| Motion Type | Motion | Tabled Date | Tablers |
| Committee Motion |
Prayer of Annulment: The Provision of Healthcare Services to Persons Not Ordinarily Resident (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019 (SR 2019/42)
That the Provision of Healthcare Services to Persons Not Ordinarily Resident (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019 (SR 2019/42) be annulled.
| 13/02/2020 | Mr Colm Gildernew |
| Executive Motion |
The draft Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 (Relevant Benefits) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021
That the draft Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 (Relevant Benefits) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 be approved.
| 13/05/2021 | Minister of Justice |
| Executive Motion |
The draft Alien and Locally Absent Species (Aquaculture) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
That the draft Alien and Locally Absent Species (Aquaculture) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved.
| 25/11/2020 | Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs |
| Executive Motion |
The draft Plant Health and Diseases of Animals (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
That the draft Plant Health and Diseases of Animals (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved.
| 25/11/2020 | Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs |
| Executive Motion |
The draft Marketing of Plant and Propagating Material (Legislative Functions) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
That the draft Marketing of Plant and Propagating Material (Legislative Functions) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved.
| 23/11/2020 | Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs |
| Executive Motion |
The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 5) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 5) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved.
| 13/10/2020 | Minister for Communities |
| Executive Motion |
The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 6) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 6) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved.
| 13/10/2020 | Minister for Communities |
| Executive Motion |
The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 7) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 7) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved.
| 13/10/2020 | Minister for Communities |
| Executive Motion |
The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved.
| 03/04/2020 | Minister of Health |
| Private Members' Motion |
Extending the Furlough Scheme for Sectors Unable to Operate Fully due to the Pandemic
That this Assembly recognises the ongoing uncertainty faced by some workers, families and businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic; notes that a significant number of workers continue to rely on the furlough scheme as their main source of income; acknowledges that some sectors, including aerospace, hospitality and construction, are recovering at a slower pace which is putting jobs at risk; and calls on the British Government to extend the furlough scheme for workers in sectors that remain unable to operate, or can only partially operate, to help protect jobs and workers' livelihoods.
| 17/09/2021 | Dr Caoimhe Archibald; Mr John O'Dowd; Ms Jemma Dolan; Mr Pádraig Delargy |
| Private Members' Motion |
Four Day Week
That this Assembly recognises that the lack of work life balance contributes to work-related stress, low productivity and burnout amongst workers; accepts that there is a growing body of international evidence that shows that moving to a four day working week, without a reduction in income, enhances productivity and happiness amongst workers; acknowledges that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and the Scottish Government, will conduct trials on the four day week to assess the benefits for workers and business; and calls on the Minister for the Economy to establish working groups and pilot programmes to support local employers to trial a four day week amongst the workforce.
| 17/09/2021 | Dr Caoimhe Archibald; Mr John O'Dowd; Ms Jemma Dolan; Mr Pádraig Delargy |
| Private Members' Motion |
Refugee Integration Strategy
That this Assembly commits to providing a safe place to live for refugees and for those fleeing Afghanistan and the Taliban regime; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to bring us in line with the rest of the United Kingdom and produce a refugee integration strategy.
| 15/09/2021 | Ms Kellie Armstrong; Mr Stewart Dickson; Ms Paula Bradshaw; Mr John Blair; Mr Chris Lyttle; Mr Andrew Muir |
| Private Members' Motion |
Lung Health
That this Assembly notes that 1 in 5 people in Northern Ireland are affected by a lung condition, including over 180,000 people with asthma and over 43,000 people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); expresses concern that, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, this caused over 2,000 people to die from a lung condition every year; stresses that promoting smoking cessation and tackling air pollution are key for good lung health; regrets that access to pulmonary rehabilitation, self-management and the Breathing Better scheme is far too limited; further notes that there is insufficient palliative care and hospice support for people with terminal lung conditions; points out that Northern Ireland is the only region in the UK without a specialist centre, a centre for excellence or a respiratory network for rarer lung conditions; believes it is disappointing that the last Respiratory Service Framework expired in 2018 and has not been replaced; and calls on the Minister of Health to bring forward a new Lung Health strategy, to be co-designed in partnership with people living with lung conditions, health care professionals and voluntary sector organisations, to ensure that everyone gets the treatment and support they need.
| 10/09/2021 | Mrs Pam Cameron; Ms Claire Sugden; Ms Paula Bradshaw; Miss Rachel Woods |
| Private Members' Motion |
Cancer Screening for Firefighters
That this Assembly recognises the urgent need to protect firefighters from cancer; acknowledges the increasing evidence highlighting the serious health risks to firefighters and their families following exposure to carcinogenic fire effluents; further recognises that as a result of their profession firefighters can be up to four times more likely to develop cancer and other illnesses than other members of the public; and calls on the Minster of Health to introduce annual cancer screenings to monitor and manage the health status of serving firefighters.
| 07/09/2021 | Mr David Hilditch; Mr Jonathan Buckley |
| Private Members' Motion |
COVID-19 Sports Sustainability Fund
That this Assembly notes with concern the disparity between the COVID-19 Sports Sustainability Fund for sporting organisations and other similar schemes by the Department for Communities; calls on the Minister for Communities to give a full explanation for her Department’s action over the handling of the COVID-19 Sports Sustainability Fund; and further calls for a full independent public inquiry.
| 22/06/2021 | Ms Paula Bradley; Mr Alex Easton |
| Private Members' Motion |
EU Settlement Scheme (Revised Wording)
That this Assembly notes that, as a result of Brexit, the British Government has introduced an EU Settlement Scheme with a deadline of 30 June 2021 for EU citizens seeking to apply for EU settled status; recognises the huge contributions European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss citizens have made to our society, health service and economy; further notes that the British government's outreach campaign has been inadequate, and approval backlogs have formed; and affirms its objection to the prospect of any EU, EEA, or Swiss citizens and their family members losing their residency rights as a result of the EU Settlement Scheme deadline.
| 15/06/2021 | Dr Caoimhe Archibald; Mr John O'Dowd; Ms Emma Sheerin; Mr Colm Gildernew; Ms Jemma Dolan |
| Private Members' Motion |
Status of Irish Grass Fed Beef for Local Farmers
That this Assembly welcomes the support of the European Union Commission for the inclusion of locally produced beef in the application for Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status for Irish Grass Fed Beef; notes that all-island PGI status has already been secured for products in other parts of the food and drink sector, including whiskey and salmon; further notes that this is an important recognition of the highly integrated nature of the agri-food sector across the island of Ireland; acknowledges the findings of the European Commission Study on Economic Value of European Union Quality Schemes, Geographical Indications (GIs) and Traditional Specialities Guaranteed (TSGs), published in February 2021, which found that the sales value of PGI meat products was, on average, 1.2 times the sales value for comparable standard products without a GI label; recognises that this represents a significant opportunity for our beef farmers and the wider agri-food sector; and calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to continue his engagement with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the EU Commission and the agri-food industry and to support local beef producers to meet the criteria for the PGI status for Irish Grass Fed Beef
| 10/06/2021 | Mr Declan McAleer; Mr Philip McGuigan; Ms Emma Sheerin; Ms Jemma Dolan |
| Private Members' Motion |
Voting Rights (Revised Wording)
That this Assembly recalls the extension of voting rights to people aged sixteen and seventeen years for the referendum on Scottish independence; recognises the positive impact this had on political engagement and participatory democracy in Scotland; and calls on the British government to lower the voting age to sixteen years for all future elections and referendums.
| 10/06/2021 | Ms Nicola Brogan; Ms Jemma Dolan; Ms Sinéad Ennis; Mr John O'Dowd |
| Private Members' Motion |
Access to Physiotherapy in Postnatal Care
That this Assembly recognises the importance of early access to physiotherapy in postnatal care; and calls on the Minister of Health to work with the Health and Social Care Trusts and GP practices to ensure that all postnatal patients are referred to a women’s health physiotherapist six weeks after delivery, and that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines on postnatal care are implemented consistently across all Trust areas.
| 19/05/2021 | Ms Kellie Armstrong; Ms Paula Bradshaw |
| Private Members' Motion |
Project Stratum
That this Assembly recognises that broadband is an essential utility; further recognises that the increasing importance of digital and remote working means that those without access to adequate broadband, often rural dwellers, face unacceptable barriers in their work, study and social life; welcomes the rollout of Project Stratum; notes that some properties have been excluded on the basis of their not being included in the dataset used to identify properties or on the basis of inaccurate information in respect of their broadband speeds; further notes other properties within the scope of Project Stratum are not included within the current rollout plans; and calls on the Minister for the Economy to work to ensure that all properties eligible for Project Stratum are included in its rollout and that all homes and businesses can access adequate broadband, so that those living in rural areas have the same opportunities as those living in towns and cities.
| 19/05/2021 | Dr Caoimhe Archibald; Mr John O'Dowd; Mr Declan McAleer; Ms Jemma Dolan; Ms Nicola Brogan |
| Private Members' Motion |
Ballymurphy Massacre
That this Assembly commends the Ballymurphy families on their long campaign to vindicate the memory of their loved ones murdered by the British Army in 1971; welcomes the findings of the coroner that all the deceased were entirely innocent of any wrongdoing and acknowledges her criticism of the British state’s shocking and abject failure to investigate what happened as further evidence of its ongoing attempts to frustrate truth and justice for bereaved families; reaffirms the Assembly’s support for the full and immediate implementation of the Stormont House Agreement legacy mechanisms in a human rights-compliant manner; and rejects any attempt by the British Government to introduce an amnesty or statute of limitations in relation to the conflict.
| 18/05/2021 | Mr Gerry Kelly; Mr Pat Sheehan; Ms Linda Dillon; Ms Jemma Dolan; Ms Carál Ní Chuilín; Ms Liz Kimmins |
| Private Members' Motion |
Crisis in Wastewater and Sewerage Capacity
That this Assembly expresses concern at the deepening crisis in Northern Ireland’s wastewater and sewerage infrastructure; notes the Department for Infrastructure’s Living with Water Programme in Belfast; highlights the importance of adequate capacity in other parts of Northern Ireland to prevent delays to housebuilding and capital investment in critical facilities such as schools, public offices and factories; notes that addressing the weaknesses of current provision in all areas will be essential to maximising our whole region’s economic potential, including through city deals and other key levers; and calls on the Minister for Infrastructure to bring forward a new strategy to enhance and expand Northern Ireland’s water and sewerage infrastructure, with a particular focus on ending regional inequalities.
| 18/05/2021 | Mr Jonathan Buckley; Mr David Hilditch; Mr George Robinson |
| Private Members' Motion |
Electric Vehicle Charging Network
That this Assembly recognises that the replacement of petrol and diesel vehicles with electric vehicles is essential for Northern Ireland to reduce its carbon emissions; notes that the UK Government has committed to a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030; further notes that Northern Ireland’s electric vehicle charging network has suffered from chronic under-investment in recent years and is a significant barrier to the uptake of more electric vehicles; notes that the current network is operated by the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) but that the ESB has limited incentives to develop the network; welcomes the roll-out of additional electric vehicle charge points through the European Union’s Faster programme in 2023, while accepting that this will not solve the underlying issues with the wider network; further notes that in other parts of the UK and Ireland commercial operators are establishing comprehensive networks of electric vehicle charge points; and calls on the Minister for Infrastructure to bring forward a comprehensive plan to establish a functioning, publicly available, commercial, electric vehicle charging network and to incentivise the uptake of electric vehicles in Northern Ireland.
| 17/05/2021 | Mr Andrew Muir; Ms Paula Bradshaw; Mr Stewart Dickson; Mr John Blair |
| Private Members' Motion |
Independent Review of Non-Domestic Rates
That this Assembly recognises that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on many businesses across Northern Ireland that pay non-domestic rates; acknowledges that thriving high streets where people live, work, play and visit are vital for our communities and for our economic recovery; further acknowledges that COVID-19 has accelerated the shift online in many industries, which presents opportunities but can also put local businesses at a disadvantage; acknowledges that non-domestic rates are a tax that disproportionately impacts smaller businesses based in our town centres; further recognises that the reduction in the non-domestic regional rate and the 100 per cent rates relief applied in 2020-21 and 2021-22 were welcome but do not solve the underlying issue; and calls on the Minister of Finance to bring forward an independent review of non-domestic rates before the end of this mandate with a focus on supporting local businesses and local high streets in the aftermath of the pandemic.
| 17/05/2021 | Mr Andrew Muir; Mr Stewart Dickson |
| Private Members' Motion |
Electric Vehicle Charging Network
That this Assembly recognises that the replacement of petrol and diesel vehicles with electric vehicles (EV) is essential for Northern Ireland to reduce its carbon emissions; notes that the UK Government has committed to a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030; further that Northern Ireland’s EV charging network has suffered from chronic under-investment in recent years and is a significant barrier to the uptake of more EVs; notes that the current network is operated by the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) but that the ESB has limited incentives to develop the network; welcomes the roll-out of additional EV charge points through the EU’s Faster programme in 2023, while accepting that this will not solve the underlying issues with the wider network; further notes that in other parts of the UK and Ireland commercial operators are establishing comprehensive networks of EV charge points; and calls on the Minister for Infrastructure to bring forward a comprehensive plan to establish a functioning, publicly available, commercial EV charging network and to incentivise the uptake of electric vehicles in Northern Ireland.
| 14/05/2021 | Mr Andrew Muir; Ms Paula Bradshaw; Mr Stewart Dickson; Mr John Blair |
| Private Members' Motion |
Independent Review of Non-Domestic Rates
That this Assembly recognises that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on many businesses across Northern Ireland that pay non-domestic rates; acknowledges that thriving high streets where people live, work, play and visit are vital for our communities and for our economic recovery; further acknowledges that COVID-19 has accelerated the shift online in many industries, which presents opportunities but can also put local businesses at a disadvantage; acknowledges that non-domestic rates are a tax that disproportionately impacts smaller businesses based in our town centres; recognises that the reduction in the non-domestic regional rate and the 100 per cent rates relief applied in 2020-21 and 2021-22 were welcome but do not solve the underlying issue; and calls on the Minister of Finance to bring forward an independent review of non-domestic rates before the end of this mandate with a focus on supporting local businesses and local high streets in the aftermath of the pandemic.
