just by other peers in their class and other members of the same age, but actually by people within their classrooms — teachers and others — who may actually now be in a situation where they feel enabled to take their own ideological position and work that through the classroom".

I am appalled by that language and commentary from the Justice Minister, Naomi Long, and so are the teachers who have contacted me this morning. They are appalled and angered that the Justice Minister would say such a thing. I call on the Justice Minister to apologise for that slight on our teachers, who have spent many long nights and days agonising over how to support vulnerable children in their classrooms and schools. They grapple with how to support children who, because of their young years, are confused. Teachers help and support those young people, yet our Justice Minister thinks that they are bullies. Enough of that nonsense; enough of that language. I call on the Justice Minister to apologise to teachers for that slight.

We want our children to be safe in school; so do teachers. We want them to be engaged in school; so do teachers. We want them to thrive in school; so do teachers. We want parents to have the confidence that all three of those aims will be met. What do parents think when they hear the commentary of Naomi Long, the Alliance Party leader, this morning? What should they think? It is not about anyone's ideological position, whether it be Naomi Long or Eóin Tennyson; it is about the law. It is about the law that has been defined and clarified by the Supreme Court — the highest court in this country. We have a Justice Minister who baulks at that and turns her face away from it, and who slights and insults our teachers, who have done commendable work with vulnerable people over the years. I call on her again to apologise for that slight on our teachers.

Andrew McMurray (Alliance, South Down)

I rise to speak about the prolonged closure of Tollymore National Outdoor Centre in Bryansford, just outside Newcastle. I have a personal connection in that I attended courses at the centre as a teenager and gained a number of qualifications there after university. I went on to pursue a career in the outdoors. I met my wife at the centre, so I have lots of good memories of the place. I went on to introduce my children to outdoor activities through the centre, but I cannot do that at the minute because it is closed.

My thoughts are very much with the staff who are no longer employed at the centre as a result of the closure and with all the staff who have been associated with the centre over the years. The centre was established after an atrocity in the Cairngorms, and it provided training in outdoor pursuits after other incidents, such as the Lyme Bay tragedy.

It is important to highlight the connection between the outdoors, positive mental health and physical well-being. Those connections have been well proven, and more should be done to encourage young people and adults to get outside. Not all sport is played on grass pitches that are marked out with whitewashed lines. It is important to state that.

Tollymore National Outdoor Centre was an integral part of the outdoor pursuits landscape in south Down, and, unfortunately, the number of centres in south Down has reduced substantially over the past number of years. It is imperative that Sport NI and the Department for Communities look at ways in which a model can be operated to reopen the centre as soon as possible. The centre regularly hosted community groups, local schools and schools from across Northern Ireland, and provided training courses for instructors. Its closure has a knock-on effect on the ability to take people outside safely. As we have all seen, there has been a growth in interest in outdoor pursuits and activities and the role that they can play, not least since the COVID pandemic.

Jon Burrows (UUP, North Antrim)

On Emergency Services Day, I pay tribute to all the men and women of the emergency services across Northern Ireland. Today, I am proud to wear my Police Federation tie, which was a gift from the federation. Our emergency services do tremendous work for all the people of Northern Ireland. They put themselves in harm's way, and that comes with a great sacrifice. The things that they see, hear and smell cannot be unseen and unheard, and they live with the memories of those human beings for their entire life.

The brain never forgets trauma, and it is often triggered in the most unexpected circumstances when you come across something in daily life that suddenly takes you back. I am reminded of a colleague who was at the scene of the Omagh bomb — I know that he was very touched by the inquiry recently — and who shared with me the fact that body parts went past him that day. He saw a watch on a deceased person's arm. His child then asked for that same type of watch, and he did everything that he could not to buy it as a Christmas present, because it would remind him every day of the sights that he had seen.

It is vital that we support our emergency services. They need to be properly resourced. They need fair pay. Also, they need our support. One of the reasons that motivated me to come to this place was that too many of its Members are involved in making instant judgements based on a clip on social media about the conduct of our police officers in particular. They see a 10-second clip and come to an instant judgement. Members of the House have condemned officers when they had no context — judge, jury and executioner. We had the debacle on the Ormeau Road, with senior members of Sinn Féin demanding that a young constable be thrown under the bus. That act really should have resulted in more consequences, not just for the Chief Constable who bent the knee to that demand. I am glad that we have a stronger Chief Constable now.

We have an Alliance Party whose Minister, I am afraid, has been disastrous in her leadership of Justice. I will say this: you cannot stand up and say today that you support the members of our emergency services, who are being assaulted and spat at, when you are the Minister who has proposed a consultation on downgrading the penalty for an assault on a police officer from a prosecution to a ticket. It would be like a speeding ticket.

Steve Aiken (UUP, South Antrim)

Shameful.

Jon Burrows (UUP, North Antrim)

Shameful. That will only increase the attacks on our Police Service.

I will always stand for the gallant men and women of the Royal Ulster Constabulary George Cross who served before. I will not allow history to be rewritten or unwritten.

I want to look forward and pay tribute to all those who are out today serving the people of Northern Ireland without fear, favour or distinction. I pay tribute to them today.

Mark Durkan (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Foyle)

Tomorrow is World Suicide Prevention Day. It is a day when we reflect and remember the people whose lives were cut short by suicide. Those people are not just statistics; they are sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, friends and neighbours. However, the Executive seem to have become desensitised to that fact. In 2023, 221 people died by suicide, which is an 8% increase on the previous year. That is 221 more empty seats at dinner tables and 221 more families who have been shattered forever. Yet, that devastating loss barely registers in the Chamber, let alone sparks the action that it requires from the Executive.

We live in a time when the loss of the art of human connection is more evident than ever. I worry deeply for our young people who are drawn into phones and algorithms that do not just entertain but exploit their insecurities and vulnerabilities. The algorithms feed them content that is designed to make them feel smaller, more self-conscious and more alone. Research shows us that heavy social media use is linked to higher rates of anxiety, depression and poor self-esteem among young people. We must work with other legislatures to regulate the platforms and safeguard the vulnerable.

Technology is a relatively new factor in this multifaceted issue, but we must also face the shameful reality of political neglect.

Suicide prevention is shamefully absent from the Programme for Government. Protect Life 2 and the mental health strategy were launched with great promise yet remain chronically underfunded, under-scrutinised and under-delivered.

While we delay, the crisis deepens. Suicide rates are three times higher in our most deprived communities. In places such as Derry and Strabane, where poverty, housing collapse and lack of opportunity weigh heavily, mental health and addiction services are either buckling or disappearing altogether. It is a shameful and oft-quoted fact that the number of lives lost to suicide since the Good Friday Agreement has now surpassed those lost during the Troubles. Bombs and bullets no longer do the most damage here in Northern Ireland: mental illness, substance misuse and suicide do. These are preventable deaths, but tackling them requires urgency. It requires us to look beyond sticking plasters and commit to early intervention, sustained funding and urgent cross-departmental action.

Cathal Boylan (Sinn Féin, Newry and Armagh)

The appetite and desire for change has grown across this island among people from various backgrounds and walks of life. We have seen directly, through our party's commission on the future of Ireland, the positive vision that people have for Ireland. Whether you are in Keady or Kildare, Armagh or Athlone, Tyrone or Tipperary, many of the issues facing our communities are the same. Duplication of public services on an island of this size is, in many instances, inefficient and therefore ineffective in delivering for the people whom we represent. We have seen in recent years the growth in cross-border trade, together with greater collaboration in infrastructure development and health service provision. However, those are only glimpses of what is possible in the event of Irish unity. Consolidating infrastructure development across the island would lead to more coordinated planning and greater connectivity, boosting trade for businesses.

During recess, on a visit to Leinster House, I took the opportunity to engage with our TDs and Senators about the challenges we face and the opportunities that exist to overcome them. It is no secret to anyone in the House that we in Sinn Féin believe that the interests of people on this island would be best served in a new Ireland, and it is our desire to achieve that goal through referenda, as set out in the Good Friday Agreement. We need to be ambitious and look towards the future to invest in infrastructure, and this vision is not coming from the British Government. We need to do things differently, and Irish unity will allow for that. Projects such as the A5 and the all-Ireland rail review will enable us to spread wealth and jobs and benefit the economy as a whole. It is time to plan, discuss and prepare for change. It is time for the Government in Dublin to establish a citizens' assembly or assemblies on Irish unity to prepare for our future. This is a decade of opportunity, and we must seize it.

Keith Buchanan (DUP, Mid Ulster)

I stand to reflect on 1 September, Orange Victims Day. The date was picked due to the horrendous crime that took place on 1 September 1975, when five innocent men were slaughtered in Tullyvallen Orange Hall, 50 years ago last week. At the weekend, I attended an event in the Apprentice Boys Hall in Londonderry, which included moving tributes that remembered its murdered brethren: 343 men and one woman. We hear from the First Minister for all about ending violence against women and girls, which, indeed, is a major issue. Nobody is doubting that fact. However, how can she refer to ending violence against girls, women and children but, in her next breath, say that there was no alternative? That makes no sense to me.

I will read some quotations from this book:

"a 39-year-old married father of two children, was murdered by the IRA ... He was shot as he served customers and died in his wife's arms. A Reserve Constable in the Royal Ulster Constabulary,".

Where was the thought to end violence against women, children and girls there? I could go on, and I will, because I have three minutes and I intend to use that time. Also in the book:

"murdered by the IRA when a booby trap bomb exploded under his car as he drove along ... The 56-year-old ... was married with two children."

That was violence against women and children. Another example:

"the 37-year-old married father of four".

Another example:

"a 28-year-old married father of one, was shot by the IRA in front of his wife and 4-year-old daughter as he arrived for work".

It is only a little book, but thousands of lives were destroyed.

There were 343 Orangemen and one woman murdered, and this book covers only some of those murders. One man was murdered by the IRA at his farm whilst leaving milk cans out for collection. His wife was pregnant at the time, and he had a one-year-old daughter. Another gentleman, while working on his farm, was shot at least eight times by four masked IRA gunmen who had emerged from an adjoining farm, where they had taken a hostage. His body was found by his 80-year-old mother. He had no connections to the security forces and was killed simply for being a Protestant. Another gentleman, a 49-year-old married man with three children, was murdered. A 64-year-old married man was murdered along with his wife and daughter.

The hypocrisy that we hear daily from the party opposite is as clear as looking through a window. Those are the facts, and you cannot take away from them. I say this to the perpetrators of those crimes: you may have escaped justice in this world, but you certainly will not in the next. Be 100% sure that you will not in the next. Every morning when you wake up, think about the eyes of the victims that you murdered. You saw their eyes. Every night before you go to bed, think about what you did. Sleep well.

Steve Aiken (UUP, South Antrim)

The stopping of the MV Matthew in Irish territorial waters in 2023 by the LÉ William Butler Yeats, supported by the Irish Army Ranger Wing and aircraft from the Irish Air Corps, is to be commended. The seizure of 2·2 tons of cocaine was a significant drugs haul, but, judging from the changes in illicit drug prices across Europe, it regrettably had little or no impact on that invidious trade.

The real question is this: why did the cartel think that smuggling cocaine and other drugs through Ireland was such a low-risk activity? As is reported in the open, there are around a hundred suspect vessels on the high seas of the Atlantic or adjoining seas. Grey shipping is much more prevalent, however. It is used by everyone from rogue states to criminal gangs for the transmission of arms, waste and drugs, to smuggle people and to damage or cut fibre-optic cables and gas lines. Much of that grey fleet is routed through Irish waters and airspace. That is because the 880,000 square kilometres are under no surveillance. They are covered by only one offshore patrol vessel that has no gun and one maritime patrol aircraft with no anti-surface or anti-submarine capability at all. They are ungoverned spaces subject in reality to no jurisdiction, despite Irish claims.

If a country cannot guarantee security over those regions, it cannot justifiably claim sovereignty. It is a significant matter for us in the Northern Ireland Assembly because there is little control by the Irish authorities, and Northern Ireland has become a path through our open border into Europe. While the EU worries incessantly about sausages contaminating the European single market, there is nothing being done to deal with the influx of illegal drugs and illegal trade through our borders. That is because Ireland freeloads on defence and security, spending an abysmal 0·3% of its GDP on its armed forces. It is also noteworthy that the rest of the countries in the EU, most of which are members of NATO, are heading towards spending 5% of their GDP on defence. If that process continues, Ireland's role as the port of choice for every narco-terrorist, every rogue state and every other terrorist will grow significantly.

At least some Members of the Irish Oireachtas get it. We have a, thankfully, outgoing Irish president who lambasts the EU, the UK and NATO for their higher defence expenditure, while the country that he represents goes cap in hand for airspace and maritime support from those very nations in order to stop the use of Ireland's waters by criminals and others. There must be a better way, and it is about time that Ireland grew up and joined NATO.

Sinéad McLaughlin (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Foyle)

As the Assembly returns from the summer recess, I look ahead with a simple but urgent message: what we have here is not working. For too long, the north-west has been left behind when it comes to infrastructure and regional development. Nowhere is that clearer than with rail. Despite decades of underinvestment, the people of Derry have responded with ambition. In the past year alone, there have been almost one million journeys made to and from the north-west regional transport hub. It is the second record-breaking year in a row, lifting us from the seventeenth busiest railway station in Northern Ireland to the seventh in less than a decade.

That is the railway station that some people and some parties in this institution wanted to close down.

Let us be honest, however: remarkable as that growth is, it masks the deeper truth. Our rail system is still failing to meet the needs of our people. We have limited timetables, long journey times and no proper all-island connections. The worst part is that a proposal from Translink to upgrade the rail services in the north-west has been sitting on the Infrastructure Minister's desk for far too long. Every time we ask for an update, we get the same recycled answer. It feels like Groundhog Day, and I ask the question almost every month.

This is now blatant discrimination against the north-west. It must be sorted not as a favour or an afterthought but in the interests of regional balance and basic fairness. The evidence is clear, the demand is there and the people of the north-west are ready. Campaigners such as Steve Bradley and the Into the West group have been tireless in making the case for the upgrade, yet the Government are standing still while our community is crying out for change.

It does not have to be that way. We can build something better, something new: a modern, green and connected transport system that finally gives the north-west the fair share that it has been denied for too long. That vision must include greater rail connectivity across the island, linking our cities and communities in a way that supports growth, opportunity and sustainability for all. That has to be our ambition in the months ahead. The cost of delivering an equity of service to the people of the north-west should be on the Infrastructure Minister's agenda, and it should be delivered. Tinkering around the edges is not good enough. Delivering real progress needs to happen.

