NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
BUSINESS COMMITTEE
TUESDAY 5 JUNE 2007
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
MINUTES
The meeting began at 1.05 pm
Present: The Speaker (Chair from 1.20 pm)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr T Burns
Mr P Maskey
Mr K McCarthy
Dr A McDonnell
Mr D McNarry
Lord Morrow (Acting Chair to 1.20 pm)
Ms C Ní Chuilín
Mr P Weir
Present (secretariat): Mr A Moir The Clerk
Mr P Moore Clerk of Business
In attendance: Mr R Good Adviser to the Speaker
Ms C McGivern Director of Legal Services
Mr A Murphy Assistant Clerk of Business
Observers: Mr J Dallat Deputy Speaker
Mr D McClarty Deputy Speaker
Ms R Flanagan OFMDFM
1. Minutes of the meeting held on 29 May 2007
1.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 29 May were agreed and signed by the Speaker.
2. Matter Arising
2.1 There were no matters arising.
3. Arrangements for plenary meetings in week commencing 11 June
3.1 Members were referred to draft Order Papers for Monday 11 June and Tuesday 12 June.
Executive Business
3.2 The Business Committee agreed to schedule a motion tabled by the Minister of Finance and Personnel to suspend Standing Orders on Monday 11 June. This was to enable the business to proceed after 6 pm if required. Members agreed to schedule a legislative consent motion on the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Bill (Minister of Finance and Personnel). It was agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes would be allocated for this motion, and that papers supplied by the Minister (a memorandum and a copy of the bill) should be provided to Members along with the Order Paper.
3.3 Members agreed to schedule a motion on the Supply Resolution for the 2007-2008 Main Estimates (Minister of Finance and Personnel). No time limit was allocated for this motion. However, it was agreed that Members’ contributions should be limited to five minutes.
3.4 Members also agreed to schedule the First Stage of the Budget Bill and the First Stage of the Taxis Bill on the Order Paper for Monday 11 June. Members further agreed to schedule the Second Stage of the Welfare Reform Bill and the Second Stage of the Budget Bill on the Order Paper for Tuesday 12 June.
Question Time
3.5 It was noted that Question Time will be on Monday 11 June and will commence at 2.30 pm and finish at 4 pm. Questions will be directed to the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure. The Speaker advised Members that Question Time will be conducted according to the conventions established during the last Assembly. Members were provided with a two-page paper on these conventions, and they agreed that the paper should be issued to all MLAs along with the Order Paper.
Committee Business
3.6 Members agreed to schedule a motion tabled by the Chairperson of the Committee of the Centre (seeking to change the name of the Committee to the ‘Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister’) on the Order Paper for Tuesday 12 June.
Private Members’ Business
3.7 Dr McDonnell proposed that an Adjournment debate should be taken on Monday 11 June. Members voted on the proposal and the proposal was defeated:
For – 25 votes
Against – 81 votes
3.8 Members agreed to schedule one motion for debate on Tuesday 12 June.
3.9 Mr McNarry proposed that the motion on Industrial Rates, in the names of Mr Beggs and Mr Cree, should be scheduled for debate.
3.10 Mr McCarthy proposed that the motion on the Racial Equality Strategy, in the names of Ms Lo, Mrs Long and Dr Farry, should be scheduled for debate.
3.11 Dr McDonnell proposed that the motion on the Classroom Assistants’ Dispute, in the name of Mr D Bradley, should be scheduled for debate.
3.12 Mr Weir proposed that the motion on the Teacher Induction Year, in the names of Mr Ross and Miss McIlveen, should be scheduled for debate.
3.13 Ms Ní Chuilín proposed that the motion on Road Deaths, in the names of Mr McCartney and Mr Boylan, should be scheduled for debate.
3.14 After discussion, Members agreed to vote on the first proposal by Mr McNarry.
For – 71 votes
Against – 35 votes
It was therefore resolved that the motion on Industrial Rates would be scheduled on the Order Paper for Tuesday 12 June. Members agreed that the motion would be allocated up to 1 hour and 30 minutes.
3.15 Members agreed to schedule one Adjournment debate for Tuesday 12 June.
3.16 Dr McDonnell proposed that the Adjournment topic on the ‘Flooding at Lower Ormeau’, in his own name, should be scheduled for debate.
3.17 Ms Ní Chuilín proposed that the Adjournment topic on ‘The case for the location of public sector jobs in West Tyrone’, in the name of Mr McElduff, should be scheduled for debate.
3.18 Members voted on the proposals:
Dr McDonnell’s proposal: 25 votes
Ms Ní Chuilín’s proposal: 46 votes
Abstained: 35 votes
It was therefore resolved that the Adjournment topic on ‘The case for the location of public sector jobs in West Tyrone’ would be scheduled on the Order Paper for Tuesday 12 June.
It was agreed that the Adjournment topic would be allocated up to 1 hour for debate.
4. Any Other Business
4.1 Members discussed the letter from the First Minister and deputy First Minister seeking agreement for the two Junior Ministers to attend the meetings of the Business Committee, and to their contributing to discussions regarding business in the Assembly. The Speaker informed Members that he had held discussions with the First Minister and the deputy First Minister on the subject since the matter was first raised at the Business Committee. From these discussions, the Speaker reported that he was content that the Junior Ministers would not be members of the Business Committee, that they would have no entitlement to vote, and that their contribution, as observers, would relate solely to the scheduling of Executive Business. Some concerns were raised by Members, and a trial period of 2-3 months was suggested. Following discussions, it was agreed that a letter should be drafted, setting out the Business Committee’s conditions for Junior Ministers’ attendance at the Committee, and that the letter should be considered at the next meeting.
4.2 The Speaker provided Members with a copy of a letter he had received from the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment asking to change his ‘slot’ during Question time on 18 June. It was noted that the Minister of Education was willing to change slots with him. Members agreed to the request.
4.3 Members were informed that the Scottish First Minister, Mr Alex Salmond, would be visiting Parliament Buildings on Monday 18 June. Members agreed, in principle, to a one-hour suspension of the Assembly’s sitting at a convenient time on that date to enable the Scottish First Minister to address Members in the Senate Chamber. Members agreed that the detailed arrangements should be left to the Speaker and Assembly Officials. Dr McDonnell asked for clarification on whether or not VIP guests could address Members in the Assembly Chamber. The Speaker undertook to consider the suggestion with officials and report back at the next meeting.
4.4 Lord Morrow raised the issue of Members using other Members’ Christian names during debates in the Chamber. The Speaker acknowledged that protocol was not being adhered to by some Members and, indeed, some Ministers. He asked whips to remind Members that they should address their remarks through the Chair, and that references should be to a Member’s title and surname or to “the Member”.
5. Date and Time of next meeting
5.1 Members agreed to meet immediately following the lunchtime suspension on Tuesday 12 June in Room 106.
The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 2.20 pm.
William Hay
The Speaker
29 May 07 / Menu / 12 June 07