BUSINESS COMMITTEE
TUESDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2008
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
MINUTES
The meeting began at 12.45 pm
Present:
The Speaker (Chair)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr PJ Bradley
Mr P Maskey
Mr K McCarthy
Mr P McGlone
Lord Morrow
Ms C Ní Chuilín
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
Mr H Widdis Legal Adviser
Mrs M Mageean Head of Information
Mr J Murray Business Office
Observers:
Mr J Dallat Deputy Speaker
Mr D McClarty Deputy Speaker
Mr G Kelly Junior Minister
Ms R Flanagan OFMDFM
1. Introduction
1.1 The Speaker welcomed members to the meeting and noted apologies from Mr David McNarry and Mr Ian Paisley Junior.
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 5 February 2008
2.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 5 February 2008 were agreed and were signed by the Speaker.
3. Matters Arising
3.1 Referring to paragraph 7.1 of the minutes (Question Time rota for Easter – Summer 2008) the Speaker drew members’ attention to a revised Question Time rota, incorporating a number of minor changes. Members were content with the revised rota.
4. Finalisation of Order Papers for Plenary meetings in week commencing 18 February 2008
4.1 Members were referred to the draft Order Papers for Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 February. The Speaker informed members that the private Members’ motion (Roads Maintenance Funding), scheduled for Monday 18 February, had been revised after consultation between officials and the Members who tabled the motion. Alternative wording was required because references, in the original motion, to budgetary amounts had been overtaken by the Assembly’s agreement of the Budget. Members agreed that the revised motion should appear on the final Order Paper for Monday 18 February. Members noted that additional names had already been added, or would be added, to the motion on ‘Tourism’ and the motion on ‘Murder of Mr Paul Quinn’ for Tuesday 19 February.
5. Provisional arrangements for Plenary meetings in week commencing 25 February 2008
5.1 Members were referred to provisional Order Papers for Monday 25 and Tuesday 26 February, along with a notice of forthcoming Executive business.
Executive Business – week commencing 25 February
5.2 In addition to Question Time on Monday 25 February, members agreed to schedule the Further Consideration Stage of the Budget Bill. Members were reminded that no time limits were applied to debates on Bill Stages, and it was anticipated that 5 minutes should be sufficient for the purposes of indicative timings.
5.3 Members were content that the Ministerial Statement proposed by the First Minister and deputy First Minister on the British-Irish Council Summit would be scheduled for Tuesday 26 February. Members agreed to schedule the motion to approve a Statutory Rule, from the Minister for Employment and Learning, on ‘Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses (Amendment) Regulations Northern Ireland 2008’ for Tuesday 26 February. Members considered that up to 15 minutes should be sufficient for the purposes of indicative timings.
6. Private Members’ business
6.1 Members agreed to schedule two private Members’ motions and one Adjournment topic on Monday 25 February and one Adjournment topic on Tuesday 26 February.
6.2 Members proposed a total of four motions as follows:
- ‘Review of the Construction Industry’ (F Brolly, P Maskey, S Ramsey)
- ‘Post-Primary Transfer’ (T Lunn, M Storey, M McIlveen, K Robinson)
- ‘Bill of Rights Forum Proposals’ (D Kennedy, T Elliott)
- ‘Northern Corridor Railway Development’ (D O’Loan, T Burns, J Dallat, M Durkan, P Ramsey, M Bradley)
6.3 A vote being called, the votes of party delegations were cast as follows:
- Review of the Construction Industry: 52 votes
- Post-Primary Transfer: 44 votes
- Bill of Rights Forum Proposals: 18 votes
- Northern Corridor Railway Development: 43 votes
6.4 Members therefore agreed to schedule the motion on ‘Review of the Construction Industry’ (F Brolly, P Maskey, S Ramsey) and the motion on ‘Post-Primary Transfer’ (T Lunn, M Storey, M McIlveen, K Robinson) for Monday 25 February. Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for each debate.
6.5 Mr PJ Bradley raised an issue regarding the tabling of Adjournment topics and asked whether the current procedures could be reviewed so that Members could see when an Adjournment topic had first been tabled for selection. Other members felt it might be beneficial if Adjournment topics did not have to be continually resubmitted when not selected for debate. Members agreed to the Speaker’s suggestion that briefing would be supplied by officials on the issues surrounding Adjournment topics.
6.6 Members proposed a total of three adjournment topics as follows:
- ‘Pre-school educational provision in the Lagan Valley constituency’ (J Donaldson)
- ‘Social and affordable housing in North Belfast’ (C N í Chuil ín)
- ‘Housing in North Belfast’ (A Maginness)
6.7 As two of the Adjournment topics were similar, Ms C N í Chuil ín agreed to withdraw her proposal. Members therefore agreed to schedule the Adjournment topic on ‘Housing in North Belfast’ (A Maginness) for Monday 25 February and the Adjournment topic on ‘Pre-school educational provision in the Lagan Valley constituency’ (J Donaldson) for Tuesday 26 February.
7. Any Other Business
7.1 The Speaker referred members to the paper from the Committee on Procedures relating to three possible amendments to Standing Order 50. Members agreed to bring any comments they had on the paper to the next meeting of the Business Committee.
7.2 The Speaker drew members’ attention to the paper proposing to change the deadline for submission of oral questions from 3pm to 1pm on a Tuesday. Members were content to change the deadline from 3pm to 1pm on a Tuesday and that the change should coincide with the start of the new Question Time rota (i.e. the first 1pm deadline on 4 March 2008). Members further agreed that an All Party Notice should issue to all Members informing them of this new deadline for tabling oral questions.
7.3 The Speaker invited Whips to attend a training information session on the conduct of complicated consideration stages, which is to be held in advance of the Consideration Stage of the Taxis Bill. Members noted that the training would take place on Thursday 21 February, in Room 106, at 2.30 pm.
7.4 The Speaker reminded members of the responsibilities of tellers during divisions in relation to their attendance in the lobbies and Members’ orderly progression through the lobbies. The Speaker referred members to a further copy of the guidance paper on divisions for Whips and Tellers.
7.5 Mr McCarthy raised the issue of Ministers taking longer than required to respond to questions and supplementary questions during Question Time. The Speaker acknowledged that this was an ongoing issue and reminded members that he had recently brought a paper before the Business Committee on this and other matters relating to Question Time.
8. Date and Time of next meeting
8.1 Members agreed to meet during the lunchtime suspension at approximately 12.30 pm on Tuesday 19 February in Room 106.
The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.25 pm.