NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
BUSINESS COMMITTEE
TUESDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2009
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
MINUTES
The meeting began at 12.35 pm
Present:
The Speaker (Chairperson)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr F Cobain
Lord Morrow
Mr K McCarthy
Ms C Ní Chuilín
Mr P Ramsey
Present (secretariat):
Mr J Stewart Director of Clerking and Reporting
Ms L Gordon Clerk of Business
Miss C McKay Assistant Clerk of Business
In attendance:
Mr R Good Adviser to the Speaker
Ms F Leneghan Assistant Private Secretary to
the Speaker
Mrs M Mageean Clerk of Business
Mr Hugh Widdis Director of Legal Services
Observers:
Mr F Molloy Deputy Speaker
Mr D McClarty Deputy Speaker
Junior Minister Newton
Junior Minister Kelly
Ms R Flanagan OFMDFM
1. Introduction
1.1 The Speaker noted apologies from Mr Thomas Burns, Mr Paul Maskey and Mr Peter Weir.
2. Minutes of the meetings held on 3 November 2009
2.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 3 November were agreed and signed by the Speaker.
3. Finalisation of Order Papers for Plenary meetings in week commencing 16 November 2009
Business Motion
3.1 Members agreed to schedule a motion to suspend Standing Orders on Monday 16 November, to allow business to continue after 7pm, if necessary.
Executive Business
3.2 Members noted that a Legislative Consent Motion on the UK Child Poverty Bill was scheduled for Monday 16 November. Members also noted that the Consideration Stage of the Diseases of Animals Bill was scheduled for Tuesday 17 November.
Private Members’ Business
3.3 Members noted that the Private Members’ Business motion, provisionally selected by the DUP on 3 November on ‘Common Fisheries Policy’ for debate on Monday 16 November, was changed to ‘EU Fisheries Council’ (Mr I Paisley Jnr, Mr J Shannon, Mr W Irwin).
3.4 Members noted that the adjournment topic scheduled for Tuesday 17 November, ‘Realignment of Business Services Organisation from Tower Hill, Armagh City (Mr C Boylan), was a health issue. As the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety was unavailable, members noted that Sinn Féin had changed the topic to ‘The Delayed Multi-element Improvements Scheme for 19 Rural Cottages within the Housing Executive’s Lurgan District’ (Mr J O’Dowd).
3.5 Junior Ministers Kelly and Newton confirmed that the relevant Ministers, for the selected motion and adjournment debate, were available.
4. Provisional Arrangements for Plenary meetings in week commencing 23 November 2009
Executive Business
4.1 In addition to Question Time to the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, members noted that the Further Consideration Stages of both the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Bill and the Department of Justice Bill were scheduled for Monday 23 November.
4.2 Members noted that the Final Stage of the Financial Provisions Bill was scheduled for Tuesday 24 November, in addition to Question Time to the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure.
Committee Business
4.3 Members agreed to schedule the Committee on Procedures motion to amend Standing Orders on Monday 23 November. No time limit was agreed, but members noted that around 15 minutes should be sufficient.
4.4 Members agreed to schedule the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure motion on its Report on the Inquiry into the Funding of the Arts in Northern Ireland on Tuesday 24 November.
Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for this debate, with the usual speaking times.
Private Members’ Business
4.5 Members agreed to schedule two Private Members’ motions on Monday 23 November and one Private Members’ motion on Tuesday 24 November.
Under the system of allocating Private Members’ Business, Sinn Féin, UUP and the DUP had one slot each.
The following motions were proposed:
- Child Protection Systems (Ms S Ramsey, Mrs M O’Neill);
- Double-jobbing (Mr D McNarry); and
- Childcare Vouchers (Mr J Shannon, Mr S Hamilton, Lord Morrow).
4.6 Junior Ministers Kelly and Newton confirmed that the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety was unavailable on Monday 23 November, but that all other relevant Ministers were available. Sinn Féin therefore proposed the motion ‘Credit Unions Products and Services’ (Mr P Butler, Ms J McCann) for debate in place of the motion on ‘Child Protection Systems’.
Members agreed to schedule the ‘Credit Unions Products and Services’ and ‘Double-jobbing’ motions for Monday 23 November, and the ‘Childcare Vouchers’ motion for Tuesday 24 November. Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for the debates, with the usual speaking times.
4.7 Members agreed to schedule an adjournment debate on Tuesday 24 November. Under the system for allocating Adjournment Debates, the selection lay with the UUP.
The UUP selected the following adjournment debate:
- Preferred Route of the A8 By-passing Ballynure (Mr D Kinahan).
Members agreed to schedule the adjournment debate on ‘Preferred Route of the A8 By-passing Ballynure’ (Mr D Kinahan) on Tuesday 24 November.
5. Date and Time of next meeting
5.1 Members agreed to meet at approximately 12.30 pm on Tuesday 17 November 2009 in Room 106.
The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 12.50pm.