| Motion Type | Motion | Tabled Date | Tablers |
| Private Members' Motion |
Legislation to introduce Awaab’s Law in Northern Ireland
That this Assembly recognises the danger to life of hazards such as mould and damp in homes; and calls on the Minister for Communities to ensure Awaab’s Law, named after toddler Awaab Ishak who a coroner ruled died from a respiratory condition caused by exposure to mould in his home, is brought into Northern Ireland legislation, including provision requiring landlords to improve their performance in removing damp and mould from homes.
| 15/11/2023 | Ms Kellie Armstrong |
| Private Members' Motion |
Update of the Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004
That this Assembly calls on the Minister of Health to update the Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004 to include Universal Credit recipients with incomes below specified thresholds.
| 23/10/2023 | Ms Kellie Armstrong; Ms Paula Bradshaw; Mr Andy Allen MBE; Mr Robbie Butler |
| Private Members' Motion |
Childcare Reform
That this Assembly recognises that childcare is vital social and economic infrastructure, a crucial form of early intervention and early education, an anti-poverty tool, and a means by which to improve productivity and gender equality in the labour market; acknowledges the failure of the 30 free hours of childcare model to deliver for households and providers in England; believes childcare should be child-centred, of a high quality and accessible for all children; and commits to delivering an Affordable Childcare Scheme that operates through government payments to registered childcare providers, in order to limit the costs paid by parents and support the sustainability of the sector.
| 18/10/2023 | Ms Kate Nicholl; Mr Nick Mathison; Miss Nuala McAllister; Ms Sorcha Eastwood; Ms Connie Egan |
| Private Members' Motion |
Universal Basic Income
That this Assembly recognises the need for innovative solutions to tackle poverty and inequality in Northern Ireland; notes the progress in developing basic income pilot programmes in Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales, as well as plans being developed by the All Party Working Group on Universal Basic Income; and calls on the Minister for Communities to scope the actions required to introduce a trial of universal basic income, including funding from Westminster and other external sources to help finance the trial.
| 18/10/2023 | Mr Patrick Brown; Mr Andy Allen MBE; Mr Nick Mathison |
| Private Members' Motion |
Minimum Unit Price for Alcohol
That this Assembly expresses concern at the serious harm caused by high levels of alcohol consumption; notes current estimates that harmful drinking in Northern Ireland costs the Health Service alone £300 million every year; recognises that any moves to reduce alcohol abuse will cover a range of measures including support for those suffering from addiction; further notes the April 2023 paper from the University of Sheffield, published by the Department of Health, noting that the introduction of Minimum Unit Pricing at 50p per unit and the placing of restrictions on price-related alcohol promotions would lead to fewer alcohol-attributable deaths, hospital admissions, criminal offences and workplace absences; and calls on the Minister of Health, urgently, to bring forward legislation similar to that already applying in Scotland and Wales, for consideration by this Assembly.
| 27/09/2023 | Ms Paula Bradshaw; Mrs Naomi Long; Ms Kellie Armstrong; Mr John Blair; Mr Stewart Dickson |
| Private Members' Motion |
Guaranteeing the Provision of Essentials Under Universal Credit
That this Assembly supports the Trussell Trust and Joseph Rowntree Foundation campaign Guarantee our Essentials; and calls on the Minister for Communities to assess the adequacy of the level of universal credit payments in Northern Ireland, and to provide a copy of the resulting report to the Department for Work and Pensions as part of a request to update benefit amounts to meet need.
| 14/09/2023 | Ms Kellie Armstrong; Ms Paula Bradshaw; Mr Patrick Brown; Mr Nick Mathison; Ms Sian Mulholland; Ms Kate Nicholl |
| Private Members' Motion |
Flexible Working Rights
That this Assembly recognises the importance of flexible working to the Northern Ireland economy; acknowledges that the lengthy and cumbersome process involved in applying for flexible working is limiting our economic potential; further recognises that without flexible working those who are caring for children or with other caring responsibilities may be prevented from participating fully in our economy; and recognises that requesting flexible working should be a day one right for employees as part of building a more inclusive and productive local economy.
