BUSINESS COMMITTEE
TUESDAY
24 MARCH
2009
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
MINUTES
The meeting began at 1.00 pm
Present:
The Speaker
Mr PJ Bradley
Mr F Cobain
Mr K McCarthy
Lord Morrow
Mr J O’Dowd
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:
Mr R Good, Adviser to the Speaker
Ms F Leneghan, Assistant Private Secretary to the Speaker
Mr H Widdis, Legal Services
Mrs M Mageean, Business Office
Observers:
Mr J Dallat, Deputy Speaker
Mr D McClarty, Deputy Speaker
Mr F Molloy, Deputy Speaker
Rt Hon J Donaldson, Junior Minister
Mr G Kelly, Junior Minister
Mr N Jackson, OFMDFM
1. Introduction
1.1 The Speaker thanked Lord Morrow for acting as Chairperson at the Committee meeting on 16 March and welcomed Mr P Ramsey to his first meeting as a full member of the Committee. The Speaker noted apologies from Ms C Ní Chuilín and Mr P Maskey and welcomed Mr J O’Dowd in their absence.
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 16 March 2009
2.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 16 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 meetings in week commencing 30 March
4.1 There were no changes to the draft Order Papers for Monday 30 and Tuesday 31 March. The Speaker advised members that, because a Petition of Concern had been tabled in relation to the ‘Act on CO2’ Advertising Campaign motion, the vote would have to be taken at a later date. Members agreed that the vote, which would be on a cross-community basis, should be taken as the first item of business on Monday 30 March.
5. Provisional arrangements for the Plenary meetings in week commencing 20 April
5.1 Aside from Question Time on Monday 20 April, there was no other Executive or Committee business scheduled for this week. Members therefore agreed to consider private Members’ business at the next meeting of the Business Committee on Tuesday 31 March.
6. Any Other Business
6.1 The Speaker thanked members for their consideration of the ruling on practical arrangements for written Ministerial statements. The Speaker reminded members that there will be no opportunity to ask questions about written statements in the Chamber, unless a Member chooses to table an oral question for answer at Question Time. The Speaker further reminded members that there will be no opportunity for matters referred to in written Ministerial statements to be raised as points of order.
7. Date and Time of next meeting
7.1 Members agreed to meet at approximately 12.30 pm on Tuesday 31 March 2009 in Room 106.
The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.10 pm.