Business Diary

Monday 20 April 2026 - Friday 24 April 2026

* Committee Business relates to non-substantive items of business such as the consideration of minutes of the previous meeting and consideration of correspondence or matters arising from previous meetings
TimeVenuePlenary/Committee
Monday 20 April 2026
12:00 PMAssembly ChamberPlenary Session
Tuesday 21 April 2026
9:30 AMRoom 21Assembly and Executive Review Committee

Closed from 9:30 AM (5 mins)
Committee Business

Closed from 9:35 AM (15 mins)
Review into the development of a formal process and guidance on the handling of Westminster Statutory Instruments which include a role for the Assembly - review of evidence paper

Public from 9:50 AM (5 mins)
Committee Business

Public from 9:55 AM (60 mins)
Review into Assembly and Executive Reform - oral evidence
• Ms Dympna McGlade, Peace Summit Partnership
• Ms Anne Carr, Community Dialogue
• Dr Lyn Moffett, Community Dialogue

Public from 10:55 AM (5 mins)
Committee Business
10:00 AMSenate ChamberConcurrent Committee for the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the Committee for Infrastructure

Public from 10:00 AM (5 mins)
Committee Business

Public from 10:05 AM (60 mins)
Briefing from NI Water - Lough Neagh Emerging Findings Report
• Dr Gary Curran, Northern Ireland Water
• Ms Angela Halpenny, Northern Ireland Water
• Ms Jane Crawford, Northern Ireland Water
• Ms Dympna Gallagher, Northern Ireland Water
• Ms Orla Crothers, Northern Ireland Water

Public from 11:05 AM (60 mins)
Briefing from the Planning Statutory Consultee Forum - Role of the Planning Statutory Consultee Forum
• Mrs Rosemary Daly, DfI
• Mr Scott Symington, DfI
• Ms Fiona McGrady, DfI
• Mr Liam McEvoy, DfI
• Mr Brian McKervey, DfC

Public from 12:05 PM (5 mins)
Committee Business
10:30 AMAssembly ChamberPlenary Session
1:00 PMRoom 106Business Committee

Closed from 1:00 PM (30 mins)
Committee Business
Wednesday 22 April 2026
VISITGoodwood HouseCommittee for Finance
10:00 AMRoom 29Committee for Infrastructure

Closed from 10:00 AM (20 mins)
Committee Business

Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill - Consideration of Legal Advice

Closed from 10:20 AM (40 mins)
Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill - Consideration of Evidence

Public from 11:00 AM (30 mins)
Committee Business

Public from 11:30 AM (30 mins)
SL1 – The Parking Places (Disabled Persons’ Vehicles) (Amendment No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 - Formal Consideration

SL1 - The Roads (Speed Limit) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 - Formal Consideration

SL1 - The Schools (Part-Time 20mph Speed Limit) (Amendment No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 - Formal Consideration

SL1 – The Comber Road, Dundonald (Abandonment and Stopping-Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 - Formal Consideration

SL1 – The Road Races (Cairncastle Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 - Initial Consideration

SL1 – The Schools (Part-Time 20mph Speed Limit) (Amendment No. 3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 - Initial Consideration

SL1 - The Waiting Restrictions (Bedford Street, Belfast) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 - Initial Consideration

SL1 – The Control of Traffic (Durham Street, Belfast) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 - Initial Consideration

SL1 - The Schools (Part-Time 20mph Speed Limit) (Amendment No. 4) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026

SL1 – The Waiting Restrictions (Comber) (Amendment No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 - Initial Consideration

SR 2026-69 The Parking Places (Disabled Persons’ Vehicles) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026

SR 2026-77 The Road Races (Spamount Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026

SR 2026-78 The Road Races (Drumhorc Hill Climb) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026

Public from 12:00 PM (60 mins)
Graduated Driver Licensing Proposed Subordinate Legislation - Department for Infrastructure – Oral Evidence
• Dr Chris Hughes, DfI
• Mr Adrian Borland, DfI
• Mr Pat Delaney, Driver and Vehicle Agency

SL1 – The Road Traffic (Amendment) (2016 Act) (Commencement No.4) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026

SL1 – The Motorways Traffic (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026

SL1 – The Motor Vehicles (Specified Restrictions) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026

SL1 – The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026

Public from 1:00 PM (15 mins)
Committee Business
10:00 AMRoom 30Committee for the Economy