| 06/09/2023 | Ms Kate Nicholl |
| Private Members' Motion |
Food Hypersensitivity
That this Assembly accepts the conclusions contained in the Consumer Council’s report on Food Hypersensitivity; and calls on the Minister for the Economy to deliver a ‘food inclusive’ programme by working with local food suppliers, shops and supermarkets to enhance the availability, affordability and choice of foods for citizens who require a hypersensitive diet.
| 05/09/2023 | Ms Kellie Armstrong; Ms Paula Bradshaw; Ms Sorcha Eastwood; Mr Peter McReynolds |
| Private Members' Motion |
Prioritising the Needs of Children with Special Education Needs
That this Assembly commits to prioritising the needs of our most vulnerable children; calls on the Minister of Education to reform how nursery and school places are allocated; and further calls on the Minister of Education to conduct long-term area planning for special schools to ensure that children with special education needs are prioritised and are notified of their placement no later than children without special educational needs.
| 27/06/2023 | Ms Kellie Armstrong; Ms Connie Egan |
| Private Members' Motion |
Audiology Waiting Times
That this Assembly notes with concern the waiting times for a first audiology appointment across all Health and Social Care Trusts; and calls on the Minister of Health to review the Primary Eyecare Assessment and Referral Service (PEARs) to ascertain whether this approach to service provision could be implemented for audiology services in order to help reduce audiology waiting lists.
| 21/06/2023 | Ms Kellie Armstrong; Ms Paula Bradshaw |
| Private Members' Motion |
Neonatal Care Leave and Pay
That this Assembly recognises the impact that caring for a premature baby has on a family; and calls on the Minister for the Economy to introduce neonatal care leave and pay.
| 31/03/2023 | Ms Kellie Armstrong; Ms Paula Bradshaw; Mr Stewart Dickson |
| Private Members' Motion |
Baby Loss Memorial Book
That this Assembly calls on the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Health, working together, to introduce a memorial book and a commemorative certificate, to give recognition and comfort for people who wish to record pregnancy or baby loss prior to 24 weeks.
| 20/03/2023 | Ms Kellie Armstrong; Mr John Blair; Ms Paula Bradshaw; Mr Patrick Brown; Mr Stewart Dickson; Mr Danny Donnelly; Ms Sorcha Eastwood; Ms Connie Egan; Mr David Honeyford; Mrs Naomi Long; Mr Nick Mathison; Miss Nuala McAllister; Mr Peter McReynolds; Mr Andrew Muir; Ms Kate Nicholl; Dr Patricia O'Lynn; Mr Eóin Tennyson |
| Private Members' Motion |
Infant Mental Health
That this Assembly notes Action 11 of the Mental Health Strategy 2021-2031 around infant mental health; endorses the Association for Infant Mental Health Stronger from the Start Manifesto 2022; supports the enhancement of the Mental Health Strategy to strengthen reference to the importance of secure, responsive relationships; further supports the inclusion in the Strategy of stronger actions to reduce poverty, stress, fear and anxiety on parents and care-givers in recognition of the positive impact these actions have on infant mental health; recognises the significant cost in mental health services of late intervention; and calls on the Minister of Health to set out an implementation plan on infant mental health to include leadership and collaboration, improving evidence and policy, workforce development and service development.
| 06/02/2023 | Ms Paula Bradshaw; Mr Danny Donnelly; Ms Kate Nicholl; Ms Connie Egan; Miss Nuala McAllister; Mr Nick Mathison; Ms Kellie Armstrong; Dr Patricia O'Lynn |
| Private Members' Motion |
Recognition and Support for Young Carers in School
That this Assembly calls on the Minister of Education to take forward the recommendations from the Action for Children’s Young Carers’ Education Research; and to update the school admission process to identify young carers to allow for the provision of appropriate recognition and support.
| 31/01/2023 | Ms Kellie Armstrong; Mr Nick Mathison; Ms Kate Nicholl; Ms Paula Bradshaw; Ms Connie Egan; Mr Danny Donnelly; Mr Peter McReynolds |
| Private Members' Motion |
School Uniforms
That this Assembly recognises that the cost of living crisis is having a devastating impact on many families and individuals across Northern Ireland and that the cost of school uniforms places a substantial additional financial burden on many households; notes with concern the findings from the Irish League of Credit Unions that one third of parents get into debt each year buying school uniforms; calls on the Minister of Education to introduce a price cap on total school uniform costs across primary and secondary education; further calls on the Minister to raise the school uniform grant to match the school uniform price cap to ensure that all grant recipients receive the actual cost of their child's school uniform; and calls on the Department of Education to place Circular 2011/04 - Guidance to schools on school uniform policy (revised June 2018) on a statutory footing, requiring schools to demonstrate compliance.
