BUSINESS COMMITTEE
TUESDAY 4 MARCH 2008
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
MINUTES
The meeting began at 12.45 pm
Present:
The Speaker (Chair)
Mr PJ Bradley
Mr T Buchanan
Mr K McCarthy
Mr P McGlone
Mr D McNarry
Lord Morrow
Ms C Ní Chuilín
Mr J O’Dowd
Present (secretariat):
Mrs C Devon Interim Clerk/Director General
Ms L Gordon Clerk of Business
Mr A Murphy Assistant Clerk of Business
In attendance:
Ms I Fleming Business Office
Ms F Leneghan Assistant Private Secretary to the Speaker
Mr P Moore Business Office
Mr H Widdis Legal Adviser
Observers:
Mr J Dallat Deputy Speaker
Mr D McClarty Deputy Speaker
Rt Hon J Donaldson Junior Minister
Mr G Kelly Junior Minister
Ms R Flanagan OFMDFM
1. Introduction
1.2 The Speaker welcomed Mr Thomas Buchanan to the meeting in place of Mr Peter Weir and Mr John O’Dowd in place of Mr Paul Maskey. The Speaker also welcomed the new junior Minister, Rt Hon Jeffrey Donaldson, to the meeting.
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 26 February 2008
2.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 26 February 2008 were agreed and were signed by the Speaker.
3. Matters Arising
3.1 There were no matters arising.
4. Finalisation of Order Papers for Plenary meetings in week commencing 10 March 2008
Members were referred to the draft Order Papers for Monday 10 and Tuesday 11 March. The Speaker informed members that one additional item of Committee business had been notified for Monday 10 March. Members agreed to schedule the motion to change a membership on the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure for Monday 10 March.
4.2 The Speaker asked members to decide on the speaking times for the motion, on the ‘Report on the Devolution of Policing and Justice Matters’, scheduled for Tuesday 11 March. Members agreed that the Chairperson of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee should have up to 15 minutes to propose and wind the motion. Members further agreed that all other speakers would have up to 7 minutes.
5. Provisional arrangements for Plenary meetings in week commencing 31 March 2008
5.1 Members were referred to provisional Order Papers for Monday 31 March and Tuesday 1 April, along with a notice of forthcoming Executive business.
Executive Business – week commencing 31 March
5.2 In addition to Question Time on Monday 31 March, members agreed to schedule one motion to approve a Statutory Rule from the Minister for Social Development on ‘The Pneumoconiosis etc., (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008’. It was noted that there may be a need for Ministerial Statements on the resumption of business after the Easter recess.
Committee Business
5.3 There was no Committee business.
6. Private Members’ business
6.1 Members agreed to consider private Members’ business at the next meeting of the Business Committee on Tuesday 11 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 noted the contents of the paper, agreed its recommendations and agreed that the Speaker should write to the Chair of the Committee on Procedures to set out the Business Committee’s agreed response.
8. Any Other Business
8.1 Ms Ní Chuilín raised an issue relating to a Private Notice Question she had tabled earlier that day to the Minister for Social Development regarding neighbourhood renewal and sought clarification from the Speaker as to why her PNQ had not been accepted for answer. The Speaker outlined his criteria for considering PNQs and indicated that he understood that the Minister for Social Development would be making a Statement on the issue in the near future.
8.2 Mr O’Dowd raised an issue regarding private members’ motions and sought clarification on who was responsible for making sure that motions were factually accurate. The Speaker stated that Members are responsible for making sure that their motions are accurate and factually correct, and that staff in the Business Office will liaise with Members about any obvious inaccuracies.
8.3 The Speaker informed members that Mr Paul Moore was attending his last meeting of the Business Committee as Clerk of Business. Members expressed their appreciation for Mr Moore’s work and wished him success in the future.
9. Date and Time of next meeting
9.1 Members agreed to meet following the adjournment, currently scheduled for 1.30 pm on Tuesday 11 March in Room 106.
The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.00 pm.