NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY BUSINESS COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 7 SEPTEMBER 2010
ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS The meeting began at 12.35 pm Present:
The Speaker (Chairperson)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr F Cobain
Mr K McCarthy
Lord Morrow
Mr P Ramsey
Ms S 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:
Junior Minister Newton
Mr N Jackson OFMDFM 1. Introduction and Apologies 1.1 The Speaker welcomed members back to the Business Committee following summer recess. The Speaker noted apologies from Ms Carál Ní Chuilín, Mr Paul Maskey and Junior Minister Kelly. 2. Minutes of the meeting held on 22 June 2010 2.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 22 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 13 September 2010 Executive Business 4.1 Members noted that the Speaker had received notification of the following oral statements on Monday 13 September:
- Regional Development – Governance Issues in Northern Ireland Water;
- Education – NSMC in Education Sectoral Format;
- Justice – Review of Access to Justice;
- Justice – Intergovernmental Agreement in Criminal Justice Co-operation; and
- Finance and Personnel – Provisional Outturn 2009/10 and June Monitoring 2010/11.
4.2 Junior Minister Newton confirmed that the following Ministers intended to seek permission from the Speaker to make oral statements on Monday 13 and Tuesday 14 September: Monday 13 September
- Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment - NSMC in Trade and Business Development Sectoral format;
Tuesday 14 September
- OFMDFM – NSMC Plenary;
- OFMDFM – BIC Environment Sector;
- Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety – NSMC in Health Sectoral format.
4.3 In addition to Question Time on Monday 13 September to OFMDFM and the Minister of Education, members noted that an Executive motion was scheduled on ‘Jobseeker’s Allowance (Lone Parents) (Availability for Work) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010’. 4.4 In addition to Question Time on Tuesday 14 September to the Minister for Employment and Learning and the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, members noted a second Executive motion was scheduled on ‘Draft Strategic Investment and Regeneration of Sites (Maze/Long Kesh) (Northern Ireland) Order 2010’. Members noted that this item of business was not time limited, but agreed that the indicative timings should reflect 1 hour 30 minutes. Committee Business 4.5 Members agreed to schedule two DUP motions to replace members on Standing and Statutory Committees on Monday 13 September. 4.6 Members agreed to schedule two Alliance motions to replace members on Standing and Statutory Committees on Monday 13 September. 4.7 Members agreed to schedule a Sinn Féin motion to replace members on Statutory Committees on Monday 13 September. 4.8 Members agreed to schedule a motion from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister, to extend the Committee Stage of the Commissioner for Older People Bill, on Monday 13 September. 4.9 Members agreed to schedule a motion from the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure on Tuesday 14 September on its Inquiry into Sports and Physical Activity in Northern Ireland. Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for the debate, with the usual speaking times. Private Members’ Business 4.10 The Speaker advised members that new rotas for motions and adjournment debates had been started for the new session, as previously agreed. 4.11 Members agreed that there was no scope to schedule any private Members’ business on either Monday 13 or Tuesday 14 September. 5. Provisional Arrangements for Plenary meetings in week commencing 20 September 2010 Executive Business 5.1 Members noted that the only Executive Business notified at this stage was Question Time to both the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Finance and Personnel on Monday 13 September, and the Minister of Health, Social Services and the Minister of Justice on Tuesday 14 September. Committee Business 5.2 Members agreed to schedule two motions from the Committee for Employment and Learning on Monday 20 September, to extend the Committee Stage of both the Student Loans (Amendment) Bill and the Employment (No.2) Bill. 5.3 Members agreed to schedule the motion from the Committee for Finance and Personnel on Monday 20 September on its ‘Report on the Inquiry into the Role of the Northern Ireland Assembly in Scrutinising the Executive’s Budget and Expenditure’. Following discussion, members agreed to allocate 2 hours to the debate, with the usual speaking times, to facilitate contributions from the Chairpersons of Statutory Committees. Private Members’ Business 5.4 Members agreed to schedule one Private Members’ motion on Monday 20 September, and two on Tuesday 21 September. Under the system of allocating Private Members’ motions, the selections lay with the DUP, Sinn Féin and the UUP. The following motion were proposed:
- ‘Carbon Monoxide Awareness and Strategy’ (A McQuillan, G Campbell, G Robinson);
- ‘Outstanding Medical Negligence Cases’ (J O’Dowd, M O’Neill, S Ramsey); and
- ‘Human Trafficking’ (T Elliott, D McNarry, D Kinahan).
5.5 Members agreed to schedule the motion on ‘Carbon Monoxide Awareness and Strategy’ on Monday 20 September. Members agreed to schedule the motions on ‘Outstanding Medical Negligence Cases’ and ‘Human Trafficking’ on Tuesday 21 September. Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for the debates, with the usual speaking times. 5.6 Members agreed to schedule an Adjournment Debate on Tuesday 21 September. Under the system for allocating Adjournment Debates, the selection lay with the DUP. The DUP selected the following adjournment debate:
- ‘ Lagan Valley Hospital Accident and Emergency Unit’ (P Givan).
Members agreed to schedule the adjournment debate on ‘Lagan Valley Hospital Accident and Emergency Unit ‘(P Givan) on Tuesday 21 September. 5.7 Junior Minister Newton advised that the Minister for Employment and Learning and the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety were unavailable on Monday 20 September. However, all relevant Ministers were available on Tuesday 21 September. 5.8 Mr P Weir was content to keep his selection of the ‘Carbon Monoxide Awareness and Strategy’ motion on Monday 20 September, in the expectation that either the Minister of Finance and Personnel or the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment would respond to the motion as their Departments also had an interest in this issue. 6. Exchange of Question Time Slots 6.1 Members agreed to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development’s request to exchange her Question Time slot on 13 December with the Minister for Regional Development’s slot on 7 December. 6.2 Members also agreed to the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure’s request to exchange his Question Time slot on 4 October with the Minister of Finance and Personnel’s slot on 12 October. 7. Any Other Business 7.1 Members noted that a copy of the latest version of the Speaker’s rulings up to the start of recess had been tabled for Whips. 8. Date and Time of next meeting 8.1 Members agreed to meet at approximately 12.30pm on Tuesday 14 September 2010 in Room 106. The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 12.46pm. Mr William Hay
Speaker 22 June 10 / Menu |