| 29/09/2022 | Mr Nick Mathison; Ms Connie Egan |
| Private Members' Motion |
Cost of Living Pressures on Rural Communities
That this Assembly recognises that, whilst poverty and social isolation exist in both urban and rural areas, it is widely acknowledged that those living in rural areas often experience poverty and social isolation differently due to issues relating to geographical isolation, lower population density, reduced public services and the dispersed nature of many rural settlements; further recognises that prior to soaring inflation and energy price increases, rural households across Northern Ireland were already experiencing poverty and financial vulnerability, and that these households will be hardest hit by the increasing cost of living, leaving many more rural dwellers in poverty; calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to bring forward urgently an action plan to tackle rural poverty; and further calls for the establishment of a joint departmental and local government task force to address these issues.
| 08/09/2022 | Mr John Blair; Dr Patricia O'Lynn; Ms Kellie Armstrong; Mr Nick Mathison; Mr Patrick Brown; Ms Sorcha Eastwood; Mr David Honeyford |
| Private Members' Motion |
Patient Safety Commissioner
That this Assembly notes with concern the serious issues and clear patient harm evident in reports such as the Serious Adverse Incident Review and the Independent Neurology Inquiry; further notes that reports elsewhere in the UK, such as the First Do No Harm Report, have found serious gaps and lessons to be learned in our systemic approach to patient safety across the UK; and calls on the Minister of Health to proceed without delay to establish a fully independent Patient Safety Commissioner, sitting outside the Department, to act as a champion for patients and to provide recommendations on how to put patients first as part of the transformation of Health and Social Care.
| 06/09/2022 | Ms Paula Bradshaw |
| Private Members' Motion |
Assembly Opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill
That this Assembly opposes the British Government's reckless Northern Ireland Protocol Bill; agrees that it constitutes a breach of international law; recognises that the majority of people represented by this Assembly voted against Brexit; rejects the claim of the British Government that it is motivated by protecting the Good Friday Agreement; understands that the Protocol is the only available protection from the worst impacts of Brexit for businesses, workers and farmers; further understands that the Protocol affords clear economic advantages through access to the EU Market; and calls on the British Government to desist from unilateral actions and to engage with the European Union through the agreed and available Joint Committee mechanism.
| 03/08/2022 | Ms Michelle O'Neill; Mr Declan Kearney; Dr Caoimhe Archibald; Mr Declan McAleer |
| Private Members' Motion |
Tackling the Climate Emergency and Cost of Living Crisis
That this Assembly recognises that tackling the climate emergency and the cost of living crisis go hand in hand; recognises that we must reduce emissions urgently, insulate homes and create a fair economy for workers; and calls on the Executive to deliver a Green New Deal.
| 03/08/2022 | Mr John Blair; Mrs Naomi Long; Mr Eóin Tennyson; Ms Sorcha Eastwood; Ms Paula Bradshaw; Mr Peter McReynolds; Ms Kate Nicholl |
| Private Members' Motion |
Urgent Appointment of Executive Ministers
That this Assembly supports the urgent appointment of Executive Ministers; calls for the formation of an Executive without further delay to ensure that the democratic outcome of the election is respected; and further calls for immediate action to be taken by an incoming Executive to address the issues pressing down on the public, including, the cost-of-living crisis, the challenges in our health system and other fundamental issues which demand immediate government attention.
| 03/08/2022 | Ms Michelle O'Neill; Dr Caoimhe Archibald; Mr Pat Sheehan; Mr Colm Gildernew |
| Private Members' Motion |
Ambulance Provision
That this Assembly recognises that many patients, especially those in rural areas, are facing long waiting times for the arrival of an ambulance; expresses its sympathy to the families of those who have died while waiting for an ambulance or to be admitted to hospital; further recognises that these long waits can have negative effects on patient outcomes; calls on the Minister of Health to review the problems posed by ambulances gathered outside Emergency Departments due to waiting times; and further calls on the Minister of Health to consider the implementation of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Clinical Response Model to improve equity of access to ambulance provision.