Public from 10:00 AM (5 mins)
Committee Business

Public from 10:05 AM (65 mins)
Credit Union Consultation Feedback - Department for the Economy written and oral evidence
• Colin Jack, DfE
• Laurence Rogers, DfE
• Chris Denvir, DfE

Public from 11:10 AM (20 mins)
Petroleum Exploration and Licensing (Repeal) Bill - Assembly Research
• Mr Aidan Stennett, Research Officer

Closed from 11:30 AM (15 mins)
Petroleum Exploration and Licensing (Repeal) Bill - Bill Office advice
• Mr Jonathan Redpath, Senior Assistant Assembly Clerk

Utility Regulator (Support for Decarbonisation Preparation) Bill - Bill Office advice
• Mr Jonathan Redpath, Senior Assistant Assembly Clerk

Public from 11:45 AM (45 mins)
Utility Regulator (Support for Decarbonisation Preparation) Bill - Departmental oral and written evidence
• Anne-Maire McConn, DfE
• Paul Skillen, DfE

Public from 12:30 PM (15 mins)
Committee Business
2:00 PMRoom 29Committee for Education

Public from 2:00 PM (15 mins)
Committee Business

Public from 2:15 PM (45 mins)
Emotional Health and Wellbeing Framework - Oral Briefing by DE Officials
• Ms Claire McClelland, DE
• Ms Glenda Davies, DE
• Ms Nicola Topping, DE

Public from 3:00 PM (60 mins)
Strategic Review of Current SEN Provision and Transformation Agenda - Oral Briefing
• Ms Deirdre Ward, DE
• Ms Lorraine Brown, DE
• Dr Tomas Adell, Education Authority

Closed from 4:00 PM (15 mins)
General Teaching Council Bill - Oral Briefing by the Examiner of Statutory Rules
• Ms Catriona Doherty, Legal Advisor

Public from 4:15 PM (15 mins)
SL1-The Education (School Development Plans) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026

Public from 4:30 PM (15 mins)
SR 2026/53 The Education (Pupil Reporting) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 - Deliberation

Public from 5:00 PM (75 mins)
Virtual Tour of Wish Charter Schools

Public from 6:15 PM (15 mins)
Committee Business

Public from 6:30 PM (1 mins)
SL1 - Special Educational Needs (SEN) Regulations 2026 - Oral Briefing by DE Officials
2:00 PMGoodwood House, 44 - 58 MAY STREET, BELFASTCommittee for Finance

Public from 2:00 PM (30 mins)
Committee Business

Public from 2:30 PM (5 mins)
Budget - Report on 2026-29/30 draft Budget - Committee Motion

Public from 2:35 PM (5 mins)
SL1 The Whole of Government Accounts (Designation of Bodies) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026

Public from 2:40 PM (40 mins)
Integr8 Programme Overview - Oral briefing from DoF
• Mr Paul Duffy, DoF
• Ms Kirstie Murray, DoF

Public from 3:20 PM (40 mins)
Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill - Oral briefing from DoF
• Mr Michael Foster, DoF
• Dr Martin Tyrrell, DoF
• Mr Maurice Dowling, DoF

Public from 4:00 PM (10 mins)
Outturn and Forecast Outturn - Written briefing

Public from 4:10 PM (5 mins)
Performance and Culture of the Northern Ireland Civil Service - Committee deliberations

Public from 4:15 PM (10 mins)
Committee Business
2:00 PMRoom 30Committee for The Executive Office

Public from 2:00 PM (10 mins)
Committee Business

Public from 2:10 PM (60 mins)
Oral Briefing: Draft Framework for Race Relations and Delivery Plan 2026 - 2028: Departmental Officials
• Mrs Orla McStravick, TEO
• Mr Paul Naylor, TEO
• Mrs Julie Cuming, TEO

Public from 3:10 PM (20 mins)
Committee Business

Closed from 3:30 PM (80 mins)
Strategic Planning (Closed Session)
Thursday 23 April 2026
10:00 AMRoom 21Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

Public from 10:00 AM (5 mins)
Committee Business

Public from 10:05 AM (5 mins)
Areas with Natural Constraints (Payments) Bill

Closed from 10:10 AM (75 mins)
Dilapidation Bill - Informal Clause by Clause

Public from 11:25 AM (10 mins)
Dilapidation Bill - DAERA Bill Officials Briefing

Public from 11:35 AM (30 mins)
Departmental Oral Evidence Session - Wildfires Action Plan
• Dr Mark Hammond, Northern Ireland Environment Agency

Public from 12:05 PM (30 mins)
The Farming with Nature Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2026 - Briefing on Scheme development to Committee prior to submitting SL1

Public from 12:35 PM (15 mins)
Departmental Written Briefing - Fisheries Management Measures for the Offshore Marine Protected Areas - consultation package.

