NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

BUSINESS COMMITTEE

TUESDAY 22 MAY 2007
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

 MINUTES

The meeting began at 12.35 pm

Present:
The Speaker (Chair)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr PJ Bradley
Mr P Maskey
Mr K McCarthy
Dr A McDonnell
Mr D McNarry
Lord Morrow
Ms C Ní Chuilín
Mr P Weir

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

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

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

1. Minutes of the meeting held on 15 May 2007

1.2 The minutes of the meeting held on 15 May were agreed and signed by the Speaker.

2. Matter Arising

2.1 The Speaker drew members’ attention to paragraph 3.4 of the minutes of the meeting held on 15 May (recess dates) and asked members’ to confirm the recess dates for Easter 2008. Members agreed the following option:

• Easter 2008: Saturday 15 March to Sunday 30 March 2008.

2.2 The Speaker informed members that an All Party Notice would issue on Thursday 24 May outlining the recess dates for Summer 2007 to Summer 2008.

2.3 Referring to Paragraph 4.1, the Speaker reported that he had been advised of a number of Bills that would be introduced in the coming weeks.

2.4 The Speaker raised the issue of amendments. The Speaker reminded members that, under Standing Order 15, it was a matter for the Speaker to select amendments. The Speaker advised members on a number of issues of which he took account when considering proposed amendments. These included: the content of the amendment in terms of its relevance to the motion; the number of competing amendments; and whether the proposed amendment alters significantly the proposition of the motion.

2.5 Referring to paragraph 5.2 of the minutes, the Speaker confirmed that he was satisfied, after considering the Hansard for the sitting in question (14 May), that the Deputy Speaker had acted appropriately in relation to Mr McCrea’s maiden speech.

3. Arrangements for plenary meetings in week commencing 28 May

3.1 The Speaker reminded members that they had agreed there would only be one Plenary sitting week commencing Monday 28 May.

3.2 Members were referred to a draft Order Paper for Tuesday 29 May. The Speaker advised members that the Executive proposed no business for week commencing 28 May 2007.

3.3 Members considered the Committee business set out on the draft Order Paper. Two motions, tabled by Lord Morrow, relating to Committee membership were noted by members. Members agreed that Whips could table motions on committee membership up to noon on Thursday for inclusion in the following week’s Order Paper. Such motions would be treated as business motions and, ordinarily, would be agreed without debate. Members agreed that the motion relating to the Assembly Pension Trustees would also be treated as an Assembly business motion.

3.4 Members considered a number of motions and views were expressed about the need to provide sufficient debating time for the issues, and the number of debates that might involve any one Minister. By consensus, the following motions (in this order) were selected for Tuesday 29 May:

• Free Personal Care (Mrs C Hanna, Mrs M Bradley)
• Literacy and Numeracy (Ms M McIlveen, Mr A Ross)
• Domestic Violence (Mrs J McCann)
• Fuel Poverty (Mr F Cobain, Mr R Beggs)
• Adjournment debate – Funding for re-surfacing of roads in the Strangford constituency (Mr K McCarthy)

It was agreed that each motion would be allocated up to 1 hour 30 minutes. Members were reminded that Adjournment debates would last for up to one hour including 10 minutes for a ministerial response.

4. Any Other Business

4.1 The Speaker informed members that the BBC had approached the Assembly in relation to its coverage of Assembly debates. After discussion, members agreed that they would defer the lunch suspension on Tuesdays until 1 pm, thus allowing for the BBC to provide live coverage of plenary business.

4.2 Mr McNarry raised the issue of Committee meetings taking place on Tuesdays at the same time as the Plenary. He made the point that his Party colleagues found it unsatisfactory that they were required to attend Committee meetings when plenary business was also taking place. Other members made the point that previously it was not uncommon to have Committee meetings taking place on plenary days. The Speaker suggested that members keep the matter under review.

4.3 The Speaker informed members that the Business Office had received a number of questions in Irish. The Speaker reminded members that Standing Order 73 provides that members may speak in the language of their choice, but that language other than English when tabling is not provided for in Standing Orders. The Speaker made members aware that resources were not available to facilitate tabling in a language other than English. The Speaker suggested that the Committee should return to this matter at a later date.

4.4 Members were also informed that for both motions and amendments, the Speaker had ruled that “Derry/Londonderry” should be used, and the Business Office will amend other references to comply with his ruling. Further, the Speaker informed members that terms other than “ Northern Ireland” and “the Republic of Ireland” would continue to be corrected in texts tabled by Members.

5. Date and Time of next meeting

5.1 Members agreed to meet immediately following the lunchtime suspension on Tuesday 29 May in Room 106.

The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.50 pm.

William Hay

The Speaker