| 14/05/2021 | Mr Andrew Muir; Mr Stewart Dickson |
| Private Members' Motion |
Counselling Services
That this Assembly recognises that GP practices, as the first port of call for people concerned about their mental health, are experiencing a very significant increase in mental health-related appointments due to the pandemic; further recognises that counselling is an effective, non-pathologising treatment option, alongside, or as an alternative to, medication; notes with serious concern that counselling provision is significantly under-funded and fragmented, with access being a post-code lottery with lengthy waiting times, which can lead to a further deterioration in mental health for people already struggling; further notes with concern that, in the absence of timely access to counselling, prescribing rates for antidepressants have increased exponentially; and calls on the Minister of Health to ensure that the Draft Mental Health Strategy 2021-2031 includes a commitment to adequate and sustainably funded counselling services, that are proportionate to need, easily accessible to all regardless of where they live, with a waiting time target of 28 days, quality-assured, of sufficient duration utilising all delivery options available, and drawing on the available trained counselling workforce in Northern Ireland.
| 10/05/2021 | Mr Thomas Buchanan; Mrs Pam Cameron; Mr Jonathan Buckley |
| Private Members' Motion |
Global Access to Vaccinations
That this Assembly believes that the last few months have demonstrated clearly the efficacy of well-run vaccination programmes; further believes that it is more clear than ever that COVID-19 vaccines, tests and treatments will play a crucial role in ending the crisis and that the best chance of staying safe is to ensure that these are available for everyone world-wide; is concerned that, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit, half the countries in the world may still not have widespread access to any vaccines before 2023; understands that production of sufficient doses represents the main obstacle to widespread access; is further concerned that intellectual property rules are restricting the global production of vaccines and that existing flexibilities in the agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) alone are not sufficient in the context of a pandemic; and calls for support for the proposal by South Africa and India to the World Trade Organization (WTO) for a waiver from certain provisions of the TRIPS agreement for the prevention, containment and treatment of Covid-19, which, they believe, would allow WTO members swiftly to overcome intellectual property barriers to access much-needed vaccines and treatments during this global crisis.
| 10/05/2021 | Ms Paula Bradshaw; Mr Colm Gildernew |
| Private Members' Motion |
Inclusion of Trade Unions and New Decade, New Approach Commitments
This Assembly notes the New Decade, New Approach commitments to put civic engagement and public consultation at the heart of policy-making and to an enhanced focus within the Programme for Government on creating good jobs and protecting workers rights; recognises that engagement with civic society and the principles of co-design and co-production must underpin the development of the Programme for Government, budget and strategic; welcomes the positive feedback regarding the Engagement Forum on Covid-19 which brought together representatives of business, trade unions and public agencies to respond to the challenges of the pandemic; regrets the exclusion of trade union representatives from the Economic Advisory Group and the Economic Recovery Action Plan Panel which have helped to shape departmental policy on economic recovery; and calls on the Minister for the Economy to honour the commitments in New Decade, New Approach regarding civic engagement and to put in place, urgently, a partnership model, which includes the trade union movement, to plan for economic recovery and to inform the development of economic policy and strategies.
| 10/05/2021 | Dr Caoimhe Archibald; Mr John O'Dowd; Ms Jemma Dolan |
| Private Members' Motion |
Weddings and Events
That this Assembly recognises the major contribution that the wedding and events industry makes to the Northern Ireland economy in terms of employment and investment, promoting Northern Ireland as a destination for leisure and business events, and supporting wider supply chains across Northern Ireland; notes that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a severe and hugely negative impact on the ability of the industry to provide services, host events and on the level of demand for services; further notes that much of the sector is made up of small to medium-sized enterprises and self-employed individuals and therefore more vulnerable to disruption; expresses concern that many in the sector have faced exceptionally long delays to access COVID-19 restrictions support grants; calls on the Minister for the Economy to introduce a specific financial support scheme for the Northern Ireland wedding and events industry; and further calls on the Minister for the Economy to develop a strategy to secure, promote and rebuild the sector as it emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic.
| 10/05/2021 | Mr Stewart Dickson; Ms Kellie Armstrong; Mr Andrew Muir |
| Private Members' Motion |
Defending Workers
That this Assembly recognises that an unprecedented number of workers have lost, or are at risk of losing, their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic; acknowledges that workers who lose their jobs should be entitled to fair compensation and due process; agrees that the age discrimination which exists in terms of redundancy pay is unfair and should be ended; believes that employers should adhere to the normal collective redundancy consultation processes; is concerned that large unscrupulous companies particularly in the retail, hospitality and aviation sectors are using the COVID-19 crisis to by-pass collective redundancy consultation processes and are adopting a fire and rehire approach to re-employ workers on worse terms and conditions; and calls on the Minister for the Economy to bring forward legislation that strengthens redundancy protections for workers to protect against a fire and rehire approach/being fired and rehired, and delivers on New Decade, New Approach employment commitments to improve worker's rights and entitlements.
| 07/05/2021 | Dr Caoimhe Archibald; Mr John O'Dowd; Ms Jemma Dolan |
| Private Members' Motion |
Dual Diagnosis Services and Investment
That this Assembly recognises the challenges in accessing services for those with a dual diagnosis of a mental health condition and an addiction; further recognises that no dedicated service or network exists to support those with a dual diagnosis; calls on the Minister of Health to increase investment in Mental Health Services, including services for all addictions, as part of the Covid-19 recovery plan; and further calls on the Minister of Health to ensure that services are provided, urgently, at the point of need for people who have addiction and mental ill-health, rather than waiting until a person is clear of alcohol, drugs, or both before any treatment or support is offered.
| 26/04/2021 | Mr Colm Gildernew; Ms Carál Ní Chuilín; Ms Órlaithí Flynn |
| Private Members' Motion |
Neurology Services and Support
That this Assembly endorses the conversion of the Independent Neurology Inquiry into a statutory public inquiry; recognises the ongoing trauma of the patients involved in the Neurology Public Inquiry; notes with deep concern that a consultant appointed to reassess neurology patients is being investigated by the General Medical Council; further notes the growing waiting lists in all neurology services; and calls on the Minister of Health to provide a detailed treatment and support plan to address, immediately, neurology waiting lists and provide support to those patients who were reviewed by the neurologist who is under General Medical Council investigation, and to every patient impacted by the Dr. Michael Watt scandal.
| 26/04/2021 | Ms Carál Ní Chuilín; Mr Colm Gildernew; Ms Órlaithí Flynn |
| Private Members' Motion |
Student Hardship Funds
That this Assembly recognises that the Student Hardship Funds must be accessible to our hard-pressed students; acknowledges that students feel the criteria being applied by universities and further education colleges are excessive and burdensome; and calls on the Minister for the Economy to issue instructions to universities and colleges to desist, immediately, from excluding students from these funds on the basis that their bank statements record insignificant recreational expenditures.
| 26/04/2021 | Mr John O'Dowd; Dr Caoimhe Archibald; Ms Sinéad Ennis |
| Private Members' Motion |
Specific Housing Outcome in the Programme for Government
That this Assembly recognises the high level of housing stress and homelessness in this society which has been exacerbated by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; notes the need for the Executive, collectively, to make housing a high priority in order to ensure the health and wellbeing of citizens, to protect our environment and to grow our economy inclusively; and calls on the Executive to include a specific housing outcome, with relevant indicators developed in conjunction with the housing and homelessness sector, in the final Programme for Government Outcomes Framework.
| 21/04/2021 | Ms Karen Mullan; Ms Sinéad Ennis; Mr Fra McCann |
| Private Members' Motion |
High-Level Political Commitment to Adopt Gender Budgeting
That this Assembly notes with concern the lack of high-level political commitment to adopt gender budgeting in Northern Ireland; and calls on the Executive to amend the indicators associated with Outcome Three, to have a more equal society where everyone is valued and treated with respect, in the Draft Programme for Government, to incorporate a commitment to gender budgeting; and further calls for the inclusion of actions within the associated Outcome Delivery Plans to assess best practice in neighbouring jurisdictions, with a view to identifying suitable tools and processes for gender policy analysis and resource allocation which can be integrated within existing Section 75 processes, to enhance capacity and competency within the civil and public service in respect of gender analysis, and to extend the collection and availability of gender-disaggregated data.
| 20/04/2021 | Ms Jemma Dolan; Ms Claire Sugden; Mrs Dolores Kelly; Ms Emma Sheerin; Mrs Rosemary Barton; Ms Clare Bailey; Ms Kellie Armstrong; Ms Sinéad Bradley |
| Private Members' Motion |
A5 Road Schemes
That this Assembly expresses deep frustration and disappointment at the recent delays to the A5 road scheme; regrets the inability of the Department for Infrastructure to adequately prepare the scheme for construction; recognises that the A5 road scheme is essential for transforming the economic fortunes of the north west, addressing generations of regional inequality and improving road safety, and stresses that the delay to this vital scheme is to the detriment of the north west as a whole; and calls on the Minister for Infrastructure to ensure that this devastating delay will be the final obstacle to delivering this vital road scheme.
| 13/04/2021 | Mr Cathal Boylan; Mr Declan McAleer; Ms Nicola Brogan; Mr Maolíosa McHugh; Ms Martina Anderson; Ms Liz Kimmins |
| Private Members' Motion |
Bereavement Leave for Miscarriage and Stillbirth
That this Assembly recognises the emotional trauma and loss suffered by parents as a result of stillbirths and miscarriages; welcomes the passing of the Holidays (Bereavement Leave for Miscarriage) Amendment Bill (No 2) in New Zealand; and calls on the Minister for the Economy to bring forward compassionate, fair, and progressive proposals for bereavement leave to provide leave for miscarriage and for stillbirth so parents don’t have to use sick or annual holiday leave.
| 01/04/2021 | Ms Kellie Armstrong |
| Private Members' Motion |
Joint Implementation of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland
That this Assembly calls on the European Union and British Government to work constructively to ensure the smooth and effective implementation of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland; believes that all intended policy changes should first be agreed at the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee; regrets unilateral actions which compound uncertainty and instability; and further calls for the full and regular use of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee, the Specialised Committee on the Ireland and Northern Ireland Protocol, and the UK-EU Joint Consultative Working Group as forums through which to coordinate solutions and build trust.
| 23/03/2021 | Dr Caoimhe Archibald; Ms Emma Sheerin; Mr Declan McAleer |
| Private Members' Motion |
Language and Cultural Legislation
That this Assembly reaffirms its support for the commitments made and agreed by the 5 main parties in New Decade, New Approach, including the associated draft language and cultural legislation; and calls on the Executive to bring forward the legislation to the Assembly for ratification in this mandate.
| 23/03/2021 | Mr Seán Lynch; Mr Pat Sheehan; Ms Emma Sheerin; Ms Carál Ní Chuilín |
| Private Members' Motion |
Strategy on Preventing Loneliness
That this Assembly calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to establish a pathway for the development and implementation of a strategy on preventing loneliness.
| 15/03/2021 | Ms Sinéad Bradley; Ms Jemma Dolan; Mr Robbie Butler; Mr Gerry Carroll; Ms Paula Bradley |
| Private Members' Motion |
Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy
That this Assembly notes that it is the only legislature across these islands that does not have a specific strategy to tackle gender-based violence; recognises that this is an international human rights obligation and notes the concern expressed by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women at the lack of protection for women and girls against gender-based violence here; further recognises that gender-based violence is prevalent, evidenced in the Gillen Review into the Law and Procedures in Serious Sexual Offences in Northern Ireland and the Independent Review into Hate Crime Legislation in Northern Ireland; believes that reform of Relationships and Sexual Education is key to addressing this issue; understands that any strategy must be intersectional; acknowledges the disproportionate impact that gender-based violence has on minority women; accepts that gender equality cannot be fully achieved without the elimination of violence against women and girls; and calls on the Minister of Justice to implement a Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy.
| 15/03/2021 | Ms Linda Dillon; Ms Jemma Dolan; Mr Gerry Kelly; Ms Emma Sheerin; Ms Nicola Brogan |
| Private Members' Motion |
Antisemitism
That this Assembly condemns the scourge of antisemitism; acknowledges the hurt it causes to the Jewish community, both in Northern Ireland and internationally; commits to opposing antisemitism in all its forms; and adopts, urgently, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition which states that antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews and that rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and, or, their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.
| 02/03/2021 | Dr Steve Aiken; Mr Robbie Butler; Mr Alan Chambers; Mr Doug Beattie |
| Private Members' Motion |
Care Home Sector
That this Assembly notes the challenges the care home sector has faced for many years, and which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic; recognises that the Care Act 2014 permits greater flexibility for state-registered care home providers to recover VAT on supplies and other expenditure related to care services; and calls on the Minister of Health to move urgently to ensure that the terminology in Health and Social Care Trust contracts is updated as required and that all other necessary actions taken to permit care home operators in Northern Ireland to reclaim VAT to the same extent as in other parts of the United Kingdom, thereby making additional resources available for reinvestment back into our care home network.
| 23/02/2021 | Mr Gordon Lyons; Mr Jonathan Buckley; Ms Paula Bradley |
| Private Members' Motion |
Regional Eating Disorder Service
That this Assembly notes that one in six young people has screened positive for a possible eating disorder; acknowledges that eating disorders are serious mental illnesses with high mortality rates; recognises the importance of quick access to specialist treatment for people with eating disorders; expresses concern that the current regional care pathway for the treatment of eating disorders is not aligned with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines; and calls on the Minister of Health to ensure the involvement of those with lived experience of eating disorders in the development of a new regional eating disorder service, aligned to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines, to be taken forward as part of the forthcoming Mental Health Action Plan.
