BUSINESS COMMITTEE
TUESDAY 27 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 K McCarthy
Mr P McGlone
Mr D McNarry
Lord Morrow
Ms C N í Chuil ín
Mr J O’Dowd
Mr P Weir
Present (secretariat): 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
Observers: Mr I Paisley Jnr Junior Minister
Ms R Flanagan OFMDFM
1. Minutes of the meeting held on 20 November 2007
1.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 20 November were agreed and were signed by the Speaker.
2. Matters Arising
2.1 Referring to paragraph 4.2 of the minutes (Executive business in week commencing 3 December), the Speaker drew members’ attention to a letter from the Minister of Finance and Personnel, the Rt Hon Peter Robinson, outlining his reasons for not being able to move the First Stage of the Building Regulations (Amendment) Bill on Monday 3 December 2007. Members therefore agreed that a revised Order Paper for Monday 3 December would be issued to reflect this development. Responding to this matter, the Speaker referred to the two-week scheduling model used in Scotland and suggested that a paper should be brought before the Committee to consider this further. This was agreed by members.
2.2 Referring to paragraph 5.1 of the minutes, the Speaker sought the views of members on the paper relating to ‘Committee powers to call for persons and papers’. Following discussions, members agreed that the Business Committee should have the option, if required, to call for persons and papers.
2.3 Referring to paragraph 5.6 of the minutes (issues arising in Plenary) the Speaker informed members that an explanation and apology had been given to the DUP Chief Whip. This was acknowledged by Lord Morrow.
3. Arrangements for plenary meetings in week commencing 10 December
3.1 Members were referred to draft Order Papers for Monday 10 and Tuesday 11 December, along with a notice of forthcoming Executive business.
Executive Business – week commencing 10 December
3.2 In addition to Question Time, Members agreed that the First Stage of the Charities Bill and the Further Consideration Stage of the Pensions Bill would be scheduled for Monday 10 December. Members were reminded that no time limits were fixed for debates on Bill Stages. However, members agreed that up to 5 minutes for each Stage should be sufficient for the purposes of indicative timings.
3.3 Members further agreed to schedule two motions to approve Statutory Rules:
- Company and Business Names (Amendment No. 2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007; and
- Administration of Estates (Rights of Surviving Spouse or Civil Partner) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007.
Members allocated no specific time limit to these debates, but anticipated that they would last no longer than 15 minutes each.
3.4 Members agreed that the legislative consent motion relating to the Climate Change Bill would be scheduled for Monday 10 December. Members allocated no specific time limit to this debate, but anticipated that the debate would last no longer than 30 minutes.
3.5 Members were content that the Ministerial Statement proposed by Minister of Education on the NSMC Educational Sectoral Format would be delivered on Tuesday 11 December.
3.6 Members agreed that the Final Stage of the Pensions Bill would be scheduled for Tuesday 11 December. Members agreed that 5 minutes should be sufficient for the purposes of indicative timings.
Committee Business
3.7 Members agreed that the motion to annul a Statutory Rule, relating to Student Fees, and tabled by the Committee for Employment and Learning, would be scheduled for Monday 10 December. Members allocated no specific time limit to the debate, but anticipated that it would last no longer than 30 minutes.
Private Members’ business
3.8 By consensus, members agreed that they should schedule only one Private Member’s motion and one Adjournment topic on Monday 10 December.
3.9 By consensus, members agreed that they should schedule two Private Members’ motions and one Adjournment topic on Tuesday 11 December.
3.10 Members proposed a total of five motions as follows:
- ‘Transfer Procedure’ ( S Wilson)
- ‘Delivering Choice for the Terminally Ill’ (C N í Chuil ín)
- ‘FIFA Eligibility Proposal’ (D Kennedy, D McNarry)
- ‘Northern Corridor Railway Development’ (D O’Loan, T Burns, J Dallat, M Durkan, P Ramsey, M Bradley)
- ‘Arthritis Drug Funding’ (K McCarthy, K Deeny)
3.11 Members proposed a total of three adjournment topics as follows:
- ‘Home-Start Funding in the Ards, Comber and Peninsula Area’ (D McNarry)
- ‘The Route of NIE North-South interconnector through the constituency of Newry and Armagh’ (D Bradley)
- ‘Potential Development of Lough Neagh’ (F Molloy)
3.12 The five motions were proposed, and the votes of party delegations were cast as follows:
- Transfer Procedure: 81 votes
- Delivering Choice for the Terminally Ill: 44 votes
- FIFA Eligibility Proposal: 62 votes
- Northern Corridor Railway Development: 44 votes
- Arthritis Drug Funding: 27 votes
3.13 ‘Transfer Procedure’ and ‘FIFA Eligibility’ were therefore scheduled for debate. As two of the motions were tied on 44 votes each, Mr P McGlone agreed to withdraw his proposal on ‘Northern Corridor Railway Development’ in favour of an Adjournment topic and Ms C N í Chuil ín agreed to withdraw her Adjournment topic proposal in favour of a motion. Members therefore agreed to schedule the motion ‘Delivering Choice for the Terminally Ill’.
3.14 Members agreed to schedule the motion on ‘Delivering Choice for the Terminally Ill’ (C N í Chuil ín ) for Monday 10 December. Members further agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for this debate, and no change was suggested to the usual speaking times.
3.15 Members agreed to schedule the motion on ‘FIFA Eligibility Proposal’ (D Kennedy, D McNarry) and the motion on ‘Transfer Procedure’ ( S Wilson) for Tuesday 11 December. Members further agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for the ‘FIFA Eligibility Proposal’ debate, and 2 hours for the ‘Transfer Procedure’ debate. No change was suggested to the usual speaking times.
3.16 Members agreed to schedule the Adjournment topic on ‘Home-Start Funding in Ards, Comber and Peninsula Area’ (D McNarry) for Monday 10 December.
3.17 Members further agreed to schedule the Adjournment topic on ‘The route of the NIE North-South interconnector through the constituency of Newry and Armagh’ (D Bradley) for Tuesday 11 December.
4. Any Other Business
4.1 The Speaker informed members that a BBC film crew may seek to film some of the proceedings of the Business Committee at its next meeting. Members were content that this should happen.
5. Date and Time of next meeting
5.1 Members agreed to meet during the lunchtime suspension at approximately 12.30 pm on Tuesday 4 December in Room 106, in order to review the Order Papers for 10 and 11 December. Members also agreed to review the attendance of junior Ministers at Business Committee meetings.
The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.20 pm.