Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

BUSINESS COMMITTEE
TUESDAY 15 SEPTEMBER 2009
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
MINUTES

The meeting began at 12.35pm

Present:
The Speaker (Chairperson)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr P Maskey
Lord Morrow
Mr J McCallister
Mr K McCarthy
Mr P Ramsey
Ms S Ramsey
Mr P Weir

Present (secretariat):
Mr J Stewart Director of Clerking and Reporting
Ms L Gordon Clerk of Business
Miss C McKay Assistant Clerk of Business

In attendance:
Mr Hugh Widdis Legal Services
Mr R Good Advisor to the Speaker
Ms F Leneghan Assistant Private Secretary to the Speaker
Mr K Shiels Business Office
Mr A Murphy Assistant Clerk of Business

Observers:
Mr J Dallat Deputy Speaker
Mr F Molloy Deputy Speaker
Mr G Kelly Junior Minister
Ms R Flanagan OFMDFM

1. Introduction

1.1 The Speaker noted apologies from junior Minister Newton, Mr F Cobain and Ms C N í Chuil ín.

2. Minutes of the meeting held on 8 September 2009

2.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 8 September 2009 were agreed and were signed by the Speaker.

3. Matters Arising

3.1 The Speaker informed members that he had written to the Chairperson of the Committee on Procedures, as agreed, requesting that the Committee consider the lack of provision in Standing Orders to appoint a Member to take the Chair in the event that the Speaker and all the Deputy Speakers were unable to act.

There were no other matters arising.

4. Finalisation of Order Papers for Plenary meetings in week commencing 21 September

Executive Business

4.1 Members agreed to schedule the First Stage of the Water and Sewerage Services (Amendment) Bill on Monday 21 September.

4.2 Members also agreed to schedule the Accelerated Passage motion and the Second Stage of the Rates (Amendment) Bill on Tuesday 22 September.

4.3 Members were content that the motion scheduled for Tuesday 22 September on the Civil Service Equal Pay Claim had not been the subject of a previous debate.

5. Provisional Arrangements for Plenary meetings in week commencing 28 September 2009

Executive Business

5.1 Aside from Question Time on Monday 28 September to the Minister of Education and the Minister for Employment and Learning, there was no other business notified for that day.

5.2 In addition to Question Time on Tuesday 29 September to the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, members agreed to schedule the Consideration Stage of the Rates (Amendment) Bill.

Committee Business

5.3 Members agreed to schedule the Public Accounts Committee motion on Tuesday 29 September, and agreed that up to two hours would be allocated for the debate, with speaking times of up to seven minutes for contributors other than the mover and winder.

Private Members’ Business

5.4 Members agreed to schedule two Private Members’ motions on Monday 28 September and one motion on Tuesday 29 September.

Under the system of allocating Private Members’ Business, Sinn Fein had two slots and the DUP one slot.

The following motions were proposed:

Members therefore agreed to schedule the ‘National Assets Management Agency’ motion and the ‘McClean Conacre Case’ motion for the two slots on Monday 28 September; and the ‘Social Tariff System’ motion on Tuesday 29 September. Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for the debates, with the usual speaking times.

5.5 Members agreed to schedule one adjournment topic for Tuesday 29 September. Members proposed a total of four adjournment topics, as follows:

5.6 A vote being called, the votes of party delegations were cast as follows:

5.7 Members therefore agreed to schedule the adjournment topic ‘Flooding in East Belfast’ (Lord Browne) for Tuesday 29 September.

6. Revised Guidance for Motions, Amendments and Questions

6.1 The Speaker referred members to revised guidance on motions, amendments and Questions which reflected amendments made to Standing Orders since May 2007, and separated the original single guidance paper on motions and amendments into two distinct documents.

6.2 Members agreed that the guidance could be issued.

7. Any Other Business

Question Time Slots

7.1 The Speaker referred members to a letter from the Minister for Regional Development seeking to exchange slots with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development on the Question Time Rota from Monday 12 October to Monday 19 October. Members agreed to the request.

Written Response Timescales

7.2 Members noted the reply from the First Minister and deputy First Minister, advising that Ministers had agreed to the Speaker’s suggested deadline to provide a written response to matters raised during debates within 10 working days.

Lectern Availability

7.3 The Speaker asked Whips to remind their Members that lecterns are only for use by Ministers, and by Committee chairs when presenting on behalf of their Committees.

Photographs

7.4 Members agreed to a photographer attending the beginning of the Business Committee meeting on 22 September to take photographs as part of the Assembly’s engagement strategy, before business is discussed.

Translation in the Chamber

7.5 Lord Morrow raised the issue of the requirement that Members should translate fully and accurately their remarks in any language other than English. The impact of long preambles and multiple questions, in any language, on the time available to Members to scrutinise Ministers was also raised, along with the importance of clarity about the approach that will be taken by the Chair in such instances.

7.6 Following a general discussion, the Speaker indicated that he was conscious of all the concerns that had been raised, including the tendency for the latitude allowed to Chairpersons to be abused by other Members. He assured the Committee that he intended to address all the matters that had been raised.

8. Date and Time of next meeting

8.1 Members agreed to meet at approximately 12.30 pm on Tuesday 22 September 2009 in Room 106.

The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.00 pm.

William Hay
The Speaker

08 September 09 / Menu