Standing Order

14 December 1999, 29 January 2001, 4 February 2002, 27 May 2002, 11 June 2002

That the Committee on Procedures be authorised to update Standing Orders of the Assembly for punctuation and grammar and annually to republish Standing Orders.

In Standing Order 3(8), line 2, delete all after 'during' and insert:

'an Assembly session. Any such change takes effect immediately after notification in writing is submitted to the Speaker.'

6 December 1999

4 July 2000

4 July 2000

4 July 2000

4 July 2000

4 July 2000

23 April 2001

23 April 2001

3 July 2001

In Standing Order 10, paragraph (1) insert "(g) Party Business".

In Standing Order 10(2)(b) delete all and insert "at the end of each sitting one hour shall be set aside for an Adjournment Debate".

In Standing Order 10(2)(c) delete "on each Tuesday on which there is a sitting".

In Standing Order 10(9)(b) delete "or in the case of a Tuesday, after 3 o'clock."

In Standing Order 10(6) delete "on Monday sittings and at 3.00 pm on Tuesday sittings" and insert "on each day on which there is a sitting".

After Standing Order 10(11) add: "(12) A Session of the Assembly shall be that period from the commencement of business following the Summer Recess until the end of the subsequent Summer Recess".

In Standing Order 10(2)(c) line 2 after "shall" insert "normally".

That Standing Order 10(2) line 3 be suspended until the Summer Recess.

In Standing Order 10(2) line 3 delete '10.30 am', and insert '12.00 midday'.

Delete Standing Order 10 and insert new Standing Order:

(1) The categories of business to be conducted in the Assembly shall consist of the following:

(a) Assembly Business

(b) Executive Committee Business

(c) Committee Business

(d) Questions

(f) Private Business

(g) Adjournment Debates

(h) Party Business.

(2) Subject to the authority of the Business Committee to determine the time for commencement of business in plenary session the sittings of the Assembly shall be arranged as follows:

The allocation of time for business within these sittings shall be determined by the Business Committee, except that

(a) on each Monday on which there is a sitting there shall be a period for Questions commencing at 2.30 pm and finishing at 4.00 pm;

(b) at the end of each sitting up to one hour may be set aside for an Adjournment Debate;

(c) any private notice questions shall normally be asked immediately before the Adjournment Debate.

(3) Where business on the Order Paper has not been disposed of by 6.00 pm on Monday, the Speaker may allow business to continue until 7.00 pm or until the outstanding business is completed, whichever is earlier. Consideration of business on the Order Paper not concluded by 7.00 pm shall be postponed until such a time as the Business Committee determines.

(4) If at 7.00 pm a division is in progress, or a question is being put and a division or a vote in the chamber results, adjournment of the Assembly shall be deferred until after the declaration of the result of the division or vote in the chamber.

(6) Additional sittings may be arranged by the Business Committee according to the exigencies of the Assembly.

(7) Where statements made under Standing Order 18 impinge upon the time bands specified in this Standing Order the Speaker shall take action under Standing Order 18(5).

(8) An adjournment of the Assembly shall mean an adjournment until the next sitting day unless the Assembly, on a motion made by a Member of the Executive Committee after notice, has ordered an adjournment to some other definite date.

29 January 2001

27 May 2002

In Standing Order 12(1) after "Statutory Committee Reports" insert:

"Reports of the Committee of the Centre made by virtue of Standing Order 31(1A) or 41(1A)".

In Standing Order 12(1) delete "41(2) and insert "41(8)".

[Chairperson, Committee on Procedures]

In Standing Order 15(1) line 2 and line 3 delete "at least one hour prior to the commencement of business" and insert "not later than 9.30 am".

4 July 2000

23 April 2001

In Standing Order 20(1) delete "on Tuesdays".

In Standing Order 20(1) line 7 after "concerned," insert "normally".

23 April 2002

23 April 2002

In Standing Order 25(1)(a) line 2 delete "or Standing Order 72 provides" and insert "or Standing Orders provide".

4 July 2000

After Standing Order 29(c) insert:

"(d) Further Consideration Stage: consideration of, and an opportunity for Members to vote on the details of the Bill including amendments to the Bill."

In Standing Order 29(d) delete all and insert:

"(d) Further Consideration Stage: an opportunity for Members to consider and vote on amendments proposed to the Bill."

4 July 2000

29 January 2001

29 January 2001

4 February 2002

23 April 2002

23 April 2002

In Standing Order 31(2) after "three" insert "working".

After Standing Order 31(1) add:

"(1A) Where the First Minister and Deputy First Minister acting jointly are in charge of a Bill, the Bill shall stand referred to the Committee of the Centre unless the Assembly shall order otherwise; and the provisions of this Standing Order and Standing Orders 33 and 48 shall apply in relation to the Committee of the Centre acting by virtue of this paragraph as they apply in relation to a Statutory Committee".