| 23/02/2021 | Ms Paula Bradshaw |
| Private Members' Motion |
Surgical Department in Antrim Area Hospital
That this Assembly deplores the underinvestment in the surgical department in Antrim Area Hospital, resulting in staff being unable to provide a safe green pathway for cancer patients during this COVID-19 surge; and calls on the Minister of Health to address urgently this issue by funding a new, fit for purpose, surgical department and intensive care unit, coupled with theatres and enhanced surgical bed capacity.
| 22/02/2021 | Mr Jim Allister |
| Private Members' Motion |
Carers Grant for Unpaid Carers
That this Assembly recognises the detrimental impact that COVID-19 has had on unpaid carers; notes that many of the existing services and support networks have been disrupted, including day centre services, respite care and direct payment services; further notes that care home and domiciliary care sectors received an additional funding package to respond to the unique circumstances of COVID-19; and calls on the Minister of Health to provide a one-off carers grant for unpaid carers.
| 16/02/2021 | Mr Colm Gildernew; Ms Liz Kimmins; Ms Emma Rogan; Ms Carál Ní Chuilín; Ms Órlaithí Flynn |
| Private Members' Motion |
Strategic Financial Package for the Sports Sector
That this Assembly recognises the devastating impact that COVID-19 has had on sporting activity at all levels across Northern Ireland; expresses regret that the suspension of competition, training and the closure of many sports facilities has resulted in a significant loss in revenue for clubs and associations; stresses that the viability of organisations affected remains highly dependent on the safe return of spectators to competitive fixtures; notes that the present restrictions will have a renewed negative impact on the sports sector, with only elite sports events able to take place behind closed doors; highlights that this will necessitate additional interventions to protect organisations affected; welcomes funding provided to date by the Sports Hardship Fund but believes this does not go far enough; and calls on the Minister for Communities to work with the Minister of Finance to bring forward a strategic medium-term financial package to assist sporting organisations struggling to survive in the current climate.
| 16/02/2021 | Ms Paula Bradley; Mr Alex Easton; Mrs Pam Cameron |
| Private Members' Motion |
The Executive's Office in Brussels
That this Assembly recognises the success of the Office of the Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels; further recognises the importance of this representative office in Brussels; agrees that the Office should continue to observe the business of the European Commission, the European Council, the European Parliament, and other European institutions; further agrees that the Office should continue to report on European Union-related issues of particular interest and importance to the work of the Assembly and its committees; and calls on the Executive Office to maintain and build on the continued success and functions of the Executive’s Office in Brussels in promoting relations with EU member states which is all the more necessary in the post-Brexit context.
| 10/02/2021 | Mr Pat Sheehan; Ms Martina Anderson; Ms Emma Sheerin |
| Private Members' Motion |
Gender-Inclusive Economy
That this Assembly recognises that women can face additional barriers in accessing employment and starting a business; acknowledges that, for too long, jobs and occupational roles dominated by women have been underpaid and undervalued, and that women are often overlooked for executive positions by employers; notes statistics from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency show that 60 per cent of employed women with dependent children worked full-time, compared to 95 per cent of employed males; further recognises the difficulties women face in availing of affordable and accessible childcare provision and that this is a barrier to women returning to work; believes that our economic recovery must be based on removing the unique barriers which face women in entering and remaining within the labour market; and calls on the Minister for the Economy and the Minister of Education to work together to produce an adequately-funded women returners programme which will facilitate adequate childcare and skills provision.
| 09/02/2021 | Dr Caoimhe Archibald; Mr John O'Dowd; Mr Pat Sheehan; Ms Nicola Brogan; Ms Emma Sheerin |
| Private Members' Motion |
Education Authority Appointment
That this Assembly condemns the appointment of a convicted terrorist to the Education Authority; and calls on the Minister of Education to bring forward an amendment to the Education Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 to prohibit such appointments.
| 05/02/2021 | Mr Jim Allister; Mr Jim Wells; Mr Maurice Bradley; Ms Paula Bradley; Mr Keith Buchanan; Mr Thomas Buchanan; Mr Jonathan Buckley; Ms Joanne Bunting; Mrs Pam Cameron; Mr Trevor Clarke; Mr Alex Easton; Mr Paul Frew; Mr Paul Givan; Mr Harry Harvey; Mr David Hilditch; Mr William Humphrey; Mr William Irwin; Miss Michelle McIlveen; Mr Robin Newton; Mr Edwin Poots; Mr George Robinson; Mr Christopher Stalford; Mr Mervyn Storey |
| Private Members' Motion |
Unpaid Advice Sector
That this Assembly recognises the value of, and the need for, the independent advice sector, which provides professional advice and information to the public; and calls on the Minister for Communities to work with the sector to produce a strategic plan, including agreed targets, to ensure that the highly skilled advisors and essential services can continue to meet public demand over the next ten years.
| 02/02/2021 | Ms Kellie Armstrong; Mr Stewart Dickson |
| Private Members' Motion |
Unpaid Carers
That this Assembly asserts its support and respect for all unpaid carers; calls on the Minister of Health to consult on a system for registering carers that is co-designed and co-produced with carers, GPs and Trusts; and further calls on the Minister to identify the best way to ensure carers are supported with relevant training and support services, to allow them to complete their physical and emotional role, safely and sustainably.
| 02/02/2021 | Ms Kellie Armstrong; Ms Paula Bradshaw |
| Private Members' Motion |
Cervical Cancer Prevention Week
That this Assembly notes that week commencing 18 January 2021 is Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, which provides a valuable opportunity to raise awareness of both the disease and preventative measures, including cervical screenings; recognises that attending cervical screenings is important, but not always easy, and that uncertainty and anxiety around COVID-19 has worsened this; advocates a transition to human papillomavirus primary screening; emphasises the need to accelerate pilots and research around self-sampling to improve access; highlights that Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust is providing continuous information and support; and encourages all Members to share these resources with concerned constituents during this week and in the future.
| 12/01/2021 | Ms Paula Bradshaw; Ms Kellie Armstrong; Mr Stewart Dickson |
| Private Members' Motion |
Ending Sectarianism
That this Assembly affirms its collective commitment through words and deeds to the eradication of sectarianism in our society; reaffirms its support for the Executive’s Together: Building a United Community Strategy as a basis for enhancing a society free from hatred; acknowledges fully the efforts across civil society, our community and voluntary sectors, our faith communities, our business community, our sporting codes, our youth sector, our schools and education institutions, and our trade unions, to build a shared, better, and united community opposed to sectarianism in all its forms; further affirms this Assembly’s commitment to shape a future that upholds and protects the rights of all as set out in New Decade, New Approach; and calls on the Executive Office to legislate to designate sectarianism a hate crime and to bring forward proposals to require all public representatives to commit to an anti-sectarian pledge.
| 17/12/2020 | Ms Emma Rogan; Mr Pat Sheehan; Ms Martina Anderson; Ms Emma Sheerin |
| Private Members' Motion |
Lough Neagh Eel and Scale-fish Fisheries
That this Assembly expresses its disappointment that the financial support scheme proposed for those who are involved in the Lough Neagh eel and scale-fish fisheries has not yet been finalised; regrets that those involved in the eel and scale-fish fisheries on Lough Neagh have not received any financial support during the COVID-19 pandemic; and calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to enact immediately the scheme and to provide the long-awaited financial support to those in need.
| 17/12/2020 | Mr John O'Dowd; Ms Emma Sheerin; Ms Linda Dillon; Mr Declan McAleer; Mr Philip McGuigan |
| Private Members' Motion |
Flexible School Starting Age
That this Assembly recognises that babies born prematurely often face lifelong challenges in education and employment; further recognises that many of these babies are more likely to have both emotional and learning difficulties in later life; calls on the Minister of Education to introduce a flexible school starting age for premature babies who are born under 32 weeks, have a low birth weight or, by virtue of their birth date, enter formal education a year earlier than if they had been born at full term; and further calls on the Minister to provide an additional year's paid nursery place for premature babies.
| 16/12/2020 | Mr Robbie Butler; Mr Chris Lyttle |
| Private Members' Motion |
Centenary of the Government of Ireland Act
That this Assembly notes the upcoming centenary of the coming into effect of the Government of Ireland Act in June 1921; understands its significance for the historical, social, economic and political experience on this island for the last century; recognises that the centenary will be marked very differently by the people and communities it has affected; accepts that mutual respect, as outlined in the Good Friday Agreement, is a fundamental principle that underpins these power sharing institutions; reiterates the importance of equality of treatment for all citizens by, and within, these political institutions; and commits this Assembly to marking the centenary in the spirit of mutual respect, which acknowledges and represents the different narratives of the past.
| 15/12/2020 | Ms Martina Anderson; Dr Caoimhe Archibald; Mr Cathal Boylan; Ms Nicola Brogan; Ms Linda Dillon; Ms Jemma Dolan; Ms Sinéad Ennis; Ms Órlaithí Flynn; Mr Colm Gildernew; Ms Deirdre Hargey; Mr Declan Kearney; Mr Gerry Kelly; Ms Liz Kimmins; Mr Seán Lynch; Mr Declan McAleer; Mr Fra McCann; Mr Philip McGuigan; Mr Maolíosa McHugh; Ms Karen Mullan; Mr Conor Murphy; Ms Carál Ní Chuilín; Mr John O'Dowd; Mrs Michelle O'Neill; Ms Emma Rogan; Mr Pat Sheehan; Ms Emma Sheerin |
| Private Members' Motion |
Paid Special Leave for Victims of Domestic Abuse
That this Assembly condemns unequivocally domestic abuse; recognises that domestic abuse continues to be hugely underreported; acknowledges the important legislative progress promised by the Domestic Abuse and Family Proceedings Bill; further acknowledges that domestic abuse often follows victims into their workplace; highlights the impact that domestic abuse can have on a victim’s employment through the impact on their physical and mental health; notes the existing Civil Service special leave policy which enables staff paid time off for domestic reasons including domestic abuse; and calls on the Minister for the Economy to introduce legislation to create a statutory entitlement to ten days of paid special leave for victims of domestic abuse.
| 09/12/2020 | Dr Caoimhe Archibald; Mr John O'Dowd; Ms Jemma Dolan; Ms Linda Dillon |
| Private Members' Motion |
European Solidarity Corps
That this Assembly notes with concern the UK Government’s position that it will not participate in the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) programme for the period 2021-2027; recognises that the ESC provides a host of benefits for communities, young people and voluntary and community organisations in Northern Ireland, including inter-cultural learning, traineeships and jobs; further recognises that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic makes it more important than ever that we do not take opportunities away from our young people; calls on the UK Government to reverse its position and participate in the ESC from 2021-2027; and further calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister, along with the Minister for Communities, to investigate means by which Northern Ireland could participate in the ESC.
| 07/12/2020 | Mr Andrew Muir; Mr Stewart Dickson |
| Private Members' Motion |
Payment for Student Nurses and Midwives
That this Assembly recognises the important work carried out by student nurses and midwives throughout the extremely difficult period of COVID-19; is disappointed that these students have effectively been working full-time hours through a pandemic whilst receiving approximately £1 per hour for their work; further recognises the financial pressure on these students and the fact that they have no entitlement to sick pay if they are forced to self-isolate; and calls on the Minister of Health, and the Executive as a whole, to ensure that student nurses and midwives are paid a salary, or receive a significant, permanent increase in their monthly bursary as occurred during the early months of the COVID-19 lockdown, to recognise the essential work they have undertaken during an unprecedented pandemic.
| 04/12/2020 | Mr Gerry Carroll |
| Private Members' Motion |
Effects of Brexit on Northern Ireland
That this Assembly regrets the failure to extend the transition period to allow businesses and civil society to prepare properly for Brexit; further recognises the need for all parties to engage proactively to mitigate the impact of exiting the EU on all sectors of the economy and society; and calls on the UK Government to deliver on its promises to mitigate the negative effects of Brexit on Northern Ireland.
| 01/12/2020 | Mr Matthew O'Toole; Ms Sinead McLaughlin; Mr Pat Catney; Mr Colin McGrath |
| Private Members' Motion |
Speech and Language Therapists
That this Assembly recognises how speech, language and communication difficulties can be a contributory factor with offending and reoffending within our criminal justice system; applauds the work of speech and language therapists, while recognising the concerns of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists in respect of the impact communication difficulties can have on mental health; and calls on the Minister of Justice, in consultation with other Ministers, to examine how Speech and Language Therapists can work with Youth Justice, and all our prison estates, to support the communication needs of prisoners and add training value for prison officers to allow them to identify and support prisoners with communication difficulties.
| 01/12/2020 | Mr Doug Beattie; Mr Robbie Butler; Mr Mike Nesbitt |
| Private Members' Motion |
Access for All in Retail Campaign
That this Assembly welcomes the Action on Hearing Loss/RNID campaign, Access for All in Retail, which calls on retailers to take action to make their stores accessible for the 300,000 people in Northern Ireland who are deaf or have hearing loss; understands that, for too long, retail spaces have been inaccessible for people who are deaf or have hearing loss, whether through the use, in stores, of background music, a lack of induction loops, or by failing to provide staff with deaf awareness training; believes that the COVID-19 pandemic has added to these barriers, with face coverings, physical partitions and social distancing creating a more difficult experience; further understands the campaign asks retailers to take the simple steps of minimising the barriers created by face coverings, reducing background noise, using induction loops, and training staff to be more deaf aware; encourages everyone to sign the Action on Hearing Loss/RNID open letter to show retailers how important these measures are; and wishes the campaign success.
| 26/11/2020 | Mr Alex Easton; Mrs Pam Cameron; Mr Jonathan Buckley |
| Private Members' Motion |
Just Transition Commission
That this Assembly notes the motion, endorsed by the Assembly on 3rd February 2020, declaring a climate and ecological emergency; supports the commitments made in New Decade, New Approach, to implementing a just transition through a new energy strategy so that no community is left behind or disadvantaged in the transition to a net-zero carbon society; calls on the Executive to establish a just transition commission, modelled on the Scottish Just Transition Commission, to advise the Executive on how to plan, invest and implement a just transition, and to focus both on vulnerable economic sectors and jobs as well as households experiencing fuel poverty; and further calls for this commission to provide a written report to the Executive, within one year of its inaugural meeting, that provides practical, realistic, and affordable recommendations for action.