| 01/07/2022 | Mr Colin McGrath |
| Private Members' Motion |
Farmers' Basic Payment Scheme
That this Assembly recognises the significant investment in rural communities and businesses, and the wider economy derived from the Single Farm Payment under the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP); agrees that CAP Single Farm Payments were critical to farm profitability, particularly for small family farms; is concerned with the significant uncertainty facing our farming community with the loss of CAP Single Farm Payments as a result of Brexit and the end of the replacement Basic Payment Scheme, worth £300m a year, beyond 2024; and calls on the British Government and the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to set out urgently what replacement funds will be put in place to support our farmers and the wider agricultural sector.
| 01/07/2022 | Mr Declan McAleer; Mr Philip McGuigan; Ms Emma Sheerin; Mrs Cathy Mason |
| Private Members' Motion |
Health Transformation Plan
That this Assembly recognises that the health and social care system has suffered from decades of neglect and underfunding and is currently experiencing extreme pressures, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic; further recognises the impact that long waiting lists are having on the physical, psychological and emotional wellbeing of patients across Northern Ireland, many of whom are waiting in chronic pain; acknowledges the need for long-term transformation to preserve a free and accessible health service; notes the need for accountability and transparency regarding waiting lists; and calls on the Minister of Health to design and implement an urgent and transparent plan for the transformation of the health service that includes a commitment to an annual report setting out the Department’s response to the waiting times backlog.
| 01/07/2022 | Mr Colin McGrath |
| Private Members' Motion |
Mental Health Strategy
That this Assembly recognises the mental health crisis faced by people in Northern Ireland; notes with grave concern that Northern Ireland has a 25 percent higher rate of mental ill-health than England; further notes the particular challenges faced by young people in schools; further recognises the need for greater investment and support for mental health services; welcomes the contribution made by the Mental Health Champion; supports the adoption of specific measures to support pupils in schools including the expansion of primary school counselling beyond the pilot programme, the provision of mental health first aid training for school staff, the development of a special educational needs mental health plan and the commitment to integrating well-being into school life with a holistic approach; calls on the Executive to fund fully the ten-year cross-departmental Mental Health Strategy; and further calls for the Executive to appoint a junior Minister with responsibility for Mental Health services.
| 01/07/2022 | Mr Colin McGrath |
| Private Members' Motion |
Support for Alzheimer’s Society Northern Ireland
That this Assembly acknowledges the significant impact of Alzheimer’s disease and all kinds of dementia on over 20,000 people in Northern Ireland; recognises the need to improve research, diagnosis, care and support for people living with dementia and their families; notes with grave concern the particular impact of the cost-of-living crisis on people with dementia; further recognises the importance of ensuring that the voices of people living with dementia are heard; and calls on the Health Minister to fund fully the rollout of the Regional Dementia Care Pathway and to ensure that dementia is made a standalone priority in the reform of adult social care.
| 01/07/2022 | Mr Colin McGrath |
| Private Members' Motion |
Support for Cancer Patients
That this Assembly recognises the significant impact of the pandemic on cancer services; acknowledges the pressing need to improve cancer waiting times to ensure early diagnoses; further acknowledges the need for comprehensive workforce planning to improve diagnosis and treatment; further recognises the need for personalised, integrated care and enhanced wellbeing support for people living with cancer; calls on the Minister of Health to deliver a multi-year cancer workforce funding settlement; further calls on the Minister of Health to develop and fund a new palliative and end of life care strategy; and calls on the Executive to guarantee recurrent funding to fully implement and resource the Cancer Strategy.
| 01/07/2022 | Mr Colin McGrath |
| Private Members' Motion |
Support for Nurses
That this Assembly recognises the immense contribution of all our health and social care staff, including our nursing staff who play an invaluable role in the service; notes that many of our nursing workforce are suffering the physical, psychological and emotional impacts of increased working hours and poor working conditions; further recognises the need for the Executive to act urgently to deal with the challenges facing the nursing workforce; understands that the lack of an appropriately staffed and supported nursing workforce is a key reason for the crisis facing the health service; recognises that the delivery of a sustainable nursing workforce is critical to the transformation of our health service; further notes the particular role of community services within the health and social care system; urges the Department of Health to involve the voice of nurses in the transformation of our health service; and calls on the Minister of Health immediately to prioritise the implementation and funding of the strategy to help retain nurses; and further calls on the Minister of Health to legislate for safe staffing as soon as possible and to develop a comprehensive workforce plan for nursing including a fair pay strategy, appropriate career progression opportunities and fair terms and conditions for all nursing staff.