Colm Gildernew (Sinn Féin, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

Once again, regrettably, I rise to address the issue of the ongoing vandalism and destruction of dual language road signs in south Tyrone, with the Irish language being targeted. It is disappointing that it continues to be the case. It is a clear attack on our culture.

For many years, activists have campaigned to promote the Irish language, which is a language that is shared across these islands. It is a Gaelic language and an ancient language, and the vandalism is a slap in the face for those campaigning for that. However, it will not deter anyone from campaigning or continuing to promote the use and visibility of the Irish language.

I call on people to use their influence to stop the ongoing criminal and hate-driven damage to public property, which is what we see. The PSNI recently indicated clearly that it will investigate it as a hate crime. It is regrettable that, over recent weeks, we have seen numerous signs across the district vandalised once again. It needs to stop, and the PSNI needs to take serious and critical action to ensure that it stops and to send a message to those who are at it that it will not be tolerated.

Jonathan Buckley (DUP, Upper Bann)

The hapless state of the UK and Ireland surrounding uncontrolled and illegal immigration has continued to be exposed. Over 50,000 people entered the UK illegally on small boats in the past year, with 1,000 arriving on Saturday alone, costing the UK taxpayer billions of pounds annually. However, it is not just the UK Government that have been hapless in their approach to the subject: there are parties in the Chamber that are part of that gathering.

Sinn Féin, the SDLP and the Alliance Party all voted against the DUP's motion calling for the UK Government to take strong action on illegal immigration. Those parties are against taking action on illegal immigration, against taking action on the proliferation of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), against taking action on illegal immigrant hotels and against taking action on the abuse of public services by those who enter the country illegally, placing pressure on our public services, housing, health service and law and order.

A Member

Rubbish.

Jonathan Buckley (DUP, Upper Bann)

I hear you shouting "Rubbish", but it is not. The facts are clear.

[Interruption.]

I hear Sinn Féin talking about the national conversation that is happening across the community. There is a conversation happening. Whether it is on the streets of Newry, Belfast, Portadown or elsewhere, people are coming together to call out what has been a dereliction of duty from nationalist parties such as Sinn Féin and the SDLP and others such as Alliance who have failed to deal with the issue and stand up for constituents because they have no lived experience of it.

Now, we have the issue about the law that permits people to come to this country and stay without deportation. Those who have come to this country and have, in some cases, been part of horrendous acts — sexual acts — of violence against women and children. What was once said in a Charles Dickens novel? It was:

"The law is a ass."

Indeed, the European Convention on Human Rights is being interpreted as such, because we have a growth of the barrister politician class, who will not stand for a single vote but will adjudicate upon laws in this land that defeat the purpose of having strong, controlled borders.

It is time that parties got real on the issue, stood up for all our citizens and ensured that we have safe and secure borders and a place that is prosperous for all. Be assured that the Democratic Unionist Party will continue to do just that.

Edwin Poots (DUP, Belfast South)

Timothy Gaston. You have a couple of minutes, Mr Gaston.

Timothy Gaston (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I take this opportunity to reflect on the immense contribution that the loyal orders and the marching bands scene made to the cultural life of Northern Ireland over the summer months. Every year, the streets of Ulster resound to the music of marching bands that have spent the winter months reaching a standard that is unmatched anywhere else in the amateur world. Bands give people an identity, a pride and a sense of achievement whilst nurturing their musical talents.

A fact that often goes untold is the contribution that bands make to the economy. Uniforms alone can cost £1,000 or more, with no grant support. That is money that goes straight into the economy of Northern Ireland. Alongside that, the loyal orders this year staged 19 major demonstrations on the Twelfth, bringing tens of thousands on to the streets to celebrate a living tradition in the glorious sunshine.

All that happened despite the usual attempts to blacken my community through lies and mistruths. That was seen most clearly when a lodge in Comber was demonised for 48 hours by the BBC for daring to challenge the GAA's links to republican terrorism. Some in the media have since apologised for getting carried away in the hysteria, yet the BBC — the source of much of that misinformation — offered only a grudging correction, which was hidden away online. The media's double standards are glaring and need to be called out. Republican cultural events are endlessly promoted and defended, while loyalist culture is endlessly maligned. I appeal to those who wrongly rushed to condemn the lodge in question, including Members in the House, to do the honourable thing and apologise.

I make no apology for speaking up for my culture and the marching bands scene, and I will continue to do so when given the opportunity in the House.

Edwin Poots (DUP, Belfast South)

Thank you, Mr Gaston.

Assembly Business

Timothy Gaston (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Yesterday, during the question for urgent oral answer on gender identity services, the Minister of Health stated that he was:

"not aware of any costs for primary care or for general practitioners",

and that GPs would simply:

"refer into CAMHS as they do for ... other issues". — [Official Report (Hansard), 8 September 2025, p48, col 1].

However, a recently released freedom of information response from the Department, which was obtained by the Christian Institute, clearly details ongoing discussions and planned costs for GP involvement in phase 2 of the service, including the development of a specific training package for shared care arrangements; additional payments for extra duties, such as blood monitoring; and an addendum to the business case to address GP reluctance without full commissioning. That directly contradicts the Minister's assertion that he had no awareness of such costs.

I ask you, Mr Speaker, to direct the Minister to correct the record at the earliest opportunity so that the Assembly and the public can have accurate information on the full financial implications of that service. Yesterday, he said that he would be happy to look at the facts that I had to back up what I said. I have shared with you the FOI, and I would be very happy to share it with the Minister of Health to enable him to come back to the House —

Edwin Poots (DUP, Belfast South)

OK.

Timothy Gaston (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

— to correct the record.

Edwin Poots (DUP, Belfast South)

OK. Thank you, Mr Gaston. We will happily look at that.

Paul Givan (DUP, Lagan Valley)

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Yesterday, in an interview with Cool FM, the Alliance Party leader and Justice Minister made an extraordinary attack on the teaching profession. She suggested that, on the basis of a common-sense policy that I set out in May and reiterated yesterday regarding transgender issues, some teachers would be part of an open season of bullying young people. That accusation was made in response to a position that I believe reflects the views of the vast majority of people, which is that biological boys should not use girls' toilets or changing rooms and should not participate in competitive sports with girls. In addition, I suggested that neither pupils nor teachers should be compelled to use pronouns other than those that reflect biological sex.

I appreciate that some Members are going to find that difficult, but let me repeat what the Justice Minister said so that you can give me advice on how I can hold her to account in her role as leader of the Alliance Party or as Justice Minister. It is really important that the Assembly knows how to hold people to account. The Justice Minister said:

"I believe it is abandoning young people who are vulnerable, and I believe it is potentially going to have an open season on bullying of young people not just by other peers in their class and other members of the same age but actually by people within their classrooms — their teachers and others who may actually now be in a situation where they feel enabled to take their own ideological position and work that through the classroom."

Shameful, Mr Speaker. Will you advise me to understand whether those comments were made in her capacity as Alliance Party leader or as Justice Minister so that the Assembly and I can hold her to account and so that I can properly address my formal communication that I will issue later today calling on her to retract those comments and apologise to the teaching profession for that outrageous attack on its professionalism?

Some Members

Hear, hear.

Edwin Poots (DUP, Belfast South)

Order. As Speaker, I am responsible for what people say in the House, not outside it. What any Minister says outside the Chamber will come under the ministerial code and should be raised at the Executive as opposed to in the House. If the Minister had made her comments in the House, Members would be in a better place to challenge her. However, the matter falls under the ministerial code, if there is an issue around what the Minister actually stated.

Daniel McCrossan (Social Democratic and Labour Party, West Tyrone)

On a point of order. Mr Speaker. Will you review the comments that the Education Minister just made? I think that he has misled the House. He said that he was talking sense. I think that most of us would find that hard to believe.

Edwin Poots (DUP, Belfast South)

Order. That is not a point of order, as the Member well knows.

Ministerial Statements

Paul Givan (DUP, Lagan Valley)

In March, I stood in the Assembly to launch TransformED NI, which is my new strategy for transforming teaching and learning. The strategy sets out a bold and ambitious vision for educational reform in Northern Ireland and is informed by what works best in education systems across the world. Unlike too many other strategies across Departments, the publication of that strategy marks the start, not the end, of the process. The strategy will not sit on a shelf but will be implemented in practice. That is why we are backing the vision with action. In April, I published the strategy's delivery plan. Today, I am delighted to update the Assembly on the implementation of TransformED and to look forward to the year ahead.

At its heart, TransformED is about ensuring that every child and young person, regardless of their background, has access to an excellent education. The intent is clear and urgent: to build a world-leading education system. The strategy represents a decisive shift in how we approach teaching, learning and equity in our schools. It is perhaps the most significant change in education in many generations. We are not simply tweaking the edges of policy; we are reimagining the foundations of our education system. Make no mistake: TransformED is a break from what has gone before. It places the classroom at the centre of reform and recognises that the quality of teaching and learning is the single most important factor in improving our children's outcomes. TransformED focuses on five key areas: curriculum, assessment, qualifications, school improvement and tackling educational disadvantage, all underpinned by a relentless focus on supporting effective teaching through significant investment in professional learning.

Let me outline the progress that we have made to date. Over the past six months, we have laid the structures for meaningful and lasting reform. We have established an international ministerial advisory panel, bringing global expertise to Northern Ireland. Those world-leading thinkers are helping us to benchmark our ambitions against the highest-performing education systems. Alongside that, our local academics group will provide critical insight that is rooted in research and evidence. Its work ensures that our policies are grounded in what works, informed by data and shaped by the realities of our classrooms. Crucially, we have created primary and post-primary principals' panels, giving our school leaders a direct voice in shaping reform. Together, those structures form a powerful coalition for change, combining international insight, academic rigour and front-line experience. They are helping to ensure that TransformED is not just ambitious in its goals but effective in its delivery.

If we want to build a better future, we must begin by investing in those who will shape it: our teachers. To quote McKinsey's famous maxim:

"the quality of an education system cannot exceed the quality of its teachers."

As Minister of Education, I reaffirm my pledge to support teachers at every stage of their career. From initial teacher education to ongoing professional development, we must ensure that every teacher has access to the resources, training and support that they need to excel in their profession. A world-class education system begins with world-class support for educators. Central to the TransformED strategy, therefore, is a commitment to investing in a comprehensive approach to teacher professional development. After many years of limited progress, we have made significant strides in that area in recent months.

In May, I launched the online teacher continuing professional development (CPD) academy for post-primary schools. The academy offers on-demand courses, expert insights and practical resources that are grounded in cognitive science research. Of our 190 post-primary schools, 145 have signed up for the academy, and over 6,000 teachers in Northern Ireland will benefit from the programme. In June, my Department launched the TransformED teacher professional learning (TPL) fund, which is a £31 million investment over three years that provides schools with dedicated per teacher funding to support high-quality, evidence-based professional development. The fund empowers schools to purchase professional learning that is tailored to their specific needs, fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Alongside the fund, the Making Best Practice, Common Practice programme is enhancing access to educational research.

The new monthly 'Science of Learning' newsletter is bridging the gap between research and classroom practice, offering accessible insights that educators can apply immediately. We have also funded over 100 schools to host 50 research-informed conferences, bringing together practitioners, researchers and school leaders to share what works and why it works. This month, we launched a quarterly research publication for teachers, edited by Queen's University, and a new leadership newsletter for principals.

A high-quality induction programme is essential to ensuring that our newest teachers enter the profession with the confidence and support that they need to thrive. Working with the Education Authority, my Department has developed a major expansion of the induction programme for early career teachers. We are building a rich programme that supports continuous improvement. In the months ahead, we will extend the online science of learning professional development programme to primary schools, develop a new professional qualification for headship, roll out bursaries to support membership of the Chartered College of Teaching, strengthen the provision of school-to-school support through a leaders of education programme, and develop a new professional learning programme for existing experienced principals.

To our school leaders and teachers, I say this: you are the foundation on which we will build a better future. TransformED is a commitment to invest in you and in the teaching profession. I want us to work together to build a culture across our community where education is truly valued and teaching is rightly regarded by all as an attractive, high-status profession. That is why I also plan to introduce student bursaries to improve the uptake of initial teacher education (ITE) in subjects that are experiencing teacher shortages.

Curriculum form is key to my TransformED agenda. Curriculum is the backbone of all education and the road map that shapes what pupils learn, how they develop thinking skills and how they prepare for life, work and citizenship. In June, Lucy Crehan published her strategic review of the Northern Ireland curriculum, which was a major milestone in our reform journey. It is a landmark report that sets a clear, ambitious and forward-thinking vision for the future of learning in our schools. The review report and its recommendations provide a comprehensive assessment of our current curriculum and set out a compelling case for change. The case for a new curriculum framework is based on five key principles: a framework that is purpose-led; knowledge-rich; continuous and coherent; specific and focused; and flexible and inclusive.

In July, my Department published its formal response, accepting many of the review recommendations, including a new curriculum task force to drive forward reform. The task force terms of reference have also been published, setting out a clear mandate for modernising and aligning our curriculum with international best practice. Over the last number of weeks, I have appointed a task force advisory committee that is made up of leading educationalists from across the British Isles to lead that work. I am delighted that leading educationalist Christine Counsell is chairing the task force, with Lucy Crehan continuing her involvement as the deputy chair. Christine brings unparalleled expertise as a globally recognised thought leader in education. She has advised successive United Kingdom Governments and, most recently, helped to lead curriculum review in Flanders.

This term, the work of the curriculum task force will gather pace. Building on the success of the inaugural TransformED school leaders conference, two curriculum conferences later this month will bring together school leaders and senior teachers from across Northern Ireland to explore the concept of knowledge-rich curricula and the impact that such approaches can have on pupil outcomes, inclusion and tackling disadvantage. Recruitment will also start shortly for the subject advisory groups to support the reform programme. Teachers across Northern Ireland will be invited to join those groups and shape the new curriculum over the next 12 months.

Assessment reform is also well under way. An independent review panel chaired by Tim Oates has been established and is actively progressing its work. The panel will issue a call for evidence and a teacher survey later this month. My Department has worked with the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) to put in place the first system-level sample assessments in literacy and numeracy for pupils in years 4, 7 and 10. A representative sample of participating schools has already been identified, and the first assessments will take place in March.

