BUSINESS COMMITTEE
TUESDAY
22 SEPTEMBER
2009
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
MINUTES
The meeting began at 12.35pm
Present:
The Speaker (Chairperson)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr T Burns
Mr F Cobain
Lord Morrow
Mr K McCarthy
Ms C N í Chuil ín
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
Miss C McKay Assistant Clerk of Business
In attendance:
Mr Hugh Widdis Director of Legal Services
Mr R Good Advisor to the Speaker
Ms F Leneghan Assistant Private Secretary to the Speaker
Mrs M Mageean Clerk of Business
Mr A Murphy Assistant Clerk of Business
Observers:
Mr J Dallat Deputy Speaker
Mr F Molloy Deputy Speaker
Mr D McClarty Deputy Speaker
Mr R Newton Junior Minister
Ms R Flanagan OFMDFM
1. Introduction
1.1 The Speaker noted apologies from junior Minister Kelly and Mr P Maskey.
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 15 September 2009
2.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 15 September 2009 were agreed and were signed by the Speaker.
3. Matters Arising
3.1 The Speaker referred members to paragraphs 7.5 and 7.6 of the minutes, and to his related ruling on challenges to the Chair, and questions following Ministerial Statements (copy of ruling attached).
3.2 The Speaker assured members that any variations in approach from the Chair would be within the broad context of the conventions and rulings that are in place.
3.3 Following a request from Mr J O’Dowd, it was agreed that a summary of rulings since the publication of the Assembly Companion would be provided to whips within the next few weeks when work on it had been completed.
4. Finalisation of Order Papers for Plenary meetings in week commencing 28 September
Executive Business
4.1 Members noted the proposal for a Ministerial Statement on Monday 28 September by the Minister for Regional Development on winter services around rural roads.
4.2 Members noted the proposal for a Ministerial Statement by OFMdFM on the Joint Ministerial Committee plenary meeting, and agreed to schedule the Second Stage of the Water and Sewerage Services (Amendment) Bill, on Tuesday 29 September.
Committee Business
4.3 Members agreed to schedule the motion to extend the Committee Stage of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill on Monday 28 September.
5. Provisional Arrangements for Plenary meetings in week commencing 5 October 2009
Executive Business
5.1 In addition to Question Time on Monday 5 October to the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister and the Minister of the Environment, members agreed to schedule the Further Consideration Stage of the Rates (Amendment) Bill.
5.2 In addition to Question Time on Tuesday 6 October to the Minister of Finance and Personnel, members agreed to schedule the Final Stage of the Rates (Amendment) Bill.
Committee Business
5.3 Members agreed to schedule two motions, one to extend the Committee Stage of the Employment Bill and one to extend the Committee Stage of the Housing (Amendment) Bill on Monday 5 October.
Private Members’ Business
5.4 Members agreed to schedule two Private Members’ motions on Monday 5 October and two motions on Tuesday 6 October.
Under the system of allocating Private Members’ Business, the UUP, Alliance, DUP and SDLP each had one slot.
The following motions were proposed:
- Grammar School Entrance Tests (B McCrea, J McCallister);
- Migrant Workers (A Lo, N Long);
- Foster Care (J Shannon, Lord Morrow); and
- Social Housing (D O’Loan, A McDonnell, T Burns).
5.5 Junior Minister Newton informed members that the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety was unavailable on both Monday 5 and Tuesday 6 October, and that the Minister for Regional Development was unavailable on Tuesday 6 October. Due to the unavailability of the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, the DUP chose the following motion to fill one of the slots:
- Protestant Student Exodus (A Easton, J Craig).
5.6 Members therefore agreed to schedule the ‘Grammar School Entrance Tests’ motion (following confirmation by the UUP) and the ‘Migrant Workers’ motion for the two slots on Monday 5 October; and the ‘Protestant Student Exodus’ motion and ‘Social Housing’ motion on Tuesday 6 October. Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for the debates, with the usual speaking times.
5.7 Members agreed to schedule one adjournment topic for Tuesday 6 October. Members proposed a total of four adjournment topics, as follows:
- ‘Proposed Multi-element Improvement Scheme for 19 rural cottages within the Housing Executive’s Lurgan District Office area’ (Mr J O’Dowd);
- ‘Unauthorised monument in Newtownbutler’ (Mr T Elliott);
- ‘ Tor Bank School and Lagan College, South Belfast’ (Ms A Lo); and
- ‘Unemployment in Foyle’ (Mr M Durkan).
5.8 A vote being called, the votes of party delegations were cast as follows:
- Proposed Multi-element Improvement Scheme for 19 rural cottages within the Housing Executive’s Lurgan District Office area: 27 votes
- Unauthorised monument in Newtownbutler: 53 votes
- Tor Bank School and Lagan College, South Belfast: 9 votes
- Unemployment in Foyle: 16 votes
5.9 Members therefore agreed to schedule the adjournment topic ‘Unauthorised monument in Newtownbutler’ (Mr T Elliott) for Tuesday 6 October.
6. Any Other Business
Speaker of the House of Commons
6.1 The Speaker advised members that they will be receiving invitations to meet the Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow MP, for an informal meeting on Monday 5 October at 10.45am.
7. Date and Time of next meeting
7.1 Members agreed to meet at approximately 12.30 pm on Tuesday 29 September 2009 in Room 106.
The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 12.55 pm.