| 01/07/2022 | Mr Colin McGrath |
| Private Members' Motion |
Support for Primary Care
That this Assembly recognises the critical role of primary care in the health and social care system; notes that primary care accounts for 95 percent of the care patients that will need throughout their lives; acknowledges that many people struggle to access services easily due to the unsustainable pressures faced by GPs; appreciates the need to tackle these unsustainable pressures through greater investment; further recognises the need to improve the recruitment, retention and training of GPs; supports the rollout of the multidisciplinary team model that has been shown to improve patient care and outcomes; calls on the Department of Health to increase investment in primary care; further calls on the Minister of Health to ensure thorough and transparent workforce planning; and calls on the Executive to ensure that the necessary funding and resources are put in place to improve the physical and digital infrastructure of primary care.
| 01/07/2022 | Mr Colin McGrath |
| Private Members' Motion |
Cervical Screening Awareness Week
That this Assembly notes that the week commencing 20 June 2022 is Cervical Screening Awareness Week; recognises that cervical screening can save lives and help prevent cervical cancer; understands that almost one in three women currently do not take up their screening appointment when invited; appreciates that cervical screening is not easy for everyone and that barriers can include pain, embarrassment and experience of trauma; believes that cervical screening should be accessible for everyone who is eligible; highlights that Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust provide information, tips, and support for anyone who needs them; and calls on all Members to support this important week.
| 16/06/2022 | Ms Sinéad McLaughlin |
| Private Members' Motion |
All-Ireland Tourism Strategy
That this Assembly recognises the importance of tourism to our economy; acknowledges that tourism is one of six areas of cooperation on the island of Ireland, as set out in the Good Friday Agreement; further acknowledges the untapped potential benefit of all-Ireland tourism to our local communities; notes that in 2019 the Wild Atlantic Way tourism experience generated €1.9 billion and attracted 3.4 million overseas tourists to the nine counties that it currently covers; acknowledges that extending the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland's Ancient East and Ireland's Hidden Heartlands would create significant opportunities for our local tourism sector; and calls on the Department for the Economy to work with Tourism Ireland, Tourism NI and Fáilte Ireland to extend the major tourism brands across the island, and to work with local communities to develop sustainable tourism which enhances and protects the local environment and natural heritage, supports local businesses and creates jobs and prosperity.
| 09/06/2022 | Dr Caoimhe Archibald; Mr Pádraig Delargy; Mrs Cathy Mason; Ms Emma Sheerin |
| Private Members' Motion |
Eliminating Plastic Pollution
That this Assembly calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to prioritise a plan to eliminate plastic pollution, an outstanding New Decade New Approach commitment.
| 09/06/2022 | Ms Kellie Armstrong; Mr John Blair |
| Private Members' Motion |
Childcare Strategy
That this Assembly notes the urgent need for a childcare strategy to deliver more affordable, accessible, sustainable and good quality childcare; further notes the importance of a childcare strategy in progressing early years education, supporting child development and addressing disadvantage; recognises the importance of affordable and accessible childcare in supporting parents, in particular women, to remain in, or return to, work, and the benefits that this has for working families, tackling childhood poverty, and strengthening our economy; further recognises the contribution of the childcare sector, childminders and early learning professionals who educate and care for our children, support parents and help to grow our economy; and calls on the Minister of Education to prioritise completion of the current review of childcare provision and urgently to commission the planned research required to inform the early and urgent delivery of an effective and fit-for-purpose childcare strategy.
| 06/06/2022 | Miss Nicola Brogan; Mr Pat Sheehan; Mrs Cathy Mason |
| Private Members' Motion |
Cultural Celebrations
That this Assembly endorses the recommendations of Chapter 9 of the report of the Commission on Flags, Identity, Culture and Tradition; recognises the role the arts can play in the conservation and preservation of our heritage; notes the importance of being able to appraise the direct, indirect and induced costs and benefits of cultural celebrations in the public space; and calls on the Minister for Communities to develop a standardised approach for all local councils to follow in the organisation and stewardship of public events.