The new approach aligns Northern Ireland with international best practice, mirroring approaches used in countries such as Finland, Canada and Singapore. It will provide a clear, evidence-based understanding of how well our pupils are developing essential skills in reading, writing and mathematics in each Key Stage. It will also allow robust measurement of standards over time, enabling a much more authoritative picture to be established of our overall educational performance than is currently possible. The insights gained will play a vital role in shaping policies and interventions that support high-quality teaching and learning for all children in Northern Ireland. We are also accelerating the development of computer adaptive assessment through CCEA, with a record 522 schools participating in the September 2025 pilot. The reforms will ensure that assessment is meaningful, fair and aligned with learning.

Looking ahead, next week, I will launch a public consultation on the future policy direction for GSCE and A-level qualifications in Northern Ireland. Our proposals are guided by a clear and ambitious vision: to create a more streamlined, learner-focused system that prioritises depth of understanding over quantity of assessment. We intend to reduce the number of examinations that young people are required to sit and, wherever possible, remove controlled assessments. That will ease the burden on teachers, freeing up valuable time for high-quality teaching and meaningful learning. The message is simple but powerful: more time for deeper learning and less pressure to teach to the test. We want to empower teachers to inspire, not just prepare, and enable students to truly engage with their subjects, not just memorise mark schemes.

I turn to school improvement. At the heart of any education system that truly promotes social mobility is the simple but powerful principle that every child deserves access to a good school, yet, in Northern Ireland today, that principle is under threat. Due to prolonged industrial action, many schools have gone without inspection and the external scrutiny, support and challenge that are essential to driving improvement and safeguarding children. That is not a minor administrative issue but a systematic failure that puts standards and equity at risk. We cannot continue with the constant threat and reality of disruption. That disruption is unmatched anywhere else in the United Kingdom or Ireland. Northern Ireland stands alone as an outlier. Every other jurisdiction has clear, enforceable legislation that requires cooperation with school inspection. We do not, and that must change.

We are preparing legislation to ensure that the statutory arrangements for inspection are not only robust but enforceable. That is not about bureaucracy; it is about accountability, transparency and the right of every child to high-quality education. Over recent months, we have completed a public consultation on the legislation, and I will bring the Bill to the Executive in the coming weeks. It is a critical step in restoring confidence, raising standards and protecting children.

Let us be clear: do we, as a society, believe that schools should be inspected? If the answer is yes — as it must be — ask yourself whether that inspection should be voluntary. Of course not. No serious education system in the world leaves inspection to chance. We need a legal framework that guarantees consistent, independent oversight of educational quality, child protection and safeguarding. In parallel, we will launch a consultation on a new school improvement policy that provides tailored, evidence-based support to schools in all circumstances. It is about building a system that is fair, rigorous and focused on what matters most: the life chances of our children.

Talent is universal, but opportunity is not. Excellence in education is simply not possible without greater equity. Narrowing the gap for disadvantaged learners is central to TransformED. We have now completed a public consultation on legislation to raise the participation age to 18, and I will bring that Bill forward in the autumn.

RAISE initiatives are also under way, including a new reading with AI research project that explores how technology can support literacy. Plans are well advanced for holiday revision schemes and a primary science of learning programme. Those evidence-based initiatives are designed to close the attainment gap and ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed.

As we move into the new academic year, our focus will be on deepening, accelerating and scaling the implementation of TransformED. Key priorities include supporting schools in implementing the TPL fund and accessing a wide range of enhanced professional learning opportunities; advancing the work of the curriculum task force and engaging stakeholders in curriculum reform; new strategies for literacy, numeracy and school improvement; progressing legislative work on inspection and the age of participation in education; beginning the work of qualifications reform; and expanding the RAISE initiatives and evaluating their impact.

TransformED is a blueprint for excellence, equity and empowerment. It sets out a bold, coherent and evidence-driven agenda that will not only transform education in Northern Ireland but allow us to learn from and, ultimately, outpace the world's best.

In recent months, we have made remarkable progress — progress that is without parallel in recent years — but let me be clear that this is only the beginning. Reform is not a threat but a promise: a promise to do better, to be better and to serve better. TransformED is that promise to every child that their education will be ambitions, inclusive and life-changing; to our teachers that they will be empowered, supported and valued; and to our society that education will be the foundation of a more prosperous and confident Northern Ireland.

I thank all those who have contributed to progress so far, particularly our school leaders and staff. Their commitment is the engine of transformation. Together, we are not just imagining a better future but building it. Too often in the past, change has come at a glacial pace but not this time. Our children get only one chance. With TransformED, we are delivering that change.

Daniel McCrossan (Social Democratic and Labour Party, West Tyrone)

Minister, you paint TransformED as a world-leading reform agenda, but the reality on the ground tells a different story. Teachers are demoralised, classrooms are overcrowded and schools are underfunded and crumbling. School inspection has been paralysed for years. Given that the Department of Education has been run by three different DUP Ministers over almost 10 years, how can you credibly claim that you are building a world-class system, when the basics of funding, staffing and accountability are in crisis? Is the strategy not little more than a glossy distraction from the fact that children and teachers are being failed every day by DUP Ministers and the disastrous Executive?

Paul Givan (DUP, Lagan Valley)

The Member should raise his ambitions and get to the challenge on the horizon that I am setting him. Let us make every school a good school. That is what TransformED is doing. It is transformational. Do not take my word for it: go and speak to principals. Hundreds of principals attended the inaugural TransformED conference. We surveyed principals, and there was overwhelming satisfaction with and support for what we are doing.

The Member speaks on behalf of the Opposition. I get that it is a place where Members can luxuriate on the Back Benches and not take responsibility for trying to make changes to our society and where they can speak against all that is wrong while others step up, take responsibility and govern to make this place even better. That is what we are doing with the education system. TransformED is the blueprint. We have published it and are delivering on it. The Member should speak to people who are actively engaging with it in the teaching profession. They have endorsed it. They are excited about what we are doing. I encourage the Member, who can get quite excited at times, to get excited about the plan. It will make a difference to his constituency.

Nick Mathison (Alliance, Strangford)

I thank the Minister for his statement. It outlines the simple and powerful message that there will be more time for deeper learning and less pressure to "teach to the test", which is something that, I imagine, everybody here will support. If that is his view, is he content that, for much of P6 and into P7, our children are taught to the test? Was this not an opportunity to do something about that approach to delivering teaching and learning in our schools, which is really there just to facilitate academic selection rather than to achieve the best outcomes for our children?

Paul Givan (DUP, Lagan Valley)

I note that there was not one word of criticism about what we are doing through TransformED. I will take that as a compliment and an endorsement from the Chairman of the Committee. The default position for people who would rather not talk about teachers' professional learning, investing in our teachers and delivering a world-class curriculum is to go back to academic selection. That is a circular debate.

I say to the Member, who, as I said, is the Chairman of the Education Committee, that he can do so much better. I know that he can. He is better than resorting to going around in circles talking about academic selection. Let us engage on TransformED. We can utilise the Education Committee to get behind the plan, because it will be transformational for every child, or we can go round in circles talking about academic selection.

Pat Sheehan (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as a ráiteas.

[Translation: I thank the Minister for his statement.]

In his statement, the Minister said that we will benchmark against some of the highest-performing education systems elsewhere. If we benchmark against the education system in the South of the island, the evidence shows that we lag miles behind it. Far more young people in the South go into third-level education, and far fewer leave school without qualifications.

Our big problem here is the long tail of underachievement. Bob Salisbury, a well-known educationalist, once said that we had the longest tail of educational underachievement in western Europe. In comparative studies of the systems North and South, one of the big differences that the spotlight has been on is academic selection.

Edwin Poots (DUP, Belfast South)

Do you have a question, Mr Sheehan?

Pat Sheehan (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

Until that egregious practice, which damages children and the system, is ended —

Edwin Poots (DUP, Belfast South)

Question.

Pat Sheehan (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

— education here will not be reformed. Will the Minister not accept that and accept the evidence?

Paul Givan (DUP, Lagan Valley)

The Member is right about benchmarking internationally. We participate in the programme for international student assessment (PISA), which is an internationally recognised system of assessment, because that is where we are able to benchmark. He is right: in a number of areas of education, the Republic of Ireland outperforms Northern Ireland. When we benchmark with PISA, we find that England also outperforms Northern Ireland on literacy in particular. That is why we are making the changes. We have to look at what is happening in the Republic of Ireland, which is why I have on my international ministerial advisory panel an influential individual who was part of the education system in the Republic of Ireland. I will take best practice from wherever. I have no constitutional objection to learning from what the Republic of Ireland is doing and saying, "How can we improve and then do better to compete?".

We are not competing just in a Northern Ireland context, so is not about comparing a school in your constituency with a school down the street. When corporations take decisions to invest at global level, a key factor in their decision-making is how educated the workforce is. Therefore, we have to compete at global level. TransformED is very much about making sure that we can improve educational outcomes for all our young people. Benchmarking at an international level is important, and, where I can learn from and engage with my counterpart in the Republic of Ireland, I will. We share what we are doing — we are better in some areas, but the Republic is better in others — on how we can collectively make sure that both jurisdictions benefit. I will continue to do that.

Peter Martin (DUP, North Down)

I thank the Minister for his statement, which is incredibly welcome. In response to the Member for West Tyrone, he reflected that, in broad terms, the sector — I concur with the Minister — is right behind TransformED.

There is so much that I could pick up on, but I will touch on the teacher professional learning fund, which, Minister, I understand is £31 million over three years. You will probably agree — the sector would agree with me on this — that TPL in Northern Ireland has been substandard for a while, so that —

Edwin Poots (DUP, Belfast South)

Is there a question?

Peter Martin (DUP, North Down)

— is incredibly welcome. How will the TPL fund roll out?

Paul Givan (DUP, Lagan Valley)

I thank the Member for his comments. He has echoed what I hear from the principals in my constituency, who are really enthusiastic about what we are doing. One school in my constituency hosted a conference only last week, and the principal was greatly encouraged by how that went, with the sharing of good practice amongst principals who attended the event, towards which we were able to provide some funding.

The TPL fund is a £31 million investment over a three-year period. It will provide schools with dedicated, per-teacher funding to support high-quality, evidence-based professional development. Our Department will ensure that the training that schools engage in aligns with what we are taking forward by way of knowledge-rich curricula, which will make sure that the training is in line with the policies that we have set out.

The fund will run over a three-year period. It is hugely to be welcomed. Many teachers — they speak to us all — tell me that they want to continue to identify ways in which they can improve their practice and best develop their pedagogy in teaching the material that they have to cover. It is about giving them more time but also better support so that teaching practices in our classrooms can be even more effective.

Jon Burrows (UUP, North Antrim)

I thank the Minister for that update. Does he agree that educational underattainment among boys is a particular issue in Northern Ireland and that a more balanced workforce, by way of attracting more male teachers into the profession, would help to provide positive role models in the education sector? Is there any international best practice that would help us to attract more men into the teaching profession in Northern Ireland?

Paul Givan (DUP, Lagan Valley)

The Member has raised an important point. Males are underrepresented across the teaching profession, not just among teachers but in the various management levels in schools. It is important for young people to have those role models, whether they are female or male. I would very much welcome a higher number of young males wanting to come into the profession, because it would have a positive impact.

All of us could cite teachers who made an impact in our lives. There was a male teacher in my school who had to deal with an all-boys class, of whom I was one, that was maybe a little more disruptive than others. That teacher was very much able to guide us. I can certainly trace back some of his contributions in helping to correct the errors of my ways when I was at school. I agree with the Member entirely that we want to encourage higher numbers of young males in particular to come into the profession.

Danny Baker (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

Minister, you referenced the RAISE programme in your statement: it has been flawed from the outset. Why did you reference that in relation to TransformED, when it was initially meant to be a two-year programme? Has further funding been made available by the Dublin Government?

Paul Givan (DUP, Lagan Valley)

The Member is entirely wrong. It is not a flawed scheme; in fact, I encourage the Member to engage with the West Belfast Partnership Board, which has developed its own strategic area plan. I have had a look at the plan that has been developed in his constituency and commend it to him: it is hugely impressive. The Department is in receipt of all of those local area plans. The RAISE programme is about tackling educational underachievement and trying to help people. The schemes that are being developed are community-based, are led by community organisations and will be transformative.

Move away from the big "P" politics. I get that, at times, Members want to have a pop, but the plans will make a real impact. I commend the West Belfast Partnership Board for the work that it has been doing to develop its plan, and I encourage the Member to become more familiar with it. The sooner that we can get funding into his community, the better the outcome will be for his constituents.

Gary Middleton (DUP, Foyle)

I thank the Minister for his statement and commend him for the work that he is doing with TransformED. In your statement, Minister, you mention the review of the curriculum and the potential for that to gather pace. I would be grateful if you could provide some more detail on how that pace will be gathered.

Paul Givan (DUP, Lagan Valley)

I thank the Member for that question. I referenced Lucy Crehan, whom I appointed to take forward the strategic review of the curriculum. That was published, and I responded formally on its recommendations. That review outlined the way in which our education system needs to be based around a new curriculum framework that is built around subject disciplines and strong, knowledge-rich content and recommended the establishment of a curriculum task force to lead the development and roll-out of that new framework. That work is very much under way. We have appointed the members of the task force, and it is already at work. It is chaired by Christine Counsell, and Lucy Crehan is its deputy chair.

We also have the task force advisory committee, to which I have appointed leading educationalists from across the British Isles. They are being tasked with taking forward the review of Northern Ireland's curriculum, which will look at every subject. It will also try to ensure that there is consistency in the curriculum as well as vertical coherence when it comes to the way in which we deliver it from primary 1 to primary 2, primary 3 and the various Key Stages. It is about how we layer on and build up knowledge in those subjects.

I am sure that Members have heard post-primary principals complain that how far pupils have covered a particular subject depends on the primary school. They will often say to me that they have to start from scratch in some subjects, because some children come with a much higher level of understanding of the subject content compared with others. We need to ensure that there is consistency across all our schools in the delivery of that curriculum and that we layer on the curriculum year on year to build up the knowledge. That will be really important in the outworkings. We have asked schools to do that in 12 months. That is a very ambitious target. Over the next 12 months, we will have a reformed curriculum. We will then need to move into the implementation phase of all that, which will take time. However, we need to get all the foundation work carried out and the new curriculum completed, and we will then move towards an implementation stage.

Michelle Guy (Alliance, Lagan Valley)

I thank the Minister for the statement. Minister, you have been clear that there is an evidence-based approach in TransformED. I hope, though, that your use of evidence is not selective, because you have already made it clear that you will ignore the evidence on academic selection.

