BUSINESS COMMITTEE
MONDAY
16 MARCH
2009
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
MINUTES
The meeting began at 4.05 pm
Present:
Lord Morrow (Acting Chairperson)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr T Burns
Mr P Maskey
Mr K McCarthy
Ms C N í Chuil ín
Mr P Ramsey
Mr P Weir
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:
Ms P Carson Speaker’s Office
Observers:
Mr G Kelly Junior Minister
Mr A Rogers OFMDFM
1. Introduction
1.1 Lord Morrow advised members that he had been nominated by the Speaker to act as Chairperson in his absence and noted an apology from the junior Minister, Rt Hon J Donaldson. He welcomed Mr P Ramsey to the meeting in place of Mr P McGlone.
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 10 March 2009
2.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 10 March 2009 were agreed and were signed by the Acting Chairperson.
3. Matters Arising
3.1 There were no matters arising.
4. Finalisation of Order Papers for Plenary meetings in week commencing 23 March
Committee Business
4.1Members agreed to schedule one business motion, relating to a Standing Committee membership change, for Monday 23 March.
Private Members’ Business
4.2 Mr B Armstrong requested that the motion on ‘Programme for Government Targets’, scheduled for Tuesday 24 March, be replaced by the motion on ‘’Act on CO2’ Advertising Campaign’. Members agreed to the request.
5. Provisional arrangements for the Plenary meetings in week commencing 30 March
Executive Committee Business
5.1 In addition to Question Time on Monday 30 March, members agreed to schedule the Further Consideration Stage of the Presumption of Death Bill. Members further agreed to schedule a legislative consent motion, tabled by the Minister for Employment and Learning, on the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill and a motion to approve the Draft Health and Social Care (Reform) (2009 Act) (Consequential Provisions) Order (NI) 2009 for Monday 30 March.
5.2 Members agreed to schedule a motion to affirm the Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2009 and a motion to affirm the Pre-Release Access to Official Statistics Order (NI) 2009 for Tuesday 31 March.
Committee Business
5.3 Members agreed to schedule a motion, tabled by the Committee on Procedures, on its Report on the Inquiry into Assembly Questions, for Monday 30 March. Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for the debate, with the usual speaking times.
Private Members’ Business
5.4 Members agreed to schedule one private Members’ motion on Monday 30 March and three private Members’ motions on Tuesday 31 March. Under the system of allocating private Members’ business, the DUP had two slots and Sinn F éin had one slot. The other slot was allocated to a cross-party motion. The following motions were proposed to fill the four available slots:
- ‘All Party Assembly Group on Autism’ (J Craig, B Wilson, T Buchanan, I McCrea, D Bradley, K McCarthy, J McCallister, C Boylan, M O’Neill)
- ‘Financial Pressures on Householders’ (P Weir, S Hamilton)
- ‘Domestic Violence’ (S Ramsey, J McCann)
- ‘Sales of Alcohol to Minors’ ( E Poots, J Shannon)
5.5 Members therefore agreed to schedule the motion on ‘Financial Pressures on Householders’ (P Weir, S Hamilton) for Monday 30 March and the motions on ‘Domestic Violence’ (S Ramsey, J McCann), ‘All Party Assembly Group on Autism’ (J Craig, B Wilson, T Buchanan, I McCrea, D Bradley, K McCarthy, J McCallister, C Boylan, M O’Neill) and ‘Sales of Alcohol to Minors’ (E Poots, J Shannon) for Tuesday 31 March. Members agreed that up to 2 hours should be allocated to the All Party Group on Autism debate and 1 hour 30 minutes for the other debates, with the usual speaking times.
5.6 Members agreed to schedule one adjournment topic for Tuesday 31 March. Members proposed two adjournment topics as follows:
- ‘Urban Renewal Status for Upper Long Streets in North Belfast’ (C N í Chuil ín)
- ‘Non Acute Hospital Provision in Armagh City’ (D Bradley)
5.7 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
- Non Acute Hospital Provision in Armagh City: 16 votes
5.8 Members therefore agreed to schedule the adjournment topic ‘Urban Renewal Status for Upper Long Streets in North Belfast’ (C N í Chuil ín) for Tuesday 31 March.
6. Any Other Business
The Acting Chairperson referred members to the draft Speaker’s ruling on the procedural and practical arrangements that will apply to written Ministerial statements. The Acting Chairperson advised members that the Speaker would like any comments on the ruling to be forwarded to the Clerk by noon on Monday 23 March.
7. Date and Time of next meeting
7.1 Members agreed to meet at approximately 12.30 pm on Tuesday 24 March 2009 in Room 106.
The Acting Chairperson brought the meeting to a close at 4.20 pm.