| 24/11/2020 | Ms Clare Bailey; Miss Rachel Woods |
| Private Members' Motion |
Bus Éireann Dublin to Belfast Route (Revised Wording)
That this Assembly recognises the importance of public transport in combating the growing threat of climate change; further recognises the contribution that public transport makes to providing equality of access to services; regrets Bus Éireann's decision to suspend indefinitely their service between Dublin and Belfast; acknowledges that this bus route is vital for facilitating connectivity between the two biggest cities on this island; and calls on the Minister for Infrastructure to engage with her counterpart in the Irish Government, Minister Eamon Ryan, to ensure that service levels are restored to their original levels on this important route.
| 20/11/2020 | Mr Cathal Boylan; Ms Liz Kimmins; Ms Martina Anderson |
| Private Members' Motion |
Referral to the Assembly and Executive Review Committee
That this Assembly refers to the Assembly and Executive Review Committee under Standing Order 59(3)(b) consideration of the matter of replacing the current cross-community voting system, which is based on community designations, with a weighted majority system free from designations, to be used in place of cross-community voting in the circumstances specified in the Northern Ireland Act 1998 or when a reformed Petition of Concern is invoked; and agrees that the Committee should report on the outcome of this consideration to the Assembly.
| 20/11/2020 | Ms Kellie Armstrong; Ms Paula Bradshaw; Mr Stewart Dickson; Mr Chris Lyttle; Mr Andrew Muir; Mr John Blair |
| Private Members' Motion |
Active Travel
That this Assembly acknowledges the environmental, economic, physical and mental health benefits of different means of active travel including walking, cycling and running; recognises the importance of developing active travel infrastructure such as walkways, greenways and cycle lanes; further recognises the importance of measures which will encourage active travel, including improved road safety for cyclists; accepts the potential for cross-border active travel routes on the island; and calls on the Minister for Infrastructure to introduce active travel legislation to ensure that active travel plays a central role as part of a sustainable and green transport strategy.
| 19/11/2020 | Mr Cathal Boylan; Mr Philip McGuigan; Ms Liz Kimmins; Ms Martina Anderson |
| Private Members' Motion |
Ban on Conversion Therapy (Revised Wording)
That this Assembly opposes the harm caused to the LGBT+ community in the past, through the denial of rights and equal treatment; recognises that harm and discrimination still occur today; acknowledges and stands against the ongoing harm the practice of conversion therapy brings to LGBT+ people; believes that any form of counselling or actions intended to persuade someone, irrespective of age, to change their sexual orientation or behaviour so as to conform to a heteronormative lifestyle or gender identity, no matter the reason, religious or otherwise, should be illegal; and calls on the Minister for Communities to introduce an effective ban on conversion therapy within Northern Ireland before the end of this Assembly mandate.
| 10/11/2020 | Ms Paula Bradshaw; Mr John Blair; Mr Andrew Muir |
| Private Members' Motion |
Impact of COVID-19
That this Assembly recognises the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the delivery of public services and on Northern Ireland’s economy; expresses grave concerns about the crisis in local healthcare provision caused by the cancellation of elective, diagnostic and investigative surgeries; further recognises the challenges posed to small and medium-sized businesses, with significant changes to how they operate at very short notice and without long-term funding security; notes the additional pressure on school leaders and parents placed at the front line of this crisis; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to bring forward a comprehensive COVID-19 action and recovery plan for the short, medium and long term, that addresses the critical issues facing the delivery of public services and recognises the particular impact of the crisis on health and social inequalities, including its gendered impact, the impact on young people and on childcare, and black and minority ethnic communities.
| 10/11/2020 | Mr Colin McGrath; Ms Sinead McLaughlin; Mr Daniel McCrossan |
| Private Members' Motion |
Public Inquiry into the Murder of Gerard and Rory Cairns
That this Assembly expresses its support for the family of Gerard and Rory Cairns who are seeking a public inquiry into the murder of the two brothers by the UVF in their family home on 28 October 1993; acknowledges that, although there was an RUC investigation into the murder of Gerard, aged 22 years, and Rory, aged 18 years, contact with the victims' family ceased within approximately three months; recognises the family's beliefs that the RUC investigation was flawed and inadequate, and that there had been collusion between state forces and the murder gang; and supports the family's calls for a full public inquiry as a final means to deliver the truth about their loved ones' murders.
| 10/11/2020 | Mr John O'Dowd; Ms Linda Dillon; Ms Emma Rogan; Ms Jemma Dolan |
| Private Members' Motion |
Victims and Survivors of Mother and Baby Homes
That this Assembly recognises the serious physical and emotional impact caused by the abuse, exploitation and neglect experienced by many vulnerable women and their children in mother and baby homes throughout the island of Ireland over many decades; commends the courage and determination of victims and survivors of mother and baby homes, and their families, in continuing with their long pursuit of truth and justice; regrets the decision of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O'Gorman TD, in introducing legislation that seals, for 30 years, some records from the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes; suggests that an assessment of the impact of the Irish Government’s decision should be included in the work of the Inter-Departmental Working Group on Mother and Baby Homes and Magdalene Laundries and Historical Clerical Child Abuse established by the Executive; and calls on the Inter-Departmental Working Group to bring forward its recommendations in a timely manner.
| 10/11/2020 | Ms Linda Dillon; Mr Colm Gildernew; Mr Pat Sheehan; Ms Órlaithí Flynn |
| Private Members' Motion |
Equality for LGBTQ+ Community
That this Assembly recognises the struggle for equality by generations of people who identify as LGBTQ+; acknowledges the successful work of LGBTQ+ activists in eradicating elements of institutionalised discrimination; condemns the continued inequalities experienced by those who identify as LGBTQ+; welcomes the initiative of the Minister for Communities in beginning a process to ban the practice of conversion therapy; calls on the Minister of Health to address the serious deficits in healthcare services for transgender individuals, particularly at Brackenburn Clinic in Belfast; further calls on the Minister of Education to ensure that sex and relationship education guidance for schools is inclusive and covers LGBTQ+ relationships and transgender identities; and calls on the Executive to commit to equality, respect and human rights for all sections of our society in its actions, words and deeds.
| 09/11/2020 | Ms Emma Sheerin; Mr John O'Dowd; Ms Karen Mullan; Mr Colm Gildernew |
| Private Members' Motion |
Childcare
That this Assembly recognises the important contribution that childcare and early learning providers, whether independent, social enterprises, charities or individual childminders, make to our economy; acknowledges the role that childcare plays in supporting women’s access to the labour market and the role of early years provision in addressing educational disadvantage; further acknowledges the dedication of many businesses and workers who have provided, and continue to provide, childcare for key workers, those unable to work from home and vulnerable children throughout the pandemic; supports the need for timely access to COVID-19 testing for those working with children in the event of contact with a positive case; and calls on the Minister of Education and the Minister of Health to work together, in line with the Children's Services Co-Operation Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 to deliver a package of support that ensures continuing viability within this sector.
| 06/11/2020 | Ms Karen Mullan; Mr Colm Gildernew; Ms Órlaithí Flynn; Mr Pat Sheehan; Dr Caoimhe Archibald |
| Private Members' Motion |
Autism Services (Revised Wording)
That this Assembly recognises the impact COVID-19 has on autistic people and their families, as outlined in the National Autistic Society Left Stranded report; stresses that services for those with complex and high support needs were already dangerously low before the COVID-19 outbreak and the pandemic has reduced care provision further; notes, therefore, the disproportionate impact on those who require high levels of support; highlights the importance of recognising that services have not resumed fully or, in some cases, partially in respect of children’s and adult’s respite services and day service provision; acknowledges that, in some areas, respite services are being used as temporary residential facilities due to the lack of such placements for those children and adults who cannot live at home; further notes the profound impact this lack of service provision is having on autistic people and carers’ mental health; and calls on the Minister of Health to outline his plans for the resumption of services and addressing the long-term lack of funding and planning in the area of children and adults’ residential and respite facilities.
| 03/11/2020 | Ms Paula Bradshaw; Ms Kellie Armstrong; Miss Rachel Woods; Mrs Pam Cameron; Mr Colin McGrath; Mr Alan Chambers; Mr Colm Gildernew |
| Private Members' Motion |
Hospitality and Tourism Rescue Plan
That this Assembly recognises that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many workers in the hospitality industry have lost, or are at risk of losing, their jobs; supports Unite the Union’s Hospitality and Tourism Rescue Plan; acknowledges the urgent need to adopt and implement the measures outlined in the plan, which are to provide a sector-specific job retention scheme, provide adequate sick pay and routine testing, establish a plan to retain workers, establish a hospitality commission working between employer, union and government, and ensure that financial support is conditional on employers committing to improve the terms, conditions and pay of workers; considers that Unite the Union’s plan encapsulates the magnitude of effort, commitment, collaboration and investment that is required from government in order to secure the survival and subsequent thriving of the hospitality and tourism sectors; and calls on both the UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive to back this plan and engage with Unite the Union to develop an implementation strategy for each element of the plan, which will be critical for protecting the livelihood of workers and businesses in the hospitality and tourism sectors.
| 03/11/2020 | Miss Rachel Woods; Mr Gerry Carroll |
| Private Members' Motion |
Brexit and Rights (Revised Wording)
That this Assembly is alarmed that human rights protections are being undermined as a result of Brexit; recognises the detrimental impact that the loss of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights has on citizens in areas such as children’s rights and workers’ rights including cross border workers; notes that the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill would undermine key elements of the Good Friday Agreement and the no diminution of rights principle; acknowledges the detrimental impact this would have on individuals denied access to an effective remedy for breaches of their human rights; and calls on the British Government to adhere to the no diminution principle in relation to human rights.
| 02/11/2020 | Ms Emma Sheerin; Ms Emma Rogan; Mr Philip McGuigan; Ms Jemma Dolan |
| Private Members' Motion |
Cycling Infrastructure
That this Assembly notes the benefits of cycling in relation to reducing CO2 emissions, improving air quality and personal health and fitness; recognises that the number of cycling journeys remains well behind the 2025 targets set in the Bicycle Strategy for Northern Ireland; highlights that there has been systemic underfunding of cycling infrastructure across Northern Ireland for many years; further notes that Northern Ireland is increasingly falling behind in terms of cycling infrastructure relative to other administrations across the UK and Ireland; emphasises that the Department for Infrastructure and local authorities must be sufficiently resourced and work together to build better cycling infrastructure across the whole of Northern Ireland; calls on the Minister for Infrastructure to commit to spending at least £10 per person per year on cycling infrastructure for the remainder of this mandate, starting in 2021/22; and further calls on the Minister to increase the powers of the walking and cycling champion as head of a permanent, separate funding and inspectorate body, empowered to provide funding to build segregated cycle lanes and other cycling infrastructure that comply with defined best practice, and to promote the goals of Northern Ireland’s bicycle and greenway strategies.
| 23/10/2020 | Mr Andrew Muir; Mr John Blair; Mr Chris Lyttle |
| Private Members' Motion |
Independent Infrastructure Commission
That this Assembly notes with concern the unspent capital monies surrendered at financial year end, alongside a failure to utilise capital borrowing powers as a result of an inability to deliver major capital projects on time; affirms the need to build back better by investing in our infrastructure to enable a sustainable and just recovery which aids jobs growth and protects our environment; further notes the multiplier effects that well-planned infrastructure investment can have on growth; highlights that the current interest-rate environment provides an opportune time to invest; agrees with the findings of the Ministerial Advisory Panel on Infrastructure, released on 12 October 2020, and with the Public Accounts Committee report into Major Capital Projects, released on 22 October 2020; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Ministers to bring forward proposals for consultation on the establishment of an independent infrastructure commission, replacing the Strategic Investment Board, with new statutory powers to develop a cross-departmental, medium to long-term investment strategy for Northern Ireland, together with overseeing and promoting the delivery of major capital projects under the remit of the Northern Ireland public sector.
| 23/10/2020 | Mr Andrew Muir; Mr Stewart Dickson; Mr John Blair |
| Private Members' Motion |
Supporting Students
That this Assembly acknowledges the extremely difficult year students have had as a result of COVID-19; recognises that this has been particularly stressful for first year students who have faced uncertainty about examinations and results; understands that their first year of college or university should have been an enjoyable and exciting experience, but has been disrupted as they face challenges in engaging fully in their courses; and calls on the Minister for the Economy to explore, with colleges, universities and student representatives, how best to protect student learning, mental health and wellbeing and how to support students in overcoming financial barriers.
| 23/10/2020 | Dr Caoimhe Archibald; Mr John O'Dowd; Ms Karen Mullan; Ms Órlaithí Flynn |
| Private Members' Motion |
Increasing Health Service Capacity
That this Assembly recognises the importance of increasing preparedness across local health and social care to meet COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 pressures during the winter months and into spring next year; stresses that additional financial allocations must be used strategically to add value, build resilience and expand capacity in our health service; emphasises specifically the need to increase inpatient bed capacity for care and treatment of both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients; supports, moreover, an ambitious approach to expediting staff recruitment to address rising levels of absence across health and social care trusts; notes that such steps will be integral to ensuring the rebuilding of vital, routine health services can continue at pace as we learn to coexist with the virus; and calls on the Minister of Health to outline what further measures he will take, or seek from the Executive, to increase rapidly health service capacity in order to address immediate and medium-term demand arising from COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 pressures.
| 13/10/2020 | Mr Gordon Lyons; Mr Jonathan Buckley |
| Private Members' Motion |
Supporting Schools
That this Assembly recognises the dedication shown by all our teachers and school staff throughout the Education Restart Programme; notes the challenges faced by school principals, teachers and staff in managing pupil and staff safety during the current health crisis; acknowledges the detrimental impact that gaps in support, resources and guidance is having on the wellbeing of school principals, teachers and staff; and calls on the Minister of Education to engage immediately with school principals and their representatives to identify and address urgently those gaps in support, resources and guidance.
