BUSINESS COMMITTEE
TUESDAY 3 FEBRUARY 2009
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
MINUTES
The meeting began at 12.45 pm
Present:
The Speaker (Chairperson)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr T Burns
Mr F Cobain
Mr P Maskey
Mr K McCarthy
Mr P McGlone
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
Ms K Duddy Legal Services
Mr K Shiels Business Office
Observers:
Mr J Dallat Deputy Speaker
Rt Hon J Donaldson Junior Minister
Mr G Kelly Junior Minister
Ms R Flanagan OFMDFM
1. Minutes of the meeting held on 27 January 2009
1.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 27 January 2009 were agreed and were signed by the Speaker.
2. Matters Arising
2.1 There were no matters arising.
3. Finalisation of Order Papers for Plenary meetings in week commencing 9 February
Executive Committee Business
3.1 Members noted that the Consideration Stage of the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Bill had been withdrawn as an item of business for Tuesday 10 February.
Private Members’ Business
3.2 Mr F Cobain requested that the motion on ‘Walking and Cycling to School Initiatives’, scheduled for Tuesday 10 February, be replaced by the motion on ‘Registration Plates’. However, junior Minister Kelly informed members that the Minister of the Environment would not be available on that date to respond to the motion. Mr Cobain subsequently decided to leave the original motion ‘Walking and Cycling to School Initiatives’ on the Order paper.
3.3 Due to the withdrawal of the Consideration Stage of the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Bill, members agreed to fill the vacant slot with a private Members’ motion. Under the system of allocating private Members’ business, the SDLP were next on the rota to select a motion and requested the following:
- ‘Western Health and Social Care Trust’ (T Gallagher, M Bradley)
3.4 Members therefore agreed to schedule the motion on ‘Western Health and Social Care Trust’ (T Gallagher, M Bradley) for Tuesday 10 February. Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for the debate, with the usual speaking times.
3.5 The DUP requested that the adjournment topic on ‘Cherry Lodge Respite Facility, Randalstown’, scheduled for Tuesday 10 February, be replaced with the adjournment topic on ‘Public Sector Jobs in North Antrim’ (Mr I Paisley Jnr). Members agreed to the request.
4. Provisional arrangements for Plenary meetings in week commencing 16 February
Executive Committee Business
4.1 In addition to Question Time on Monday 16 February, members agreed to schedule a motion to suspend Standing Orders, tabled by the Minister of Finance and Personnel. Members further agreed to schedule the motion on the Spring Supplementary Estimates 2008-09 and the motion on the Vote on Account 2009-10 for Monday 16 February. Members noted the convention that the motions are debated together with two votes at the end, each vote requiring cross-community support. Members agreed that up to 4 hours 30 minutes should be allocated for this debate, with the Minister of Finance and Personnel being allocated a total of up to 1 hour to move and wind, and all other Members’ contributions being limited to ten minutes. Members also agreed to schedule the First Stage of the Budget Bill for Monday 16 February.
4.2 Members agreed to schedule the Second Stage of the Budget Bill and the Final Stage of the Building Regulations (Amendment) Bill for Tuesday 17 February. Members further agreed to schedule a motion to approve the Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) Regulations (NI) 2008 and a motion to approve the Christmas Bonus (Specified Sum) Order (NI) 2008, both tabled by the Minister for Social Development, for Tuesday 17 February.
Committee Business
4.3 Members agreed to schedule a motion, from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, entitled ‘Report on Inquiry into Role and Potential of Credit Unions in Northern Ireland’, for Tuesday 17 February. Members agreed to allocate up to 1 hour 30 minutes for this debate.
Private Members’ Business
4.4 Members agreed to schedule one adjournment topic on Tuesday 17 February. Members proposed a total of three adjournment topics as follows:
- ‘Magilligan Greencastle Car Ferry ’ (J Dallat)
- ‘Job creation through Tourism and the need for the development of related infrastructure in Gilford, Co. Down’ (J O’Dowd)
- ‘Proposed John Lewis Development near Sprucefield’ (T Lunn)
4.5 A vote being called, the votes of party delegations were cast as follows:
- Magilligan Greencastle Car Ferry: 60 votes
- Job creation through Tourism and the need for the development of related infrastructure in Gilford, Co. Down: 27 votes
- Proposed John Lewis Development near Sprucefield: 9 votes
4.6 Members therefore agreed to schedule the adjournment topic ‘Magilligan Greencastle Car Ferry’ (J Dallat) for Tuesday 17 February.
5. Draft Question Time Rota: Easter to Summer Recess 2009
5.1 Members agreed the draft Question Time rota from Easter 2009 up to Summer recess 2009.
6. Any Other Business
6.1 The Speaker sought a view from members relating to sitting arrangements for the St Patrick’s week in March. Members agreed that there would be a Plenary sitting on Monday 16 March and no sitting on Tuesday 17 March (St Patrick’s Day). Members considered that a motion to suspend Standing Orders on Monday 16 March might allow all business for the week to be concluded in one day. However, it was agreed that any further sitting during the week would be considered as soon as Executive business requirements could be clarified.
6.2 Lord Morrow sought clarification on the process relating to Petitions of Concern and, in particular, notification of Whips that a Petition had been tabled. Members were informed that normally an announcement is placed on the Annunciator system and that the Speaker or Deputy Speaker would refer to a Petition of Concern being tabled at the commencement of the relevant debate. The Speaker informed members that, in future, Whips will be notified personally if a Petition of Concern has been tabled and accepted in the Business Office.
7. Date and Time of next meeting
7.1 Members agreed to meet at approximately 12.30 pm on Tuesday 10 February 2009 in Room 106.
The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1pm.