I will ask about educational underachievement. We know from research that improving pastoral support and emotional well-being is crucial to tackling educational underachievement, especially for boys and young men. How will TransformED help schools and staff to improve pastoral and emotional support?

Paul Givan (DUP, Lagan Valley)

Part of the schemes that have been identified in the local area plans for RAISE deals with a lot of the pastoral support, attendance and the underlying issues in why young people do not attend school, so there are good proposals in the RAISE schemes. That is why it is important that we get funding rolled out and the scheme under way.

Tackling educational disadvantage and underachievement are very much part of TransformED, because we need a curriculum and an education system that are accessible to everybody. Some people will almost write a child off, and the child will not realise their full potential. Every child can be given a really good education, if we can get the education system working effectively. Pastoral support is, of course, part of what schools do. We provide funding, particularly through targeting social need (TSN) funding, of which £75 million is for the extended schools programme. We have Fair Start, which identified and supported various schemes through that process, and we want to make sure that we have better regular attendance.

Part of the challenge in school attendance and making sure that pupils come to school involves the appalling way in which COVID was handled. The lockdown of schools was appalling. We live with the legacy of that, and the Member's party campaigned vociferously to shut down our schools. We are seeing the ripple effect of denying children the opportunity to be in a classroom, so, if the Member is going to challenge me on what I do for pupil welfare, where was the concern for pupil welfare when it came to keeping them out of schools? It was not there.

The Member is entitled to continue to challenge me, if she wishes, but I love the "Pity me" approach that the Member takes. She will have a pop at me, but, whenever I respond in kind, she plays the victimhood card. She really needs to step up and not be so precious about the people who challenge her.

Nuala McAllister (Alliance, Belfast North)

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Is it appropriate for the Minister to make what amount to misogynistic comments in the Chamber? It is an absolute disgrace that he just distracts and attacks. It does not bother us — the people see through it — but it is an absolute disgrace for a Minister to act like that.

Paul Givan (DUP, Lagan Valley)

Further to that point of order, Mr Speaker, it is absolute abuse of the point of order system to make such an allegation when it is not remotely the case.

Nuala McAllister (Alliance, Belfast North)

I learn from the Minister.

Paul Givan (DUP, Lagan Valley)

Aye, the Member admits it.

A Member

The irony.

Edwin Poots (DUP, Belfast South)

Order. I will review the Member's remarks in the calm of day.

We will move on to the next Member to speak, who is Cathy Mason.

Cathy Mason (Sinn Féin, South Down)

Minister, on the back of an industrial relations agreement earlier this year, you committed to a workload review in recognition of the huge burden that our teachers have been carrying. Will that workload review consider the implications on teacher workload that is in the TransformED programme?

Paul Givan (DUP, Lagan Valley)

That is a really important question. The review was the outworking of an industrial agreement. Work has been undertaken by Paul Sweeney, formerly a permanent secretary in the Department of Education, and a trade union representative has also been working on it. That work is under way, and there has been engagement on workload. I expect a report to come to me in the autumn so that I can engage on its recommendations. I believe that they will make recommendations that will help address workload, but decisions that had been taken, for example on controlled assessment, are already relieving the burden of teacher workload. We have harnessed CCEA for the computer adaptive testing model, and CCEA will help us to ensure that assessments take place in a way that does not add to teachers' burden but reduces it.

Cheryl Brownlee (DUP, East Antrim)

I thank the Minister for coming to the Chamber with his statement. I am extremely excited not only for the education system but for Northern Ireland. The strategy will be a game changer.

Will the Minister provide an update on statutory assessments for 2024-25 and for this year?

Paul Givan (DUP, Lagan Valley)

I thank the Member for the question. Statutory assessment is really important in providing us with the information that we need to improve our education system.

In the 2024-25 academic year, we saw a return of assessments at the end of each Key Stage for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. Assessments were based on teacher judgement against the levels of progression in communication and use of mathematics. Notably, nearly three in 10 pupils are not achieving at the expected level in literacy and numeracy by the end of primary school. That is a significant concern, particularly as those foundational skills are essential for pupils' future learning, well-being and life opportunities. It is also a stark reminder of the challenges that we face, and it highlights the urgent need for a renewed focus on literacy and numeracy across our schools. I will therefore publish new literacy guidance for schools, which will be supported by a targeted programme for teacher professional learning. The insights gained from the 2024-25 data will inform the wider review of assessment and will play a vital role in shaping policy and interventions that support high-quality teaching and learning for all children in Northern Ireland.

Harry Harvey (DUP, Strangford)

Minister, I welcome your statement. Will you explain your 10-point plan?

Paul Givan (DUP, Lagan Valley)

I thank the Member for the question. We published not only a strategy but a 10-point plan to deliver educational excellence. The 10 commitments aggregate the actions throughout the strategy and aim to give coherence and clarity to the overall plans. Each of the 10 strategic commitments aims to learn systematically from the most effective and fast-improving school systems in the world.

The 10 actions in the plan are to review and redesign the Northern Ireland curriculum to ensure that every child enjoys an ambitious and knowledge-rich curriculum that develops their learning in a well-sequenced and explicit manner; investment in high-quality teacher professional learning; investment in curriculum resources; new literacy and numeracy strategies, based on international best practice; a new school improvement policy; a new system of attainment measures for assessment at the end of each Key Stage to set high standards for all children; a comprehensive review of qualifications; an integrated approach to tackling educational disadvantage within schools, families and communities; new legislation to ensure that all learners remain in education, apprenticeship or training until age 18; and a coherent accountability framework for education to demonstrate value to government, taxpayers and parents.

Those actions are all interrelated. We have not just the TransformED strategy but a clear 10-point plan that provides coherence to what we will deliver. That allows us to move forward. We cannot look at one area in isolation. We cannot just update our curriculum without looking at qualifications or making sure that we provide professional learning opportunities for teachers to develop. All that needs to move together. That is why we have a 10-point plan that underpins the process through which we will take forward the transformation of our education system.

Stewart Dickson (Alliance, East Antrim)

Minister, you stated that you wish to remove controlled assessments, where possible. How can you be confident that that decision is in the interests of all learners, many of whom perform better when the high-stakes pressure of an examination is removed?

Paul Givan (DUP, Lagan Valley)

It is not that we do not want to have controlled assessment; we do. We want to have assessment at Key Stages 1, 2 and 3. We typically benchmark once the GCSE or A-level results are published, but, if that is the only way in which we formally assess our education system, there is a problem in that many of the pupils concerned are aged 16, 17 or 18 and are therefore leaving school. We need to be able to identify the performance of pupils from Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3. That will allow us to determine which schools we can provide additional support to.

We have looked to CCEA for the assessment process. It is developing an assessment model that will be less intensive for teachers, with peer-to-peer assessment whereby teachers observe other teachers' practice. The delivery of that will very much be led by CCEA, which will help to reduce the burden on teachers and will give us important information on literacy and numeracy in particular. That will then inform how the system can respond to those needs.

Colin McGrath (Social Democratic and Labour Party, South Down)

I commend the work of Patrician Youth Centre in Downpatrick and local schools, Lecale Trinity Grammar School and Blackwater Integrated College, which deliver a joint Youth Service/schools approach, targeting those for whom the traditional curriculum is not attractive. That approach is appealing and, thus, engaging for those young people. Does the Minister agree that such a joint approach, which is structure-light but knowledge-rich, has a place in education and should be funded, even though, at the minute, the Youth Service tends to turn its nose up a wee bit at that type of approach?

Paul Givan (DUP, Lagan Valley)

There are certainly examples — the Member referenced one — where a positive impact is made outside a formal school setting. The Member referenced those organisations, and I can cite Monkstown Boxing Club as being another example of where young people who would otherwise not be in school are engaged in the education system. We support that, and I commend the organisations that the Member referenced on the work that they are taking forward, because I believe that we need an education system that is responsive to whatever way pupils and other young people best respond to and engage with education.

Sian Mulholland (Alliance, North Antrim)

Thank you, Minister. How can we be assured that the teacher CPD academy will provide our teachers with the broadest possible range of academic thinking and teaching methods?

Paul Givan (DUP, Lagan Valley)

We are developing professional learning and rolling out the £31 million TPL programme. We have a clear position on a knowledge-rich curriculum. We also have the science of learning. That updates how we understand the ways in which people learn best, because we now have a much better understanding of how the brain operates. We need to ensure that the way in which teachers deliver teaching aligns with all that information. That approach will be underpinned by evidence — it is evidence-led. The training will align with the evidence, which justifies the approach that we are taking to develop the Northern Ireland curriculum and the practices that take place in our schools.

Nuala McAllister (Alliance, Belfast North)

Minister, we cannot talk about transforming education without talking about selection. It is not respectful to belittle the experience of teachers and children, who are made physically sick due to that pressure. They expect more from you, Minister.

My question is about the teacher CPD academy's being developed by InnerDrive, which I have read about. Will you outline the value of that contract and the procurement process that was followed in the awarding of the contract?

Paul Givan (DUP, Lagan Valley)

The Member raised the issue of the procurement contract and so on, and I am more than happy to provide that information.

I have my views on academic selection, you have your view on academic selection, and everyone else has their various views. There is no consensus on what to do about academic selection. Of my children, some sat it, and others did not. It is a choice — a decision that parents will make when the time comes to go through the process. If there is a better way to select children to transfer to schools, please bring it forward. If it were to be done on the basis of children attending their nearest school — one that they live beside — we know what would happen: the wealthy would buy up the properties beside the best-performing schools, which would disadvantage those who do not have the means to do so. If that is the solution that is being advocated, I do not see how it will work in our society.

I had a choice to make when I came into this role: either we go round the decades-long position on academic selection, on which there is no consensus, or we get on with trying to improve the education system in every single school, irrespective of whether it is a grammar school, a comprehensive school or an Irish-medium school. My focus is on helping every single school. That is my objective, and that is what the TransformED document is very much about.

Timothy Gaston (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

Minister, your statement is full of fine words, and I genuinely wish you well in your vision that you have outlined. However, once again, valued classroom assistants have been overlooked. You ignored my amendment regarding that sector yesterday. Would you like to share with the House how you value classroom assistants and where you see them fitting into the vision that you have outlined?

Paul Givan (DUP, Lagan Valley)

I thank the Member for his welcome of what we are trying to take forward. I supported the Member's amendment in the Assembly last night, so I am not sure where he is getting that from. Let me state on the record that classroom assistants are hugely important to our education system. They provide important support to the young people whom they are helping. We need to ensure that the education system provides funding for what is in the best interests of our children. Whether that is funding for teachers or for classroom assistants, we need to be sure that, when we are identifying the best way to support the child, the resources, financial and human, are allocated in a way that is in the best interests of the children. Without a shadow of a doubt, classroom assistants are hugely important to our education system.

Claire Sugden (Independent, East Londonderry)

Minister, you have set out reforms around curriculum assessment and teacher development, but the glaring omission for me is any sort of programme around life skills, including healthy relationships, consent, mental health, suicide prevention — sadly — and so much more.

(Mr Deputy Speaker [Dr Aiken] in the Chair)

There is a real opportunity here to support kids, parents and teachers who are asking for that type of support in our schools. Is there anything that you will do to consider that as part of your TransformED programme?

Paul Givan (DUP, Lagan Valley)

It is one of the reasons why the review that I commissioned of learning for life and work (LLW) in schools said that it was not delivering. Pupils who I met said that they did not find that that was an effective means by which to address some of the issues that the Member has just outlined. We are going to be looking at the way in which the curriculum addresses those issues, and we will be doing it in a way that I believe will be more effective than the current approach has been in our school system.

Steve Aiken (UUP, South Antrim)

Thank you very much indeed. That concludes —.

Nuala McAllister (Alliance, Belfast North)

On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker.

Steve Aiken (UUP, South Antrim)

Just a second. Just a second. Just a second.

Nuala McAllister (Alliance, Belfast North)

Do not be patronising.

Steve Aiken (UUP, South Antrim)

That concludes the statement by the Minister. Point of order.

Nuala McAllister (Alliance, Belfast North)

Thank you, Deputy Speaker. I do not need to be patronised. I just want to highlight that I asked the Minister a rather straightforward question —.

Steve Aiken (UUP, South Antrim)

Can the Member retake her seat? Now.

You have the opportunity to apologise for making that statement right now, because I believe that it was directed at me. There was no patronising. I was waiting for the Minister to finish, in accordance with what he is supposed to do. Would you care to make an apology, Member?

Nuala McAllister (Alliance, Belfast North)

No.

Trevor Clarke (DUP, South Antrim)

Shame. Shame.

Nuala McAllister (Alliance, Belfast North)

I have learned from you.

Deputy Speaker, you need to take a look at your —.

Steve Aiken (UUP, South Antrim)

The Member will retake her seat. Member, you have an opportunity to retract and make an apology for the statement that you made, or you can remove yourself from the Chamber.

Nuala McAllister (Alliance, Belfast North)

I will not, Deputy Speaker. I will not make an apology, because you do need to look at the way that you do speak to many of the women in this Chamber who do stand up, and you need to consider the way that you talk there. So I will not make an apology. You can ask me again; my answer will not change.

Steve Aiken (UUP, South Antrim)

You are to remove yourself from the Chamber right now.

Nuala McAllister (Alliance, Belfast North)

I will happily do so.

Steve Aiken (UUP, South Antrim)

Thank you.

[Long pause.]

We are waiting.

The Member withdrew from the Chamber.

Stewart Dickson (Alliance, East Antrim)

On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. The Member whom you have just unceremoniously removed from the Chamber was about to raise a point of order about comments made to her by the Minister in his statement. It was to ask how and when she could expect the written information that he indicated in the answer to her question. She wishes to know how she should approach the matter. Sadly, I have had to ask you that question on her behalf, Mr Deputy Speaker.

Steve Aiken (UUP, South Antrim)

Thank you very much indeed for the tone you have taken. The matter will be referred to the Speaker's Office to get the details. To say, however, that a remark was patronising, when all that I was doing was trying to move on to the next item of business, is not acceptable. It is not acceptable to the Chair or to the House. There is a degree of decorum that should be followed. Indeed, your party's Deputy Speaker was recently at a Speakers' conference at which we covered those issues. You may wish to refer to him about those issues. We will move on to the next item of business.

