BUSINESS COMMITTEE
TUESDAY
29 SEPTEMBER
2009
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
MINUTES
The meeting began at 12.35pm
Present:
The Speaker (Chairperson)
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
Miss C McKay Assistant Clerk of Business
In attendance:
Ms Tara Caul Legal Advisor
Mr R Good Adviser to the Speaker
Ms F Leneghan Assistant Private Secretary to the Speaker
Mr K Shiels Clerk of Business
Mr A Murphy Assistant Clerk of Business
Ms S Greene Clerical Supervisor
Observers:
Mr J Dallat Deputy Speaker
Mr F Molloy Deputy Speaker
Mr D McClarty Deputy Speaker
Ms R Flanagan OFMDFM
1. Introduction
1.1 The Speaker noted apologies from junior Ministers Kelly and Newton, Lord Morrow, Mr PJ Bradley and Mr B Armstrong.
1.2 The Speaker thanked Whips for their co-operation last Tuesday in rescheduling business, and for the pairing arrangements for the Assembly Roadshow.
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 22 September 2009
2.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 22 September 2009 were agreed and signed by the Speaker.
3. Finalisation of Order Papers for Plenary meetings in week commencing 5 October
Executive Business
3.1 Members noted that the Further Consideration Stage of the Rates (Amendment) Bill was moved from Monday 5 October to Tuesday 6 October, and that the Final Stage of the Bill was deferred until Tuesday 13 October.
Committee Business
3.2 Members agreed to schedule the motion to extend the Committee Stage of both the Housing (Amendment) Bill and the Forestry Bill.
4. Provisional Arrangements for Plenary meetings in week commencing 12 October 2009
Executive Business
4.1 Members noted that there was no other Executive Business for Monday 12 October, other than Question Time to the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.
4.2 In addition to Question Time on Tuesday 13 October to the Minister for Social Development, members agreed to schedule the Final Stage of the Rates (Amendment) Bill.
Committee Business
4.3 Members agreed to schedule a motion from the Committee on Procedures, to amend Standing Orders 57, 69 and 81 on Monday 12 October. Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated to the debate, with the usual speaking times.
4.4 Members agreed to schedule a motion from the Committee for Employment and Learning on Access to Childcare for Students in Further and Higher Education, on Tuesday 13 October. Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated to the debate, with the usual speaking times.
Private Members’ Business
4.5 Members agreed to schedule two Private Members’ motions on Monday 12 October.
Under the system of allocating Private Members’ Business, the DUP and Sinn Fein each had one slot.
The following motions were proposed:
- Assisted Suicide (Mr S Hamilton, Rt Hon J Donaldson); and
- Attendance at Services in Catholic Churches (Mr J O’Dowd, Mr B McElduff, Mr R McCartney).
4.6 Members agreed to schedule the ‘Assisted Suicide’ and ‘Attendance at Services in Catholic Churches’ motion for the two slots on Monday 12 October. Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated to the debates, with the usual speaking times.
4.7 Members agreed that no slots should be scheduled for Tuesday 13 October, until the position on Executive Business was known. It was agreed this would be reconsidered at next week’s meeting.
4.8 Members agreed to schedule one adjournment topic for Tuesday 13 October. Members proposed a total of three adjournment topics, as follows:
- ‘ Tor Bank School and Lagan College, South Belfast’ (Ms A Lo);
- ‘Unemployment in Foyle’ (Mr M Durkan); and
- ‘Proposed removal of in-patient surgical beds at the Mid Ulster Hospital’ (Mr F Molloy).
4.9 A vote being called, the votes of party delegations were cast as follows:
- Tor Bank School and Lagan College, South Belfast: 44 votes
- Unemployment in Foyle: 16 votes
- Proposed removal of in-patient surgical beds at the Mid Ulster Hospital: 27 votes
4.10 Members therefore agreed to schedule the adjournment topic ‘ Tor Bank School and Lagan College’ (Ms A Lo) for Tuesday 13 October.
4.11 Members noted that the relevant Ministers were available.
5. Any Other Business
Adjournment Debates
5.1 Mr Pat Ramsey suggested that Adjournment Debates should be scheduled using the same rota mechanism as Private Members’ Motions. All members agreed. Further, it was agreed that this approach should be adopted after the Halloween recess period.
Speaker of the House of Commons
5.2 The Speaker reminded members of the reception for the Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow MP, on Monday 5 October at 10.45am.
Mobile Phones
5.3 Whips agreed to remind Members to switch off their mobile phones within the Chamber, due to the interference with the broadcast feed to the media, the stream on the website, recording of debates by Hansard and the induction loop.
5.4 Ms Caral N í Chuil ín raised the problem of the lack of a mobile phone signal for Orange phone users in Parliament Buildings. The Speaker agreed that the issue would be raised through the appropriate channels.
6. Date and Time of next meeting
6.1 Members agreed to meet at approximately 12.30 pm on Tuesday 6 October 2009 in Room 106.
The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 12.50pm.