BUSINESS COMMITTEE
TUESDAY
10 MARCH
2009
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
MINUTES
The meeting began at 12.30 pm
Present:
The Speaker (Chairperson)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr T Burns
Mr F Cobain
Mr P Maskey
Mr K McCarthy
Lord Morrow
Ms C N í Chuil ín
Present (secretariat):
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 J McMillen Legal Services
Mrs M Mageean Business Office
Observers:
Mr J Dallat Deputy Speaker
Mr D McClarty Deputy Speaker
Mr F Molloy Deputy Speaker
Ms R Flanagan OFMDFM
1. Introduction
1.1 The Speaker noted apologies from the two junior Ministers, Rt Hon J Donaldson and Mr G Kelly.
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 3 March 2009
2.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 3 March 2009 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 meeting in week commencing 16 March
4.1 There were no changes to the order paper for Monday 16 March.
5. Provisional arrangements for the Plenary meeting in week commencing 23 March
Executive Committee Business
5.1 In addition to Question Time on Monday 23 March, members agreed to schedule a legislative consent motion, tabled by the Minister for Social Development, on the Saving Gateway Accounts Bill. Members further agreed to schedule a motion to approve the Draft Renewables Obligation Order (NI) 2009 for Tuesday 24 March.
Committee Business
5.2 Members agreed to schedule a number of motions, tabled by the Chairperson of the Committee on Procedures, to amend Standing Orders, for Monday 23 March. Members anticipated that this would take in the region of 1 hour, but did not allocate any time limit to the item. Members further agreed to schedule the motion from the Chairperson of the Audit Committee on ‘Salary for holder of office of the Comptroller and Auditor General’, for Tuesday 24 March.
Private Members’ Business
5.3 Members agreed to schedule one private Members’ motion on Monday 23 March and three private Members’ motions on Tuesday 24 March. Under the system of allocating private Members’ business, the DUP, Sinn F éin, the UUP and Alliance had one slot each. The following motions were proposed to fill the four available slots:
- ‘Primary Schools’ (M Storey, M McIlveen, N McCausland, E Poots)
- ‘Voting Registration Process’ (D McKay, P Doherty)
- ‘Programme for Government Targets’ (L Cree, A McFarland)
- ‘Post Primary Transfer’ (T Lunn, S Farry)
5.4 Members therefore agreed to schedule the motion on ‘Voting Registration Process’ (D McKay, P Doherty) for Monday 23 March and the motions on ‘Programme for Government Targets’ (L Cree, A McFarland), ‘Primary Schools’ (M Storey, M McIlveen, N McCausland, E Poots) and ‘Post Primary Transfer’ (T Lunn, S Farry) for Tuesday 24 March. Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for each debate, with the usual speaking times.
5.5 Members agreed to schedule one adjournment topic for Tuesday 24 March. Members proposed four adjournment topics as follows:
- ‘Urban Renewal Status for Upper Long Streets in North Belfast’ (C N í Chuil ín)
- ‘ Portadown College New Build’ (D Simpson)
- ‘Non Acute Hospital Provision in Armagh City’ (D Bradley)
- ‘ Tor Bank School and Lagan College, South Belfast (A Lo)
5.6 A vote being called, the votes of party delegations were cast as follows:
- Urban Renewal Status for Upper Long Streets in North Belfast: 27 votes
- Portadown College New Build: 35 votes
- Non Acute Hospital Provision in Armagh City: 16 votes
- Tor Bank School and Lagan College, South Belfast: 9 votes
5.7 Members therefore agreed to schedule the adjournment topic ‘Portadown College New Build’ (D Simpson) for Tuesday 24 March.
6. Any Other Business
6.1 The Speaker informed members that he would not be present to Chair the next meeting of the Business Committee and that Lord Morrow would therefore Chair the meeting in his absence. The Speaker reminded members that the next meeting would take place immediately after the House rises on Monday 16 March.
6.2 Mr K McCarthy informed members that he would like to propose, at the next meeting of the Business Committee, the cross-party motion on ‘All Party Assembly Group on Autism’ as business for the week commencing 30 March. Members noted the request.
6.3 Mr P Maskey raised concerns that information from the Business Committee had made its way into the public domain . The Speaker reminded members of the long-standing convention of confidentiality within the Business Committee.
6.4 The Speaker advised members that a change would be required to the deadline for tabling motions for consideration at the Business Committee meeting on 16 March. Members agreed to move the deadline to 3.30 pm on Monday 16 March.
7. Date and Time of next meeting
7.1 Members agreed to meet at approximately 4.30 pm on Monday 16 March 2009 in Room 106.
The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 12.55 pm.