Departmental Written Briefing - Mandatory Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme

Public from 12:50 PM (10 mins)
Committee Business

Informal from 1:00 PM (30 mins)
Research and Information Service (RaISe) Briefing - Anaerobic Digestion development challenges and opportunities in Northern Ireland
• Mr Mark Allen, Research Officer
10:00 AMRoom 29Committee for Communities

Public from 10:00 AM (5 mins)
Committee Business

Public from 10:05 AM (40 mins)
Local councils and the Anti-Poverty Strategy: Oral briefing from NILGA

Public from 10:45 AM (15 mins)
SL1 The Registered Rents (Increase) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026

Public from 11:00 AM (5 mins)
SR 2026/65 The Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Claims and Payments) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026

Public from 11:05 AM (5 mins)
SR 2026/68 The Social Security (Removal of Two Child Limit) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026

Public from 11:10 AM (5 mins)
Department of Education - Retention and Disposal Schedule

Public from 11:15 AM (30 mins)
Committee Business

Closed from 11:45 AM (45 mins)
Westminster Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Act 2025: Background briefing from RaISe
2:00 PMRoom 29Committee for Health

Public from 2:00 PM (1 mins)
Committee Business

Public from 2:01 PM (2 mins)
SR 2026/66 The Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (General) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026

Public from 2:03 PM (1 mins)
SR 2026/72 The Health and Personal Social Services (General Medical Services Contracts) (Prescription of Drugs Etc) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026

Public from 2:04 PM (1 mins)
SR 2026/73 The Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026

Public from 2:05 PM (90 mins)
Departmental Briefing - Elective Care Framework: Governance, Delivery & Outcomes
• Ms Joanne Elliott, DoH
• Prof Mark Taylor, DoH
• Ms Lisa McWilliams, DoH

Public from 3:35 PM (30 mins)
RaISe briefing - Report on Community Pharmacy
• Dr Grainne Crealey, Research Officer

Public from 4:05 PM (5 mins)
Departmental Written Briefing - Referral Pathways within the Committee’s Strategic Priorities

Public from 4:10 PM (15 mins)
Departmental Written Briefing - Invest to save; and preventative policy within the Transformation Agenda

Public from 4:25 PM (15 mins)
Committee Business

Closed from 4:40 PM (15 mins)
Departmental Written Briefing - Formal response to Committee Inquiry on Access to Palliative Care Services

Closed from 4:55 PM (15 mins)
Committee’s Strategic Priorities and Legislation Scrutiny Programme

Closed from 5:10 PM (5 mins)
Committee Business
2:00 PMRoom 30Committee for Justice

Public from 2:00 PM (5 mins)
Committee Business

Public from 2:05 PM (60 mins)
The Role of Firearms in Violence against Women and Girls in Northern Ireland - Women’s Resource & Development Agency oral evidence

Public from 3:05 PM (25 mins)
Criminal Justice (Sentencing etc) Bill - Written papers

Justice Bill - Written papers

SR 2026/55 The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Extension of Provisions Relating to Live Links for Courts and Tribunals) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026

Legal Aid for Direct Committal - Consultation - Department of Justice written paper

Public from 3:30 PM (15 mins)
Committee Business
2:00 PMSenate ChamberPublic Accounts Committee

Public from 2:00 PM (5 mins)
Committee Business

Public from 2:05 PM (145 mins)
Inquiry into Major IT Projects in Northern Ireland - Evidence Session with the Department of Finance
• Ms Dorinnia Carville, Northern Ireland Audit Office
• Mr Neil Gibson, DoF
• Mr Paul Duffy, DoF
• Ms Sharon Gallagher, Land and Property Services

Closed from 4:30 PM (15 mins)
Inquiry into Major IT Projects in Northern Ireland - Discussions with the NIAO

Closed from 4:45 PM (15 mins)
Committee Business

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