NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
BUSINESS COMMITTEE
TUESDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 2007
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
MINUTES
The meeting began at 12.35 pm
Present: The Speaker (Chair)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr P J Bradley
Mr P Maskey
Mr K McCarthy
Mr P McGlone
Mr D McNarry
Lord Morrow
Ms C Ní Chuilín
Mr P Weir
Present (secretariat): Mr J Reynolds Deputy Clerk
Mr P Moore Clerk of Business
In attendance: Mr R Good Adviser to the Speaker
Ms F Leneghan Assistant Private Secretary to the Speaker
Ms C McGivern Director of Legal Services
Observers: Mr D McClarty Deputy Speaker
Mr F Molloy Deputy Speaker
Mr G Kelly Junior Minister
Mr I Paisley Jnr. Junior Minister
Ms R Flanagan OFMDFM
1. Minutes of the meeting held on 11 September 2007
1.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 11 September were agreed and were signed by the Speaker.
2. Matter Arising
2.1 Referring to paragraph 3.1 of the minutes (nominations to the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body (BIIPB)) members noted the Speaker’s letter to the BIIPB in which he advised of the nominations made to date. The Speaker invited party representatives to forward any further names to his Office before the next scheduled meeting of the Body in November.
2.2 Referring to paragraph 3.4 the Speaker asked representatives from Sinn Féin, the UUP and the SDLP to nominate one of their Business Committee members to participate on the project group for the refurbishment of the Chamber. The UUP nominated Mr B Armstrong, and Sinn Féin nominated Mr P Maskey. The Speaker asked the SDLP representatives to alert the clerks to the party’s nomination as soon as possible.
2.3 Referring to paragraph 4.6 of the minutes, the Speaker referred to the conduct of the debate on an ad-hoc committee on suicide. The Speaker reminded members that where a Member no longer wished to put a motion before the Assembly, or to address the motion, he or she should say “not moved” when called, giving a short explanation to the House. Where the Member wished to address the terms of the motion, however, the motion should be moved, debate should take place, and the Member should seek leave of the Assembly to withdraw the motion before the question is put. It was confirmed that leave would not be granted if one or more Members objected.
2.4 Referring to paragraph 5.1 of the minutes, the Speaker invited the junior Ministers to provide an update on the information provided to MLAs about visits within their constituencies. Mr Kelly advised that a letter had issued to Ministers and that the junior Ministers would report in due course. Mr McNarry asked whether information on the protocols surrounding visits by the Irish President could be sought. Mr Kelly outlined his understanding that there was no compulsion on the Irish President to alert MLAs, and added that this would be taken up through OFMDM. The Speaker reported that his Office would follow up with NIO visits section on the application of protocols.
3. Arrangements for plenary meetings in week commencing 24 September
3.1 Members were referred to draft Order Papers for Monday 24 September and Tuesday 25 September, along with a notice of forthcoming Executive business.
Executive Business
3.2 Members noted that there was no Executive business scheduled for either day, other than Question Time. The junior Ministers confirmed that no ministerial statements were currently planned.
Committee Business
3.3 Members agreed to schedule a Committee motion, to extend the Committee Stage of the Libraries Bill, on Monday 24 September. It was confirmed that the motion could be debated after it had been moved, although members indicated that they were not aware of any contention about the motion.
3.4 Members noted that a motion had been tabled on behalf of the Assembly Commission, seeking the Assembly’s approval of a revised scheme for payments to political parties. Noting that the revised scheme contained provision for funding for costs incurred in the administration of whips’ offices, all members declared an interest. The Speaker assured members that the Assembly Commission had been satisfied on all issues of transparency and accountability relating to this funding, and confirmed that a copy of the revised scheme would issue to each member along with the Order Paper. It was also agreed that members of the Business Committee would be provided with an advance copy of the revised scheme, along with an explanatory note. Members agreed to schedule the motion on the Order Paper for Monday 24 September, and further agreed that 25-30 minutes should be sufficient time for both Committee motions.
Private Members’ business
3.5 Members agreed that two Private Members’ motions should be scheduled for debate on Monday 24 September, and three on Tuesday 25 September. Members proposed a total of 5 motions for consideration, including one on classroom assistants. Members were advised that a motion on this subject had been debated shortly before summer recess, but were content to proceed, noting that such repetition was unsurprising in the absence of other business.
3.6 By consensus, the motions on:
- ‘Classroom assistants’ (B McCrea and K Robinson); and
- ‘World Alzheimer’s day’ (C Hanna, T Gallagher and M Bradley)
were selected for debate (in that order) on Monday 24 September.
3.7 By consensus, the motions on:
- ‘Action on child poverty’ (S Ramsey, C McGill and C Ní Chuilín);
- ‘Establishment of an independent Environmental Protection Agency’ (B Wilson and D Ford)
- ‘Republican parade’ (N McCausland, S Wilson, R Newton and Lord Browne)
were selected for debate (in that order) for Tuesday 25 September.
3.8 It was agreed that the child poverty motion would be allocated up to two hours for debate, while each of the other four motions would be allocated up to 1 hour and 30 minutes. Members were informed that there was no ministerial responsibility for the ‘republican parade’ motion but that the Executive would consider whether or not any Minister would respond.
3.9 Members noted that no Adjournment debate topics had been tabled.
4. Any Other Business
4.1 No other business was raised.
5. Date and Time of next meeting
5.1 Members agreed to meet during a lunchtime suspension of the Assembly sitting (at around 12.30 pm) on Tuesday 25 September in Room 106.
The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.15 pm.