NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY BUSINESS COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 19 OCTOBER 2010
ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
The meeting began at 12.36 pm
Present:
The Speaker (Chairperson)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr T Burns
Mr F Cobain
Mr P Maskey
Mr K McCarthy
Lord Morrow
Mr P Ramsey
Mr P Weir
In attendance:
Mr J Stewart Director of Clerking and Reporting
Ms L Gordon Clerk of Business
Mr K Shiels Clerk of Business
Ms F Leneghan Assistant Private Secretary to the Speaker
Mr H Widdis Director of Legal Services
Observers:
Mr D McClarty Deputy Speaker
Junior Minister Kelly
Junior Minister Newton
Mr N Jackson OFMDFM
1. Introduction and Apologies
1.1 The Speaker noted apologies from Ms C Ní Chuilín.
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 5 October 2010
2.1 The minutes of the meeting, as amended, were agreed and signed by the Speaker.
3. Matters Arising
3.1 There were no matters arising from the minutes of 5 October 2010.
4. Minutes of the meeting held on 12 October 2010
4.1 The minutes of the meeting were agreed and signed by the Speaker.
5. Matters Arising
5.1 There were no matters arising from the minutes of 12 October 2010.
6. Finalisation of Order Papers for Plenary meetings in week commencing 1 November 2010
Executive Business
6.1 There were no changes to the Executive Business for either Monday 1 November or Tuesday 2 November. Members noted that the Second Stage of the Justice Bill was confirmed for scheduling on Tuesday 2 November, following its introduction on 18 October.
Committee Business
6.2 Members noted that the Public Accounts Committee’s ‘Take Note’ motion had been tabled, and agreed to schedule it for Tuesday 2 November. Members also agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for the debate. Members further agreed to the Committee’s request that all speakers, other than the Chairperson, be allocated up to seven minutes in which to speak.
6.3 Members agreed to schedule motions to replace UUP members on statutory and standing committees
Private Members’ Business
6.4 Members noted that some drafting changes had been incorporated into the motion on University Funding scheduled for Monday 1 November.
6.5 Members agreed to schedule the presentation of a public petition by Mr Pat Ramsey, relating to opposition to the Russell Group proposals for student loans, for Monday 1 November.
7. Provisional Arrangements for Plenary meetings in week commencing 8 November 2010
Executive Business
7.1 Members noted that the only Executive Business scheduled for Monday 8
November was Question Time to the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and the Minister of the Environment.
7.2 Members noted that, in addition to Question Time to the Minister of Finance and Personnel and the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety the following Executive business was scheduled for Tuesday 9 November:
- Final Stage – Debt Relief Bill;
- Final Stage – Unsolicited Services (Trade and Business Directories) Bill;
- Five motions from the Minister for Employment and Learning to approve regulations relating to Paternity Leave and Paternity Pay; and
- A motion from the Minister for Employment and Learning to approve the Employment Rights (NI) Order 1996 (Application of Article 112BB to Adoptions from Overseas) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010.
Committee Business
7.3 There was no Committee business requested.
Private Members’ Business
7.4 Members agreed to schedule the Further Consideration Stage of the Local Government (Disqualification) Bill on Tuesday 9 November.
7.5 Members agreed to schedule two Private Members’ motions on Monday 8 November, but none on Tuesday 9 November.
Under the system of allocating Private Members’ motions, the selections lay with the DUP and Sinn Féin.
The following motions were proposed:
- Assembly Running Costs (Rt Hon P Robinson); and
- Irish Language Strategy (Mr B McElduff, Mr B Leonard, Mr R McCartney).
7.6 Members agreed to schedule both motions on Monday 8 November. Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for the debates, with the usual speaking times.
7.7 Members agreed to schedule an Adjournment Debate on Tuesday 9 November. Under the system for allocating Adjournment Debates, the selection lay with the DUP.
The DUP selected the following topic:
- Ballymacash Social Housing Scheme (Mr P Givan).
Members agreed to schedule the topic as the Adjournment Debate on Tuesday 9 November.
7.8 The junior Ministers confirmed that all relevant Ministers were available to respond to the motion and Adjournment Debate. Members noted that the issue of a response to the Assembly Running Costs motion would be for the Assembly Commission to consider.
8. Statistics on Ministerial Availability
8.1 The Speaker referred members to the statistics which had been requested on Ministerial availability to attend debates from September 2009 to date. Lord Morrow and Mr Ramsey both expressed concerns about the statistics relating to the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. Mr Cobain advised that the Minister’s availability during the 2009-10 session had been severely curtailed by the UK-wide swine flu pandemic planning process, and requested that statistics be prepared for all Ministerial responses to debates in the same period. The Speaker reminded members that he had asked the Committee on Procedures to consider whether a solution might be possible through an amendment to Standing Orders, and urged members to let that consideration process be undertaken.
9. Any other business
9.1 Mr Ramsey raised concerns about the absence of Executive business in the immediate future. In particular, he sought an assurance that all the Bills currently before the Assembly would complete their stages before dissolution. Mr Stewart advised that he was considering this issue at present and undertook to provide an advice paper to the committee. Given the intervening Halloween recess, it was agreed that the paper would be provided to members before the next meeting.
9.2 Also on the subject of plenary business from the Executive, Lord Morrow queried whether the Assembly needed to meet on Monday 8 November. The junior Ministers were unable to confirm any additional Executive business for that day. Mr McCarthy referred to the expected announcement on the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review, and considered that this would be a matter that the Assembly might usefully discuss. However, as private Members’ business had already been scheduled to supplement Question Time on Monday 8 November, members agreed to keep the matter under review.
9.3 Mr Maskey referred to the fact that the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development had been meeting at the same time as the debate on the Enforcement of EU Animal Welfare Legislation had been taking place in the Chamber. He asked the Business Committee, where possible, to consider whether steps could be taken to lessen the impact of such coincidences in timing when scheduling private Members’ business.
10. Date and Time of next meeting
10.1 Members agreed to meet at approximately 12.30pm on Tuesday 2 November 2010 in Room 106.
The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 12.58pm.
Mr William Hay
Speaker
12 October 10 / Menu |
