Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
BUSINESS COMMITTEE
TUESDAY 2 MARCH 2010
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
MINUTES

The meeting began at 12.32 pm

Present: The Speaker (Chairperson)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr T Burns
Mr F Cobain
Mr P Maskey
Mr K McCarthy
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
Mr K Shiels Clerk of Business
Ms T Caul Senior Legal Adviser

Observers: Mr F Molloy Deputy Speaker
Mr D McClarty Deputy Speaker
Junior Minister Kelly
Junior Minister Newton
Mr N Jackson OFMDFM

1. Introduction

1.1 There were no apologies.

2. Minutes of the meeting held on 23 February 2010

2.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 23 February were agreed and signed by the Speaker.

3. Matters Arising

3.1 Further to paragraph 3.1 of the minutes of 23 February 2010, members noted a copy of the Speaker’s letter to the Chairperson of the Committee on Procedures asking for the Committee to consider a proposal to move to two Question Time slots on both a Monday and a Tuesday.

3.2 The Speaker referred members to paragraph 5.4 of the minutes of 23 February 2010 in relation to the allocation of time for the Executive Motion on the Resolution to request the Devolution of Policing and Justice Powers. At the Speaker’s request, junior Ministers Kelly and Newton confirmed that the First Minister and deputy First Minister were content with the suggested 15 minutes to propose the motion and 15 minutes to wind.

Members noted that the Assembly and Executive Review Committee’s (AERC) Second Report on the Devolution of Policing and Justice would be distributed to Members under embargo this week. Members also noted that the Chairperson of the AERC wished to brief the House on the report at the start of the ‘Resolution’ debate. Members agreed that the Chairperson of the AERC should be allocated up to 15 minutes to speak, in line with the normal allocation for Committee reports.

The Speaker asked members to confirm whether they still considered that the time limit of two hours allocated for the debate during last week’s Business Committee was sufficient. Mr Pat Ramsey proposed, and it was agreed, that the debate should be allocated a total of three hours. Members confirmed that all other contributions should be limited to five minutes.

4. Finalisation of Order Papers for Plenary meetings in week commencing 8 March 2010

Executive Business

4.1 Members noted that the only additional Executive Business was the possible introduction of the Debt Relief Bill for Tuesday 9 March, subject to the Speaker’s clearance.

Committee Business

4.2 Members agreed to schedule a motion from the Committee for Social Development on the Savills Report for Monday 8 March. Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for this debate, with the usual speaking times.

4.3 Members agreed to schedule for Monday 8 March, as a business motion, an SDLP motion to change the membership of a statutory committee.

4.4 Members also agreed to schedule a motion to suspend Standing Orders for Monday 8 March, to allow business to run past 7pm.

4.5 Members agreed to schedule, for Tuesday 9 March, a motion from the Committee on Procedures to amend Standing Orders to provide for the filling of the office of Minister of Justice. Following a discussion regarding the indicative timings for the motion, members agreed to allocate 1 hour 30 minutes for this debate, with the usual speaking times.

5. Provisional Arrangements for Plenary meetings in week commencing 15 March 2010

Executive Business

5.1 Members noted that the only Executive Business scheduled was Question Time to the Minister of Education and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for Monday 15 March, and to the Minister of Finance and Personnel for Tuesday 16 March.

5.2 The junior Ministers confirmed that there was no additional Executive Business anticipated for this week.

Committee Business

5.3 Members agreed to schedule a motion for Monday 15 March from the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development on its Report on the Inquiry into the Dioxin Contamination Incident in December 2008. Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for this debate, with the usual speaking times.

Private Members’ Business

5.4 Members agreed to schedule two Private Members’ motions for Monday 15 March, and two motions and an Adjournment Debate for Tuesday 16 March.

Members noted that only the following Ministers were available on both Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 March:

Under the system of allocating Private Members’ motions, Sinn Féin had two slots, and the DUP and UUP had one slot each.

The following motions were proposed:

5.5 Members agreed to schedule the ‘Hospitality Industry’ and the ‘Funding for Preparatory Departments’ motions for Monday 15 March, and the ‘Setting Priorities for European Funding’ and ‘Treasury Committee Report on the Presbyterian Mutual Society’ for Tuesday 16 March. Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for these debates with the usual speaking times.

5.6 After the meeting, Sinn Féin agreed to change the title of the motion scheduled for Monday 15 March from ‘Hospitality Industry’ to ‘Creation of a Café Culture Society’ to clarify its focus.

5.7 Under the system for allocating Adjournment Debates, the selection lay with the SDLP for Tuesday 16 March.

The SDLP selected the following topic:

5.8 Members agreed to schedule this topic for the Adjournment Debate for Tuesday 16 March.

6. Date and Time of next meeting

6.1 Members agreed to meet at approximately 12.30 pm on Tuesday 9 March 2010 in Room 106.

The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 12.44pm.

William Hay
The Speaker

23 February 10 / Menu