Motion Amendment

Motion TitleTackling the Financial and Societal Impacts of Division - Amendment 1

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

Amendment Number1

Motion Amendment CategoryPrivate Members' Motion

Date Tabled to Business Office19/03/2025

Date of Plenary Debate25/03/2025