| 12/10/2020 | Ms Karen Mullan; Mr Pat Sheehan; Mr Seán Lynch |
| Private Members' Motion |
Appointment of Head of the Civil Service
That this Assembly respects the independence and impartiality of the Northern Ireland Civil Service; recognises the importance of having an administration which is politically neutral and free from partisan interference; re-states its endorsement of the Nolan Principles and is of the view that, with any role in public service, the best candidate should get the job on merit; expresses its disappointment and frustration at the failure to appoint a new Head of the Civil Service and the urgency now required in appointing one; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to remove themselves from the process of appointing the Head of the Civil Service so that the system, which exists in all neighbouring jurisdictions, of independent and apolitical appointment can be restored and an appointment made solely on merit without further delay.
| 09/10/2020 | Mr Andrew Muir; Mr Stewart Dickson |
| Private Members' Motion |
Maintaining and Promoting the Rule of Law
That this Assembly reaffirms its commitment to non-violence and exclusively peaceful and democratic means; highlights that Assembly Members are duty bound to support the rule of law unequivocally in word and deed and to support all efforts to uphold it; condemns the repeated and serious failure by Mr Gerry Kelly MLA to uphold these principles; notes that this has included the use of bolt cutters to unlawfully evade parking enforcement, participation in the funeral of Bobby Storey in breach of COVID-19 regulations on public gatherings and a social media post glorifying the illegal and violent escape by IRA prisoners from the Maze Prison in 1983; believes such conduct is unbefitting of a representative of either the Assembly or Northern Ireland Policing Board and must have repercussions; stresses the overriding need to restore public confidence; and calls on the Minister of Justice to exercise immediately powers conferred under Schedule 1 Paragraph 9 (1) of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 to remove Mr Gerry Kelly as a member of the Policing Board.
| 06/10/2020 | Mr Mervyn Storey; Mr Trevor Clarke; Mr Thomas Buchanan; Mr Maurice Bradley; Mr Peter Weir; Mr Robin Newton |
| Private Members' Motion |
Rehabilitation Services and Pain Clinics
That this Assembly notes that demand for rehabilitation services and pain clinics has risen during the COVID-19 crisis; commends physiotherapists on their ability to adapt and move their services online; recognises that online provision is not appropriate for many people with long-term conditions; expresses concern that a recent survey showed that more than half of people with multiple sclerosis who felt their symptoms had deteriorated during the pandemic, felt that a lack of specialist support had contributed to this; further recognises the benefits of co-ordinated multidisciplinary rehabilitation and pain management services; and calls on the Minister of Health to commit to a comprehensive rehabilitation plan, including an assurance that the provision of rehabilitation services and pain clinics will be protected and enhanced through the pandemic and beyond.
| 06/10/2020 | Ms Paula Bradshaw; Mr Stewart Dickson |
| Private Members' Motion |
Workers’ Rights
That this Assembly notes the commitment in New Decade, New Approach to a future Programme for Government with an enhanced focus on workers’ rights; acknowledges the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on working conditions, incomes and security of tenure; deplores that an adequate local recovery and financial assistance scheme has not provided protection for workers, forcing low income staff to choose between their economic and health interests; calls on the Minister for the Economy, immediately, to bring forward a recovery plan that will protect workers and businesses locally from the economic shock of COVID-19 and Brexit; and further calls on the Minister to bring forward urgently legislation that will strengthen workers’ rights, including a right to work from home where possible, a right to affordable childcare, a right to flexible work, enhanced rights for parental leave and a right to protective equipment supplied by their employer during COVID-19 or any future pandemic.
| 06/10/2020 | Ms Sinead McLaughlin; Mr Colin McGrath |
| Private Members' Motion |
Cycling and Road Safety
That this Assembly recognises the health, environmental, societal and economic benefits of cycling and the need for greater promotion of cycling for commuting, travel and leisure purposes; further recognises that road safety is a serious concern for many who cycle; acknowledges that these concerns need to be addressed in order to successfully encourage the greater uptake of cycling; and calls on the Minister for Infrastructure to recognise that safety concerns are one of the biggest deterrents to cycling and to commit to explore fully ways to address this vital issue, including increasing the prevalence of cycling-only infrastructure, improving current infrastructure, reviewing, updating and strengthening the highway code on cycling safety issues, increasing awareness of cyclist safety issues, and working to cultivate a greater respect for all road users.
| 01/10/2020 | Mr Philip McGuigan; Mr Cathal Boylan; Ms Martina Anderson |
| Private Members' Motion |
Urgent Action to Tackle Plastic Pollution
That this Assembly recognises the urgent need to reduce waste and move towards a circular economy; notes with deep concern the increased plastic pollution arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and the vast amount of plastic face masks, gloves, bottles and food packaging that will end up in landfill or dumped in our oceans; further notes the devastating impact that plastics have on our environment, ecosystems and marine life; further recognises the role of producer responsibility in addressing plastic pollution; supports the important role that education and public awareness campaigns can play in highlighting the problem; and calls on the Executive to identify and implement urgent actions across all Departments to reduce the use of single-use plastics, across the economy and society as a whole, and to promote the use of eco-friendly alternatives.
| 29/09/2020 | Miss Rachel Woods; Ms Clare Bailey; Mr Jim Wells; Mr Trevor Lunn; Ms Kellie Armstrong; Mr William Irwin |
| Private Members' Motion |
First Do No Harm Report of the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review
That this Assembly agrees the importance and value of the First Do No Harm report of the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review and its recommendations; acknowledges the Minister of Health’s apology to women and families affected by Primodos, sodium valproate and transvaginal mesh; further acknowledges that human rights law protects the right of everyone to have the highest attainable standard of physical and mental care; recognises the links between avoidable harm, the autonomy of patients and informed consent in these female-related healthcare scandals; further recognises shortfalls in the existing services for women who have been harmed as a result of transvaginal mesh, in particular the full and safe removal of mesh implants; notes the need for redress schemes for those patients affected by these healthcare scandals; and calls on the Minister of Health to bring forward proposals, in line with the report's recommendations that fall within the remit of the Assembly, including consideration of the establishment of an independent patient safety commissioner.
| 28/09/2020 | Ms Órlaithí Flynn; Mr Colm Gildernew; Dr Caoimhe Archibald; Ms Linda Dillon; Ms Emma Sheerin |
| Private Members' Motion |
The Arts and Creative Industries
That this Assembly acknowledges the importance of the arts and creative industries sectors, both to life in Northern Ireland and to our local economy; recognises that an estimated 8,000 people are employed within the arts and creative industries sectors, many of whom are self-employed; further recognises that many arts venues may be forced to close and jobs will be lost if a support package is not secured; notes a Barnett consequential of £33 million arose on 5 July 2020 as a result of the UK Government support package of £1.57 billion to protect the arts sector during the COVID-19 pandemic; expresses disappointment that this money has not been allocated to these sectors; and calls on the Minister of Finance to work urgently with Executive colleagues to put a rescue package in place to preserve our arts sector and creative industries.
| 23/09/2020 | Mr Mike Nesbitt; Mr John Stewart |
| Private Members' Motion |
Centenary of the Foundation of Northern Ireland
That this Assembly recognises the significance of the centenary of the foundation of Northern Ireland in 2021; highlights that this is an unrivalled opportunity to reflect on the past as well as build for the future, celebrating the heritage, people, places and products of Northern Ireland; welcomes the Prime Minister’s commitment to establish a Centenary Forum and a Centenary Historical Advisory Panel to assist preparations and raise national and international awareness; urges the UK Government to provide appropriate funding for the celebrations as committed to in New Decade, New Approach; supports a substantive and inclusive programme of local events and investments that benefits all communities and provides a physical legacy; notes that this should include recognition of all centenarians, through a £1,000 gift, and a baby box for every child born in 2021; and calls on the First and deputy First Minister to make an urgent statement on the Executive’s plans to mark the centenary.
| 15/09/2020 | Mr Jonathan Buckley; Mr William Humphrey; Mr David Hilditch |
| Private Members' Motion |
Implications of the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill for Devolved Powers and International Agreements
That this Assembly expresses its deep concern that the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill empowers the British Government to breach legally binding international treaties; opposes any attempt by the British Government to override the democratic operation of this Assembly; believes that the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill represents an unprecedented threat to the Good Friday Agreement; maintains that unfettered access is best achieved through negotiations, agreement and implementation of these agreements rather than unilateral and unlawful action; and reiterates that the British Government is legally bound to implement in full the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland.
| 15/09/2020 | Ms Martina Anderson; Dr Caoimhe Archibald; Mr Pat Sheehan; Mr Seán Lynch |
| Private Members' Motion |
Support for Debenhams Workers
That this Assembly notes with great concern the treatment of Debenhams workers in the Republic of Ireland since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, when 1,400 workers were laid off after the parent company announced in April 2020 that it would no longer support the Irish subsidiary; acknowledges that this move has denied many workers adequate redundancy packages in an unjust way, especially coming from such a sizeable company; agrees that workers must not be made to unfairly shoulder the burden of payment for this crisis; offers its solidarity and full support to the Debenhams workers who have protested, campaigned, taken strike action and occupied premises in order to fight for jobs and proper treatment; and supports their demands for enhanced redundancies and fair treatment.
| 14/09/2020 | Mr Gerry Carroll |
| Private Members' Motion |
Soft Opt-Out Organ Donation System
That this Assembly understands the urgent need to increase the number of organ donations with 140 patients, including children, waiting for an organ transplant as of June 2020; commends the 47 per cent of the population who have opted in to the Organ Donor Register while acknowledging the low levels of organ donation here compared to other jurisdictions; recognises the potential for a soft opt-out organ donation system to increase the number of people on the Organ Donor Register and that, according to the British Heart Foundation, a soft opt-out system is supported by 70 per cent of people locally; further commends the tireless work done by organ donation campaigners; acknowledges the Department of Health's commitment to progress a soft opt-out organ donation bill; and calls on the Minister of Health to bring forward immediately the public consultation on a soft opt-out organ donation system.
| 07/09/2020 | Mr Colm Gildernew; Mr Pat Sheehan; Ms Órlaithí Flynn |
| Private Members' Motion |
COVID-19 Economic Recovery
That this Assembly is deeply concerned at the impact COVID-19 has had on the Northern Ireland economy; recognises the huge challenges that lie ahead; notes the measures that have been taken by Executive Departments in response to COVID-19; is disappointed that, despite the Department for the Economy running significant underspends in allocated resources, many businesses and individuals did not receive any support over the past number of months; further notes the absence of a detailed COVID-19-related economic strategy and associated programmes; calls on the Minister for the Economy, in conjunction with the Minister for Communities and others, to develop urgently, and bring to the Executive, a comprehensive COVID-19 economic plan, including support for strategic sectors and specific interventions covering areas such as redundancy support, reskilling, apprenticeships, youth employment, Green New Deal and measures to assist those in Northern Ireland who have been excluded from assistance to date; and further calls on the Minister for the Economy to lobby the UK Government to extend the furlough scheme.
| 02/09/2020 | Mr Stewart Dickson; Mr Andrew Muir |
| Private Members' Motion |
Kickstart Scheme
That this Assembly notes the opening of the UK Government`s Kickstart Scheme on 2 September 2020 to companies in England, Scotland and Wales to support 16-24 year-olds who are claiming Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment; recognises the plight of companies and individuals who have not been able to avail of any government support through the course of the COVID-19 pandemic; further recognises the greater level of reliance on the furlough scheme by companies across all sectors in Northern Ireland than in other regions of the United Kingdom; calls on the Minister for the Economy to put an equivalent scheme in place for 16-24 year-olds in Northern Ireland; and further calls on the Minister for the Economy to detail what plans will be in place to support companies and individuals who have not been able to access government financial support measures and mitigate the impact of the ending of the furlough scheme.
| 02/09/2020 | Dr Steve Aiken; Mr John Stewart; Mr Andy Allen |
| Private Members' Motion |
Remarks by Mr Justice McAlinden
That this Assembly notes the clear findings by Justice McAlinden that the deputy First Minister disrespected the rule of law in thwarting progress on the victims’ pension; recalls the binding requirement in the ministerial Pledge of Office to support the rule of law unequivocally in word and deed; and accordingly calls on the deputy First Minister to resign.
| 21/08/2020 | Mr Jim Allister |
| Private Members' Motion |
Rail Network Deficit in the North West
That this Assembly notes the deficit of the rail network in the North West; acknowledges that the current railway line between Great Victoria Street and Waterside Train Station has gained significant passenger numbers over the years and would greatly benefit from an improved and upgraded service; further notes the successful expansion of the rail network to underserved regions in other countries such as Scotland; reasserts the importance of public transport in tackling carbon emissions and achieving a just transition to a greener economy and society; and calls on the Minister for Infrastructure to ensure that improving the current rail network west of the Bann, as well as exploring ways to extend the line further, is a critical part of her Department's strategy in improving rail connectivity locally moving forward; and further calls on the Minister to engage proactively with her counterpart Minister Eamon Ryan in improving cross-border rail connectivity.
| 21/07/2020 | Ms Martina Anderson; Ms Karen Mullan; Mr Cathal Boylan |
| Private Members' Motion |
Road Safety and Wire Rope Barriers
That this Assembly is committed to road safety for all road users; and calls on the Minister for Infrastructure to engage with motorcyclists, through the Motorcycle Action Group UK, road safety experts and engineers to agree an alternative to wire rope barriers for roads in Northern Ireland.
| 21/07/2020 | Ms Kellie Armstrong; Miss Rachel Woods |
| Private Members' Motion |
Restrictive Intervention and Seclusion of Children and Young People with Additional Needs
That this Assembly expresses concern at the lack of up to date standardised guidance from the Department of Education on the use of restrictive intervention and seclusion on children and young people with additional needs, including those with physical or learning disabilities; and calls on the Minister of Education to introduce, in partnership with teachers, parents and all other relevant stakeholders, up to date guidance on therapeutic-based positive behaviour strategies; and further calls on the Minister to fund mandatory training on this approach for all staff working directly with children and young people and mandatory recording and reporting of all incidents of restrictive intervention and seclusion.
