NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY BUSINESS COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 2010
ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
The meeting began at 12.38 pm
Present:
The Speaker (Chairperson)
Mr T Burns
Mr F Cobain
Mr P Maskey
Mr K McCarthy
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
Ms A McKelvey Assistant Legal Adviser
Observers:
Mr J Dallat Deputy Speaker
Mr D McClarty Deputy Speaker
Junior Minister Kelly
Junior Minister Newton
Mr N Jackson OFMDFM
1. Introduction and Apologies
1.1 The Speaker noted apologies from Ms Carál Ní Chuilín and Mr Billy Armstrong.
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 14 September 2010
2.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 14 September 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 27 September 2010
Executive Business
4.1 Members noted that there were no changes to the Executive Business for Monday 27 September.
4.2 Members noted that the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Minister of Finance and Personnel may each seek permission from the Speaker to make a statement on Tuesday 28 September.
Committee Business
4.3 Members agreed to schedule two motions to extend the Committee Stages of the Transport Bill (Regional Development) and the Tourism (Amendment) Bill ( Enterprise, Trade and Investment) on Monday 27 September.
4.4 Members agreed to schedule the DUP motion on ‘Standing Committee Membership’ on Monday 27 September.
Private Members’ Business
4.5 Members noted that Sinn Féin had changed their Private Members’ motion selected at last week’s Business Committee from ‘Social Economy Enterprises’ to ‘Proposed Rose Energy Incinerator at Glenavy’. Members agreed to schedule the motion ‘Proposed Rose Energy Incinerator at Glenavy’ on Monday 27 September.
4.6 Having deferred the choice of a Private Members’ motion during the last meeting, Mr Ramsey selected the motion on ‘Equality and Good Relations’. Members agreed to schedule the motion for debate on Tuesday 28 September with the usual times.
4.7 The Speaker asked Whips, in the event that they were unable to select motions at the Business Committee, to advise the Clerk of their choice of motion that day to allow Provisional Order Papers to issue. Further, the Speaker reminded members that any changes to selected motions should also be notified to the Clerk on the same day. The Speaker also ruled that selections should only be made from the No Day Named List tabled on the day of the meeting to ensure fairness and consistency, unless in very exceptional circumstances.
4.8 The junior Ministers confirmed that there was no additional Executive Business expected.
5. Provisional Arrangements for Plenary meetings in week commencing 4 October 2010
Executive Business
5.1 Members noted that the only Executive Business notified for Monday 4 October was Question Time to the Minister of Finance and Personnel and the Minister of Education.
5.2 In addition to Question Time to the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment on Tuesday 5 October, members noted that the Consideration Stage of the Debt Relief Bill had been scheduled. Committee Business
5.3 Members noted that there was no Committee Business requested. Private Members’ Business
5.4 Members agreed to schedule two Private Members’ motions on Monday 4 October and one on Tuesday 5 October. Under the system of allocating Private Members’ motions, the selections lay with Sinn Fein, UUP and the Alliance Party.
The following motions were proposed:
- ‘Property Fraud in Europe’ (T Elliott, D Kennedy); and
- ‘Success through Skills 2 Strategy’ (A Lo, C Lyttle).
5.5 Sinn Fein deferred its selection, and undertook to inform the Clerk as soon as possible.
5.6 The junior Ministers confirmed that the Minister for Employment and Learning was unavailable to respond to the debate ‘Success through Skills 2 Strategy’ on Tuesday 5 October. Therefore, Mr McCarthy opted to select another motion, and undertook to inform the Clerk as soon as possible.
5.7 Members agreed to schedule the Sinn Féin motion and the motion on ‘Property Fraud in Europe’ on Monday 4 October, and the Alliance Party motion on Tuesday 5 October. Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for the debates, with the usual speaking times.
5.8 Members agreed to schedule an Adjournment Debate on Tuesday 5 October. Under the system for allocating Adjournment Debates, the selection lay with the UUP.
The UUP selected the following adjournment debate:
- ‘Promotion of the Bronte Homeland Interpretative Centre’ (J McCallister).
Members agreed to schedule the adjournment debate on ‘Promotion of the Bronte Homeland Interpretative Centre’ on Tuesday 5 October.
6. Exchange of Question Time Slots
6.1 Members agreed to the Minister for Employment and Learning’s request to exchange his Question Time slot on 5 October with the Minister of the Environment’s slot on 11 October.
7. Any Other Business
7.1 Mr Ramsey expressed concerns about the volume of Private Members’ business having to be scheduled. The Speaker advised that around twenty Bills were currently at Committee Stage, and that there would probably not be much movement on Consideration Stages until after the Halloween recess. The anticipated pressures on Committees were noted. The Speaker asked the junior Ministers to take note of the concerns that had been raised.
7.2 The Speaker expressed concern about the frequency with which oral questions were being withdrawn by Members, with most recently three out of the top six questions to the Minister of Finance and Personnel being withdrawn. Whips agreed to take a particular interest in the matter.
8. Date and Time of next meeting
8.1 Members agreed to meet at approximately 12.30pm on Tuesday 28 September 2010 in Room 106.
The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 12.52pm.
Mr William Hay
Speaker
14 September 10 / Menu |