Stewart Dickson (Alliance, East Antrim)

Further to that point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker, after the way in which you have just handled the specific matter of removing a Member from the Chamber, I invite you to look not only at the words that you used as she rose to raise her point of order but at the video recording. While I am on my feet, I suggest that some of the men in the Chamber reflect on the moans and groans that they made when a female Member was raising a legitimate point of order.

Steve Aiken (UUP, South Antrim)

Thank you. We now move —.

Diane Forsythe (DUP, South Down)

On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker.

Steve Aiken (UUP, South Antrim)

I will take one final point of order, and then we will move on with the business.

Diane Forsythe (DUP, South Down)

There has been an outrageous abuse of the term "misogyny", and, as a woman sitting in the House, I am appalled at the manner in which the Chair has been addressed. I ask that the Speaker's Office provide advice to all Members on how the Chair should be respected and addressed.

Some Members

Hear, hear.

Steve Aiken (UUP, South Antrim)

Thank you for that point of order. It will be passed on to the Speaker, and he will no doubt comment on it at the Business Committee meeting later today.

Steve Aiken (UUP, South Antrim)

I have received notice from the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs that he wishes to make a statement. Before I call the Minister, I remind Members that they must be concise in asking their question. This is not an opportunity for debate, and long introductions will not be allowed.

Andrew Muir (Alliance, North Down)

I will make a statement, in compliance with section 52 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, on the twenty-fifth North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) environment sectoral meeting, which was held in the Loughs Agency's offices in Carlingford on 4 July of this year.

The Northern Ireland Executive were represented at the meeting by junior Minister Aisling Reilly MLA, junior Minister Pam Cameron MLA and me. I chaired the meeting. The Irish Government were represented by Darragh O'Brien TD, the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment and Christopher O’Sullivan TD, the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with special responsibility for nature, heritage and biodiversity. The statement has been endorsed by junior Ministers Reilly and Cameron, and they agreed that I should make the statement to the House.

I am pleased to report that it was a very useful and constructive meeting and that progress was made in all the areas that were discussed. I will now summarise the discussions and each paper in turn and the main outcomes and agreements that were reached.

On cooperation on environmental research and funding opportunities, Ministers welcomed the strong links between researchers in both jurisdictions in the field of environmental research, including through ongoing projects funded through collaborative funding programmes in both jurisdictions and via European-funded programmes. Ministers also welcomed the ongoing collaborative environmental research projects, such as the jointly funded co-centres, and the CREDA, HIGH-GREEN and sustainable, integrated, optimised electrification and automation of transportation networks (SPECTATOR) projects funded through the Government of Ireland’s North/South research programme as part of the Shared Island initiative.

The Council agreed that both Administrations will continue to work together to maximise opportunities for environmental research and funding, including those offered by PEACE PLUS, Horizon Europe, the Innovation Fund Ireland, the North/South research programme, the Shared Island bioeconomy demonstration initiative, the DAERA/Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) collaborative research programme and the US-Ireland R&D partnership programme.

The focus was on the bioeconomy in the area of climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Ministers noted the opportunities that the bioeconomy can offer through sustainable and circular bio-based innovations and solutions for climate action, culminating in a just transition from a linear to a circular economy in both jurisdictions.

The North/South Ministerial Council welcomed the progress that had been achieved by both Administrations in developing and implementing initiatives, including strategies and action plans on a North/South basis, and agreed that officials should continue to collaborate on key issues that affect the bioeconomy.

As regards cooperation on biodiversity, the North/South Ministerial Council noted the commitment of officials in both jurisdictions to engage biannually on matters relating to biodiversity, with a focus on conservation action and restoration initiatives, and welcomed the continued cooperation on biodiversity projects that are funded under the PEACE PLUS programme and the Shared Island initiative. Ministers endorsed the ambition to share best practice through programmes such as Farming for Nature and Farming with Nature; encouraged knowledge transfer of successful delivery in the European innovation partnership programme, the LIFE project and the environmental farming scheme; and encouraged collaborative engagement on natural capital accounting approaches to habitat mapping and ecosystem assessments.

On cooperation on the marine environment and marine-protected areas, the Council welcomed ongoing North/South cooperation in developing policy and legislative frameworks that follow the ecosystem-based approach and provide protection for coastal and marine habitats, species and marine ecosystem services. Ministers welcomed the presentation from a DAERA official on the Northern Ireland blue carbon action plan 2025-2030 — the co-delivery policy for nature recovery.

Ministers agreed to continued North/South cooperation to develop policy and legislation that gives regard to the transboundary nature of marine ecosystems and to provide opportunities for cooperation on science and research projects, knowledge exchange between officials and, where necessary, the development and/or alignment of transboundary management measures.

The North/South Ministerial Council agreed that officials should work jointly on topics such as the participation of coastal and island communities in management action and environmental stewardship; the valuation of marine ecosystem services; nature-based solutions and measures to protect and restore natural carbon stores; designation and management of marine-protected areas; and measures to achieve offshore renewable energy targets while ensuring the protection of marine ecosystems.

On water quality and waste water management, Ministers welcomed the launch of the Northern Ireland Executive-approved Lough Neagh report and action plan on 23 July last year, the publication of Ireland's third cycle of the river basin management plan, the 'Water Action Plan 2024', on 5 September 2024, and the Northern Ireland Executive's approval of the third cycle of the river basin management plan on 5 June 2025 and its publication on 13 June.

The North/South Ministerial Council noted the holding of a catchment community fora workshop and the continued progress in developing the cross-jurisdictional pilot catchment work plan that is being undertaken in the Newry, Fane, Glyde and Dee catchment. Ministers welcomed the engagement of officials on water quality issues through the North/South water quality coordination group.

The Council agreed to hold its next meeting in this sectoral format in autumn 2025.

In closing, I am pleased to be able to report on a very productive and constructive meeting. I look forward to continuing to work with my counterparts in Ireland on all areas of cooperation in the North/South Ministerial Council's environment sector. I commend the statement to the Assembly and welcome any questions.

Daniel McCrossan (Social Democratic and Labour Party, West Tyrone)

Minister, you spoke about collaboration and research, but people in the communities around Lough Neagh and the Foyle need urgent action. Rather than more strategy papers, what clear timelines and targets will come from the meeting to improve water quality and biodiversity?

Andrew Muir (Alliance, North Down)

I thank the Member for his question. I welcome him to his post and look forward to working with him as his party's spokesperson on agriculture, environment and rural affairs matters.

We are talking about North/South cooperation. I outlined the areas that we discussed. It is important that we have strategies so that we have an overall policy framework, but it is also important that we take action. On Lough Neagh, the key area of focus and action is the Lough Neagh action plan that was agreed and published in July last year. I am focused upon the delivery of that, because the people of Northern Ireland deserve delivery on the key issues. In terms of nature recovery, later this month, we will launch a consultation on the nature recovery strategy. It is really important that we take action in that area. I will make announcements in the next period on how we will support the NGOs to take practical action to restore nature in Northern Ireland.

Steve Aiken (UUP, South Antrim)

Sinéad Ferris. My apologies: Sinéad Ennis. People are probably misconstruing my language today. I do not know what has happened. Everybody seems to be a bit excitable. Sinéad, my apologies. Over to you.

Sinéad Ennis (Sinn Féin, South Down)

I wonder why that is.

Minister, your statement talks about cross-border cooperation on water quality and marine ecosystems, yet there is no mention of the environmental nightmare that the Carlingford lough community of Warrenpoint is suffering, over which your Department continues to preside. Over the summer, I wrote to you, as the Minister responsible for issuing the waste management licence, to ask what meaningful action your Department is taking. What you are doing, beyond sending out the odd NIEA official to tell us that the operation is compliant? Will you tell the people of Warrenpoint what you are doing practically to end this environmental nuisance on their behalf?

Andrew Muir (Alliance, North Down)

I am taking all the actions that are possible within the legal vires of the Department. We are working quite hard to address the concerns that have been raised with me on the odour issues in Warrenpoint. It is important that I put that on the record. I consider these issues to be important, but we have to work within the legal powers of my Department, specifically in relation to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.

The last inspection of the facility by NIEA officials was on 14 August, and we will continue to do what we can within our legal powers. That stands in stark contrast to the approach of your party and the SDLP, which was to down tools and walk away from the Warrenpoint Harbour Authority. The politics of boycott do not deliver for Northern Ireland. I am focused on delivery and on addressing these issues, rather than on walking away from them.

Michelle McIlveen (DUP, Strangford)

I note that there is agreement on working to achieve offshore renewable energy targets while ensuring the protection of marine ecosystems. The protection of our fishing industry should also be a priority alongside that. Will the Minister give assurances that any meaningful engagement will also include the fishing sector, which will, obviously, be at risk from any offshore renewable activity?

Andrew Muir (Alliance, North Down)

I thank the Member for her question. It is important that we engage with the fishery sector because it is one of the key sectors that will be affected. It is important that I put it on record that I believe in the importance of that engagement. I also believe in supporting our fishery sector in Northern Ireland. I have had regular engagement with DEFRA on the fisheries and coastal development fund to get clarity on where that funding will go so that we can get it rolled out. There are new DEFRA ministers in post, and I will continue to engage with them. It is regrettable that that change has occurred because I met with Daniel Zeichner just a few weeks ago and we were making good progress. However, we are starting with a fresh team, and I will start with a fresh approach. Hopefully, we can get that support to fisheries and coastal communities in Northern Ireland.

Andrew McMurray (Alliance, South Down)

Will the Minister provide an update on Northern Ireland's first climate action plan?

Andrew Muir (Alliance, North Down)

The climate action plan is out for consultation. I encourage everyone to have their say on that because it is a key intervention for us in Northern Ireland and a requirement that has arisen from the climate change legislation. It is important that we deliver upon that legislation. Public events are ongoing, and I encourage people to feed back to them.

Jonathan Buckley (DUP, Upper Bann)

The Minister's statement references the issues facing Lough Neagh. He recently announced a round of funding to explore potential products and solutions to treat and reduce blue-green algae. I am aware that five companies received such funding. I know of at least one company — I am sure there are others — that was denied funding in that particular round. If we are to approach this conversation with a genuinely open mind, will the Minister explain why that was the case and will he commit to engaging his officials to ensure that all those companies with potential solutions have the ability to present to the Department so that we can best place targeted action if the solutions exist?

Andrew Muir (Alliance, North Down)

Thank you, Mr Buckley. There has been quite a lot of interest in the small business research initiative (SBRI), so we have had to go through a competitive call. Some companies made it through that and others did not. Subsequent to that call, people have come forward with further initiatives. We have had to consider whether we should do a further round because companies have been coming forward with additional interventions. That is something on which I will engage with officials. If people have good ideas and we want to be able to test them, we should provide a mechanism for doing so.

Stewart Dickson (Alliance, East Antrim)

Minister, how has your Department been engaging with the Irish Government on the Asian hornet threat?

Andrew Muir (Alliance, North Down)

People will be aware that an Asian hornet sighting was confirmed in Cork on 13 August and that, subsequently, the National Parks and Wildlife Service confirmed that a nest was successfully located on Thursday 28 August. That highlights the fact that that high-risk species has the ability to reproduce on the island of Ireland.

NIEA is actively collaborating with colleagues in the Republic of Ireland through the Shared Island biosecurity and invasive species initiative to monitor developments and share intelligence on the evolving situation south of the border. As part of that effort, a DAERA representative has been invited to join the Irish Government's Asian hornet management group, facilitating timely and effective information exchange between the jurisdictions. In parallel, NIEA is exploring opportunities for sharing training and equipment to strengthen preparedness and response capabilities across the island. Furthermore, NIEA has been invited to partake in the review of the response to the current outbreak in Ireland, enabling valuable lessons to be identified and incorporated into Northern Ireland's contingency planning, should a similar incident arise.

My concerns about the matter are significant. NIEA is working through the terms of preparations should such an eventuality arrive in Northern Ireland. If it does, I need to level with Members today and say that we will have to stop doing many other pieces of work so that we can divert resources to deal with it. It is a concern. We have seen the situation that has been unfolding in Cork, and we have to be conscious of the need to respond to it.

Sian Mulholland (Alliance, North Antrim)

Will the Minister provide an update on cross-border collaboration on climate change and on any impact arising from the recent A5 judgement?

Andrew Muir (Alliance, North Down)

Throughout my time as AERA Minister, I have been clear about the importance that I place on climate action. The journey to net zero is the defining challenge of our generation. The Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 was a central feature of the judgement made in the High Court on 23 June 2025. I have decided that it is appropriate for my Department to apply to the court to formally intervene in the appeal. The focus will be on clarifying the interpretation of the legislation so that it can be fully implemented as intended.

We have made much progress on climate action since I took up office, and I am determined that that will continue. Achieving the targets requires collective leadership. All Ministers and all Departments can and must play a role together. There are significant opportunities for investment as we transition towards a more sustainable economy, including good green jobs and increased energy security from renewables. The poorest in our society should not be left to bear the consequences of wild price fluctuations at the behest of dictatorships that own fossil fuel supplies. Decarbonisation will improve the health and well-being of our citizens, especially the most vulnerable, if we focus on a fair and just transition through which everyone can benefit. Strong climate and environmental credentials will be critical, if we are to attract inward investment, maximise economic opportunities, develop skills and compete on an international scale while showcasing the best of Northern Ireland.

Patsy McGlone (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Mid Ulster)

Minister, I attended a public meeting last night along with a number of other elected Members. There were over 100 people there in Kinturk in Moortown, County Tyrone. As you will be well aware, the issue is Lough Neagh and the priority to have action on Lough Neagh. The statement is an opportunity for you to detail when you liaised with colleagues from other parts of the island. The Irish Government have been engaging with agriculture, the farming sector and other environmental stakeholders on how the issue, which is also at Lough Sheelin, can be addressed. Did you avail yourself of the opportunity to engage with the Ministers from the Republic, who are your colleagues, on measures that can be collaboratively taken or learned from how they have engaged significantly and supported the agriculture sector towards finding creative new measures?

Andrew Muir (Alliance, North Down)

I confirm that Lough Neagh was discussed at the North/South Ministerial Council environment sectoral meeting, because it is a shared challenge, given that the catchment area covers North and South. A lot of good work is being done North and South, but we need to do more. Discussions are ongoing about the potential for a Shared Island initiative on Lough Neagh. I want to be able to support the farming community on the road ahead, particularly taking into account the success of the South's agricultural sustainability support and advisory programme (ASSAP) and the sustainable catchment programme in the North, which are similar initiatives. They are an opportunity for us to collaborate on the issues.