[Chairperson, Committee on Procedures]

In Standing Order 31(1) at the beginning of paragraph (1) insert:
"Subject to paragraph (1A),".

In Standing Order 31(2) line 4, delete all after "otherwise" and insert:

"and the provisions of this Standing Order and of Standing Order 33 shall apply in relation to the Committee of the Centre acting by virtue of this paragraph as they apply in relation to a Statutory Committee".

[Chairperson, Committee on Procedures]

In Standing Order 31(3) line 3 delete "calendar days" and insert "working days".

[Chairperson, Committee on Procedures]

In Standing Order 31(5) line 1 delete "of thirty days".

23 April 2002

In Standing Order 33(5) line 8 after "thirty" insert "working".

In Standing Order 33(7) line 7 after "thirty" insert "working".

In Standing Order 33(14) line 1 and line 3 delete "Further".

In Standing Order 33(15) line 1 delete "Further".

In Standing Order 33(16) line 2 delete "Further".

In Standing Order 33(16) line 3 delete "Final Stage" and insert "Further Consideration Stage".

4 July 2000

23 April 2002

That after Standing Order 34 a new Standing Order be inserted:

"34(A) PUBLIC BILLS: FURTHER CONSIDERATION STAGE

(1) When a Bill has passed Consideration Stage and stands referred to the Speaker, the terms of Standing Order 34 shall be applied to the Further Consideration Stage as they would to a Consideration Stage as described in Standing Order 34.

(2) Members may speak more than once in debate during the Further Consideration Stage.

(3) At the completion of the Further Consideration Stage the Bill shall stand referred to the Speaker."

As a consequence, amend Standing Orders 33(14), (15) and (16) and 36(1): in each case before "Consideration" insert "Further".

In Standing Order 35 delete all and insert:

"35. PUBLIC BILLS: FURTHER CONSIDERATION STAGE

(1) Any amendments proposed to be made to a Bill at Further Consideration Stage shall be deposited with the Clerk in time for inclusion on a Notice Paper circulated on a day before the day appointed for the Further Consideration Stage, and shall be arranged in the order in which the Bill is to be considered; provided, however, that at the discretion of the Speaker, amendments may be moved in very exceptional circumstances without such notice.

(2) During proceedings at Further Consideration Stage, debate and vote shall be confined to those amendments which have been selected. The amendments shall be considered in the order in which the relevant clauses or schedules stand in the Bill.

(3) Any amendments selected which relate to the long title shall be considered after those relating to the clauses and schedules of the Bill.

(4) Members may speak more than once in debate during the Further Consideration Stage.

(5) At the conclusion of the debate on the Further Consideration Stage the Bill shall stand referred to the Speaker."

Public Bills: Special Scheduling Requirements

4 July 2000

29 January 2001

12 February 2001

12 February 2001

12 February 2001

23 April 2002

In Standing Order 39(1) delete "seven" and insert "five working" and delete "(excluding Saturdays and Sundays)"

In Standing Order 40(4) delete "may by leave of the Assembly" and insert "shall", and;
after Standing Order 40(4) add: "(5) A Bill shall not be carried forth if the Assembly stands dissolved".

After Standing Order 40(1) add

'(1A) Where on or before the Second Stage of a Budget Bill the Chairperson of the Committee for Finance and Personnel (or another member of that Committee acting on his/her behalf) confirms to the Assembly that that Committee is satisfied that there has been appropriate consultation with it on the public expenditure proposals contained in the Bill, the Bill shall proceed under the accelerated passage procedure which shall exclude any Committee Stage.'

In Standing Order 40(1) delete "that may require an accelerated passage"

and insert: "proceeding under the accelerated passage procedure in accordance with paragraph (1A) or (2)".

In Standing Order 40(2) line 1 after "Bill" insert:

"(other than a Budget Bill)".

In Standing Order 40(1) delete all and insert:

"(1) There shall be a minimum interval of five working days between each stage of a Bill, save in the following cases:

(a) between Second Stage and Committee Stage; and

(b) where a Bill is subject to the accelerated passage procedure in accordance with paragraph (2) or (4)."

In Standing Order 40(3) delete all and insert:

"(3) Where, exceptionally, a Bill (other than a Budget Bill) is thought to require accelerated passage, which shall exclude any Committee Stage, the Member in charge of the Bill shall, before introduction of the Bill in the Assembly, explain to the appropriate Committee:

(a) the reason or reasons for accelerated passage;

(b) the consequences of accelerated passage not being granted; and, if appropriate,

(c) any steps he/she has taken to minimise the future use of the accelerated passage procedure.

(4) Before Second Stage the Member in charge of the Bill shall move a motion "That the .. Bill proceed under the accelerated passage procedure".

