NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
BUSINESS COMMITTEE
TUESDAY 16 FEBRUARY 2010
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
MINUTES
The meeting began at 12.43 pm
Present: The Speaker (Chairperson)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr T Burns
Mr T Lunn
Lord Morrow
Ms C Ní Chuilín
Mr P Ramsey
Mr P Weir
In attendance: Mr J Stewart Director of Clerking and Reporting
Ms L Gordon Clerk of Business
Miss C McKay Assistant Clerk of Business
Mr R Good Adviser to the Speaker
Ms F Leneghan Assistant Private Secretary to
the Speaker
Mrs M Mageean Clerk of Business
Ms T Caul Senior Legal Adviser
Observers: Mr D McClarty Deputy Speaker
Mr F Molloy Deputy Speaker
Junior Minister Newton
Mr N Jackson OFMDFM
1. Introduction
1.1 The Speaker noted apologies from Mr F Cobain, Mr P Maskey, Mr K McCarthy and junior Minister Kelly.
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 9 February 2010
2.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 9 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 22 February 2010
Executive Business
4.1 Members noted that a Legislative Consent Motion on the Equality Bill was scheduled for Monday 22 February.
4.2 Junior Minister Newton confirmed that there was no additional Executive Business expected.
Private Members’ Business
4.3 Members agreed to schedule the UUP motion on ‘Delay in Local Government Reform Programme’ on Monday 22 February in place of the motion selected at the last Business Committee meeting on ‘Education and Skills Authority’. Members also agreed to the UUP changing their adjournment topic scheduled for Tuesday 23 February. After the meeting, the UUP confirmed that they wished to replace the adjournment topic on ‘Impact of recent period of severe and prolonged winter weather on potato and other crops in South Down’ (Mr J McCallister) with ‘Race Tracks at Nutts Corner’ (Mr D Kinahan).
4.4 Having deferred their choice of a Private Members’ motion at the last meeting, the DUP selected the motion on ‘50/50 Recruitment Policy’. Members agreed to schedule the motion for debate on Tuesday 23 February with the usual times.
5. Provisional Arrangements for Plenary meetings in week commencing 1 March 2010
Executive Business
5.1 Members noted that, in addition to Question Time to the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister and the Minister of the Environment, the Further Consideration Stages of both the Housing (Amendment) Bill and the Budget Bill were scheduled for Monday 1 March.
5.2 In addition to Question Time to the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, members noted that the following Executive Business was scheduled for Tuesday 2 March:
- Final Stage of the Budget Bill;
- Motion to affirm the Rates (Exemption of Automatic Telling Machines in Rural Areas) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010; and
- Motion to approve the draft Rates (Deferment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010.
5.3 Junior Minister Newton confirmed that there was no additional Executive Business anticipated for this week.
Committee Business
5.4 Members noted that there was no Committee Business requested for either Monday 1 or Tuesday 2 March.
Private Members’ Business
5.5 Members agreed to schedule two Private Members’ motions on Monday 1 March, and one motion and an Adjournment Debate on Tuesday 2 March.
Under the system of allocating Private Members’ Business, Sinn Féin, DUP and SDLP had one slot each.
The following motion was proposed:
- Review of Section 75 Responsibilities (Ms M Anderson, Mr F Molloy, Mr B McElduff).
5.6 Both the DUP and SDLP deferred their selections, and undertook to inform the clerk as soon as possible.
5.7 Members agreed to schedule the ‘Review of Section 75 Responsibilities’ motion on Monday 1 March. Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for the debate with the usual speaking times.
5.8 Junior Minister Newton confirmed the availability of all Ministers, other than the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety who would be unavailable on Tuesday 2 March.
5.9 Members agreed to schedule an Adjournment Debate on Tuesday 2 March. Under the system for allocating Adjournment Debates, the selection lay with the Alliance.
The Alliance Party selected the following topic:
- Combating anti-social behaviour in the Holyland area of South Belfast (Ms A Lo).
5.10 Members agreed to schedule this topic for the Adjournment Debate on Tuesday 2 March.
6. Draft Rota for Questions for Oral Answer - Easter to Summer Recess
6.1 The Speaker referred members to a copy of the draft Rota in their Business Packs.
6.2 Members noted that the Rota included deadline dates for submission of questions before and after the Easter recess, and that the Business Office would issue reminders to all parties of these dates.
6.3 Members noted that Question Time to the Department of Justice had also been incorporated into the draft Rota, with the first Justice Question Time scheduled for Monday 26 April. Members were advised that this fell outside the normal alphabetical allocation for Question Time slots, as a result of the impact of the date for devolution on tabling deadlines. Members noted that, following summer recess, Justice Question Time would be allocated its proper alphabetical order. Members agreed the draft rota.
6.4 Lord Morrow suggested that an additional Question Time slot might be scheduled on Tuesdays to provide for four Ministers to appear each week. This suggestion was noted for consideration.
7. Recess Dates 2010/2011
7.1 Members agreed the recess dates for the 2010/11 session.
8. AOB
8.1 There was no other business.
9. Date and Time of next meeting
9.1 Members agreed to meet at approximately 12.30 pm on Tuesday 23 February 2010 in Room 106.
The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 12.47pm.