COMMITTEE ON PROCEDURES
Minutes of Proceedings
Wednesday, 11th June
Room 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Mervyn Storey (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Francie Brolly
Mr David McClarty
Mr Adrian McQuillan
Mr Sean Neeson
Mr Declan O’Loan
Mr Ken Robinson
In Attendance:
Ms Stella McArdle (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Wendy Young (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Ms Linda Hare (Clerical Supervisor)
Apologies:
Lord Morrow
Lord Wallace Browne
Mr Mickey Brady
The meeting opened at 2.02pm in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Chairperson’s business
2.04pm Mr Francie Brolly joined the meeting.
Agreed – The Committee agreed that the research paper on private legislation should be included in the research papers being posted on the relevant Assembly webpage.
Agreed – The Committee agreed for Assembly Research and Library Services to permit papers to be posted on their WebPages.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 28 May 2008
Agreed - the draft minutes of the meeting held on 28 th May were agreed.
4. Matters arising
2.07pm Mr Ken Robinson joined the meeting.
The Committee noted the information regarding the length of adjournment debates and noted that it would contribute to their review in the coming parliamentary year.
Agreed -The Members agreed to consult with their respective parties regarding abstentions in voting prior to the next meeting.
Agreed –The Committee agreed to a separate drafting contract for private legislation and agreed for staff to work on the tender and advertisement of the tender over the summer.The Committee agreed for the Chairperson to sit on the evaluation of tender panel.
5. Statements
The Committee noted the response from the First Minister and deputy First Minister indicating its response to the initial findings of the Committee’s investigation of statements.
Agreed – The Committee agreed for staff to engage with Machinery of Government staff regarding notification and the Members agreed to take the opinion of their parties on this matter.
Agreed - The Members agreed to take the opinion of their parties on this matter.
Agreed – The Committee reconsidered its position on availability of written copies of statement to Members and agreed that statements should be available 30 minutes before the start of plenary.
6. Inquiry into Assembly Questions
Agreed - The Committee considered and agreed the terms of reference for the inquiry into Assembly Questions.
Agreed - The Committee considered and agreed the potential witnesses and advice and for the Committee staff to begin to make arrangements.
Agreed - The Committee considered and agreed the sources and methods of gathering evidence and information.
Agreed – The Committee agreed for a press release to be drawn up for release prior to summer Recess.
7. Best practise visits
The Committee was briefed by Miss Claire Cassidy, Assembly Research and Library Services on preliminary information on best practise visits.
Agreed – The Committee discussed best practise visits and agreed to visit the federal parliament of Canada in Ottawa, and a regional Canadian parliament, e.g. Prince Edward Island or Halifax, Nova Scotia in late September 2008 and a visit later in the year to Scotland and agreed for the committee staff to begin organising such visits.
8. Joint Committees
The Committee discussed the Standing Order to allow the implementation of joint committees.
Agreed - The Committee agreed that options 1 and 2 should be allowed but not to allow option 3.
Agreed -The Committee considered and agreed the relevant details required in Standing Orders allowing joint committees.
Agreed – The Committee agreed for the Committee staff to write to the Business Committee, the Chairperson Liaison Group and the Central Committee Office to inform them of the changes.
Agreed – The Committee agreed that the introduction of Standing Orders for joint committees could wait until a new contract for drafting Standing Orders is in place.
Agreed - The Committee agreed to seek the opinion of CLG before making a recommendation to the Commission regarding payment to chairpersons of joint committees.
9. Amendments to Standing Orders – Quorum in Committees
The Committee noted the advice from legal services tabled at the meeting regarding the draft amendment for SO47(7) quorum.
Agreed: The Committee considered and agreed the draft amendment to Standing Orders regarding quorum.
10. Any Other Business
There was no other business.
11. Date, time and place of next meeting.
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 25 th June 2008 at 2.00 in Room 152 Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.12pm.