| 06/06/2022 | Ms Paula Bradshaw; Mr John Blair; Mr Peter McReynolds |
| Private Members' Motion |
Display of Flags, Emblems and Banners
That this Assembly notes Chapter 11 of the report of the Commission on Flags, Identity, Culture and Tradition; endorses the proposed code of practice for the respectful display of flags at paragraph 11.48; recognises lawful authority for the display of flags, emblems and banners from public property does not exist; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to develop, urgently, a consultation on how such lawful authority may be provided within the bounds of the proposed code of practice.
| 06/06/2022 | Ms Paula Bradshaw; Mr John Blair; Mr Peter McReynolds |
| Private Members' Motion |
Equality Act
That this Assembly believes that equality legislation in Northern Ireland is currently outdated and not reflective of the diverse society we have become; further believes that Northern Ireland should have a single Equality Act that reflects the Equality Act 2010, which applies in Great Britain, as well as the particular circumstances of Northern Ireland and the developments in social policy and recognition since the 2010 Act; condemns ongoing incidents of hate crime of all kinds, including transphobic hate crime; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to develop a consultation with a view to the passage of a single Equality Act for Northern Ireland during the current Assembly mandate.
| 06/06/2022 | Ms Paula Bradshaw; Mr John Blair; Mr Peter McReynolds |
| Private Members' Motion |
Good Relations in Law
That this Assembly endorses the recommendations in Chapter 3 of the report of the Commission on Flags, Identity, Culture and Tradition; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to bring forward proposals, working alongside Executive colleagues, to define the legal duty of good relations in law, with the reduction of hate crime as a key objective of that duty.
| 06/06/2022 | Ms Paula Bradshaw; Mr John Blair; Mr Peter McReynolds |
| Private Members' Motion |
Recognition of our Diverse Cultural Heritage
That this Assembly endorses the recommendations of Chapter 5 of the report of the Commission on Flags, Identity, Culture and Tradition; notes that recognition of our diverse cultural heritage should be a key and shared element of our education system; emphasises that a key part of school inspection should be the delivery of the curriculum to build mutual understanding; and calls on the Minister of Education to bring forward proposals to review the curriculum to ensure that every child learns the key markers of the three traditional strands of Ulster identity as well as those of immigrant communities.
| 01/06/2022 | Ms Paula Bradshaw; Mr John Blair; Mr Peter McReynolds |
| Private Members' Motion |
Social Enterprise Strategy for Northern Ireland
That this Assembly confirms its commitment to developing the benefits of the social economy; and calls on the Minister for the Economy to bring forward a social enterprise strategy for Northern Ireland.
| 01/06/2022 | Mr Stewart Dickson; Ms Kellie Armstrong; Mr Patrick Brown; Mr Peter McReynolds; Mr Danny Donnelly |
| Private Members' Motion |
Decision of the International Gymnastics Federation to Ban Three Athletes from Northern Ireland from competing in the 2022 Commonwealth Games
That this Assembly deplores the decision of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) to ban three athletes from Northern Ireland from competing in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham; acknowledges that this ban includes the defending pommel-horse gold-medallist Rhys McClenaghan; affirms the athletes' right to define their identity as British, Irish or both, in accordance with the 1998 Agreement; reminds FIG that the Agreement is a binding international treaty; and calls on FIG to reverse its decision with immediate effect.
| 30/05/2022 | Mr Mike Nesbitt; Mr Alan Chambers; Mr Robbie Butler |
| Private Members' Motion |
Additional Resources for the Supporting People Programme
That this Assembly notes with concern the significant pressure that soaring energy costs and increases in the overall cost of living is placing on providers delivering the Supporting People programme; and calls on the Minister for Communities to work with her Executive colleagues to explore every avenue to secure additional resources for the Supporting People programme which provides vital housing support to vulnerable people.
