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COMMITTEE ON PROCEDURES
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY, 5 MAY 2009
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Lord Morrow (Chairperson)
Mr Mickey Brady
Mr Francie Brolly
Lord Browne
Mr David McClarty
Mr Adrian McQuillan
Mr Sean Neeson
Mr Ken Robinson

In Attendance:
Ms Stella McArdle (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Jim Beatty (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Ms Linda Hare (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Diarmaid Elder (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
Mr Declan O’Loan
Mr Mervyn Storey (Deputy Chairperson)

The meeting opened at 2.01pm in open session.

1. Apologies

These are detailed above.

2. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 3 March 2009

Agreed:
(a) Subject to a minor amendment, the draft Minutes of the meeting held on 3 March 2009 were agreed.
(b) The draft Minutes of the meeting held on 20 April 2009 were agreed.

Mr McQuillan joined the meeting at 2.03pm.

3. Matters Arising

There were no matters arising.

4. Draft Amendment to Standing Orders for Assembly Questions

At the meeting on 31 March 2009 the Committee agreed to seek the views of OFMDFM in relation to the draft Standing Order 20(11) which deals with junior Ministers answering oral questions. The Committee considered the response from OFMDFM which included suggested amendments to the draft SO20(11) and SO20B(5) which deals with written questions. Advice from Legal Services was tabled.

Agreed: It was agreed to accept the suggested wording from OFMDFM in relation to SO20(11), subject to amendment of the phrase “Office of the”.

Agreed: It was agreed retain the current wording in relation to SO20B(5).

Agreed: It was agreed that, subject to the agreed changes in relation to SO20(11) being implemented by the draftsperson, the Chairperson would sign and table the motions without further reference back to members.

5. Legislative Consent Inquiry

The Committee noted submissions regarding Legislative Consent Motions from the Department for Social Development and the House of Commons.

The Committee received feedback from those members who visited Scotland on 29 April 2009 and noted a written report on the visit.

Agreed: It was agreed that the clerk would prepare a paper on the key issues around legislative consent for the meeting on 2 June 2009.

6. New Standing Orders – Private Bills

The Committee considered suggestions on how best to address the issues of Additional Provisions and dealing with the consent of the promoter. Advice from Legal Services was noted.

Agreed: It was agreed to accept the proposed suggestions and to refer these issues back to the draftsperson to prepare draft Standing Orders.

7. AOB

There were no items for discussion.

8. Date, Time and Place of next meetings

The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Tuesday, 2 June 2009 at 2.00pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 2.35pm.

Lord Morrow, Chairperson
Committee on Procedures

20 April 09 / Menu