Motion

Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union
That this Assembly notes that Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from July 2026; recognises that this presents a significant strategic opportunity for Northern Ireland, including in addressing ongoing practical issues arising from Brexit, strengthening east–west and north–south cooperation, and maximising opportunities for EU engagement and investment in areas such as infrastructure, research and innovation, energy, skills and cross-border public services; further notes that Ireland’s EU Presidency can play an important role in supporting improved relations and closer cooperation between the United Kingdom and the European Union; believes that, in the long term, Northern Ireland’s future will be best served back in Europe as part of a new Ireland; and calls on the Northern Ireland Executive to proactively engage with the Irish Government to set out Northern Ireland’s priorities for the duration of Ireland’s EU Presidency.
Private Members' Motion
17/02/2026
17/02/2026
02/03/2026
View Official Report


59 Members voted

28 Members voted AYE

31 Members voted NO

13 Members voted in both lobbies and are not included in these results

The Motion Was Negatived, Simple Majority Lobby Division

MLA NameDesignationVoted
Dr Steve Aiken OBE UnionistNO
Mr Andy Allen MBE UnionistNO
Dr Caoimhe Archibald NationalistAYE
Ms Diana Armstrong UnionistNO
Ms Kellie Armstrong OtherABSTAINED
Mr Danny Baker NationalistAYE
Mr Doug Beattie MC UnionistNO
Mr John Blair OtherABSTAINED
Ms Paula Bradshaw OtherABSTAINED
Mr Phillip Brett UnionistNO
Miss Nicola Brogan NationalistAYE
Mr David Brooks UnionistNO
Ms Cheryl Brownlee UnionistNO
Mr Keith Buchanan UnionistNO
Mr Tom Buchanan UnionistNO
Mr Jonathan Buckley UnionistNO
Ms Joanne Bunting UnionistNO
Mr Jon Burrows UnionistNO
Mr Robbie Butler UnionistNO
Mrs Pam Cameron UnionistNO
Mr Gerry Carroll OtherAYE
Mr Alan Chambers UnionistNO
Mr Trevor Clarke UnionistNO
Mr Pádraig Delargy NationalistAYE
Mr Stewart Dickson OtherABSTAINED
Mrs Diane Dodds UnionistNO
Miss Jemma Dolan NationalistAYE
Mr Danny Donnelly OtherABSTAINED
Mr Stephen Dunne UnionistNO
Mr Mark Durkan NationalistAYE
Ms Connie Egan OtherABSTAINED
Mrs Sinéad Ennis NationalistAYE
Mrs Deborah Erskine UnionistNO
Mrs Ciara Ferguson NationalistAYE
Miss Órlaithí Flynn NationalistAYE
Ms Diane Forsythe UnionistNO
Mr Paul Frew UnionistNO
Mr Timothy Gaston UnionistNO
Mr Colm Gildernew NationalistAYE
Mrs Michelle Guy OtherABSTAINED
Miss Deirdre Hargey NationalistAYE
Mr Harry Harvey UnionistNO
Mr David Honeyford OtherABSTAINED
Mr Declan Kearney NationalistAYE
Mr Gerry Kelly NationalistAYE
Ms Liz Kimmins NationalistAYE
Mr Brian Kingston UnionistNO
Mrs Emma Little-Pengelly UnionistNO
Mr Gordon Lyons UnionistNO
Mr Declan McAleer NationalistAYE
Mr Daniel McCrossan NationalistAYE
Mr Colin McGrath NationalistAYE
Mr Philip McGuigan NationalistAYE
Miss Michelle McIlveen UnionistNO
Ms Sinéad McLaughlin NationalistAYE
Mr Andrew McMurray OtherABSTAINED
Mr Peter McReynolds OtherABSTAINED
Mr Peter Martin UnionistNO
Mrs Cathy Mason NationalistAYE
Mr Nick Mathison OtherABSTAINED
Ms Sian Mulholland OtherABSTAINED
Miss Áine Murphy NationalistAYE
Mr Mike Nesbitt UnionistNO
Mr John O'Dowd NationalistAYE
Ms Michelle O'Neill NationalistAYE
Mr Matthew O'Toole NationalistAYE
Ms Aisling Reilly NationalistAYE
Mr Pat Sheehan NationalistAYE
Ms Emma Sheerin NationalistAYE
Mr John Stewart UnionistNO
Mr Eóin Tennyson OtherABSTAINED
Mr Gareth Wilson UnionistNO

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