| 25/05/2022 | Mr Andy Allen MBE; Mr Robbie Butler; Mr Alan Chambers; Dr Steve Aiken OBE |
| Private Members' Motion |
Paid Menstrual Leave
That this Assembly acknowledges the recent progress made by the Spanish government in introducing paid medical leave for women who suffer from severe period pain; further acknowledges that paid menstrual leave has been in place for a number of years in other countries around the world, such as Japan and South Korea; recognises the impact that period pain can have on women’s participation in the workforce; notes recent progress made in the last mandate with the introduction of free period products for all; and calls on the Minister for the Economy to introduce paid menstrual leave in Northern Ireland.
| 24/05/2022 | Ms Sinéad McLaughlin |
| Private Members' Motion |
Speech and Language Therapists
That this Assembly recognises how speech, language and communication difficulties can be a contributory factor in 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 the Youth Justice Agency, and all our prison estate, to support the communication needs of prisoners and to develop training for prison officers to allow them to identify and support prisoners with communication difficulties.
| 24/05/2022 | Mr Doug Beattie MC; Mr Robbie Butler; Mr Mike Nesbitt |
| Private Members' Motion |
Cost of Living Crisis
That this Assembly notes with concern the sustained increase in the cost of living; recognises the adverse impact this is having on individuals and families across Northern Ireland; and calls on the Minister for Communities, working with her Executive colleagues, to bring forward a wide-ranging package of support measures, and to establish a fuel poverty taskforce to develop short, medium, and longer-term interventions for individuals and families impacted by the cost of living crisis.
| 23/05/2022 | Mr Andy Allen MBE; Mr Robbie Butler; Dr Steve Aiken OBE |
| Private Members' Motion |
Holiday Hunger
That this Assembly notes with grave concern the recent Joseph Roundtree Foundation report, Poverty in Northern Ireland 2022, which estimates that 110,000 children are living in poverty; further notes that due to the absence of a functioning Northern Ireland Executive, funding to provide payments to prevent holiday hunger for 98,000 children over the summer period is not in place; recognises that due to the significant rise in the cost of living, families are being pushed beyond the brink; and calls on the Minister of Education to provide an update on the steps her Department is taking to tackle holiday hunger.
| 20/05/2022 | Mr Robbie Butler; Mr Andy Allen MBE |
| Private Members' Motion |
Green New Deal Bill
That this Assembly recognises that tackling the climate crisis requires an investment-led, green recovery that delivers on social and economic justice and rapidly decarbonises our economy; and calls on the Executive to deliver a Green New Deal Bill, which will introduce legally binding targets in line with the UK’s commitment to stay within 1.5 degrees of global heating, reverse inequality, protect and restore nature and the environment, implement new measures of progress that prioritise human and ecological wellbeing, change the way the Assembly manages the local economy to enable unprecedented investment in the Green New Deal, end any plans to license new fossil fuel exploration, establish an action plan to transform Northern Ireland’s energy supply, transport system, farming, land management, homes, buildings, green spaces and the way of working, creating thousands green jobs across Northern Ireland; and further calls on the Executive to involve communities, trade unions and workers in the development of the plan, ensuring a just transition by prioritising investment in communities excluded from full participation in the economy as well as those working in high-emitting sectors, and to advance global justice by supporting financial and technological assistance for the global South and by promoting the Green New Deal globally.
| 18/05/2022 | Mr John Blair; Ms Kate Nicholl; Miss Nuala McAllister; Mr Eóin Tennyson; Mr Patrick Brown |
| Private Members' Motion |
Independent Environmental Protection Agency
That this Assembly recognises that we face a climate and ecological crisis and that Northern Ireland's unique natural environment is under significant threat; calls on the Executive to deliver on an existing and outstanding New Decade, New Approach commitment to have an independent Environmental Protection Agency in Northern Ireland; and further calls on the Executive to address gaps in our environmental governance and enforcement, exposed by our departure from the European Union, which present serious consequences for our already critically damaged ecosystems.
| 18/05/2022 | Mr John Blair; Ms Kate Nicholl; Miss Nuala McAllister; Mr Eóin Tennyson; Mr Patrick Brown |
| Private Members' Motion |
Cost of Living Crisis
That this Assembly recognises the huge burden on workers and families as a result of the cost of living crisis; notes that the average annual gas bill has more than doubled over the past year, while electricity, oil and fuel prices have also soared; further recognises the impact on businesses of soaring energy and material costs which put jobs at risk; calls for the immediate formation of an Executive in order to allocate the £334 million funding, putting money into the pockets of workers, families, businesses and farmers, and for a budget to be agreed; and further calls on the British government to take meaningful action to help those struggling with rising costs, by placing a windfall tax on big energy corporations profiting from this crisis with funding redirected towards supports, and by cutting fuel duty and VAT on energy and fuel for the duration of this crisis.
