Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

BUSINESS COMMITTEE
TUESDAY 21 APRIL 2009
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
MINUTES

The meeting began at 12.35 pm

Present:

The Speaker (Chairperson)
Mr T Burns
Mr F Cobain
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:

Mr R Good Adviser to the Speaker
Ms F Leneghan Assistant Private Secretary to the Speaker
Mr K Shiels Business Office
Mr H Widdis Legal Services

Observers:

Mr F Molloy Deputy Speaker
Rt Hon J Donaldson Junior Minister
Ms R Flanagan OFMDFM

1. Introduction

1.1 The Speaker noted apologies from the junior Minister, Mr G Kelly, and Lord Morrow.

2. Minutes of the meeting held on 31 March 2009

2.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 31 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 27 April

Executive Committee Business

4.1 In addition to Question Time on Monday 27 April, members agreed to schedule the Final Stage of the Presumption of Death Bill. Members noted that the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development wished to make a Statement on Tuesday 28 April relating to the North-South Ministerial Council Agriculture Sectoral meeting held on 20 March 2009.

Committee Business

4.2 There was no Committee business.

Private Members’ Business

4.3 Members agreed to schedule two private Members’ motions on Monday 27 April and three private Members’ motions on Tuesday 28 April. Under the system of allocating private Members’ business each Party had one slot each. The following motions were proposed to fill the five available slots:

*Members were informed that due to Ministerial unavailability the motion on ‘Costs of Division’ could not be scheduled for Tuesday 28 April. After discussion, the DUP agreed to swap their slot for Tuesday 5 May with Alliance. The DUP proposed the motion on ‘Children Missing from Care’ (M McIlveen, E Poots, I McCrea, M Storey) for Tuesday 28 April.

4.4 Members therefore agreed to schedule the motions on ‘Steps 2 Work Contracts’ (A Attwood) and ‘STEM Subjects’ (P Butler, C McGill, S Ramsey) for Monday 27 April, and the motions on ‘Health Provision for Older People’ (I Robinson, T Buchanan, A Easton), ‘Revised Recommendations Report of the Local Government Boundaries Commissioner’ (R Beggs, D McClarty) and ‘Children Missing from Care’ (M McIlveen, E Poots, I McCrea, M Storey) for Tuesday 28 April. Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for each debate, with the usual speaking times.

4.5 Members agreed to schedule one adjournment topic for Tuesday 28 April. One adjournment topic was proposed by Mr P Ramsey, entitled ‘Non-Acute Hospital Provision in Armagh City’. Members therefore agreed to schedule the adjournment topic ‘Non-Acute Hospital Provision in Armagh City’ (D Bradley) for Tuesday 28 April.

5. Provisional arrangements for Plenary meeting on 5 May

5.1 Members were referred to the provisional Order Paper for Tuesday 5 May. It was agreed that there would be no plenary sitting on Bank Holiday Monday (4 May) and that Question Time would be rescheduled for the Tuesday (5 May).

Executive Business

5.2 Aside from Question Time on Tuesday 5 May, there was no further Executive Business notified for that day.

Committee Business

5.3 There was no Committee business.

Private Members’ business

5.4 Members agreed to schedule two private Members’ motions on Tuesday 5 May. As agreed,(paragraph 4.3) the Alliance Party took the slot allocated to the DUP under the rota system, and Sinn F éin had one slot. The following motions were proposed to fill the two available slots:

5.5 Members therefore agreed to schedule the motions on ‘Employment Support Allowance’ (M Brady, C N í Chuil ín, F McCann) and ‘Costs of Division’ (D Ford, S Farry) for Tuesday 5 May. Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for each debate, with the usual speaking times.

5.6 Members agreed to schedule one adjournment topic for Tuesday 5 May. One adjournment topic was proposed by Mr P Maskey, entitled ‘Management of Assets and Pensions at Visteon Corporation’. Members therefore agreed to schedule the adjournment topic ‘Management of Assets and Pensions at Visteon Corporation’ (G Adams) for Tuesday 5 May.

5.7 Members agreed that the Business Committee would meet at 1 pm on Tuesday 5 May to allow a full hour of debate before suspending for lunch.

6. Any Other Business

6.1 The Speaker advised members that he had revised his May 2007 ruling on terminology regarding certain place names. The Speaker informed members that a Clerk from the Business Office would meet with Whips and party support staff to provide further clarification and advice on the revised ruling. (See attached Annex A for revised ruling).

6.2 The Speaker referred members to a paper setting out the procedural approach that will now be taken in relation to the fall of business if a Member is not present in the Chamber. The Speaker made it clear that, with immediate effect, should the mover of an item of business not be present, regardless of whether this is a Minister, Committee Chairperson or private Member, the item of business will fall. If the mover of the subsequent item is available to move it, that business will proceed immediately. If not, the House will take its ease for a few moments, or suspend for a longer period of time, to allow the mover to arrive in the Chamber. The Speaker also reminded members that it is the responsibility of Whips to ensure that their Members are present in the Chamber when required to move items of business. He asked members to pay particular regard to the importance of a Whip or deputy Whip being available in the Chamber at all times as a channel of communication with the Chair.

7. Date and Time of next meeting

7.1 Members agreed to meet at approximately 12.30 pm on Tuesday 28 April 2009 in Room 106.

The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.05 pm.

William Hay
The Speaker
Annex A
Revised Speaker’s Ruling on Terminology

Members will be aware that in May 2007 I made a ruling about certain place names. I ruled that the Business Office should use the term “Derry-stroke-Londonderry” when publishing motions, amendments and questions tabled by Members. I also ruled that terms of description other than “ Northern Ireland” and “the Republic of Ireland” would be amended.

A number of Members have raised concerns about my May 2007 ruling directly with me and with staff in the Business Office. I have given these matters some further consideration and I am now revising the ruling.

Having reflected on the issues I am content that an Assembly Question which is tabled for written answer is correspondence solely between the Member and the relevant Minister. For such questions, while Clerks will seek to ensure that the meaning of any question is clear, flexibility will be shown in accepting, as far as possible, the tabling Member’s preference as to what terminology they wish to use.

With regard to all other papers tabled I have decided that these should be treated differently, because they result in discussion in plenary session and are potentially much more sensitive. I am therefore ruling that for oral questions, motions, amendments, adjournment topics or any other matters being discussed in plenary, official titles should be used.

I have approved a paper that Business Office Clerks will use to guide their actions, on my behalf, in providing Members with advice and guidance. Kevin Shiels from the Business Office will copy the paper and speak to Whips and their party support staff this afternoon or tomorrow. The Clerks of Business will provide further information or clarification on terminology as and when necessary. [End of ruling]

31 March 09 / Menu