Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
BUSINESS COMMITTEE

TUESDAY 6 NOVEMBER 2007
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

MINUTES

The meeting began at 12.35 pm

Present: The Speaker (Chair)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr T Burns
Mr P Maskey
Mr K McCarthy
Mr P McGlone
Mr D McNarry
Lord Morrow
Ms C Ní Chuilín
Mr P Weir

Present (secretariat): Mrs C Devon Interim Clerk / Chief Executive

Mr P Moore Clerk of Business
Mr A Murphy Assistant 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 I Paisley Jnr Junior Minister
Ms R Flanagan OFMDFM
Mr B Gallagher Speaker’s Office

1. Minutes of the meeting held on 23 October 2007

1.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 23 October were agreed and were signed by the Speaker.

2. Matter Arising

2.1 Referring to paragraph 3.3 of the minutes (issues relating to Ministerial Statements) the Speaker drew members attention to the letter he sent to the Chair of the Procedures Committee on 31 October 2007, seeking to establish whether the procedures governing ministerial statements could be improved.

3. Arrangements for plenary meetings in week commencing 12 November and 19 November

3.1 Members were referred to draft Order Papers for Monday 12 and Tuesday 13 November and Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 November, along with a notice of forthcoming Executive business.

3.2 A discussion ensued in relation to the viability of scheduling business over a two week period as proposed by Lord Morrow on 9 October. Mr Weir made it clear that it was his understanding that there had been agreement that two weeks business would be considered during the current meeting. The Speaker referred Members to a paper produced by the Business Office in which some of the issues around scheduling business two weeks in advance were outlined. The Speaker asked members to consider this paper and bring their views on it to the next week’s meeting.

3.3 After further discussion, it was agreed that business would be scheduled for the following two weeks, and that the Order Papers for the second week should be final rather than provisional. Members were reminded that any Executive business agreed during the next meeting of the Executive (e.g. Bill stages) and then notified to the Business Committee, could not be taken on 19 or 20 November as it would not appear on the Order Papers for those days.

Executive Business – week commencing 12 November

3.4 Members agreed that the First Stage of the Pensions Bill would be scheduled for Monday 12 November, followed by the Executive motion relating to a Statutory Rule: the Pig Production Development Committee (Winding Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007. Members allocated no specific time limit to this debate, but anticipated that it would last no longer than 20-25 minutes.

3.5 Members were content that the Ministerial Statement proposed by the First Minister and deputy First Minister on the NSMC Institutional Format would be delivered during the afternoon of Tuesday 13 November.

3.6 Members also agreed to schedule a motion for a ‘take-note’ debate on the review of the Review of Public Administration, tabled by the Minister of the Environment. Members agreed to allocate up to two hours for this debate, and that Members’ contributions would be limited to five minutes. While there were discussions on an allocation of time for the Minister to propose and wind on the motion, no firm decision was taken.

Private Members’ business

3.7 Members agreed to schedule two private Members’ motions on each of the four days, and to schedule one adjournment topic on each Tuesday sitting. Members proposed a total of eight motions and two adjournment topics as follows:

3.8 Following discussions, the majority view was that the Seagate issue should be considered through a Private Member’s motion rather than as an adjournment topic. An alternative adjournment topic (‘Referral of patients from Daisy Hill hospital to the Regional Acquired Brain Inquiry Unit’ (D Bradley) was proposed. Subsequent decisions on private Members’ business were made by consensus.

Private Members’ business – week commencing 12 November

3.9 Members agreed to schedule the motions on Road Deaths and Co-Ownership and Shared Equity on Monday 12 November. They further agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for each debate.

3.10 Members agreed to schedule the motions on Irish-Medium Club Bank and Sports Strategy on Tuesday 13 November. They further agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for each debate.

3.11 Members also agreed to schedule ‘The proposed new build campus for Holywood Priory College’ as the adjournment topic for Tuesday 13 November.

Executive Business – week commencing 19 November

3.12 Members agreed that the Further Consideration Stage of the Children (Emergency Protection Orders) Bill would be scheduled for Monday 19 November.

3.13 Members noted that a Ministerial Statement was proposed by the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure on the NSMC Language Body Sectoral Format for delivery on Tuesday 20 November. This would be followed by a proposed Ministerial Statement by the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment on the NSMC Tourism Sectoral Meeting.

3.14 Members agreed that the Final Stage of the Children (Emergency Protection Orders) Bill would be scheduled for Tuesday 20 November. Members further agreed that the motion on the Executive’s Legislative Programme would be scheduled for the afternoon of Tuesday 20 November. Members agreed to allocate up to two hours for this debate, with normal speaking times being applied to Members. No decision was taken on an allocation of time for the Minister’s contribution.

Private Members’ business – week commencing 19 November

3.15 Members agreed to schedule the motions on Justice for the Bland Family and Closure of the Seagate Operation in Limavady on Monday 19 November. They further agreed that up to one hour and two hours (respectively) should be allocated for each debate.

3.16 Members agreed to schedule the motions on Dangerous Dogs Legislation and Smoking Age Increase in Northern Ireland on Tuesday 20 November. They further agreed that up to one hour should be allocated for each debate.

3.17 Members also agreed to schedule ‘Referral of patients from Daisy Hill hospital to the Regional Acquired Brain Inquiry Unit’ as the adjournment topic for Tuesday 20 November.

3.18 Members agreed that the Order Papers for weeks commencing 12 and 19 November should issue on Wednesday 7 November.

4. Any Other Business

4.1 The Speaker reported that the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body had sought a nomination to the Body’s Steering Group. Members agreed with the Speaker’s suggestion that those already nominated as full members to the BIIPB should agree this nomination among themselves.

4.2 Mr McCarthy raised the issue of Ministers taking longer than required to respond to supplementary questions during Question Time. The Speaker confirmed that he had identified this as a problem, but reminded members that MLAs’ questions were also too long in some cases. The Speaker informed members that he will shortly be bringing a paper before the Business Committee on this and other matters relating to Question Time.

4.3 Mr McNarry referred to the issue of Ministers being interrupted in the middle of answering an oral question because they had reached the end of their allocated 30 minutes and sought clarification on whether or not Minister could be afforded some flexibility. The Speaker made it clear that under Standing Orders he and the Deputy Speakers had to adhere strictly to the time slot for oral questions. Members agreed that it might be helpful for the Chair to alert the Minister if time was limited.

5. Date and Time of next meeting

5.1 Members agreed to meet during the lunchtime suspension at approximately 12.30 pm on Tuesday 13 November in Room 106.

The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.40 pm.

William Hay
The Speaker

23 October 07 / Menu