BUSINESS COMMITTEE
TUESDAY 6 JANUARY 2009
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
MINUTES
The meeting began at 12.30 pm
Present:
The Speaker (Chairperson)
Mr T Burns
Mr F Cobain
Mr T Lunn
Mr P Maskey
Lord Morrow
Ms C Ní Chuilín
Mr P Weir
Present (secretariat):
Mr T Reaney Clerk/Director General
Mr J Stewart Director of Clerking and Reporting
Ms L Gordon 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 Services
Mr K Shiels Business Office
Observers:
Rt Hon J Donaldson Junior Minister
Mr G Kelly Junior Minister
Ms R Flanagan OFMDFM
1. Introduction
1.1 The Speaker conveyed his best wishes to members for the new year and noted apologies from Mr K McCarthy, Mr P McGlone and Mr B Armstrong.
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 2 December 2008
2.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 2 December 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 12 January
Executive Committee Business
4.1 In addition to Question Time on Monday 12 January, m embers agreed to schedule the Further Consideration Stage of the Public Authorities (Reform) Bill and the Final Stage of the Health and Social Care (Reform) Bill. Members further agreed to schedule the Consideration Stage of the Building Regulations (Amendment) Bill for Tuesday 13 January.
4.2 The junior Minister, Mr G Kelly, informed members that the First Stage of the Financial Assistance Bill would be scheduled for Monday 12 January, subject to the Speaker’s decision on competence. The junior Minister further informed Members that should the First Stage of the Financial Assistance Bill be moved on Monday 12 January, the Second Stage, along with an associated accelerated passage motion, would then be scheduled for Tuesday 13 January, with the Consideration Stage taking place on Tuesday 20 January.
4.3 The junior Minister, Mr G Kelly, informed members that the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development planned to make a statement to the Assembly on Monday 12 January on the ‘Outcome of the December Fisheries Council Meeting’.
Committee Business
4.4 Members agreed to schedule the Committee motion, tabled by the Chairperson of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure, on ‘Inquiry into the Development of a Museums Policy for Northern Ireland’ for Monday 12 January. Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for this debate, with the usual speaking times.
Private Members’ Business
4.5 Members agreed to schedule one private Members’ motion on Monday 12 January and one private Members’ motion on Tuesday 13 January. Under the system of allocating private Members’ business, the SDLP and Sinn F é in proposed the following motions to fill the two available slots:
- ‘Rural School Closures’ (T Gallagher, M Storey, D Bradley)
- ‘Penny Product’ (M McLaughlin, J McCann, P Maskey)
4.6 To take account of Ministerial availability issues, Members agreed to schedule the motion on ‘Penny Product’ (M McLaughlin, J McCann, P Maskey) for Monday 12 January; and the motion on ‘Rural School Closures’ (T Gallagher, M Storey, D Bradley) for Tuesday 13 January. Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for each debate, with the usual speaking times.
5. Provisional arrangements for Plenary meetings in week commencing 19 January
Executive Committee Business
5.1 Aside from Question Time on Monday 19 January, there was no further Executive Business notified for that day.
5.2 M embers agreed to schedule the Consideration Stage of the Financial Assistance Bill (see paragraph 4.2) and the Final Stage of the Public Authorities (Reform) Bill for Tuesday 20 January.
Committee Business
5.3 Members agreed to schedule the Committee motion, tabled by the Chairperson of the Committee on Procedures, to ‘Amend Standing Order 64’ for Monday 19 January. Members agreed to allocate up to 1 hour for this debate. Members further agreed that the Chairperson should be allocated up to 20 minutes, or longer at the discretion of the Speaker/Deputy Speaker, if required, to move and wind the motion.
5.4 Members agreed to schedule the Committee motion, tabled by the Chairperson of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee, on the ‘Report on the Devolution of Policing and Justice Matters’ for Tuesday 20 January. After discussion, m embers provisionallyallocated up to 1 hour 30 minutes for this debate, but undertook to reconsider the matter at next week’s meeting.
Private Members’ Business
5.5 Members agreed to schedule one private Members’ motion on Monday 19 January and one private Members’ motion on Tuesday 20 January. Under the system of allocating private Members’ business, the DUP and Sinn F é in proposed the following motions to fill the two available slots:
- ‘Reducing the Number of Government Departments’ ( S Hamilton, P Weir, I Paisley Jnr)
- ‘Women’s Organisations’ (M Anderson, J McCann)
5.6 Members therefore agreed to schedule the motion on ‘Reducing the Number of Government Departments’ (S Hamilton, P Weir, I Paisley Jnr) for Monday 19 January; and the motion on ‘Women’s Organisations’ (M Anderson, J McCann) for Tuesday 20 January. Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for each debate, with the usual speaking times.
6. Any Other Business
6.1 The Speaker informed members that he would be writing to all Members alerting them to the new arrangement for Members rising to their feet to catch the Speaker’s eye when wishing to ask a supplementary during Question Time. Lord Morrow welcomed the new arrangement and asked if some flexibility could be shown by the Chair to allow for more interaction during Question Time. The Speaker noted his remarks and reminded members that it was the Chair’s responsibility to strike a proper and fair balance during Question Time.
7. Date and Time of next meeting
7.1 Members agreed to meet at approximately 12.30 pm on Tuesday 13 January 2009 in Room 106.
The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 12.55 pm