NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY BUSINESS COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 8 JUNE 2010
ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
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 K Shiels Clerk of Business
Ms F Leneghan Assistant Private Secretary to the Speaker
Mr H Widdis Director of Legal Services
Observers:
Mr J Dallat
Junior Minister Kelly
Junior Minister Newton
Mr A Rogers OFMDFM
1. Introduction and Apologies
1.1 No apologies were recorded.
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 1 June 2010
2.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 1 June 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 14 June 2010
Executive Business
4.1 Members noted that a motion on the Supply Resolution for the 2008-2009
Excess Votes was scheduled for Monday 14 June. Members noted that no additional time was needed to debate the motion as previous convention has been that it is debated at the same time as the Main Estimates motion, which had already been allocated 4 hours. Members also noted, however, that each motion would be voted on separately.
4.2 Junior Ministers Kelly and Newton advised that there was no additional Executive Business expected.
Committee Business
4.4 Members noted the possible introduction of the ‘Allowances to Members of the Assembly (Repeal) Bill’ on Monday 14 June.
4.5 Members agreed to schedule the following Committee motions on Monday 14 June:
- Extension of Committee Stage: Caravans Bill (Social Development);
- Extension of Committee Stage: Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill (Social Development); and
- Extension of Committee Stage: Dogs (Amendment) Bill (Agriculture and Rural Development).
4.6 Members noted that there was no change to the draft Order Paper for Tuesday 15 June.
5. Provisional Arrangements for Plenary meetings in week commencing 21 June 2010
Executive Business
5.1 Members noted that the following Executive Business has been scheduled for Monday 21 June:
- Motion to suspend Standing Orders to allow business to continue past 7pm if required;
- Consideration Stage – Budget (No. 3) Bill;
- Second Stage – Employment (No. 2) Bill;
- Final Stage – Budget (No. 3) Bill;
- Motions to approve the following Statutory Rules:
- Pensions Regulator Tribunal (Transfer of Functions) (2010 Act) (Consequential Provisions) Order;
- Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order;
- Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations;
- Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Automatic Enrolment) Regulations;
- Social Security (Contributions Credits for Parents and Carers) Regulations; and
- Question Time to the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister and the Minister for Regional Development.
5.2 Members noted that the following Executive Business has been scheduled for Tuesday 22 June:
- Second Stage – Safeguarding Board Bill;
- Consideration Stage – Wildlife Bill;
- Further Consideration Stage – Welfare Reform Bill; and
- Question Time to the Minister for Social Development.
Committee Business
5.3 Members noted that the Second Stage of the ‘Allowances to Members of the Assembly (Repeal) Bill’ was expected on Monday 21 June, in addition to a motion to allow accelerated passage of the Bill.
5.4 Members noted that the Consideration Stage of the ‘Allowances to Members of the Assembly (Repeal) Bill’ was expected on Tuesday 22 June.
5.5 Members agreed to schedule a motion on Monday 21 June from the Committee for Finance and Personnel to extend the Committee Stage of the Construction Contracts (Amendment) Bill.
5.6 Members agreed to schedule another motion from the Committee for Finance and Personnel on Monday 21 June, on the Report on its Inquiry into Public Sector Efficiencies. Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for the debate, with the usual speaking times.
Private Members’ Business
5.7 Due to the volume of other business scheduled, members agreed that there was no scope for any private members’ motions to be selected on Monday 21 June.
5.8 Mr Peter Weir brought members’ attention to a cross party motion that had been tabled on the ‘Financial Framework Applied to Government Departments’ (J Wells, D McNarry, S Farry, J McCann), and requested that the motion be debated before the summer recess. Due to the volume of Executive Business expected in the week beginning 28 June, it was considered that the only suitable date was Tuesday 22 June. The DUP indicated that it would not press for its adjournment debate slot on that date and members therefore agreed to schedule the cross party motion on Tuesday 22 June.
5.9 It was agreed that timings for the cross party motion would be considered at the next meeting, when the position on any other business, including the Assembly Commission’s Bill, is clearer.
5.10 Junior Ministers Newton and Kelly advised members that the Minister of Finance and Personnel was unavailable on Tuesday 22 June to respond to the cross party motion. Members indicated they were content for the motion to proceed, despite the unavailability of the Minister, in the expectation that another Executive representative would respond to the debate on the Minister’s behalf.
6. Any Other Business
6.1 The Speaker advised members that he understood that the Minister for Social Development had requested an additional sitting on Wednesday 30 June, to allow the Welfare Reform Bill to pass its Final Stage before summer recess. Members also noted that a large volume of Executive Business was anticipated for Tuesday 29 June.
6.2 Junior Ministers Newton and Kelly confirmed the request for an additional sitting on Wednesday 30 June and that a number of Second Stages are expected on Tuesday 29 June. They also advised that Ministers were being consulted to see whether some of these Bill stages could be scheduled on Wednesday 30 June.
6.3 Members agreed, in principle, to an additional sitting on Wednesday 30 June to accommodate the Final Stage of the Welfare Reform Bill. Members also agreed that, if other Executive business could be scheduled for Wednesday 30 June to ease the pressure on Tuesday 29 June, Ministers should be encouraged to consider this option.
7. Date and Time of next meeting
7.1 Members agreed to meet at approximately 12.30pm on Tuesday 15 June 2010 in Room 106.
The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 12.45pm.