| 17/05/2022 | Dr Caoimhe Archibald; Mr John O'Dowd; Mrs Ciara Ferguson |
| Private Members' Motion |
Funding our Health Service
That this Assembly notes with grave concern the increasing pressures across our healthcare system; further notes the growing waiting lists for services, the impact on patients and their families, and the pressures on staff; recognises the limitations of single year budgets for the provision and planning of services; further recognises the chronic shortage of health and social care workers and the impact this is having on services; welcomes the cross-party commitment to prioritise health; further welcomes the draft multi-year budget committing an extra £1 billion to health, including funding for the Cancer Strategy, the Mental Health Strategy and Elective Care Framework; urges all parties to fulfil their commitment to the rebuilding and transformation of health services, by re-establishing the Executive, agreeing a multi-year budget and providing essential support for health and social care staff through the cost of living crisis.
| 17/05/2022 | Mr Colm Gildernew; Miss Órlaithí Flynn; Ms Carál Ní Chuilín |
| Private Members' Motion |
United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
That this Assembly is committed to achieving an inclusive society that values the contribution and supports the full participation of people with disabilities; acknowledges the right of people with disabilities to live independently, to work and to socialise; recognises the diversity of disabilities that exist within our society; further recognises that, without a Bill of Rights, without an Equality Act, and with the loss of EU protections, people with disabilities suffer from vast inequalities and struggle with the lack of accessibility in public spaces; recognises that the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the extent of this inequality; accepts that Executive Departments must identify and mitigate adverse impacts on people with disabilities when making policies; further acknowledges the need for data from Departments to be disaggregated by Section 75 characteristics; supports the incorporation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities into local legislation to tackle these inequalities; and calls on an incoming Executive to ensure, as a matter of urgency, the incorporation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities into local legislation.
| 17/05/2022 | Mr Pádraig Delargy; Miss Órlaithí Flynn; Ms Emma Sheerin |
| Private Members' Motion |
Tackling Hate Crime
That this Assembly recognises that existing hate crime legislation is outdated and not fit for purpose, and that its implementation has failed victims, communities and society; notes the most recent PSNI statistics demonstrating a year-on-year increase in racist, sectarian, homophobic, transphobic, disability, and religious incidents and crimes; commends the independent Review of Hate Crime Legislation carried out by Judge Desmond Marrinan; further notes previous political commitments in Together: Building a United Community and New Decade, New Approach to tackle sectarianism, to define sectarianism in law and to give sectarianism legal expression as a hate crime; is committed to achieving a society that is diverse, inclusive, based on equality and respect, and free from discrimination; and calls for the immediate restoration of the Executive to allow a new Minister of Justice to introduce, as a priority, a hate crime bill based on international best practice to implement a new model of hate crime, a new statutory definition of sectarianism recognising sectarianism as a hate crime, and new offences to tackle misogyny.
| 16/05/2022 | Ms Aisling Reilly; Mrs Cathy Mason; Mr Pádraig Delargy |
| Private Members' Motion |
Women's Health Strategy
That this Assembly calls on the Minister of Health, working with his Executive colleagues, to bring forward, as a priority, a fully-budgeted Women’s Health Strategy that supports women through every stage of their lives, and is focused on education and awareness raising, screening and earlier diagnosis, and support services and care pathways; and further calls on the Minister and his Executive colleagues to include in this strategy a menopause clinic, earlier gynaecological cancer screening, a framework of support relating to fertility, birth control, pregnancy, baby loss and post-natal healthcare, an emphasis on menstrual health including long-term specialist support for endometriosis, and plans to tackle health inequalities experienced by women from different socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds.
| 16/05/2022 | Ms Paula Bradshaw; Mrs Naomi Long; Ms Kellie Armstrong; Miss Nuala McAllister; Ms Sorcha Eastwood; Ms Kate Nicholl; Ms Connie Egan; Dr Patricia O'Lynn |