BUSINESS COMMITTEE
TUESDAY 26 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 T Burns
Mr T Lunn
Mr P Maskey
Mr D McNarry
Lord Morrow
Ms C Ní Chuilín
Mr P Weir
Present (secretariat):
Mrs N Dunwoody Clerk Assistant
Mr A Murphy Assistant Clerk of Business
In attendance:
Ms I Fleming Business Office
Mr R Good Adviser to the Speaker
Ms F Leneghan Assistant Private Secretary to the Speaker
Mrs M Mageean Business Office
Ms M Magennis Speaker’s Office
Mr K Shiels Business Office
Mr H Widdis Legal Adviser
Observers:
Mr D McClarty Deputy Speaker
Ms R Flanagan OFMDFM
1. Introduction
1.1 The Speaker informed members that the Rt Hon Jeffrey Donaldson had been appointed junior Minister to replace Mr Ian Paisley Jnr who had announced his resignation earlier in the day.
1.2 The Speaker welcomed Mr Trevor Lunn to the meeting in place of Mr Kieran McCarthy and noted an apology from Mr Gerry Kelly.
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 19 February 2008
2.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 19 February 2008 were agreed and were signed by the Speaker.
3. Matters Arising
3.1 Referring to paragraph 2.4 of the minutes (withdrawal of oral questions) the Speaker drew members’ attention to a paper supplied by the Business Office regarding the transfer of oral questions between Departments. Members noted the contents of the paper.
3.2 Referring to paragraph 6.1 of the minutes (proposed amendments to Standing Order 50) the Speaker drew members’ attention to his reply to the Chairperson of the Committee on Procedures. Members noted the contents of the letter.
4. Finalisation of Order Papers for Plenary meetings in week commencing 3 March 2008
Members were referred to the draft Order Papers for Monday 3 and Tuesday 4 March. The Speaker informed members that two additional items of Executive business had been notified for Monday 3 March and one additional item of Committee business for Tuesday 4 March. Members agreed to schedule the two Statutory Rules relating to Regional Rates and Industrial Hereditaments, from the Minister of Finance and Personnel, for Monday 3 March. Members further agreed to schedule the Committee motion to change a membership of the Public Accounts Committee for Tuesday 4 March.
5. Provisional arrangements for Plenary meetings in week commencing 10 March 2008
5.1 Members were referred to provisional Order Papers for Monday 10 and Tuesday 11 March, along with a notice of forthcoming Executive business.
Executive Business – week commencing 10 March
5.2 In addition to Question Time on Monday 10 March, members agreed to schedule two motions to approve Statutory Rules, one from the First Minister and deputy First Minister, on ‘Departments (Transfer of Functions) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008’, and one from the Minister of the Environment on ‘Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008’. Members considered that up to 15 minutes, for each motion, should be sufficient for the purposes of indicative timings.
5.3 Members further agreed to schedule the Further Consideration Stage of the Taxis Bill for Monday 10 March and members anticipated that it should last no longer than two minutes for the purposes of indicative timings.
Committee Business
5.4 Members agreed to schedule the Committee motion ‘Report on the Devolution of Policing and Justice Matters’, tabled by the Chairperson of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee, for Tuesday 11 March. Members agreed that up to 3 hours should be allocated for this debate.
6. Private Members’ business
6.1 Members agreed to schedule one private Members’ motion and one Adjournment topic on Monday 10 March and no private Members’ business on Tuesday 11 March.
6.2 Members proposed a total of four motions as follows:
- ‘Eames/Bradley Consultative Group on the Past’ (D Burnside)
- ‘Youth Assembly’ (D McKay)
- ‘International Development’ (C Hanna)
- ‘Varney Review’ (S Farry, S Neeson, T Lunn)
6.3 A vote being called, the votes of party delegations were cast as follows:
- Eames/Bradley Consultative Group on the Past: 53 votes
- Youth Assembly: 27 votes
- International Development: 16 votes
- Varney Review: 9 votes
6.4 Members therefore agreed to schedule the motion on ‘Eames/Bradley Consultative Group on the Past’ (D Burnside) for Monday 10 March. Members agreed that up to 2 hours should be allocated for this debate.
6.5 One adjournment topic was proposed for Monday 10 March on ‘Housing in the Village area of South Belfast’ (Mr J Spratt). By consensus, members agreed to schedule this Adjournment topic for Monday 10 March.
7. Committee on Procedures paper -Possible amendments to the Standing Order on Ministerial Statements
7.1 The Speaker referred members to the Committee on Procedures paper relating to possible amendments to the Standing Order on Ministerial Statements. Members agreed to defer consideration of the paper until the next meeting of the Business Committee.
8. Any Other Business
8.1 The Speaker drew members’ attention to the schedule for meetings of the Business Committee up to and immediately after the summer recess. Members noted the schedule.
9. Date and Time of next meeting
9.1 Members agreed to meet during the lunchtime suspension at approximately 12.30 pm on Tuesday 4 March in Room 106.
The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.05 pm.