NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
BUSINESS COMMITTEE
TUESDAY 2 OCTOBER 2007
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
MINUTES
The meeting began at 12.30 pm
Present:
The Speaker (Chair)
Mr PJ Bradley
Mr T Buchanan
Mr P Maskey
Mr K McCarthy
Mr P McGlone
Mr D McNarry
Ms C Ní Chuilín
Mr P Weir
Present (secretariat):
Mr A Moir The Clerk
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
Mr H Widdis Legal Adviser
Observers:
Mr G Kelly Junior Minister
Ms R Flanagan OFMDFM
1. Introduction
1.1 The Speaker reported that Lord Morrow had appointed Mr Thomas Buchanan as his substitute for the current meeting of the Business Committee, and welcomed Mr Buchanan to the meeting.
2. Mi nutes of the meeting held on 25 September 2007
2.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 25 September were agreed and were signed by the Speaker.
3. Matter Arising
3.1 Referring to paragraph 3.1 of the minutes (nominations to the project group on the refurbishment of the Chamber) the Speaker reported that the group had met on Friday 28 September. Mr McGlone nominated Mr Thomas Burns as the SDLP representative on the group.
3.2 Referring to paragraph 4.7 of the minutes (selection of motions for Tuesday 2 October) the Speaker encouraged members to try to avoid a recurrence of the situation that had arisen during the sitting on 2 October, when a Member who had moved a motion was unable to remain for the debate due to other Assembly business. The Speaker reminded members that up to four Members’ names could be printed on the Order Paper, and that any of those Members may move the motion.
4. Arrangements for plenary meetings in week commencing 8 October
4.1 Members were referred to draft Order Papers for Monday 8 October and Tuesday 9 October, along with a notice of forthcoming Executive business.
Executive Business
4.2 Members were advised that the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure intended to make a statement on Tuesday 9 October on the issue of the Northern Ireland Strategy for Sport. Members noted that there was no other Executive business scheduled for either day, other than Question Time.
Committee Business
4.3 Members agreed to schedule the ‘take note’ motion, tabled on behalf of the Committee for Finance and Personnel, on the Order paper for Monday 8 October. Following discussions, members agreed to allocate one hour for the debate.
Private Members’ business
4.4 Following discussions, members agreed that two Private Members’ motions should be scheduled for debate on Monday 8 October, and three on Tuesday 9 October.
4.5 By consensus, the motions on:
- ‘the crisis in Burma’ (C Hanna); and
- ‘Referendum on the new European Union treaty’ (A Easton and Lord Morrow)
were selected for debate (in that order) on Monday 8 October. It was agreed that each motion would be allocated up to one hour and thirty minutes for debate. Members were advised that there was no ministerial responsibility for either debate, but that the Executive would consider whether a Minister should respond.
4.6 By consensus, the motions on:
- ‘Arts Funding’ (A Lo and S Farry);
- ‘Irish Language’ (D McNarry); and
- ‘Sex Offenders’ (P Butler and C Ní Chuilín)
were selected for debate (in that order) for Tuesday 9 October. It was agreed that all three motions would be allocated up to 1 hour and 30 minutes for debate.
4.7 Members noted the three topics that had been tabled for Adjournment debate, and agreed that one topic should be selected for debate on Tuesday 9 October. Two topics were proposed, and the votes of party delegations were cast as follows:
- The future of Donaghadee High School: 62 votes
- Provision of traffic attendants in Glenariff,
Cushendall and Cushendun: 16 votes.
‘The future of Donaghadee High School’ was therefore scheduled for debate. Referring to the decision taken at the previous week’s meeting, it was agreed that the Member who tabled the topic should be limited to a ten minute contribution, with other Members’ contributions limited to five minutes. Members further agreed that these arrangements should be reviewed after two to three months. Members were reminded that where there was Executive responsibility for a topic, the Minister was allocated ten minutes to respond to issues raised.
5. Any Other Business
5.1 Mr McNarry reported that his colleague on the Business Committee, Mr Armstrong, had suffered an injury in a farm-related incident. Members agreed that the Speaker should pass on the ‘best wishes’ of the Committee to Mr Armstrong.
5.2 Mr McNarry reported that the Committee on Procedures planned a visit outside Northern Ireland on 23 and 24 October, which would result in two of his party colleagues being unavailable for the Assembly’s sitting on 23 October. Mr McNarry asked if the Speaker would intervene on such matters. The Speaker replied that it would be inappropriate for him to interfere with the business of Committees, and recommended that Mr McNarry raise the matter with the Chairpersons’ Liaison Group.
5.3 Mr McNarry asked whether it would be possible for Clerks to provide whips with advice on how Members might avoid their proposed amendments being rejected. The Speaker agreed that the provision of such advice may be helpful, but stressed that responsibility for selection of amendments remained a matter for the Speaker.
5.4 Members discussed difficulties caused by the re-scheduling of the Ministerial statement, and confusion about the commencement of other business, during the sitting on 2 October and agreed that the situation was less than satisfactory. Members were reminded that business should be continuous, and that where it was possible to begin an item of business before the lunchtime suspension, this would occur, although other circumstances, such as a division, may result in a delay in taking the next business, and an earlier-than-anticipated suspension for lunch.
5.5 Members were advised that a proposed postal strike was likely to affect the issue of Order papers and other papers Members would require for the Assembly sittings during week commencing 8 October. Members agreed that the Order papers should be provided in hard copy to Whips, and electronically to all Members.
5.6 The Speaker reminded members that Mr Moir was attending his last meeting of the Business Committee as Clerk to the Assembly. Members expressed their appreciation for Mr Moir’s work and wished him success in the future.
6. Date and Time of next meeting
6.1 Members agreed to meet during a lunchtime suspension of the Assembly sitting (at around 12.30 pm) on Tuesday 9 October in Room 106.
The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.20 pm.