In moving the motion the Member shall explain to the Assembly:

(a) the reason or reasons for accelerated passage;

(b) the consequences of accelerated passage not being granted; and, if appropriate,

(c) any steps he/she has taken to minimise the future use of the accelerated passage procedure.

A motion under this Standing Order shall require cross-community support within the meaning of Section 4(5) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998."

[Chairperson, Committee on Procedures]

Scrutiny of Statutory Rules

29 January 2001

29 January 2001

29 January 2001

29 January 2001

27 May 2002

In Standing Order 41(1) line 6 delete "Statutory".

After Standing Order 41(1) add:

"(1A) In this Standing Order "Committee" means:

(a) a Statutory Committee; and

(b) in the case of a Statutory Rule or draft Statutory Rule which has been made or is to be made by the First Minister and Deputy First Minister acting jointly, or by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, the Committee of the Centre".

In Standing Order 48, delete "Statutory" from the title and in line 3 delete "statutory"

Re-number Standing Orders 48-54 and 56-59 so that:

49 becomes 48

53 becomes 49

54 becomes 50

56 becomes 51

57 becomes 52

58 becomes 53

59 becomes 54

50 becomes 56

51 becomes 57

52 becomes 58

48 becomes 59.

In Standing Order 45 paragraph (1)(a), after Portfolio, insert

- "and".

Delete sub-paragraph 45(1)(c) and insert:

"(2) Statutory Committees shall have the powers described in paragraph 9 of Strand One of the Belfast Agreement (CM 3883) and may, in particular, exercise the power in Section 44(1) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998."

4 July 2000

19 June 2001

In Standing Order 46(9) delete "a majority of the Members present and voting" and insert "simple majority. Voting"

In Standing Order 47(7) after "five" insert: "and such quorum shall be deemed to be present where Members are linked by a video conferencing facility."

[Chairperson, Committee on Procedures]

In Standing Order 52, delete all and insert:

"52. SUB COMMITTEES

(1) Each Committee ("the parent Committee"), in the discharge of its functions, may establish sub-Committees.

(2) Unless with the approval of the Business Committee and the Assembly, a parent Committee shall establish no more than one sub-Committee to operate at any one time.

(3) A sub-Committee shall be appointed to consider specific, time-bounded matters within the terms of reference set by the parent Committee and shall:

(a) report only to that Committee; and

(b) stand dissolved on disposal of those matters.

(4) A sub-Committee shall not take any decision on behalf of the parent Committee.

(5) A parent Committee may appoint a member to be the Convenor of a sub-Committee.

(6) Each sub-Committee shall, in as far as is practicable, reflect the party strengths in the Assembly.

(7) The quorum of a sub-Committee shall be determined by the parent Committee.

(8) The proceedings of a sub-Committee shall be such as the parent Committee shall determine."

14 December 1999

14 December 1999

4 July 2000

In Standing Order 53 add the following paragraphs:

"(5) The Business Committee shall consist of thirteen Members.

(6) Each party delegation shall be entitled to cast the number of votes equivalent to the number of Members who adhere to the Whip of that party."

In Standing Order 54, line 1, delete "Standing" and insert "Ad Hoc".

After Standing Order 53(6) add:

"(7) The Business Committee shall determine the dates of Recess."

In Standing Order 57 delete all and insert:

"57. COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS AND PRIVILEGES

(1) There shall be a Standing Committee of the Assembly called the Committee on Standards and Privileges:

(a) to consider specific matters relating to privilege referred to it by the Assembly;

(b) to oversee the work of the Assembly Clerk of Standards; to examine the arrangements for the compilation, maintenance and accessibility of the Register of Members' Interests and any other registers of interests established by the Assembly; and to review from time to time the form and content of those registers;

(c) to consider any matter relating to the conduct of Members including specific complaints in relation to alleged breaches of any code of conduct to which the Assembly has agreed and which have been drawn to the Committee's attention;

(d) to recommend any modifications to the code of conduct mentioned in paragraph (c);

(e) to perform the functions described in Standing Order 64(6) and (7);

(f) to make a report to the Assembly on any matter falling within this Standing Order.

(2) The Committee shall be appointed at the commencement of every Assembly and shall have power to send for persons, papers and records that are relevant to its enquiries.

(3) There shall be an officer of the Assembly, to be known as the Assembly Commissioner for Standards, who shall carry out an investigation into any matter falling within paragraph (4) referred to him by the Assembly Clerk of Standards and shall make a report thereon to the Committee on Standards and Privileges.

(4) Those matters are:

(a) matters relating to Members and Assembly privilege, including alleged breach of privilege;

(b) specific complaints about Members made in relation to the registering or declaring of interests; and

(c) matters relating to the conduct of Members, including specific complaints in relation to alleged contravention of:

(i) the Code of Conduct for Members of the Assembly; or

(ii) the Guide to the Rules Relating to the Conduct of Members, approved by the Assembly on 14 December 1999.