| 10/07/2020 | Mr Chris Lyttle; Ms Karen Mullan; Mr Robbie Butler; Ms Cara Hunter; Mr Daniel McCrossan; Mr Pat Catney; Mr Justin McNulty; Mr Gerry Carroll; Mrs Pam Cameron; Miss Rachel Woods; Ms Claire Sugden |
| Private Members' Motion |
Letting Fees
That this Assembly notes with concern that, despite judgement in the Paul Loughran v Piney Rentals Limited and F5 Property Limited case in 2017, and the Joint Ministerial Communiqué of 5 March 2020, the continued practice of charging unlawful letting fees highlights the need for strong legislation to ensure this unlawful practice is stopped; and calls on the Minister of Finance and the Minister for Communities to work together to bring such legislation forward.
| 01/07/2020 | Ms Kellie Armstrong; Mr Andrew Muir |
| Private Members' Motion |
No Confidence in the deputy First Minister
That this Assembly, having regard to the obligations imposed by The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020; the public exhortations of the Executive to adhere to the COVID-19 restrictions, without exception; and the attendance and conduct of the deputy First Minister at the funeral of Bobby Storey in Belfast on 30 June 2020, has no confidence in the deputy First Minister and calls on her to resign.
| 01/07/2020 | Mr Jim Allister |
| Private Members' Motion |
Private Rented Sector Housing
That this Assembly recognises the disproportionate impact of the current COVID-19 crisis on people living in the private rented sector; further recognises the extent to which this reaffirms the unsuitability of the sector in providing a permanent solution for those who are homeless; and calls on the Minister for Communities to review the private rented sector, and to ensure that the regulation, standards and affordability of the sector are substantially improved before actively pursuing any policy of discharging the statutory duty owed to homeless people by housing them in this sector.
| 01/07/2020 | Ms Kellie Armstrong; Mr Stewart Dickson; Ms Paula Bradshaw |
| Private Members' Motion |
Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Protests
That this Assembly is deeply concerned at the manner in which members of the Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities were treated by the PSNI for attending socially distanced protests in support of the Black Lives Matter movement in Belfast and the North West on 6 June 2020, including the issuing of fines and cautions; notes that human rights organisations, including Amnesty International and the Committee on the Administration of Justice, have expressed serious concern about policing on the day; further notes the disproportionate police approach compared with other gatherings, events, and instances at workplaces where minimal levels of social distancing occurred; expresses its opposition to any prosecution of, or recriminations for, Black, Asian and ethnic minority activists and others attending these protests; and calls for the fines issued to be rescinded and for a review of policing at Black Lives Matter events.
| 18/06/2020 | Mr Gerry Carroll |
| Private Members' Motion |
Holiday Hunger
That this Assembly notes the negative impact of the current public health crisis on the circumstances of thousands of families across Northern Ireland, particularly those already struggling financially; accepts that the provision of free school meals is a responsibility for the Department of Education during term time only; and calls on the Executive to introduce a scheme to tackle holiday hunger consistent with the outcomes-based approach of the draft Programme for Government Framework and its purpose of 'improving wellbeing for all - by tackling disadvantage, and driving economic growth'.
| 16/06/2020 | Mr Mike Nesbitt; Mr Robbie Butler |
| Private Members' Motion |
Timetable for Resumption of Non-COVID-19 Health Services
That this Assembly supports a sensible and staged scaling-up of non-COVID-19 health and social care services; notes with deep concern that each day that diagnosis, treatment or surgery is delayed, the prognosis worsens for patients with serious illnesses, including cancer, whilst curtailing plans by those accessing fertility services to start a family; acknowledges the importance of ensuring that every COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patient is treated fairly and equitably as extra health and social care capacity engaged by the pandemic response becomes available; and calls on the Minister of Health to bring forward a clear timetable for the return of non-COVID-19 health services as a matter of urgency.
| 09/06/2020 | Mr Gordon Lyons; Mr Jonathan Buckley |
| Private Members' Motion |
Re-opening of Schools and Unregulated Transfer Tests
That this Assembly recognises the unprecedented impact the COVID-19 global pandemic is having on the education of our children and young people; commends the invaluable contribution made by teachers and school leaders who have provided vital service, selflessly, throughout this pandemic by continuing to educate our children remotely as well as caring for the children of our key-workers; believes that any re-opening of schools should be based on scientific and medical advice consistent with that provided by World Health Organisation and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control; agrees that the use of unregulated transfer tests by grammar schools should be suspended for this year and then abolished; calls on the Minister of Education to engage and consult extensively with education stakeholders as well as parents and young people in advance of the re-opening of schools, and to prioritise the education and emotional well-being of all our children and young people in the new academic year.
| 03/06/2020 | Ms Karen Mullan; Mr Maolíosa McHugh; Ms Liz Kimmins |
| Private Members' Motion |
Proposed Increase of Checks on Goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland
That this Assembly notes the proposals to increase checks on goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland after the United Kingdom leaves the European Union; expresses concern at the impediment that increased checks will place on supply chains within the United Kingdom’s internal market; expresses further concern at the challenges these proposals pose to the Belfast Agreement and the principle of consent; and calls on the UK Government and the European Union to make a clear statement at the earliest opportunity committing to Northern Ireland having continued and unfettered access within the UK internal market, in advance of the 1 July 2020 deadline for agreeing an extension to the Brexit transition period.
| 02/06/2020 | Dr Steve Aiken |
| Private Members' Motion |
Supporting Health and Social Care Workers and our Approach to the COVID-19 Pandemic
That this Assembly recognises the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 crisis and the stress it has placed on our entire society, economy and health and social care services; praises the heroic efforts of all our front-line health and social care workers who have provided vital support across acute care services and within our communities; believes that our passage through the COVID-19 pandemic must be guided by science and international best practice as advised by the World Health Organisation and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control; further recognises that all our frontline health and social care services and workers must be equipped with adequate and suitable Personal Protection Equipment; agrees that extensive case finding, testing, tracing and isolation is the optimum strategy; acknowledges that the island of Ireland, as a single epidemiological unit as recognised in "Coronavirus: Executive Approach to Decision Making", requires integrated, all-island responses to the COVID-19 virus; and calls on the Minister of Health to ensure that these principles guide our approach to the COVID-19 pandemic.
| 02/06/2020 | Mr Colm Gildernew; Ms Órlaithí Flynn; Mr Pat Sheehan; Ms Linda Dillon |
| Private Members' Motion |
Troubles-Related Incident Victims' Payment Scheme
That this Assembly notes the Troubles-related incident Victims’ Payment Scheme did not open for applications as scheduled on 29 May 2020; recognises the deep hurt this delay has caused to Troubles victims injured through no fault of their own; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to fulfil their duty without further delay and appoint a lead Department to take forward this scheme, appoint the Victims' Payments Board and resolve the funding issues.
| 01/06/2020 | Mr Doug Beattie; Mr Mike Nesbitt |
| Private Members' Motion |
Paediatric Pathology
That this Assembly recognises the collapse of the regional perinatal and paediatric pathology service in January 2019; notes the replacement service at Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool; acknowledges the anguish and trauma for parents who have to travel to Liverpool to access these services; and calls on the Minister of Health to engage with his counterpart in Dublin to develop an all-island paediatric pathology service.
| 18/03/2020 | Mr Colm Gildernew; Mr Pat Sheehan; Ms Órlaithí Flynn |
| Private Members' Motion |
Challenge to Business Posed by the COVID-19 Pandemic
That this Assembly recognises the challenges posed to business by the Covid-19 pandemic; notes the measures being put in place in Great Britain to offer relief to businesses there; and calls on the Minister of Finance to outline the support he will offer to put in place to support businesses in Northern Ireland.
| 16/03/2020 | Dr Steve Aiken; Mr John Stewart |
| Private Members' Motion |
Pregnancy and Maternity Rights: The Law and Good Practice (revised wording)
That this Assembly acknowledges the inequalities that exist for pregnant women in the workplace, as identified in in the 2016 report by the Equality Commission entitled Pregnancy and Maternity Rights: The Law and Good Practice, and in the 2019 Industrial Tribunal decision in Gruzdaite v McGrane Nurseries Ltd; and calls on the Minister for the Economy to recognise the model maternity policy set out in the 2016 report and to bring forward regulations that will ensure equality of opportunity for women in the workplace.
| 16/03/2020 | Ms Linda Dillon; Ms Sinéad Ennis; Ms Emma Sheerin; Ms Jemma Dolan |
| Private Members' Motion |
Social Security Support during the COVID-19 Pandemic
That this Assembly calls on the Minister for Communities to introduce measures to ensure that no one in receipt of support from the social security system will be adversely affected during any period of social isolation arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.
| 16/03/2020 | Mr Andy Allen; Mr Robbie Butler |
| Private Members' Motion |
Housing Waiting List
That this Assembly declares that the increasing number of people on the housing waiting list constitutes an emergency; notes that a substantial number of those on the waiting list are in housing stress or assessed as homeless; apologises to the public for the failure to restore devolution to deal with this crisis sooner; calls on the Executive to bring forward a strategy for the release of appropriate public land and investment in infrastructure to allow a programme of new build social and affordable housing to begin; and further calls on the Minister for Communities to set, and implement urgently, a radically ambitious target for new build housing in line with New Decade, New Approach.
| 10/03/2020 | Mr Mark Durkan; Mrs Dolores Kelly |
| Private Members' Motion |
Work Life Balance
That this Assembly recognises the demanding nature of today’s labour market and the impact that this has on the quality of life of workers and their families; acknowledges that workers and families need adequate balance between work and family life; calls on the Minister for the Economy to bring forward legislation to enact the European Union’s Work Life Balance Directive, and to ban zero-hours contracts and replace them with banded-hours contracts; and further calls on the Minister for the Economy to develop legislation that allows employees the statutory right to disconnect, as identified by the Financial Services Union, and prevent undue demands being placed on workers outside their contractual working hours to ensure a work life balance.
| 10/03/2020 | Ms Jemma Dolan; Dr Caoimhe Archibald; Mr John O'Dowd; Mr Colm Gildernew |
| Private Members' Motion |
Citizens' Rights after EU Exit
That this Assembly acknowledges the obligations and commitments set out in the Protocol to the Withdrawal Agreement, entitled Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland; and calls on the Executive to ensure that arrangements are put in place to secure and level up to European standards on citizens’ rights, opportunities and benefits in the context of the future relationship with the European Union.
| 09/03/2020 | Dr Caoimhe Archibald; Mr Declan McAleer; Ms Martina Anderson; Ms Jemma Dolan |
| Private Members' Motion |
Academic Freedom
That this Assembly supports the principle of academic freedom; affirms its commitment to the right of all academic staff to question, test, and to put forward ideas; and calls on the Minister for the Economy to reiterate that legitimate inquiry, scholarship and the ability of all academic staff, of Queen's University, Belfast and other academic institutions, to conduct research, teach, speak, and publish without interference, must be protected and maintained.
| 05/03/2020 | Dr Caoimhe Archibald; Mr John O'Dowd; Ms Martina Anderson |
| Private Members' Motion |
Coronavirus Relief Fund
That this Assembly recognises the significant financial pressure that low paid workers, people in precarious employment, people employed on zero-hour contracts, and micro and small businesses will face if they or their staff have to self-isolate as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19); and calls on the Executive to engage with the British Government to determine how to provide financial assistance for those workers and their families affected by coronavirus, and to ensure that they are able to access sickness or other relevant payments.
| 05/03/2020 | Mr John O'Dowd; Dr Caoimhe Archibald; Ms Jemma Dolan; Mr Colm Gildernew |
| Private Members' Motion |
Illegal Landfill at Mobuoy Road (revised wording)
This Assembly recognises the Mobuoy dump site as an environmental disaster and, as one of the largest illegal dump sites in Europe, is a stain on our environmental record; calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to establish, within this calendar year, an independent public inquiry into the illegal dump at Mobuoy the remit of which should include planning and environmental policy failures, waste crime, the economic and social impact on the local community, and the impact on the local environment; and further calls on the Minister to produce and lay before the Assembly, within two months, a written report detailing the regulatory, governance and legal reforms implemented following the publication of the Mills Review as well as publishing a statement on the actions taken by his Department to secure the necessary finance and the resources required to clear and restore the site within a reasonable timescale.
| 03/03/2020 | Ms Martina Anderson; Ms Karen Mullan; Mr Philip McGuigan; Mr Declan McAleer |
| Private Members' Motion |
Updating Fair Employment Legislation
That this Assembly acknowledges the diversity of society and the outdated binary definition of community background currently used when gathering monitoring data; and calls on the Executive Office to work with the Minister of Finance to review and update the Fair Employment (Monitoring) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 to include monitoring of the workforce using the groups identified in Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
| 03/03/2020 | Ms Kellie Armstrong |
| Private Members' Motion |
Referenda on Clauses 8 and 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill 2019
That this Assembly notes with concern that clauses 8 and 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill 2019 were passed with minimal Parliamentary scrutiny and and no consultation whatsoever with the Northern Ireland electorate; further notes that these clauses represent major social policy changes which should only have been considered after extensive consultation; and calls for referenda to be held on Clauses 8 and 9 to give the people of Northern Ireland an opportunity to express their opinion on this fundamental change in the status of marriage and the life of the unborn child.
| 28/02/2020 | Mr Jim Wells |
| Private Members' Motion |
Climate Crisis
That this Assembly recognises the threat of climate crisis to the global population and biodiversity; notes the particularly detrimental impact that the burning of fossil fuels has on the rate of carbon emissions and air pollution; further recognises that fracking, as a method of fossil fuel extraction, is deeply unpopular, unnecessary, and unsafe for the environment and our communities; and calls on the Minister for the Economy not to grant future licenses for onshore or offshore fracking.
| 26/02/2020 | Mr Gerry Carroll |
| Private Members' Motion |
Loneliness and Isolation Strategy
That this Assembly recognises the impact that loneliness and social isolation can have on a person’s physical and mental health; and calls on the Minister for Communities to explore development of a loneliness and social isolation strategy for Northern Ireland, underpinned by the necessary funding.
