NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY BUSINESS COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 05 OCTOBER 2010
ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
The meeting began at 12.37 pm
Present:
The Speaker (Chairperson)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr F Cobain
Mr K McCarthy
Lord Morrow
Ms C Ní Chuilín
Mr P Ramsey
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
Observers:
Mr D McClarty Deputy Speaker
Junior Minister Kelly
Mr N Jackson OFMDFM
1. Introduction and Apologies
1.1 The Speaker noted apologies from Mr Peter Weir and Junior Minister Newton.
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 28 September 2010
2.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 28 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 11 October 2010
Executive Business
4.1 Members noted that the Speaker had received notification from the Minister for Social Development of his intention to make a statement on Monday 11 October on ‘The Review of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive’.
4.2 Members noted that the following Executive motions were scheduled for Tuesday 12 October:
- Draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 (Employment and Learning); and
- Addendum to the Programme for Government (Justice).
4.3 Following discussion, members agreed to schedule two hours for the motion on the ‘Addendum to the Programme for Government’ on Tuesday 12 October. It was agreed that the Minister should be allocated 10 minutes to propose the motion and 15 minutes to wind, and that all other speakers would have 5 minutes.
Committee Business
4.4 Members agreed to schedule a motion to extend the Committee Stage of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill on Monday 11 October.
4.5 Members agreed to schedule an SDLP motion to replace members on Standing Committees on Monday 11 October.
Private Members’ Business
4.6 Having deferred the choice of a Private Members’ motion during the last meeting, members noted that the SDLP had confirmed their selection of ‘Disappeared Victims’. Members agreed to schedule the motion for debate on Monday 11 October with the usual speaking times.
4.7 Members agreed to the revised indicative timing of the Consideration Stage of the Local Government (Disqualification) (Amendment) Bill.
4.8 Junior Minister Kelly confirmed there was no additional Executive Business expected for week commencing 11 October.
5. Provisional Arrangements for Plenary meetings in week commencing 18 October 2010
Executive Business
5.1 Members noted that the only Executive Business scheduled for Monday 18 October was Question Time to the Minister of Justice and the Minister for Regional Development.
5.2 Members noted that the only Executive Business scheduled for Tuesday 19 October was Question Time to the Minister for Social Development and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. 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 both Monday
18 October and Tuesday 19 October.
Under the system of allocating Private Members’ motions, the selections lay with the DUP (two slots), Sinn Féin and the UUP.
The following motions were proposed:
- ‘Review of Multiple Sclerosis Services’ (A Ross, I McCrea);
- ‘Protecting Homeowners Following the Vesting of Land’ (C Ní Chuilín, F McCann, M Brady, A Maskey);
- ‘Uptake of Carer’s Allowance by Carers of Pension Age’ (D McNarry, B Armstrong); and
- ‘Knife Crime’ (A Easton, T Clarke, P Weir).
5.5 Members agreed to schedule the motions on ‘Review of Multiple Sclerosis Services’ and ‘Protecting Homeowners Following the Vesting of Land’ on Monday 18 October. The motions on ‘Uptake of Carer’s Allowance by Carers of Pension Age’ and ‘Knife Crime’ were scheduled for Tuesday 19 October. 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 19 October. Under the system for allocating Adjournment Debates, the selection lay with the SDLP.
The SDLP selected the following adjournment debate:
- ‘Speech and language therapy provision in the Foyle Constituency’ (P Ramsey).
Members agreed to schedule the Adjournment Debate on ‘Speech and language therapy provision in the Foyle Constituency’ on Tuesday 19 October.
5.7 Junior Minister Kelly confirmed that the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety was unavailable on both Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 October, and therefore could not respond to either the ‘Review of Multiple Sclerosis Services’ motion or the Adjournment Debate.
5.8 Despite the unavailability of the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, both Lord Morrow and Mr Ramsey opted to retain their choice of Motion and Adjournment Topic for debate on Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 October respectively.
6. Any Other Business
6.1 Mr McCarthy expressed concerns about the volume of business on the Order Paper. 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.
6.2 Lord Morrow, Ms Ní Chuilín and Mr Ramsey all expressed strong concerns about repeat instances of the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety’s unavailability to respond to motions; the impact that his unavailability has had on the Committee’s role in scheduling business; and the lack of information that is available to the Committee from the junior Ministers about the reasons for the Minister being unable to be present in the Chamber. Members noted that reasons for other Ministers’ unavailability can generally be offered, for example, that they will be out of Northern Ireland on business. Concerns were also expressed about the absence of Executive responses to debates where one would be considered appropriate. Mr Cobain stated that he believed that there was a clear distinction to be made between a Minister whose availability is constrained because of the pressure of departmental business, and a Minister who is not under such pressure and simply chooses to absent himself or herself from the Chamber.
The Speaker reminded members that he had written on several occasions to the Executive, and had also met with Ministers, to outline his own concerns and those of the Business Committee regarding Ministers’ availability to respond to motions. He reiterated the view that Ministers have an obligation to be accountable to the Assembly at all times for the activities within their responsibilities. It was agreed that the Speaker should write to the Chairperson of the Committee on Procedures to ask the Committee to consider whether any procedural options might be possible. It was also agreed that statistics would be provided to the Business Committee in relation to the impact of Ministerial unavailability on the selection of private Members’ business; the instances of debates proceeding despite the unavailability of the appropriate Minister; and the instances of the absence of any Executive response, where availability was not an issue, and when one would have been considered appropriate.
7. Date and Time of next meeting
7.1 Members agreed to meet at approximately 12.30pm on Tuesday 12 October 2010 in Room 106.
The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.04pm.
Mr William Hay
Speaker
28 September 10 / Menu |