(5) A report made under paragraph (3) may not include any recommendations for any sanction or penalty to be imposed upon any Member of the Assembly.

(6) The Assembly Commissioner for Standards shall not, in the exercise of any of his functions, be subject to the direction or control of the Assembly.

(7) The Assembly Commissioner for Standards shall not be dismissed unless:

(a) the Assembly so resolves; and

(b) the resolution is passed with the support of a number of Members of the Assembly which equals or exceeds two-thirds of the total number of seats in the Assembly."

After Standing Order 57 insert a new Standing Order:

"STANDING COMMITTEE ON EUROPEAN AFFAIRS

After Standing Order 57 insert a new Standing Order:

"COMMITTEE ON EQUALITY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Committee of the Centre

14 December 1999

29 January 2001

27 May 2002

After Standing Order 57 insert a new Standing Order:

"( ) COMMITTEE OF THE CENTRE

Register of Members' Interests

Proposed: In Standing Order 64 delete all and insert:

"(1) A Register of Members' Interests, which shall list the categories of registrable interest, shall be established, published and made available for public inspection.

(2) The Clerk of Standards shall compile, and from time to time publish, the Register of Members' Interests.

(3) Every Member of the Assembly shall inform the Clerk of Standards of such particulars of his/her registrable interests as shall be required, and of any alterations to such interests within four weeks of each change occurring.

(4) Before taking part in any debate or proceeding of the Assembly or its Committees, a Member shall declare any interest, financial or otherwise, which is relevant to that debate or proceeding, where such interest is held by the Member or an immediate relative.

(5) No Member of the Assembly shall, in any proceeding of the Assembly, in return for payment or benefit mentioned in paragraph 61 of the Guide to the Rules Relating to the Conduct of Members, approved by the Assembly on 14 December 1999 ["the Guide"]:

(a) advocate or initiate any cause or matter on behalf of any outside body or individual;

(b) urge any other Member of the Assembly to do so.

(6) Where it appears to the Committee on Standards and Privileges that a Member has failed to comply with, or has contravened any provision of this Order, the Committee may make a report to the Assembly.

(7) A report made under paragraph (6) may contain a recommendation that the Member:

(a) be excluded from proceedings of the Assembly for a specified period; and

(b) have his/her rights and privileges as a Member withdrawn for that period.

(8) In this Standing Order:-

"Financial interest" means any registrable interest other than one falling within paragraph 26 or 27 of the Guide;

"Registrable interest" means any category of registrable interest falling within paragraphs 14 to 37 of the Guide.

In Standing Order 72 delete all and insert:

'Subject to the requirements of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, a Member may move a motion for the suspension of one or more Standing Orders in whole or in part. A motion under this Standing Order shall require cross-community support within the meaning of Section 4(5) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.'

After Standing Order 73 insert:

(1) The Assembly shall by resolution appoint the prescribed number of Members of the Assembly to be members of the Commission.

(2) Appointments under paragraph (1) shall be made within 28 days after the first sitting of the Assembly after dissolution.

(3) Any resolution under this Standing Order shall require cross-community support.

(4) In the event of a vacancy occurring, the Speaker shall, as soon as may be possible, inform the Assembly of the vacancy. Any vacancy shall be filled by resolution of the Assembly within 28 sitting days of the vacancy occurring.

(5) A person shall not be eligible for appointment as a member of the Commission if he/she holds a relevant office.

(6) Where a Member of the Assembly is appointed to a relevant office he/she shall forthwith cease to be a member of the Commission.

(7) A Commissioner may at any time resign by giving notice in writing to the Speaker.

(8) In this Standing Order a relevant office means a Minister, a junior Minister or a Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson of:

(a) a Statutory Committee;

(b) the Public Accounts Committee;

(c) the Audit Committee."

After Standing Order 74 insert:

(1) A substantially verbatim report of the proceedings at all sittings of the Assembly and Committee meetings that form part of the legislative process or at which evidence that will contribute to a report by a Committee is being taken shall be prepared and published. The report shall be known as the Official Report (Hansard) and shall be a record of the proceedings in the language spoken.

(2) A revised edition of the Official Report (Hansard) for all Assembly sittings and Committee meetings which form part of the legislative process shall be prepared in bound volume form at such times as the Speaker shall determine. Such bound volumes shall also contain written questions and answers for the period covered.

(3) Editorial control of the Official Report (Hansard) shall rest ultimately with the Speaker but shall be exercised on his behalf by the Editor of Debates.

In the Interpretation:

Delete line 4 and insert "Sitting Days are all days Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays and recess".