The Northern Ireland Assembly passed the RHI (Closure of Non-Domestic Scheme) Bill at its Final Stage on Tuesday, drawing a line under one of the most damaging episodes in the history of devolution, while a wide-ranging debate on autism services exposed deep concerns about waiting lists, respite provision and the lack of legal protections for young people transitioning into adulthood.

Economy Minister Conor Murphy's successor, Dr Caral Archibald, secured cross-party support for the legislation, which enables her Department to make regulations closing the non-domestic renewable heat incentive scheme. The Minister confirmed that around £196 million has been allocated for compensation and closure payments over the next ten years and pledged that regulations would be brought forward swiftly following Royal Assent. She told the House: "My objective throughout has been to get the balance right between fairness to scheme participants and fairness to taxpayers, and I think that that has been achieved."

The Economy Committee Chairperson, Gordon Brett, acknowledged the achievement of consensus but urged the Department to move quickly on utilising the remaining annually managed expenditure funding for future renewable energy schemes. Members from Sinn Féin and the SDLP used the debate to criticise the DUP's stewardship of the scheme, with Declan McGuigan claiming that "successive DUP Ministers failed to address its legacy" and that the scheme had allowed participants to earn more than they spent on fuel. DUP members did not directly rebut those accusations during the debate, though the Committee Chair noted the Minister "should be commended" for reaching consensus.

Later in the day, the Assembly debated a motion expressing significant concern at the failure to provide fit-for-purpose autism services. The motion, brought by Alliance MLA Nuala McAllister, highlighted findings from the Independent Autism Reviewer's first annual report, including major pressures in respite provision, the mental health impact of long assessment waiting times and a postcode lottery in available services. McAllister told the Chamber that over 17,000 children and young people in Northern Ireland are waiting for an autism assessment, with waits in some trust areas reaching five years, despite NICE guidelines recommending assessment within three months. She said: "The current model of post-diagnosis provision is not working."

A TUV amendment tabled by Timothy Gaston sought to focus attention specifically on the absence of legal protections for autistic young people beyond the age of 19, noting that, in England, education, health and care plans can provide statutory support pathways up to the age of 25. Gaston argued that Northern Ireland receives Barnett consequential funding comparable to English spending in this area but fails to deliver equivalent provision, saying: "The Executive got money to run a similar scheme to the GB one and decided to do something else with it. That is shameful." The amendment was supported by Alliance, Sinn Féin, the SDLP, DUP and UUP members.

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt responded to the debate, acknowledging that "more must be done" and that "while activity is evident, reliable delivery is not as evident." He confirmed that a regional transition protocol for children and young people with a learning disability had been developed and that a pilot was planned subject to funding. He also confirmed that a dedicated project lead for adult autism had been appointed in February 2025 and that work was ongoing to update adult autism care pathways across all trusts. Nesbitt indicated he was committed to reviewing the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 to determine whether legislative change was needed.

During Justice questions, Minister Naomi Long faced questions on firearms licensing fees, disclosing that the PSNI spends around £2 million annually subsidising firearms licensing from its wider budget, with fees not having risen since 2016. A consultation on increasing the cost of a firearms certificate from £98 to £250 for a five-year period is currently under way. Long defended the proposals, saying: "When we spend money to subsidise firearms licence applications, we are taking that money away from front-line policing services."

Long also provided an update on the ongoing Criminal Bar Association strike, which is causing significant delays to trials and affecting victims and witnesses. She confirmed that an accelerated review report had been received and that her officials were assessing its recommendations as a matter of urgency. Speaking following a question about the Ian McCollum manslaughter case, where the defendant pleaded guilty after four and a half years, Long said she was "fearful of the attrition of victims and witnesses through the processes" and urged the Bar to return to court, stating: "There is nothing to prevent the Bar going back to work today."

Members' statements at the opening of business covered a range of constituency issues. Stephen Brett raised concerns about what he described as a coordinated campaign of sectarian intimidation against the unionist community in Glengormley, including a poster reading "Shoot your local Orange bastard." He called on other parties to condemn the attacks. Ciara Ferguson spoke ahead of a memorial event for Seán Boyle, who died by suicide in 2020 aged 24, renewing the call for Seán's Law and better mental health crisis intervention services. Mrs Erskine criticised the Infrastructure Minister over £16.3 million being handed back from capital road projects, attributing the delay to net zero climate targets, while Mrs Mason raised concerns that childcare fees had risen by 17% since the introduction of the childcare subsidy scheme, effectively erasing the benefit of the 15% subsidy.

The Assembly also approved two extensions to Committee Stages for private Members' Bills. The Committee Stage of the Education (Holiday Meal Payments) Bill was extended to 18 September 2026, and the Irish-medium Education (Workforce Plan) Bill's Committee Stage was extended to 30 August 2026. Education Committee Chairperson Nick Mathison noted the unusual situation of two Bill sponsors sitting on the same Committee scrutinising their own legislation.