NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
BUSINESS COMMITTEE
TUESDAY 09 FEBRUARY 2010
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
MINUTES
The meeting began at 12.43 pm
Present:
The Speaker (Chairperson)
Mr F Cobain
Mr T Burns
Mr P Maskey
Lord Morrow
Mr K McCarthy
Mr P Ramsey
Ms S Ramsey
Mr P Weir
In attendance:
Mr T Reaney Clerk of the Assembly / Director General
Dr G McGrath Director of Engagement
Mr H Widdis Director of Legal Services
Ms N Dunwoody Clerk Assistant
Ms L Gordon Clerk of Business
Mr K Shiels Clerk of Business
Miss C McKay Assistant Clerk of Business
Ms F Leneghan Assistant Private Secretary to the Speaker
Observers:
Mr D McClarty Deputy Speaker
Junior Minister Newton
Junior Minister Kelly
Mr A Rogers OFMDFM
1. Introduction
1.1 The Speaker noted apologies from Ms Carál Ní Chuilín and Mr Billy Armstrong.
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 2 February 2010
2.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 2 February were agreed and signed by the Speaker.
3. Matters Arising
3.1 There were no matters arising.
4. Finalisation of Order Papers for Plenary meetings in week commencing 15 February 2010
Committee Business
4.1 Members agreed to schedule a motion to extend the Committee Stage of the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill until 20 April 2010 for Monday 15 February.
Executive Business
4.2 Junior Ministers Kelly and Newton confirmed that there was no additional Executive Business anticipated.
5. Provisional Arrangements for Plenary meetings in week commencing 22 February 2010
Executive Business
5.1 Members noted that, in addition to Question Time to the Minister of Education and the Minister for Employment and Learning, a motion to affirm the Rates (Regional Rates) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010 was scheduled for Monday 22 February.
5.2 In addition to Question Time to the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, members noted that the following Executive Business was scheduled for Tuesday 23 February:
- Consideration Stage – Budget Bill (NIA 8/09);
- Final Stage – Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill (7/08); and
- A Motion to approve the draft CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme Order 2010.
Committee Business
5.3 Members agreed to schedule two motions to amend Standing Orders for Monday 22 February. Members agreed not to allocate a specific time limit, but noted that 15-20 minutes should be sufficient.
5.4 Members agreed to schedule a motion from the Committee for Finance and Personnel, on its ‘Report on Inquiry into Public Procurement Policy and Practice in Northern Ireland’ for Tuesday 23 February. Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for the debate, with the usual speaking times.
Private Members’ Business
5.5 Members agreed to schedule two Private Members’ motions on Monday 22 February, and one motion and an Adjournment Debate on Tuesday 23 February.
Under the system of allocating Private Members’ Business, the UUP, Alliance and DUP had one slot each.
The following motions were proposed:
- Education and Skills Authority (Mr B McCrea, Mr J McCallister); and
- Dementia Research (Ms A Lo, Mr K McCarthy, Mrs M O’Neill, Mr J Wells, Mr M Brady).
5.6 The DUP reserved its slot, and undertook to inform the Committee of its selected motion as soon as possible.
5.7 Members agreed to schedule the ‘Education and Skills Authority’ and ‘Dementia Research’ motions on Monday 22 February, and the DUP’s motion on Tuesday 23 February. Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for the debates, with the usual speaking times.
5.8 Junior Ministers Newton and Kelly confirmed that the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety would be unavailable on Monday 22 February, but would be available on Tuesday 23 February. They also confirmed the availability of all other relevant Ministers.
5.9 Consequently, members agreed that the motion on ‘Dementia Research’ should be scheduled for Tuesday 23 February, given the Minister’s availability on that day, and that the DUP motion would be scheduled for Monday 22 February.
5.11 Members agreed to schedule an Adjournment Debate on Tuesday 23 February. Under the system for allocating Adjournment Debates, the selection lay with the UUP.
UUP selected the following topic:
- Impact of recent period of severe and prolonged winter weather on potato and other crops in South Down (Mr J McCallister).
5.12 Members agreed to schedule this topic for the Adjournment Debate on Tuesday 23 February.
6. New Corporate Format of Documents, including the Order Paper
6.1 The Director of Engagement, Dr Gareth McGrath, briefed members about the new template for all corporate documentation, including a revised format for the Order Paper. Members were referred to copies of the new templates that had been tabled for their information. Members were content with the new format for the Order Paper and noted the timescale for its implementation.
6.2 Members agreed to inform their party groups that the new format would apply to Order Papers printed in the week beginning 15 February 2010.
7. AOB
7.1 Members agreed to the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure’s request to exchange his Question Time slot on Tuesday 16 March with the Minister of Finance and Personnel’s slot on Tuesday 2 March.
7.2 Mr Reaney and Ms Dunwoody briefed the Committee on matters relating to the devolution of policing and justice that would come before it for scheduling/ consideration in the coming weeks. Members noted that the running of d’Hondt would also have to be scheduled for the appointment of chairpersons and deputy chairpersons of all statutory committees, including the new Justice Committee. In addition, the Committee noted that Whips would have to consider the allocation of seats on the new committee and, in doing so, might need to review the membership of other statutory committees. Members also noted that a revised committee matrix would be circulated to assist Whips in taking their discussions forward. Motions seeking the approval of the Assembly to the establishment/composition of the committees would also need to be brought forward by the Business Committee in due course.
The Speaker undertook to keep members informed of any further developments requiring the involvement of the Business Committee.
7.3 Mr Ramsey recorded his party’s concerns that the time allowed for questions following Ministerial Statements under Standing Orders might be insufficient for the OFMDFM statement on the Hillsborough Agreement later that day. The Speaker advised that there was no possibility of suspending the relevant Standing Order in the absence of a motion appearing on the Order Paper.
8. Date and Time of next meeting
8.1 Members agreed to meet at approximately 12.30 pm on Tuesday 16 February 2010 in Room 106.
The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 12.57pm.