| 25/02/2020 | Ms Sinéad Bradley; Mr Mark Durkan; Mrs Dolores Kelly; Mr Justin McNulty |
| Private Members' Motion |
Community Bus Permit
That this Assembly recognises the importance of community transport for addressing social isolation, decreasing dependence on private vehicles and providing equal access to vital opportunities and services; notes the increased frustration among the public with ongoing financial constraints, as well as a desire to improve transport services; and calls for the Department of Infrastructure to introduce a permit, similar to that in England, which allows permitted organisations to provide public transport by way of a local registered bus route, and to operate vehicles to provide a community bus service, without a view to profit.
| 17/02/2020 | Mr Seán Lynch; Mr Cathal Boylan; Ms Liz Kimmins; Ms Martina Anderson |
| Private Members' Motion |
Integrated Delivery of Department for Infrastructure Services
That this Assembly recognises the effects of a constrained budgetary environment on the Department for Infrastructure’s ability to deliver a number of key services such as grass cutting, street lighting repairs and gritting; further recognises the increasing public frustration with this situation; and calls on the Minister for Infrastructure to conduct a pilot, in cooperation with local councils and the Housing Executive, to identify potential areas for the delivery of these key services in an integrated, more efficient and effective manner.
| 17/02/2020 | Mr Cathal Boylan; Ms Martina Anderson; Ms Liz Kimmins |
| Private Members' Motion |
Flooded Farms in the Sperrins
That this Assembly recognises the devastation caused to farms in the Sperrins by severe flooding in August 2017; notes that farm businesses in Inishowen that were impacted by the same floods received funding under de minimis rules from the Irish Government; and calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to introduce hardship funding for farmers affected by flooding in the Sperrins.
| 14/02/2020 | Mr Declan McAleer; Dr Caoimhe Archibald; Ms Emma Sheerin |
| Private Members' Motion |
Safety of the A1 Dual Carrigeway
That this Assembly recognises the inadequacy of the current condition of the A1 dual carriageway in terms of road safety; is concerned about the frequency of accidents occurring at the gap junctions; understands the frustration felt by the public about the lack of action taken to address this significant deficit in road safety; and calls on the Minister for Infrastructure, once the public inquiry is complete, to progress urgently to the A1 Junctions Phase 2 Road Improvement Scheme.
| 14/02/2020 | Ms Liz Kimmins; Mr John O'Dowd; Mr Cathal Boylan; Ms Martina Anderson |
| Private Members' Motion |
Five Week Wait for Universal Credit
That this Assembly notes with concern the negative impact on claimants of the five week wait for the initial payment of Universal Credit; supports payment flexibility; and calls on the Minister for Communities to engage with the Department for Work and Pensions to amend the current payment schedule so that the first payment, covering the first half-monthly amount, is paid no later than three weeks after the initial claim.
| 11/02/2020 | Miss Rachel Woods; Mr Andy Allen |
| Private Members' Motion |
Ending the Defence of Reasonable Chastisement
That this Assembly recognises that children should have equal protection under the law, including protection against common assault; recognises the cross-cutting nature of the current legislation concerning the protection of children; and calls on the Executive to agree to end the defence of reasonable chastisement by introducing legislation to remove it from the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 and any relevant subsequent legislation.
| 10/02/2020 | Mr Chris Lyttle; Ms Kellie Armstrong |
| Private Members' Motion |
Paul Quinn
That this Assembly commends the family of the late Paul Quinn for their tenacity and courage in defending his reputation and in the pursuit of the truth in respect of his murder; deplores the behaviour of the Minister of Finance towards the family in making and persisting for years in false allegations; and calls on the Minister to consider his position.
| 07/02/2020 | Mr Jim Allister |
| Private Members' Motion |
Minibus Licenses
That this Assembly notes that updated guidance on driver licensing requirements for minibuses was issued by the Department for Infrastructure on 12 April 2018; further notes that this guidance fundamentally changes how people with grandfather driver licensing rights exercise those rights; notes that as a consequence of the updated guidance people here with grandfather rights are treated differently to people with the same rights in England, Scotland and Wales and that this change has been detrimental to the functions of schools, churches, charities and third sector organisations that seek to operate community transport; and calls on the Minister for Infrastructure to immediately review the guidance issued on 12 April 2018 and to confirm that people with grandfather rights here will be treated the same as people who hold grandfather rights in England Scotland and Wales.
| 06/02/2020 | Mr Seán Lynch; Mr Cathal Boylan |
| Private Members' Motion |
Regional Balance
That this Assembly acknowledges the stark regional disparities due to decades of under-investment west of the Bann and particularly in the North West; notes that New Decade, New Approach states that a top priority of the Executive will be to develop a regionally-balanced economy with opportunities for all; further notes the principles in New Decade, New Approach that the Programme for Government will reflect an outcomes-based approach to secure sustained improvement in well-being and economic growth, and that investment will be delivered at regional and sub-regional level on the basis of objective need in order to drive inclusive growth; further acknowledges that the key to delivering regional balance will be appropriate and effective measures to include employment rate by council area; acknowledges that the development and expansion of the Magee campus of Ulster University as committed to in New Decade, New Approach is vital as a driver for investment and the economic development of the North West; and calls on the Minister for the Economy to bring forward the proposals for new Economic/Industrial Strategy and the new Investment Strategy, and to commit to ensuring that these strategies will deliver on the above-mentioned priorities.
| 06/02/2020 | Dr Caoimhe Archibald; Mr John O'Dowd; Ms Karen Mullan; Ms Martina Anderson |
| Private Members' Motion |
A5 Western Transport Corridor Scheme
That this Assembly recognises the strategic importance of advancing the A5 Western Transport Corridor scheme; further recognises that the scheme will reduce deaths on our roads, increase investment and connectivity in the North West; notes the extreme frustration of the general public caused by constant delays to the scheme; and calls on the Minister for Infrastructure to work with her counterpart in the Irish Government to advance the scheme as soon as practically possible.
| 03/02/2020 | Mr Daniel McCrossan |
| Private Members' Motion |
Animal Cruelty Register
That this Assembly notes the increase in convictions for animal welfare offences; further notes the increase in the number of animals being seized by the Police Service of Northern Ireland as a result of reports of cruelty; calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the Minister of Justice to introduce an animal cruelty register, which offenders should be compelled to sign; and further calls on both Ministers to work with the British and Irish Governments to introduce an all-island animal cruelty register.
| 03/02/2020 | Mr Patsy McGlone |
| Private Members' Motion |
Legacy Mechanisms
That this Assembly supports all innocent victims of the Troubles; recognises that the Historical Investigations Unit fails the Government`s own test to deliver legacy arrangements which are balanced, fair, equitable and proportionate, and should be abandoned; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to write to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland asking him to reconsider both the Stormont House Agreement legacy provisions and the commitments in New Decade, New Approach to publish and introduce legislation in the UK Parliament within 100 days to implement the Stormont House Agreement.
| 03/02/2020 | Mr Doug Beattie; Dr Steve Aiken; Mr Mike Nesbitt |
| Private Members' Motion |
Protection of the NHS
That this Assembly recognises that the NHS is our greatest asset; further recognises that people deeply value access to universal health care; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to write to the British Prime Minister setting out opposition to any attempt to privatise our health service in any trade deal.
| 03/02/2020 | Ms Sinéad Bradley |
| Private Members' Motion |
Reduction of the Voting Age to 16 Years
That this Assembly notes the recent moves to reduce the voting age to 16 years for local government elections in Scotland and Wales; commends the Scottish and Welsh Governments for enhancing democratic accountability and engagement with the democratic process; and mandates the First Minister and deputy First Minister to make representations to the Secretary of State to call for the devolution of powers to alter the franchise for local elections.
| 03/02/2020 | Mr Colin McGrath |
| Private Members' Motion |
Speed Limit Outside Schools
That this Assembly welcomes the Minister for Infrastructure’s commitment to active travel and public transport policies as a means of tackling the climate crisis and improving public health; recognises the action taken by the Department for Infrastructure to reduce speed limits outside a number of schools in urban areas; and calls on the Minister to give consideration to restricting speed limits to 20 miles per hour outside all schools in order to enhance safety and protect children.
| 03/02/2020 | Mrs Dolores Kelly; Mr Patsy McGlone |
| Private Members' Motion |
The Criminal Finances Act 2017
That this Assembly calls on the Minister of Justice to introduce the provisions contained in the Criminal Finances Act 2017 to Northern Ireland, starting with Unexplained Wealth Orders, to assist law enforcement agency investigations into criminality.
| 03/02/2020 | Mr Mervyn Storey; Mr Trevor Clarke |
| Private Members' Motion |
Youth Assembly
That this Assembly recognises the invaluable contribution that young people have to make to our society; expresses its desire to enhance engagement with the democratic process; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to bring forward proposals for a Northern Ireland Youth Assembly.
| 03/02/2020 | Mr Colin McGrath; Mr Daniel McCrossan |
| Private Members' Motion |
Fair Employment and Treatment in Education
That this Assembly calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to repeal Article 71 of The Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 and to work with the Department of Education to revise the policy and issue new guidance to reflect these legislative changes.
| 30/01/2020 | Mr Chris Lyttle; Ms Kellie Armstrong |
| Private Members' Motion |
Mental Health and Wellbeing in Primary and Post-Primary Education
That this Assembly recognises the importance of addressing wellbeing and resilience in both primary and post-primary education; notes the need for raising awareness of mental health as part of the curriculum; acknowledges that available research highlights pupils suffering poor mental health are more likely to talk to a peer rather than a teacher; and calls on the Minister of Education to review urgently the curriculum to ensure it supports young people in monitoring and maintaining their mental health, and to develop a peer-to-peer mentoring and support network in schools.
| 30/01/2020 | Mr Mike Nesbitt; Mr Robbie Butler |
| Private Members' Motion |
Small Independent Brewers in Northern Ireland
That this Assembly recognises the contribution made to the local economy by small independent brewers; notes the disadvantage they face due to the current inability to sell their products directly; and calls on the Minister for Communities to reform, urgently, the outdated licensing laws hindering the industry.
| 29/01/2020 | Mr John Stewart; Mr Doug Beattie |
| Private Members' Motion |
Farming and the Future Trading Deal
That this Assembly recognises the significant uncertainty faced by family farms and the wider agri-food industry as a result of our exit from the European Union; and calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, working with Executive colleagues, to protect farm incomes and the agri-food industry in future negotiations and policies.
| 28/01/2020 | Mr Declan McAleer; Ms Emma Sheerin; Mr Philip McGuigan |
| Private Members' Motion |
Terminal Illness
That this Assembly welcomes the recommendation in the recently published review by Walter Rader that the six month life expectancy criteria be removed from the terminal illness rule; notes the work of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Terminal Illness Inquiry; and calls on the Minister for Communities to immediately bring forward legislation to remove the six month rule, provide guidance to health professionals and adopt a fairer definition of terminal illness.
| 22/01/2020 | Ms Kellie Armstrong; Ms Paula Bradshaw |
| Private Members' Motion |
Childcare for All
That this Assembly recognises the detrimental impact of expensive childcare costs for many parents, a problem deepened by the lack of public childcare facilities; calls for the immediate extension locally of the 30 hour free childcare provisions provided for preschool children in England, in a way which understands and addresses the flexibility required by parents and carers here; and further calls on the Minister for Education, alongside the Executive, to develop a review into the creation of a publicly owned national childcare agency aimed at ensuring free childcare for all who need it.
| 20/01/2020 | Mr Gerry Carroll |
| Private Members' Motion |
Corporation Tax
This Assembly believes that a reduction in the rate of corporation tax will have a negative impact on public finances by removing funds from the block grant and further facilitating race to the bottom style economics; and opposes any attempts to lower the rate of corporation tax.
| 20/01/2020 | Mr Gerry Carroll |
| Private Members' Motion |
Outsourcing of Benefits Systems
That this Assembly notes the widespread condemnation of the process of assessing Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment claims; further notes the many issues highlighted by people who have gone through the process or who work to assist claimants; recognises that this process is carried out by private, outsourced organisations such as Capita and Atos, who should have no role in the assessment process; and calls on the Minister for Communities to bring these services fully in house and under public control.
| 20/01/2020 | Mr Gerry Carroll |
| Private Members' Motion |
Period Poverty
That this Assembly notes with concern the growing problem of period poverty; further notes that studies show that one in ten teenage girls has, at some point, been unable to afford sanitary products, and that people with medical conditions or naturally occurring heavier periods are at greater risk; acknowledges that the central cause is the wider societal issue of poverty; recognises the United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution 33/10 which states that sanitation is essential for the full enjoyment of the right to life and all other human rights; and resolves to ensure that free sanitary items are available in all government and public buildings, in order to alleviate the burden on women who struggle month to month.
| 20/01/2020 | Mr Gerry Carroll |
| Private Members' Motion |
Tuition Fees
That this Assembly recognises the important contribution higher education institutions make to the local economy; believes that a strong education system that is accessible, properly funded and lifelong is key to addressing major issues within the local economy; notes that there is a mental health crisis amongst students, with 78 per cent of students having mental health worries at university or college; further notes that according to a NUS-USI mental health survey financial concerns are one of the major drivers behind poor mental health amongst students with 70 per cent worried about future levels of debt; and calls on the Minister for the Economy to listen to the demand of representative bodies of students and academic staff and rule out increasing tuition fees and plunging students further into debt.
| 20/01/2020 | Mr Gerry Carroll |
| Private Members' Motion |
World Cancer Day 2020
That this Assembly recognises that cancer is Northern Ireland’s number one killer; further recognises that health care staff in Northern Ireland work extremely hard to support cancer patients throughout their journey; recognises the work undertaken on a new cancer strategy for Northern Ireland; looks forward to the implementation of the strategy recommendations; and supports World Cancer Day 2020.