We will continue to engage. There is strong and positive engagement. However, it is about more than just water quality; it also relates to nature and biodiversity. There are a number of Shared Island and PEACE PLUS initiatives, and it is really good that we have those, but we will need to redouble our efforts and to work North/South. I welcome the fact that the Irish Government have included cooperation North/South in their Programme for Government, and that is why we work together on the issues.

Nick Mathison (Alliance, Strangford)

I thank the Minister for his statement. Will he provide a more detailed update on the clean air strategy?

Andrew Muir (Alliance, North Down)

Thank you very much, Nick. The clean air strategy is an important initiative that my Department is taking forward. We are engaging with other Departments with responsibility for minimising polluting emissions to air to agree the actions that each Department can include in the draft clean air strategy. Good progress has been made on the development of the draft strategy.

I have met my officials to set out my policy direction, and liaison is ongoing between DAERA, the Department for the Economy, the Department for Infrastructure, the Department of Health and the Department for Communities. A draft of the clean air strategy was recently shared with those Departments. My officials are reviewing the feedback that was received and revising the strategy to reflect those views. I anticipate the launch of the public consultation on the draft strategy later this year. I remain committed to publishing a robust strategy that will deliver real benefits to human health and the environment across Northern Ireland.

Michelle Guy (Alliance, Lagan Valley)

I thank the Minister for the statement. Will he give an update on future Shared Island opportunities?

Andrew Muir (Alliance, North Down)

We are considering a number of Shared Island opportunities. Departmental officials are engaging with the Irish Government's Shared Island initiative unit to explore a Natura Communities network proposal. That will build on the work that has already been successfully undertaken by the Shared Island initiative peatland programme and will provide €5 million for the establishment and implementation of the Natura Communities networks.

Departmental officials will engage further with the Irish Government's Shared Island initiative unit to explore opportunities to improve water quality in the Lough Neagh catchment area and more widely on the island of Ireland. Any such proposals will build on and support the actions in the Lough Neagh action plan that is being progressed.

Timothy Gaston (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

Minister, you rightly highlighted the importance of water quality and waste water management. Closer to home, however, there is deep public concern about the reported 200,000 tons of raw sewage being discharged into the Lough Neagh catchment area. Will you outline what progress you have made with your DFI counterpart to ensure that that ongoing pollution, which Northern Ireland Water contributes to, is brought under control?

Andrew Muir (Alliance, North Down)

I thank the Member for his question. It is a critical issue. We are pumping sewage into Lough Neagh, Belfast lough and our waterways, and something needs to be done about it. My responsibility relates to regulation and enforcement. Since NI Water was established in 2007, there has been a separate regulatory regime for NI Water. Farmers often tell me, "That is not fair", and I agree with them. I will need support from Executive colleagues to have a regulation and enforcement regime on sewage pollution that makes it clear that there are no separate arrangements for anyone. That will come forward in the next number of months, and I will need backing on it.

Linda Dillon (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

I thank the Minister. Other Members have raised the issue of Lough Neagh, which is a real concern for many of us. Will you give us some sense of what the Shared Island initiative that you have talked about will involve? What stakeholders will be engaged in that? Members have spoken about the agriculture community — I declare an interest as somebody who comes from an agricultural background — but we also need to engage fishermen, both those who fish on boats and our angling community. All those people have a vested interest in protecting our lough.

Will you also give us a sense of what environmental and economic benefits our population might gain from the lough in the future?

Andrew Muir (Alliance, North Down)

No problem, Linda. I was in County Monaghan last year, when we had a North/South conference around water quality in respect of agriculture and the good work that is being done down South and up North.

We have a sustainable catchment programme in Northern Ireland through which the Rivers Trust, which I met, delivers on-farm advisory support to farmers in the Upper Bann catchment area. I was impressed by that, but it needs to be broadened out. It is an action in the Lough Neagh action plan that the sustainable catchment programme be broadened out much more widely.

They have initiatives down South that are broader than those in the North. We need to take learnings from those and see whether there is a way to expand them in the North as part of the sustainable catchment programme.

There are four pillars regarding the improvement of water quality in Lough Neagh and elsewhere: education, incentivisation, regulation and enforcement. Let us be clear: the focus ought to be on education and incentivisation, because it is much better if the problem does not occur in the first place. Yes, we need to have regulation and enforcement, but, if we have to resort to that, that is an example of failure. I want to invest in education and incentivisation, and that is why I need support from the Shared Island project, as I do not have the money in my budget to do it at present. I will work on a North/South basis on the issue and will continue to engage with my colleagues so that we can pull something together and deliver that on the ground.

The Member mentioned engagement with people. It is critical that we bring people with us. I will keep my focus on that issue.

Justin McNulty (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Newry and Armagh)

I note with bewilderment the self-congratulatory tone on Lough Neagh while our lough is engulfed with a rancid blue-green algae. Given the repeated failures on waste water management and nutrient run-off, what enforcement measures will be introduced to make sure that commitments on water quality are met? Does the Minister's Department have the vires to act against and fine the Department for Infrastructure in relation to its failings in discharging waste water to our sea and watercourses?

Andrew Muir (Alliance, North Down)

I have already addressed a number of the questions that the Member has outlined. There is no self-congratulatory tone from me. What unfolded over the summer was nothing short of a thundering disgrace. Year-on-year, we see the situation evolve on Lough Neagh, and, when I come to the House to look for support, I do not get it. Members need to support me in taking the difficult decisions. I welcome the constructive opposition that parties, including that of the Member through the recent motion, have given me, because we need to focus constructively on how to resolve this.

I have already outlined my view on the arrangements that are in place for waste water infrastructure. I will need support from my Executive colleagues to ensure that there is equal and fair treatment across all the pollution elements regarding waste water pollution and the sewage that is going into our waterways.

There is also a fundamental issue about whether we are serious about governing Northern Ireland. I am; I am up for taking difficult decisions. Others will have to decide in the next number of months whether they are as well.

Steve Aiken (UUP, South Antrim)

That concludes questions on that statement.

Steve Aiken (UUP, South Antrim)

I have received notice from the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs that he wishes to make another statement. Before I call the Minister, I remind Members that they must be concise in asking their questions. This is not an opportunity for debate, and long introductions will not be allowed. Minister, over to you.

Andrew Muir (Alliance, North Down)

Mr Deputy Speaker, can you clarify what the next statement is, because there is aquaculture and agriculture?

[Laughter.]

Steve Aiken (UUP, South Antrim)

For the sake of clarity, we are dealing with the aquaculture and marine sectoral meeting of Friday 4 July 2025. Have you got the right one, Minister?

Let's go for it. Well done.

Andrew Muir (Alliance, North Down)

With your permission, Mr Deputy Speaker, in compliance with section 52 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, I wish to make a statement about the thirty-second meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in the aquaculture and marine sectoral format, which was held on Friday 4 July 2025.

The Executive were represented by junior Minister Cameron and junior Minister Reilly, as accompanying Ministers, and me, as lead Minister. The Irish Government were represented by Darragh O’Brien TD, Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, who chaired the Meeting. The statement has been agreed with junior Ministers Cameron and Reilly, and I make it on behalf of all of us.

The North/South Ministerial Council welcomed the report on the activities of the Loughs Agency, including the ongoing conservation and protection efforts, most notably the EU-funded projects with the aim of improving the monitoring of aquatic animals and species; fisheries improvements to create climate-resilient rivers, improve water quality and maximise fisheries productivity; and marine tourism to promote aquatic ecosystems and support local economies.

Ministers noted the success of the agency's international symposium on transboundary and collaborative water governance held in September 2024 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the agency. It brought together experts, policymakers and researchers, focusing on cross-border cooperation for the protection of water, aquatic and marine systems.

The Council welcomed the presentation by the Loughs Agency on its strategic plan for its role in Carlingford. Ministers noted the agency's collaboration with Fáilte Ireland, Louth County Council, the Carlingford Vision '31 steering committee and other local stakeholders, which has facilitated the development of a suite of co-designed proposals that reflect the aspirations of the people of the region.

The North/South Ministerial Council approved the Loughs Agency's revised business plan for 2024, and its business plan for 2025, and recommended the budget and grant provisions that had been agreed by both sponsoring Departments and Finance Ministers. The Council noted that the 2022 and 2023 Loughs Agency annual reports and accounts have been laid before the Northern Ireland Assembly and both Houses of the Oireachtas.

The Council welcomed the update on the implementation of the science strategy framework, which is structured as a three-strand approach inclusive of salmonoids and other fish, native oysters and aquatic ecosystems for all science delivery at the Loughs Agency. Ministers noted ongoing work to improve the accuracy of fish counts in order to generate more robust data to better inform salmon conservation limits. The Council noted ongoing fish surveillance in compliance with water framework directive requirements. Ministers noted the potential for oyster surveys to provide the evidence base for consideration in relation to the sustainable operation of the Lough Foyle native oyster fishery. They noted the work undertaken in water quality monitoring across both catchments to inform pollution responses, habitat improvement works and statutory environmental planning. They also noted the use of environment DNA (eDNA) techniques to identify the presence of invasive species.

The Council commended the Loughs Agency for its proactive response to address the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss on priority fish species. The Council welcomed the agency's continued commitment to working collaboratively with partners to help to deliver a collective response to the dual challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss.

Finally, the Council agreed to hold its next aquaculture and marine meeting in autumn 2025.

Daniel McCrossan (Social Democratic and Labour Party, West Tyrone)

I thank the Minister for that statement. You have a busy day today, Minister. You outlined the Loughs Agency's work on water quality, invasive species and fisheries, but local anglers and fishing communities are telling us that rivers are in crisis. Will you explain how the agency's budget and resources are sufficient to meet the enormous challenges?

Andrew Muir (Alliance, North Down)

The Loughs Agency has a focus on its territorial area, and that is what it focuses upon. I want to give it additional powers. There will, hopefully, be a fisheries and water environment Bill coming to the House, which will give the agency additional enforcement powers. I get the concerns in relation to the impact that pollution incidences have had, and that is something that we want to take forward. We also need to get the Loughs Agency budget agreed for the next financial year and going forward. North/South cooperation is beneficial to that, because it allows us to get good value for money and to deliver for the citizens of Northern Ireland. I will continue to work with the agency to ensure that it has sufficient budget in place.

Áine Murphy (Sinn Féin, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

Minister, how is the cross-border implementation of the water framework directive being aligned North and South, particularly in achieving good ecological status targets?

Andrew Muir (Alliance, North Down)

Officials engage on that on a cross-border basis. It is important that we do that, and we have a number of initiatives that flow from that wider strategic commitment. However, we have to recognise that the border does not respect the issues regarding water quality. That is where we cooperate North/South, and at the Council meetings as well. There will be further work, because we are looking towards the fourth cycle of our river basin management strategy, and we need to cooperate North/South on that. North/South cooperation on water quality is absolutely fundamental.

Michelle McIlveen (DUP, Strangford)

Minister, I note that the NSMC approved the Loughs Agency's revised business plan for 2024 and the business plan for 2025. Does the Minister believe that there are any efficiencies that could be made, and has the Loughs Agency been tasked with that?

Andrew Muir (Alliance, North Down)

The Loughs Agency operates on a relatively tight budget, and I know that it is doing a lot of good work. We examine its work at every meeting. I do not have additional concerns that it is inefficient, but if the Member has anything in particular on that, I can raise that with the agency.

Andrew McMurray (Alliance, South Down)

Minister, what will the impact be on the Loughs Agency when the new fisheries and water environment Bill comes into effect?

Andrew Muir (Alliance, North Down)

Thank you, Andrew. I am aware of concerns about the levels of fines imposed for water pollution offences, particularly the maximum statutory fines. Fish kills within the Loughs Agency's jurisdiction are prosecuted under the Foyle Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1952, with a recent prosecution in relation to the River Muff. My officials are taking forward a review of fines and penalties for environmental crime, including water pollution offences, as part of the policy development phase of the proposed fisheries and water environment Bill. Loughs Agency staff have been involved in the policy development phase and have taken part in stakeholder engagement on water quality. The Bill will give us the tools to be able to deal with a lot of the concerns that have been raised with me of late. It is important that the Loughs Agency be able to avail itself of those tools.

Tom Buchanan (DUP, West Tyrone)

Minister, in your statement, you talked about ongoing work to improve the accuracy of fish counts to generate more robust data in order to better inform salmon conservation limits. Will you inform the House as to what progress has been made to date?

Andrew Muir (Alliance, North Down)

I do not have any specific detail to give you now. I think that I have the detail in my mind, but I do not know whether it is entirely accurate. I will therefore write to you setting it out. If you have any concerns, I am happy to meet you to discuss them.

Sian Mulholland (Alliance, North Antrim)

Thank you, Minister, for your second statement. Will you give us an update on what the Loughs Agency is doing about pollution incidents?

Andrew Muir (Alliance, North Down)

As Daniel McCrossan outlined, the Loughs Agency has powers in that regard. I am concerned about the number of pollution incidents in our rivers and loughs and the associated fish kills. When I am informed about them by officials, they cause me concern. There have been far too many times when officials have informed me of fish kills in Northern Ireland. So far this year, Loughs Agency fishery officers have investigated 128 pollution incidents. In 2025 to date, fishery officers in the Foyle and Carlingford areas have carried out 937 proactive watercourse inspections. The Loughs Agency has instigated a number of prosecution cases from its enforcement actions and has worked with the Police Service of Northern Ireland, an Garda Síochána, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) and other enforcement agencies to secure convictions. The Loughs Agency plays a vital role in preventing future pollution events from occurring by adopting a holistic approach that is in keeping with the four pillars of education, incentivisation, regulation and enforcement and is laid out in the Lough Neagh action plan. That approach is key to meeting the strategic environmental outcomes as set out in the environmental improvement plan.

John Stewart (UUP, East Antrim)

I thank the Minister for his answers so far. Minister, as constituency MLAs, you and I share Belfast lough. You will know at first hand, as I do, just how bad the lough is, as is shown through water testing at the minute. Was anything raised about that at the meeting? What more can be done to protect the ecosystem in Belfast lough and improve the water quality, given the massive amounts of raw sewage that are being pumped into it and the industrial impact over many years?

Andrew Muir (Alliance, North Down)

Belfast lough did not come up, but I am happy to answer your question. The focus is often on Lough Neagh, and we understand why. For the first time in history, the brown eel fishing season has been terminated. If that is not a message about the need for action, I do not know what is. We see the scenes on our TV screens every summer. Belfast lough is on course to become the next Lough Neagh. We are allowing sewage to be pumped into Belfast lough daily. That therefore requires me to step forward with proposals for stronger regulation and enforcement. It also requires brave political decisions to be taken on how we manage our waste water infrastructure. It is for the Infrastructure Minister to come forward in that regard, and I will not be found wanting in supporting any measures that do come forward.

