NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

BUSINESS COMMITTEE

WEDNESDAY 9 MAY 2007

IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

 MINUTES

The meeting began at 11.33 am

Present:
The Speaker, William Hay (Chair)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr PJ Bradley
Mr D Kennedy
Mr P Maskey
Mr K McCarthy
Dr A McDonnell
Lord Morrow
Ms C Ní Chuilín
Mr D O’Loan

Present (secretariat):
Mr A Moir The Clerk
Mr J Reynolds Deputy Clerk

In attendance:
Mr P Moore Clerk of Business
Ms C McGivern Director of Legal Services
Mr R Good Adviser to the Speaker
Ms F Leneghan Assistant Private Secretary to the Speaker  

Observers:
Mr J Dallat Deputy Speaker
Mr F Molloy Deputy Speaker
Ms R Flanagan OFMDFM

1. Introduction

1.1 The Speaker explained that the Business Committee meeting would be conducted in three parts: the first two to allow completion of the Committee’s work on the membership of Statutory and Standing Committees, and the third to consider plenary business for the week commencing 14 May 2007.

2. Membership of Standing Committees

2.1 Members reported their discussions of the previous day and the Speaker was advised that there was a possible solution, but that one party objected to it. Mr McCarthy confirmed that his party could not support the solution as it denied his party grouping a seat on the Assembly and Executive Review Committee.

2.2 There was discussion about the possibility of an amendment to Standing Orders to permit an additional seat on that Committee, but an acknowledgment that such a change could not be effected before membership motions were to be considered by the Assembly. It was agreed that parties could hold separate discussions on whether or not it would be desirable to change Standing Orders. In the meantime, with the objections of the Alliance Party noted, it was agreed to proceed with the solution proposed.

2.3 A matrix representing that solution was distributed to Members, who were asked, as a matter of urgency, to provide the Business Office with names of colleagues who would take their parties’ allocated seats.

2.4 Members agreed to suspend the meeting to allow production of the draft documents.

The Speaker suspended the meeting at 11.45 am. The meeting resumed at 12.45 with Dr McDonnell attending rather than Mr O’Loan.

3. Approval of Membership Lists NIA 1/06-07 and NIA 2/06-07

3.1 Members considered the two draft lists. They were advised that one Member was listed as serving on both the Audit Committee and the Public Accounts Committee, but that this was permitted under Standing Orders. Members were advised that three Sinn Féin MLAs, who did not hold Ministerial or Junior Ministerial office, were not shown as serving on Statutory Committees. Ms Ní Chuilín provided assurances that all three had been offered at least one Statutory Committee place. Following discussions, members were advised that Standing Order 46(3) placed a requirement on the Speaker in this matter, and that it was for the Speaker to satisfy himself that the appropriate offers had been made.

3.2 Members agreed to the circulation to Members of the documents NIA 1/06-07 and NIA 2/06-07 (without amendment).

The meeting was suspended at 1.00 pm and resumed at 2.35 pm, with Mr Kennedy no longer in attendance. Mr Dallat, Mr Molloy and Ms Flanagan observed this part of the meeting only.

4. Recess dates

4.1 Members considered possible dates for Assembly recesses to Summer 2008. While members acknowledged that the dates reflected previous practice in the Northern Ireland Assembly, members agreed to defer the Committee’s decision until a comparison could be made with other legislatures. Members were advised that comparative information would be provided before the next meeting.

5. Plenary meetings during week commencing 14 May 2007

5.1 Members agreed that the Assembly should sit on Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 May. The Speaker informed the Committee that he would not be available to preside in the Chamber on15 May, as he was attending an engagement on behalf of the Assembly.

5.2 It was confirmed that no Executive or Committee business was available to be scheduled. Members agreed to select four private Members’ motions each day for debate.

5.3 By consensus, the following motions (in this order) were selected for Monday 14 May:

• Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (R Coulter, D McClarty)
• Women in politics (M Anderson, S Ramsey, C Ní Chuilín and J McCann)
• Development of the Rail Network (J Dallat) and
• Undocumented Irish in the USA (A McDonnell, PJ Bradley)

Up to one hour was considered sufficient for the first debate, with up to one-and-a-half hours scheduled for the other three.

5.4 By consensus, the following motions (in this order) were selected for Tuesday 14 May:

• Review of new rating system (B Wilson, S Farry)
• Health prescription charges (K McCarthy, K Deeny)
• Child and adolescent mental health services (S Ramsey, C Ní Chuilín and M O’Neill) and
• Care Matters Strategy (S Ramsey, C Ní Chuilín and M O’Neill)

One-and-a-half hours was considered sufficient for each of the three health debates, with two hours scheduled for the other 1.

5.5 Members agreed that for all debates, the proposer should have ten minutes to propose and ten to wind, with other contributors allowed five minutes each. In the event of an amendment being selected, members agreed that the proposer of each amendment should have ten minutes to propose and five to wind. Members were reminded of the convention that, when a debate related to a Minister’s responsibilities, that Minister was allowed ten minutes per hour of scheduled debate time to respond to the issues being raised (i.e. fifteen minutes for a debate lasting one-and-a-half hours).

6. Any Other Business

6.1 Referring to Members being absent from the Chamber when they were being nominated to office, the Speaker asked whips to stress to their colleagues the importance of attendance in such circumstances, and the need to give early advance notice where absence was unavoidable.

6.2 Members were reminded about the appointment of substitutes to attend Business Committee meetings and it was confirmed that notice of each member’s appointment should be given in writing to the Speaker and before a substitute’s attendance was necessary.

6.3 In response to Mr McCarthy’s question, members were reminded that if a Member was not in his place when he was due to be called to speak in a debate, the next Member would be called.

6.4 Members were advised that Standing Orders required the Speaker to nominate two members to act as Chairperson of the Business Committee in his unavoidable absence, and that nominations would be made before the next meeting.

7. Date and Time of next meeting

7.1 Members agreed to meet at 12.30 pm on Tuesday 15 May in Room 106. The Speaker submitted apologies for his unavoidable absence from this meeting due to representing the Assembly at an event in London on that day.

The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 3.15 pm.

William Hay

The Speaker

1. Later revised to one-and-a-half hours