NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
BUSINESS COMMITTEE
TUESDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2010
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
MINUTES
The meeting began at 12.33 pm
Present:
The Speaker (Chairperson)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr T Burns
Mr F Cobain
Mr P Maskey
Mr K McCarthy
Lord Morrow
Ms C N í Chuil ín
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
Mr K Shiels Clerk of Business
Mr H Widdis Director of Legal Services
Observers:
Mr J Dallat Deputy Speaker
Junior Minister Newton
Mr N Jackson OFMDFM
1. Introduction
1.1 The Speaker noted apologies from junior Minister Kelly.
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 16 February 2010
2.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 16 February were agreed and signed by the Speaker.
3. Matters Arising
3.1 The Speaker referred members to paragraph 6.4 of the minutes of 16 February 2010, regarding Lord Morrow’s proposal to move to two Question Time slots on both a Monday and a Tuesday. Members noted that this would require a change to Standing Order 20, which allows only one slot on Tuesday. Members agreed to ask the Committee on Procedures to consider this matter further.
3.2 The Speaker asked Whips for their co-operation in scheduling business for the Provisional Order Papers, as in recent weeks parties had not always been in a position to select motions or had changed their selection the following week. The Committee was reminded that the purpose of two week scheduling was to assist Members in their preparation for debates and to give the Executive reasonable notice of topics.
4. Finalisation of Order Papers for Plenary meetings in week commencing 1 March 2010
Executive Business
4.1 Members noted that there was no additional Executive Business for week commencing 1 March.
4.2 Following a discussion, members agreed that the indicative timings for the Final Stage of the Budget Bill on Tuesday 2 March should reflect 2 hours 30 minutes. It was further agreed that each party would submit no more than two names to contribute to this debate.
Private Members’ Business
4.3 Having deferred their choice of a Private Members’ motion at the last meeting, the DUP reselected their motion on ‘50/50 Recruitment Policy’. Members agreed to reschedule the motion on Monday 1 March and allocated two hours for this debate, due to the number of Members who had indicated an interest in speaking when the motion had been scheduled previously, with the usual speaking times.
4.4 Having deferred their choice of a Private Members’ motion at the last meeting, the SDLP selected the motion on ‘Cohesion, Sharing and Integration Strategy’. Members agreed to schedule the motion for debate on Tuesday 2 March, allocating 1 hour 30 minutes to the debate with the usual times.
4.5 Although the Order Papers were agreed at the meeting, Sinn Féin advised later in the day that they wished to replace their motion on ‘Review of Section 75 Responsibilities’ with the motion on ‘Proposals for a Bill of Rights’. The Speaker and party Whips were consulted about this request, and agreed to this change to the Order Paper for Monday 1 March.
5. Provisional Arrangements for Plenary meetings in week commencing 8 March 2010
Executive Business
5.1 Members noted that the only Executive Business scheduled for Monday 8 March was Question Time to the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and the Minister for Regional Development.
5.2 In addition to Question Time to the Minister for Social Development, members noted that the following Executive Business was scheduled for Tuesday 9 March:
- Final Stage - Housing (Amendment) Bill; and
- Motion on the Resolution Requesting the Devolution of Policing and Justice Powers.
5.3 Junior Minister Newton confirmed that there was no additional Executive Business anticipated for this week.
5.4 Junior Minister Newton advised that the First Minister and deputy First Minister were considering timing issues in relation to proposing and winding the motion on the Resolution Requesting the Devolution of Policing and Justice Powers. Following a discussion, members agreed that two hours would be allocated for this debate; that 15 minutes would be allocated to moving and winding respectively, subject to any further request from the First Minister and deputy First Minister; and that all other contributions would be limited to 5 minutes.
Committee Business
5.5 Members noted that there was no Committee Business requested for either Monday 8 or Tuesday 9 March.
Private Members’ Business
5.6 Members agreed to schedule the Second Stage of the Local Government (Disqualification) (Amendment) Bill, on Monday 8 March. Following discussion, members agreed an indicative timing of 1 hour 30 minutes, but noted that there would be no actual time limit for the Bill Stage.
5.7 Members agreed to schedule two Private Members’ motions on Monday 8 March, and an Adjournment Debate on Tuesday 9 March.
Under the system of allocating Private Members’ Business, the UUP and DUP had one slot each.
The following motions were proposed:
- Farm Modernisation Programme (T Elliott, G Savage, J McCallister); and
- Boiler Scrappage Scheme (S Hamilton, D Hilditch, J Craig, A Easton).
5.8 Members agreed to schedule both the ‘Farm Modernisation Programme’ and the ‘Boiler Scrappage Scheme’ motions on Monday 8 March. Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for the debate with the usual speaking times.
5.9 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 both Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 March.
5.10 Members agreed to schedule an Adjournment Debate on Tuesday 9 March. Under the system for allocating Adjournment Debates, the selection lay with the DUP.
The DUP selected the following topic:
- New School Capital Build in Holywood (P Weir).
5.11 Members agreed to schedule this topic for the Adjournment Debate on Tuesday 9 March.
6. Legislative Programme
6.1 Mr Stewart briefed the Committee on the impact of the Executive’s anticipated legislative programme on proposals for Private Members’ Bills requiring drafting support.
6.2 Members noted that 12 March 2010 will be the deadline:
- for submitting proposals for Private Members’ Bills needing drafting support; and
- for providing instructions on proposals that have been submitted but not progressed.
6.3 The Speaker advised that he would be writing to those Members affected.
7. AOB
7.1 Members agreed to the request by OFMDFM to exchange Question Time slots with the Minister of Education on 15 and 22 March, respectively.
7.2 Mr Stewart briefed Members about the filming of an Assembly documentary. Members noted that:
- the Speaker had approved the filming of a 3-programme series on the work of the Assembly to be broadcast on the autumn;
- the filming is due to start in early March and will continue until summer recess; and
- all costs will be covered by the BBC who commissioned the
documentary.
Whips agreed to bring this matter to the attention of their party groups.
8. Date and Time of next meeting
8.1 Members agreed to meet at approximately 12.30 pm on Tuesday 2 March 2010 in Room 106.
The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 12.55pm.