Stewart Dickson (Alliance, East Antrim)

I thank the Minister for his statement. Minister, turning again to the Loughs Agency, what discussion was there about the impact of climate change on fish stocks?

Andrew Muir (Alliance, North Down)

The Loughs Agency has developed a climate action plan that maps organisational-level climate risks and impacts, supports a shift away from high-carbon energy, addresses climate adaptation for the organisation and supports climate-resilient solutions for the catchments of Lough Foyle and Carlingford lough. Through the delivery of the climate action plan, the Loughs Agency will implement an agile, risk-based approach to climate adaptation across the Foyle and Carlingford catchment areas. The climate action plan allows the agency to be responsive to direct and indirect climate impacts, thus allowing it to prioritise and plan work programmes.

Colin McGrath (Social Democratic and Labour Party, South Down)

Following on from some of the previous questions, I note that a presentation was given about Carlingford lough. Did it contain any details about protecting the lough, given its uniqueness as a shared space and also as a marine conservation area?

Andrew Muir (Alliance, North Down)

A number of areas were covered in the presentation. I am happy for it to be shared with you, if you would find it useful. Carlingford lough is a special place for the communities around it. There are also transboundary issues on which we need to cooperate. That was the focus, and the fact that the Loughs Agency has new premises there is a welcome commitment in that regard. I am happy to share that with you and to discuss any issues that you have.

Justin McNulty (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Newry and Armagh)

Minister, memories from my childhood are flooding back: building dams on the little, feeder river to Camlough — the crooked lake — where little fish swam down the river. The chances of those fish swimming down the river now are zero. There were trout jumping from that lake, leaping in the summertime. The chances of trout doing that now are zero. Minister, how will North/South cooperation directly protect and enhance trout and salmon stocks in the rivers and lakes around the North where numbers have collapsed?

Andrew Muir (Alliance, North Down)

We have been off for the summer recess and are now back, and one thing that I have been looking forward to is my engagement with Justin, because you always get something a bit different. I can answer your question about salmon, but I will have to write to you about the other elements.

The Loughs Agency has made significant investments in fish counters and telemetry river gauges to facilitate the monitoring of salmon populations in its area. The River Finn failed to meet its conservation limit in 2024, as it has done since 2007. As a result, the commercial fishery remains closed in 2025, and the River Finn is catch and release only. Data from the fish counters indicates that the River Faughan, the River Roe and the River Mourne are meeting conservation limits with enough regularity to permit the retention of a small number of fish per licence in 2025.

To help address the challenges facing salmon stocks, the agency has recently developed the first marine salmon management plan for Lough Foyle. The agency is also delivering a number of fisheries improvement projects, including the creation of new spawning habitats; fishery and habitat improvement and enhancement schemes to introduce and improve holding, spawning and nursery areas for Atlantic salmon; and riparian tree planting to create refuge and shading for salmon stocks and to lower water temperatures.

In addition, the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization (NASCO) has agreed a new reporting format for parties to complete, which will provide details on the management of salmon stocks and outline what transformative conservation commitments will be undertaken over the next 10 years to address the decline in stocks in the jurisdiction. DAERA officials are liaising with the Loughs Agency on completing the first draft of the UK/Northern Ireland report, which is required to be submitted to NASCO by February 2026.

Maurice Bradley (DUP, East Londonderry)

Thank you, Minister, for your answers so far. Minister, you alluded to the damage that Lough Neagh is suffering, but that damage goes the whole way to the sea. It goes through my constituency of East Londonderry and through the town of Coleraine, where we had a five-day flow of green water. What is the impact on salmon, white trout, brown trout and the indigenous coarse fish that live in the River Bann? Do not forget that, wherever a salmon is caught in Northern Ireland, it has basically come through Coleraine.

Andrew Muir (Alliance, North Down)

You rightly outline the impact that the environmental catastrophe at Lough Neagh is having more broadly on our rivers and marine environments. You talked about the closure of Benone beach, and that highlights why we need to take action on this together. We can turn the course when it comes to water quality, not just in our rivers but in Lough Neagh and elsewhere, but that requires us to come together collectively. We will talk a bit more about the issues this afternoon during the debate on the motion on Lough Neagh, but I am not focused on any blame game. I am focused on working with people, and my Department is writing, on my behalf, to all the party leaders to ask for meetings to discuss concerns and how we can collectively move forward on this. I have proposals and will be looking for support for them, and I want to work with everyone on that. I look forward to meeting your party as well.

Matthew O'Toole (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Belfast South)

Minister, obviously, we have a motion on Lough Neagh later, and we look forward to working with you on dealing with that. Lough Neagh and Belfast lough were raised by Members who spoke earlier, and it is clear that there is less North/South cooperation, less potential policy focus and less resource and regulation, because neither Lough Neagh nor Belfast lough is covered by the Loughs Agency or, for that matter, Waterways Ireland. That should change and would be a possible positive step. Would you support the extension of the Loughs Agency's remit to cover, for example, Lough Neagh, Belfast lough and, indeed, Lough Erne?

Andrew Muir (Alliance, North Down)

I thank the Member for his question. The fact that Lough Neagh does not have a navigational body was, to me, an oversight at the time of negotiating the Good Friday Agreement. The good people negotiated a great agreement, but it is not perfect, and that was overlooked. I think that there would be merit in having a navigational body for Lough Neagh, whether it is Waterways Ireland, the Loughs Agency or another organisation.

The immediate focus is on water quality and what is going into the lough, but you have, rightly, highlighted that issue, and I am happy to work with people on it.

Timothy Gaston (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

Minister, I thank you for visiting the Kells, Connor and Glenwherry Angling Club's hatchery, following our meeting with club representatives at Clare House during the summer. I trust that that will give you the confidence to approve the section 14 applications that the club has submitted. When it comes to improving the accuracy of fish counts, what progress have you made to establish the number of trout in Lough Neagh to ensure that it is being fished sustainably?

Andrew Muir (Alliance, North Down)

That question was also raised by Tom. I am happy to write to you and say more about that, because I want to be able to set it out accurately.

I turn to the hatchery and your engagement with it. I have had quite a lot of letters about the hatchery, including one from my colleague Sian Mulholland, who is a Member for North Antrim. We are considering that matter. I had a really good engagement with the club representatives on site, and I am committed to working with people on conservation, whether that relates to fisheries or our environment. I was very impressed by what they outlined to me. Collectively, we can learn an awful lot more if we work together.

Steve Aiken (UUP, South Antrim)

Thank you very much indeed. That concludes questions —.

Eóin Tennyson (Alliance, Upper Bann)

On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. Will you clarify the Standing Order under which Nuala McAllister was asked to leave the Chamber, the length of her suspension and why no question was put to the Assembly regarding her suspension?

Steve Aiken (UUP, South Antrim)

Thank you very much, Mr Tennyson. I will refer those matters to the Speaker, and he will review them. I also need to talk to the Speaker after this item of business, because, for clarification, Members should not make points of order when Ministers are still making statements. That is the convention in the House, and that was not being followed at the time. That was the reason why I asked her to withdraw her remarks. I gave her an opportunity to apologise on several occasions, and she did not do so. Those were the reasons. I will take that issue directly to the Speaker on the completion of this item.

Andrew Muir (Alliance, North Down)

With your permission, Mr Deputy Speaker, I wish to make a statement in compliance with section 52 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 on the twenty-ninth agriculture meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC), which was held in the NSMC joint secretariat offices in Armagh on Friday 20 June 2025. I feel as though I am repeating some of this. Junior Minister Aisling Reilly MLA, junior Minister Pam Cameron MLA and I represented the Northern Ireland Executive at the meeting. The Irish Government were represented by Martin Heydon TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and Dara Calleary TD, Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. I chaired the meeting. This statement has been agreed with junior Ministers Reilly and Cameron, and I make it on behalf of us all. I thank Pam and Aisling for coming to the meetings and for their constructive engagement on all the issues. It is greatly appreciated by both the Department and me. It was a very positive meeting, and a lot of progress was made. I will now take each paper in the order in which it was discussed.

On the review of the work programme, the North/South Ministerial Council noted the implementation of the revised work programme for the agriculture sector, as agreed by the Council in May 2024, and the ongoing engagement between both Administrations to identify areas of mutual interest and benefit in the agri-food sector that may also be included in the work programme. The Council noted that an update paper will be provided for consideration by Ministers at the next agriculture sectoral meeting.

On cooperation on animal health, the Council noted that the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs intends to host in October 2025 a multi-agency practical exercise on humane slaughter contingency planning for an outbreak of an exotic disease, to which the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) will be invited. The North/South Ministerial Council acknowledged the ongoing efforts by officials from both jurisdictions to strengthen existing cooperation on animal health and welfare. Ministers recognised the ongoing risk posed to agri-food sectors by exotic diseases, such as avian influenza and bluetongue, and welcomed the ongoing engagement between both jurisdictions to protect the high animal health status on the island through coordinated protection measures. The Council noted the work that is under way in both jurisdictions to reduce the prevalence of bovine TB across the island and agreed that officials should engage further to explore fully how best that can be achieved. The North/South Ministerial Council looked forward to the continuation of practical and effective cooperation on animal health and welfare and disease control in both jurisdictions in order for the health and welfare of livestock to be maintained at the highest level.

On cooperation on plant health and pesticides, the North/South Ministerial Council welcomed the ongoing commitment of DAERA and DAFM to proactively take steps to deliver the shared objective of achieving and maintaining good plant health status on the island of Ireland. Ministers noted the ongoing collaboration and sharing of expertise that was demonstrated in particular through the UK and Ireland plant health coordination group meeting, which DAFM hosted in July 2024. The Council welcomed the joint DAERA/DAFM simulation exercise to test plant health contingency plans that took place in December 2024. Ministers also welcomed the continued cooperation and opportunities that are being explored for further joint research as a result of DAERA's visit to Backweston laboratories in December 2024. The North/South Ministerial Council welcomed the continued cooperation on laboratory expertise, including the recent designation of the DAFM laboratory by DAERA as an official laboratory for carrying out analysis, tests and diagnosis of pesticide residues in or on food. The Council noted the continuing cooperation through the North/South pesticides group on the regulation on the placing on the market and use of pesticides.

The Council acknowledged the good collaboration between DAERA and DAFM on maximising the drawdown of EU funding under Horizon Europe and welcomed the €5·6 million of funding that has been secured to date by successful applications from Ireland and Northern Ireland for projects in the food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture and environment sectors under Horizon Europe. Ministers noted that nine projects involving total funding of €10·12 million have been funded over the nine years of the US-Ireland R&D Partnership in agriculture, and they noted the progress that has been made on funding projects in both jurisdictions under the DAFM national competitive calls, including €22·5 million by DAFM and £7·3 million by DAERA for 22 projects since 2021. The NSMC welcomed the work that is under way by the co-centre programme, which is a strategic collaborative partnership between Ireland, Great Britain and Northern Ireland that is co-funded by industry and that will consolidate research activities across higher education and research institutes in co-hosted centres.

Ministers welcomed the announcement of a €9 million funding initiative to support the development of bioeconomy in the agriculture and marine sectors, with co-funding from the Government of Ireland's Shared Island initiative, DAFM and DAERA, and they welcomed ongoing consideration by DAFM and DAERA of further possibilities for research collaboration under existing or new measures.

The Council welcomed the ongoing cooperation between both Administrations on addressing climate change and loss of biodiversity in the agriculture sector. Ministers welcomed a key action in the Lough Neagh report and action plan recommending the introduction of a fertiliser database in Northern Ireland to record fertiliser movements along the supply chain as well as improve nutrient management and efficiency. The NSMC agreed that officials from DAFM and DAERA would continue to explore the possibility of sharing design approaches and implementation as well as lessons learned from DAFM's introduction of its national fertiliser database in September 2023.

On cooperation on rural development, the Council welcomed the continued work of the North/South rural policy forum, noting that the latest meeting of the forum included discussions on policy developments that are being progressed by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG) and DAERA; the PEACE PLUS programme; voluntary and community sector supports; and updates on the connected hubs feasibility study. Ministers noted the cooperation between the two jurisdictions on rural development, including strong engagement on scoping a potential expansion of connected hubs across both jurisdictions. The Council noted that officials will continue to share information and best practice on rural development and to enhance cooperation on that issue and that they will bring forward updates to future NSMC agriculture meetings.

The NSMC welcomed the continuing cooperation between both Administrations on the ongoing work to improve farm safety. The Council noted the commitment of the farm safety partnerships from both jurisdictions to meet at least annually and cooperate on efforts to improve farm safety.

The Council agreed to hold its next agriculture meeting in autumn 2025. I look forward to working with my counterparts in the South in all areas of cooperation in the agriculture sector. I commend the statement to the Assembly and welcome any questions.

Daniel McCrossan (Social Democratic and Labour Party, West Tyrone)

I am settling quickly into this role, Minister. Thank you for that statement. You spoke about cross-border cooperation on reducing bovine TB. What practical measures will flow from that particular engagement? When will farmers in places such as Tyrone and Fermanagh begin to see a difference on the ground?

Andrew Muir (Alliance, North Down)

Thank you, Daniel. Dealing with TB and its prevalence in Northern Ireland is a key priority for my Department. It is set out as one of the key priorities for the mandate. Officials work closely with colleagues in the South on the bovine TB programmes in both jurisdictions at the regular North/South meetings and through frequent engagement throughout the year. Whilst TB disease rates have been rising on both sides of the border, I am conscious that the position in the Republic of Ireland is significantly better than that in Northern Ireland, although that does not bring any benefit to farmers in the South. Consequently, I welcome efforts to deepen those close working relationships, especially the new initiatives at Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) level, as part of a wider effort to place TB at the top of the disease control agenda across the UK and Ireland.

As Minister, I have heard first-hand on numerous occasions of the devastating impact that bovine TB breakdowns can have on farm businesses. I am extremely conscious of the rising cost of controlling the disease and the impact of that on my departmental budget. I am also conscious of the impact on farmers and of the fact that a 100% compensation rate does not mean reimbursement of the full costs to farmers.