| 20/01/2020 | Ms Paula Bradshaw; Mr Andrew Muir |
| Private Members' Motion |
Withdrawal from the EU
That this Assembly notes the concerns raised by cross-sectoral business leaders on potential barriers to trade and costs to consumers in Northern Ireland arising from the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill 2019-20 (the Bill); further notes the cross-party support for amendments to the Bill arising from those concerns; and calls on the UK Government, in pursuance of Article 6.2 of the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland (the Protocol), to ensure unfettered access to Great Britain for businesses in Northern Ireland without tariffs, origin requirements, regulatory controls, dual authorisations or discrimination in the market, to ensure that enough time is provided for scrutiny by the Northern Ireland Assembly of any legislative text, including Statutory Instruments, that is intended to put this commitment into legislation, to publish an assessment at least every 12 months of the economic impact on businesses and consumers arising from the Protocol, which must include an analysis of the impact of any actual or proposed regulatory or trade policy divergence from EU law and regulations on Northern Ireland's position in the UK internal market, to publish an assessment at least every 12 months of the environmental impact arising from any divergence from EU law and regulations, to develop a mitigation package of funding and regulations to enable Northern Ireland consumers and businesses to negate the detrimental effects arising from the Protocol, and to ensure any future trade agreement has the support of the devolved administrations through a Legislative Consent Motion.
| 17/01/2020 | Mr Matthew O'Toole; Ms Sinead McLaughlin; Ms Kellie Armstrong; Ms Clare Bailey; Miss Rachel Woods; Dr Steve Aiken |
| Private Members' Motion |
Centenary of the Establishment of Northern Ireland
That this Assembly instructs the Speaker to invite Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to visit Parliament Buildings and address the Assembly to mark the centenary of the establishment of Northern Ireland and the first sitting of the Northern Ireland Parliament.
| 11/01/2020 | Mr Jim Allister; Mr Jim Wells; Dr Steve Aiken; Mr Roy Beggs; Mr Alan Chambers; Mrs Rosemary Barton |
| Private Members' Motion |
Maternity Strategy
That this Assembly calls on the Department of Health to conduct a review of maternity services to produce a new maternity strategy that should explore models that support continuity of care across antenatal, birth, and postnatal services for women; and calls for a joined-up and integrated approach with other public health strategies to ensure the Department of Health is working together with its partners to improve outcomes for women and their babies.
| 10/10/2019 | Ms Kellie Armstrong; Ms Paula Bradshaw |
| Private Members' Motion |
Coastal Erosion
That this Assembly notes the Baseline Study and Gap Analysis of Coastal Erosion Risk Management NI report; welcomes the report's priorities, which are to bring the understanding of coastal erosion in Northern Ireland to a level which is equivalent with the rest of the United Kingdom, to improve coastal erosion baseline for Northern Ireland, the delivery of a coordinated monitoring programme on coastal change, and collating, managing and making accessible key information and development of evolving robust coastal erosion vulnerability mapping; and calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to take lead responsibility and work collaborately with the Minister for Infrastructure to update the Bateman Formula and to bring forward legislation to reflect these priorities.
| 06/02/2019 | Ms Kellie Armstrong; Mr John Blair |
| Private Members' Motion |
Mobility as a Service Strategy
That this Assembly is committed to taking a more active role in the facilitation and development of an overall Mobility as a Service (Maas) strategy; and calls on the Minister for Infrastructure to work with the Department of Health and the Department for the Economy to ensure that MaaS is considered in the development of suitable legislation and policy objectives, and that MaaS evolves in ways that support the delivery of government’s societal and environmental policies.
| 09/01/2019 | Ms Kellie Armstrong; Mr John Blair |
| Private Members' Motion |
United Kingdom Supreme Court decision on Lee v Ashers Baking Co. Ltd
That this Assembly welcomes the unanimous decision of the United Kingdom Supreme Court in Lee v Ashers Baking Co. Ltd; notes the large public expenditure by the Equality Commission in support of the respondent and the flawed judgement of the Commission which has led to substantial loss of confidence in the Commission by many in the Christian community; and calls on the Chief Commissioner to resign.
| 10/10/2018 | Mr Jim Allister; Mr Jim Wells; Mr Thomas Buchanan |
| Private Members' Motion |
True Cost of Care
That this Assembly welcomes the recent report, entitled Power to People: Proposals to Reboot Adult Care and Support in NI, by Des Kelly and John Kennedy; commends the former Minister of Health for commissioning the report; recognises the contribution from all sectors to the development of the report; and calls on the Minister of Health to develop a true cost-of-care analysis as a starting piece to developing work on the report.
| 11/06/2018 | Mr Colm Gildernew; Ms Órlaithí Flynn; Mr Pat Sheehan |
| Private Members' Motion |
An Exhibition Space in Parliament Buildings
That this Assembly calls on the Assembly Commission to arrange for an exhibition space in Parliament Buildings where artwork and artefacts presently in storage could be put on permanent display.
| 11/05/2018 | Mr Jim Allister |
| Private Members' Motion |
Premature Babies
That this Assembly recognises the emotional and financial burden placed on parents caring for premature babies; and calls on the UK Government to extend statutory maternity and paternity leave and maternity benefit for mothers and fathers of babies born prematurely by the length of time between the actual delivery date of the baby and either the date the baby would have been delivered if full term or the date of the baby leaving hospital, whichever is later.
| 28/02/2018 | Ms Kellie Armstrong; Mr Stewart Dickson |
| Private Members' Motion |
Hyponatraemia-related Deaths - Statutory Duty of Candour
That this Assembly welcomes Mr Justice O'Hara's report entitled The Inquiry into Hyponatraemia-related Deaths; praises the perseverance and endurance of the bereaved parents in their search for truth and justice; notes the Department of Health announcement on 2 February 2018 that a dedicated team will be established to develop a detailed action plan in response to the 96 recommendations made in Mr Justice O'Hara's report; acknowledges Mr Justice O'Hara's first recommendation that a statutory duty of candour be enacted; and calls on the Minister of Health to legislate for a statutory duty of candour.
| 13/02/2018 | Mr Pat Sheehan; Mr Colm Gildernew; Ms Órlaithí Flynn |
| Private Members' Motion |
The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland
That this Assembly has lost confidence in Michael Maguire as the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and calls on him to resign.
| 29/01/2018 | Mr Jim Allister; Mr Doug Beattie; Dr Steve Aiken; Mr Roy Beggs; Mr Alan Chambers; Mr Jim Wells; Mr Thomas Buchanan |
| Private Members' Motion |
Two-Child Exception Clause - Rape Clause
That this Assembly is opposed fundamentally to the UK Government’s imposition of the two-child limit on Child Tax Credit, Universal Credit and Income Support payments; condemns utterly the disgraceful and repugnant rape clause exception, which will force victims of rape seeking to claim child tax credits for a third or subsequent child, that the child was born as a result of non-consensual sex; believes this policy to be unfair, unequal, morally unacceptable, deeply harmful to women and their children and a fundamental violation of women’s human rights; notes the particular circumstances of Northern Ireland with regard to the lack of availability of impartial advice on the options open to women facing crisis pregnancies; and calls for the formation of an Executive to demand that the UK Government overturns this policy or, in the absence of an Executive, for the UK Government to allow this policy to be overturned in Northern Ireland without being deemed a breach of the principle of parity in matters of social security.
| 25/09/2017 | Ms Paula Bradshaw |
| Private Members' Motion |
Mother and Baby Homes
That this Assembly supports Amnesty International’s call for the Executive to set up a human rights-compliant public inquiry into allegations of forced labour, arbitrary detention, ill treatment and the illegal adoption of babies in former Mother and Baby Homes.
| 16/06/2017 | Ms Paula Bradshaw |
| Private Members' Motion |
Road Safety Issues for School-aged Children
That this Assembly recognises the ongoing road safety issues for school-aged children; calls on the Minister for Infrastructure and the Minister of Education to work collaboratively and examine home to school journeys to establish a comprehensive safe travel strategy and action plan that considers the walk to and from school bus collection points; further calls for the introduction of legislation prohibiting vehicles from overtaking school buses when pupils are boarding or alighting; calls for a ban on parking on the road within 30 meters of school gates; and further calls for a 20mph speed limit on roads outside schools.
| 24/05/2017 | Ms Kellie Armstrong; Mr Chris Lyttle |
| Private Members' Motion |
Miscarriage Care Pathway and Database
That this Assembly recognises the high number of miscarriages that occur in Northern Ireland every year; calls on the Minister of Health to develop a register and database for miscarriages diagnosed in hospital, in community health settings and for miscarriages that happen at home; further calls on the Minister to establish a miscarriage research fellowship to take forward a comprehensive, standardised bereavement care pathway for the Health and Social Care Trusts; and calls for the creation of a national day of mourning on 15 October to remember all miscarriages and to mark Baby Loss Awareness Day.
| 09/05/2017 | Ms Kellie Armstrong; Mr Stewart Dickson |
| Private Members' Motion |
Adults with Learning Disabilities and Autism
That this Assembly recognises the increasing number of adults with learning disabilities and autism in Northern Ireland; and calls on the Minister of Health, the Minister for the Economy, the Minister of Education, the Minister for Communities and the Minister for Infrastructure to create an collaborative Adults with Learning Disability Strategy and Action Plan to ensure that appropriate programmes of care, transport, housing, access to services, health and lifelong learning will be provided to ensure that all adults with learning disabilities and autism can have an active and inclusive life in society.
| 02/05/2017 | Ms Kellie Armstrong; Mr Chris Lyttle |
| Private Members' Motion |
In Vitro Fertilisation
That this Assembly recognises the emotional and financial stress couples are faced with when dealing with fertility issues; and calls on the Minister of Health to put in place appropriate plans to provide three cycles of IVF, as recommended in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.
| 26/04/2017 | Ms Kellie Armstrong; Ms Paula Bradshaw |
| Private Members' Motion |
Community Transport
This Assembly notes the report published recently by The Detail outlining the contribution of community transport and detailing the funding crisis faced by the sector; recognises the vital role played by community transport in alleviating isolation and loneliness, and in ensuring people in rural areas and the most vulnerable get to work, day care opportunities, GP appointments, hospital treatment, thus enabling them to undertake day-to-day activities that most of us take for granted; and calls on the Minister for Infrastructure to review urgently the level of funding for community transport provided by the Department and to bring forward proposals to properly fund this vital service.
| 21/03/2017 | Mr Colin McGrath; Mr Daniel McCrossan |
| Private Members' Motion |
Homelessness
That this Assembly calls on the Executive to commit to ending homelessness by 2025.
| 21/03/2017 | Ms Nichola Mallon; Ms Sinéad Bradley; Mr Colin McGrath |
| Private Members' Motion |
IVF
That this Assembly recognises the anguish facing people who have difficulties conceiving children; further recognises that the Department of Health has endorsed the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence clinical guideline entitled Fertility problems: assessment and treatment (CG156); and calls on the Minister of Health to implement this clinical guideline, thus giving eligible families the opportunity to receive the three full cycles of IVF available under the guidance.
| 21/03/2017 | Ms Nichola Mallon; Mr Mark Durkan; Mr Colin McGrath |
| Private Members' Motion |
Violence Against Women
That this Assembly is opposed to violence against women; endorses the White Ribbon Campaign; and calls on the British government and the Executive to ratify the Istanbul Convention, the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, in legislation.
| 21/03/2017 | Mrs Dolores Kelly; Mr Colin McGrath |
| Private Members' Motion |
Cybercrime
That this Assembly recognises that the increasing reliance on digital technologies can make us more vulnerable to those who seek to exploit this reliance for malicious purposes; welcomes the launch of the Scamwise NI Partnership which highlights the risks and sets out actions to stop these scams; and calls on the Minister of Justice to draft a strategy for cyber resilience.
| 16/03/2017 | Mr Mark Durkan; Mr Colin McGrath |
| Private Members' Motion |
Reduction in the Voting Age
That this Assembly calls for the voting age in future elections to be reduced to 16 years.
| 16/03/2017 | Mr Colin McGrath |
| Private Members' Motion |
Youth Assembly
That this Assembly calls for the establishment of a Youth Assembly similar to the UK Youth Parliament.
| 16/03/2017 | Mr Colin McGrath; Mr Mark Durkan |
| Private Members' Motion |
Bullying of LGBT Pupils in Schools
That this Assembly notes with concern the levels of bullying, self-harm and suicide that exist within the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community; welcomes the Addressing Bullying in Schools Bill, as introduced by the former Minister of Education Mr John O'Dowd; and calls on the Minister of Education to outline his Department's strategy for enhancing the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender pupils.
| 15/03/2017 | Ms Linda Dillon; Ms Órlaithí Flynn |
| Private Members' Motion |
Contribution of the Hill Farming Community
That this Assembly recognises the vital contribution the hill farming community makes to the agri-food industry; further recognises the invaluable role it plays in maintaining the environment; and calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to give confidence and reassurance to the hill farming community that it will be treated equally to all other sectors of farming with regard to future funding for the agriculture industry.
| 15/03/2017 | Mr Declan McAleer; Dr Caoimhe Archibald |
| Private Members' Motion |
GPs in the Community
That this Assembly recognises the increasing workload and pressures facing general practitioners; commends the work of general practitioners in the community; recognises the vital role of primary care as part of a sustainable health care system; and calls on the Minister of Health to continue to engage with general practitioners to ensure the adequate provision of primary care services.
| 15/03/2017 | Mr Fra McCann |
| Private Members' Motion |
Political Donations
That this Assembly recognises the importance of public scrutiny of elected representatives; further recognises that an important aspect of this scrutiny is knowledge of who donates to political parties; and calls on the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to require the Electoral Commission to publish donations to political parties over £500.00.
| 15/03/2017 | Ms Clare Bailey |
| Private Members' Motion |
Royal Navy Engagement with the Local Fishing Fleet
That this Assembly recognises the dangers faced by the local fishing fleet in carrying out its work; notes the recent report by the Marine Accident Investigations Branch into the near-fatal contact between a Royal Navy submarine and the fishing vessel Karen in the Irish Sea in 2015; and calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to liaise with the Ministry of Defence to ensure that all the relevant protocols in place are adhered to, and that the Royal Navy engages with the fishing fleet to build trust with the industry.
| 15/03/2017 | Dr Caoimhe Archibald; Mr Declan McAleer |