TB therefore remains at the top of my ministerial priorities, and I look forward to engaging further with Minister Heydon on that most challenging subject in the time ahead. A number of items of work are under way that we hope to bring to fruition in the period ahead. I assure the Member that TB is a priority and that, on North/South cooperation, we are looking at ways of redoubling our efforts and doing something that is meaningful for farmers on the ground.

Aoife Finnegan (Sinn Féin, Newry and Armagh)

I thank the Minister for his statements today. What opportunities exist for North/South agriculture research on climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, including methane reduction technologies for livestock?

Andrew Muir (Alliance, North Down)

Officials engage North/South, and there has been particular engagement in the areas that the Member outlined. We want to redouble our efforts on that. We have launched a Shared Island bioeconomy initiative, and we are moving towards recruitment of people to take that forward. The benefit of the Shared Island initiative is that we can work North/South. We have common challenges, and there are few differences North/South, so we want to redouble our efforts and base them on the PEACE PLUS and Shared Island initiatives. We will come to the Committee to outline that.

Steve Aiken (UUP, South Antrim)

Thank you very much indeed. The Business Committee has arranged to meet at 1.00 pm. I propose, therefore, by leave of the Assembly, to suspend the sitting until 2.00 pm. Questions on the Minister's statement will resume after Question Time, when the first Member to be called will be Michelle McIlveen.

The business stood suspended.

The sitting was suspended at 12.56 pm.

On resuming (Mr Speaker in the Chair) —

Assembly Business

Edwin Poots (DUP, Belfast South)

Before we go to Question Time, we had an incident earlier that I was keen to put to bed and move on quickly from.

Standing Order 1(2) is clear that the ruling of the Chair is final in all matters of procedure. Regardless of a Member's views on how a Speaker or Deputy Speaker has dealt with something, it is out of order to add commentary and answer or challenge whomever is in the Chair. I have said before, however, that there are times when tempers rise and things get out of proportion but we can reflect and move on.

There is a precedent for dealing with such a situation, when Mr Aiken and Mr Gaston challenged the authority of the Principal Deputy Speaker. On that occasion, I gave them the opportunity to acknowledge that they should not have challenged the authority of the Chair and to apologise to the House, and the matter was put aside. I have therefore invited Miss McAllister back into the Chamber in the hope that we could, similarly, move on quickly. Were Miss McAllister to acknowledge that she was out of order in challenging the Chair, I would be content that she could resume business immediately. That is in Miss McAllister's hands.

Oral Answers to Questions — Finance

Edwin Poots (DUP, Belfast South)

Questions 4, 12 and 14 have been withdrawn.

Steve Aiken (UUP, South Antrim)

1. Dr Aiken asked the Minister of Finance whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer has indicated whether further revenue-raising powers will be made available to the Executive. (AQO 2313/22-27)

Jonathan Buckley (DUP, Upper Bann)

8. Mr Buckley asked the Minister of Finance for an update on his meeting with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 12 August 2025. (AQO 2320/22-27)

Michelle Guy (Alliance, Lagan Valley)

13. Mrs Guy asked the Minister of Finance for an update on his recent meeting with the Chancellor of the Exchequer. (AQO 2325/22-27)

John O'Dowd (Sinn Féin, Upper Bann)

With your permission, Mr Speaker, I intend to answer questions 1, 8 and 13 together.

The meeting with the Chancellor was useful and allowed me to update her directly on the issues facing the people whom we all represent. I emphasised the need for the upcoming Budget to support growth and continued investment in and transformation of our public services. I also stressed that any tax and spend decisions taken in the autumn Budget must fully consider the impact that they have on our people and local businesses. I raised the need for a full fiscal framework, including the need for additional fiscal devolution and borrowing powers. The Chancellor outlined the broader fiscal context ahead of the autumn Budget and highlighted the need for investment, growth and a review of the tax system.

The meeting also provided a valuable opportunity to showcase the Executive’s achievements to date. Those include the agreement of three Budgets; exceeding the £113 million income generation target set out in the restoration package; the establishment of a transformation fund and the allocation of £129 million to six innovative projects; and the publication of our Programme for Government.

Having visited Studio Ulster, the Chancellor acknowledged the strength of our creative sector, which is supported through city and growth deals. She highlighted the potential of digital technology and AI, the need to invest in skills, particularly through our universities, to attract future investment and the importance of leveraging trade opportunities and how the upcoming regional trade summit in October will provide an opportunity to showcase the North's businesses and inward investment opportunities to an international audience.

Steve Aiken (UUP, South Antrim)

I thank the Minister for his reply. One of the issues that we are having to deal with is that the Budget has been put back to the end of November. We have already seen the problems that our friends in Scotland and Wales have had in putting forward a three-year Budget. What contingencies have we put in place to look at that, particularly given that our pot will be squeezed and that Health and other areas will be under considerable pressure?

John O'Dowd (Sinn Féin, Upper Bann)

I recently had the opportunity to meet the Welsh and Scottish Finance Ministers. At that stage, I believe that we were not aware of the date of the Budget, although we knew that it would be delayed. They have slightly different legal processes to go through.

The situation is not ideal for our budgetary processes, but it is best to wait for the Chancellor's statement on 26 November before we table our final Budget to the Executive. Hopefully, we will get agreement so that it can go out for public consultation. My main concern is that we want to ensure that we have maximum time for public consultation. Ideally, I want to see a 12-week consultation, and I think that that is still possible.

Jonathan Buckley (DUP, Upper Bann)

As a north Armagh politician, I know that the Minister will be acutely aware of the huge contribution that farmers make to the Northern Ireland economy. He will also be aware of the unprecedented attacks that farming has faced both from some in this Chamber and from the Chancellor in her announcements on the family farm tax, which will disproportionately cripple Northern Ireland farmers. Did the Minister raise that issue of concern with the Chancellor? Is he confident that she at least alluded to some mitigating factors that will help farmers to deal with that substantial threat?

John O'Dowd (Sinn Féin, Upper Bann)

The Member will be aware that the deputy First Minister and I met the Chancellor on the date in question. The issue of farm inheritance tax was raised with the Chancellor. I was not encouraged by the Chancellor's response, and I made it clear to her on a number of occasions throughout the meeting that decisions made in London that may have beneficial impacts, in their minds, on various areas in England or Wales have significantly different impacts on this place. Farm inheritance tax is definitely one of them. The impact that it has had here can and will be significantly detrimental to our farming community. However, the Chancellor, in my view, is not minded for turning on the issue. We have seen a number of U-turns from the Government, and I hope that this will be the next one or is certainly on the list, but, after listening to the Chancellor's response, I am not encouraged in any way to suggest that she will move from her current position.

Michelle Guy (Alliance, Lagan Valley)

There is a significant event being hosted here on Wednesday by the Women's Policy Group and Melted Parents in relation to childcare. During his meeting, did the Minister raise the issue of expanding tax-free childcare with the Chancellor again?

John O'Dowd (Sinn Féin, Upper Bann)

Not directly with the Chancellor on that occasion. However, the Member will be aware that, as part of the 2025-26 Budget, the Executive allocated £50 million towards early years and childcare strategy that supports hard-working families by delivering more affordable childcare. The number of children eligible for support has increased by 60% compared with last year, providing that much-needed subsidy, so the Executive have made significant strides in that regard. There was an additional £5 million awarded to childcare as part of one of the monitoring rounds as well. I know the importance of the issue, and I have no doubt that the Executive will continue to focus on it.

Matthew O'Toole (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Belfast South)

Minister, you and I agree that we have a fundamentally broken fiscal and, indeed, constitutional model and that we need to take more power back here and on to this island more generally. Given that we know that the Budget, when it finally comes, will reflect an even greater fiscal squeeze in the UK because of its underperforming economy and a range of other decisions that we do not agree with, is not now the time to take powers and initiative into our own hands and for you to publish your proposals for greater fiscal devolution on a journey to much greater independence for us here and, indeed, change in this island?

John O'Dowd (Sinn Féin, Upper Bann)

Engagement with the Treasury is already under way in relation to greater fiscal powers for this place. Obviously, it will have to be a final decision for the Executive on which, if any, of those powers are transferred. However, those discussions are already in train. They started and continued from our discussions with the Treasury in relation to the comprehensive spending review and the Holtham report. We then immediately entered discussions around how we finalise the full fiscal framework for this place, including the devolution of tax-varying powers.

Jemma Dolan (Sinn Féin, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

Minister, what will be in a full fiscal framework?

John O'Dowd (Sinn Féin, Upper Bann)

It will cover a number of areas including further consideration of Professor Holtham's review of our level of need, Housing Executive borrowing powers and additional fiscal devolution. In my opinion, it is vital that it provides the Executive with the financial tools that we need to deliver more sustainable public finances and public services.

Taxation is obviously a serious and important matter. It will focus the minds of this place and the Executive in relation to our responsibilities and roles here. Taxation is not simply about how you raise more taxes. You can change the level of tax that you raise in certain areas — you might want to increase it — but also in terms of public attitudes and approaches to various health matters, for instance. It is an important lever that we require, and I look forward to continuing the discussions with the Treasury.

Órlaithí Flynn (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

2. Ms Flynn asked the Minister of Finance for an update on the baby loss certificate scheme public consultation. (AQO 2314/22-27)

John O'Dowd (Sinn Féin, Upper Bann)

The public consultation on the baby loss certificate scheme commenced on 17 June and runs until 12 September. To date, over 940 responses have been received from individuals and organisations. I am extremely grateful to all who have taken the time to engage. Every response received will help us form a scheme that meets the needs and expectations of those who have been impacted on by the devastating loss of a baby.

As part of the consultation process, my officials also held two stakeholder engagement events last month to hear directly from those who are engaged in the provision of specialist services and who provide support to anyone who has been impacted by baby loss. I strongly encourage anyone who would like to express their views on the scheme please to do so before the consultation closes on 12 September.

Órlaithí Flynn (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

I thank the Minister for his answer. He touched on some engagement that his Department had carried out. Will he elaborate on the engagement that has taken place specifically with parents to ensure that the scheme meets their needs?

John O'Dowd (Sinn Féin, Upper Bann)

That is an important point. It is clearly a sensitive and emotive issue, particularly for parents who have lost a baby and have stepped forward to contribute to the consultation, so it is important that we listen carefully to their views. They know best how the scheme can support families. I am grateful for the many hundreds of responses to the consultation that have been received to date. I have also met Sands and the Little Forget Me Nots Trust, which provide support to families after the loss of a baby. My officials, alongside their work with those organisations, have run a concerted social media campaign to encourage widespread engagement with the public consultation. The figure to date — as I said, the number of responses received stands at 940 now — shows how widespread the message is, and I encourage more people to respond.

Paul Frew (DUP, North Antrim)

I commend the Minister for the progress that has been made on the baby loss certificate scheme. He will know that we as a party have fought for it for a considerable time. It alarms me, however, that the Bill still contains a provision for charging parents for the certificate. Has the Minister solidified his thoughts on charging parents?

John O'Dowd (Sinn Féin, Upper Bann)

That question was part of the consultation. Without pre-empting the outcome of the consultation, I see the charging element being used not for parents who are collecting a baby loss certificate but in future circumstances in which someone may ask for multiple copies. When legislating, you have to make provision for all possibilities. If charging were to be introduced at a future date, regulations would have to be brought before the Assembly, which means that the Assembly would have the final say.

Kellie Armstrong (Alliance, Strangford)

Minister, as you said, the consultation closes on 12 September. Have you any idea of the timeline that you and your Department are aiming for to get the report out and to deliver on the legislation? Will it happen in this term?

John O'Dowd (Sinn Féin, Upper Bann)

We will have to go through the legislative process, but I am fully confident that the issuing of certificates will happen in this mandate.

Gerry Carroll (People Before Profit Alliance, Belfast West)

The scheme is obviously a good idea, and I support its general aims, but, Minister, I am concerned about people who come forward. They will get their certificate, but they may be further traumatised, and there is a lack of support out there. I note that the Belfast Trust has only two bereavement midwives and only one family liaison nurse. The last thing that anybody wants is for people to come forward and be further traumatised by the lack of support. Have you had any conversations with the Health Minister about increasing services so that people are not traumatised if they come forward to seek a baby loss certificate?

John O'Dowd (Sinn Féin, Upper Bann)

Those matters are for the Health Minister and the Belfast Trust. My task as Finance Minister is to present a Budget to the Executive and the Assembly. Once that is agreed, how their budget is used is down to individual Ministers.

Brian Kingston (DUP, Belfast North)

3. Mr Kingston asked the Minister of Finance to outline the percentage of days that Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) staff have worked from their physical workplace in each of the past three years. (AQO 2315/22-27)

John O'Dowd (Sinn Féin, Upper Bann)

Each Department in the Civil Service is responsible for managing that information locally. My Department, however, has recently completed a review of the Civil Service hybrid working policy. Part of the policy review included the development of a new online system for hybrid working applications to enable management information to be produced on the operation of hybrid working across the Civil Service. That information will include the number of staff who avail themselves of hybrid working arrangements, the number of in-office days and office location. Implementation of the revised policy commenced on 1 September, with full implementation to be completed across all Departments by 31 October 2025. Management information on the operation of hybrid working across the Civil Service will be available later in the year.

Brian Kingston (DUP, Belfast North)

I thank the Minister for his answer, but I am disappointed that he was not able to provide any statistics on the level of homeworking and in-office working. Perhaps he is saying that they will be available in the future.

I hope that the Minister will encourage greater levels of in-office working. Does he share the concerns raised by bodies such as Belfast Chamber and the Belfast One and Linen Quarter business improvement districts (BIDs) about the impact of COVID and greater homeworking on high street retailers and eateries, and does he agree on there being a need to support their financial viability?

John O'Dowd (Sinn Féin, Upper Bann)

A policy is in place. It is down to Departments and line managers to manage that policy in working with their staff. The hybrid working policy has advantages for our service, offering flexibility of working location. We remain in a competitive market for the recruitment and retention of staff. The fact that we offer hybrid working where possible is an attractive feature for applicants who are coming into the service and for retaining staff in the service.

I accept that there may be impacts in some locations. There may be a negative impact in some locations and a positive impact in others, where staff are dispersed around the place. A lot of elements come into play with hybrid working. Overall, however, it has proven to be beneficial to the Civil Service and to the delivery of public services.

The new system that we have put in place for measuring will allow me to provide, in the future, figures such as those that you requested, but some of the figures that you require may be available from the individual Departments.

Gerry Kelly (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

The Minister may have answered most of this: although we may get the statistics later on, would the Minister like to expand on the benefits of hybrid working?