NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY BUSINESS COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 16 NOVEMBER 2010
ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
The meeting began at 12.35 pm
Present:
The Speaker (Chairperson)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr T Burns
Ms C Ní Chuilín
Mr K McCarthy
Mr J O’Dowd
Mr P Ramsey
Mr P Weir
In attendance:
Ms N Dunwoody Clerk Assistant
Ms L Gordon Clerk of Business
Ms C McKay Assistant Clerk
Mrs M Mageean 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 F Molloy Deputy Speaker
Junior Minister Kelly
Junior Minister Newton
Mr A Rogers OFMDFM
1. Introduction and Apologies
1.1 The Speaker noted apologies from Mr Paul Maskey and Mr Fred Cobain.
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 9 November 2010
2.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 9 November 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 22 November 2010
Executive Business
4.1 There was no additional Executive business scheduled. Committee Business
4.2 Members agreed to schedule a motion on Monday 22 November from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to extend the Committee Stage of the Armed Forces and Veterans Bill.
4.3 Members agreed to schedule a motion from the SDLP on Statutory Committee membership on Monday 22 November.
4.4 Members agreed to schedule the Second Stage of the Assembly Members (Independent Financial Review and Standards) Bill on Tuesday 23 November.
4.5 Members agreed to table a motion to set up an Ad hoc Committee to scrutinise the Assembly Members (Independent Financial Review and Standards) Bill. Members agreed the configuration of the membership of the Ad hoc Committee, its quorum and the date the Committee is required to submit a report to the Assembly. It was also agreed that a Party Whip from each party would sign the motion, and that Ms Carál Ní Chuilín would move the motion on Tuesday 23 November.
Private Members’ Business
4.6 Members noted the possible introduction of Mr Pat Ramsey’s private Members’ Bill on Cycle Helmets on Tuesday 23 November.
5. Provisional Arrangements for Plenary meetings in week commencing 29 November 2010
Executive Business
5.1 In addition to Question Time to the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister and the Minister of Justice, members noted that the Further Consideration Stage of the Commissioner for Older People Bill was scheduled for Monday 29 November.
5.2 Members noted that the Minister of Justice has sought permission from the Speaker to make a statement on an Inter-governmental Agreement on Criminal Justice Co-operation on Monday 29 November.
5.3 In addition to Question Time to the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Finance and Personnel, members noted that the Further Consideration Stage of the Student Loans (Amendment) Bill was also scheduled for Tuesday 30 November.
Committee Business
5.4 Members agreed to schedule three motions on Monday 29 November from the Committee on Procedures to Amend Standing Orders relating to Question Time. Members set no time limit for these motions, in line with convention, but noted that the debate was not expected to last longer than 15 to 20 minutes.
5.5 Members noted that the changes to Standing Orders would take immediate effect if agreed on Monday 29 November. Members noted that one of the consequences of the motions would be that Tuesday’s Question Time would begin at 2pm, effective from Tuesday 30 November. It was also noted that the Speaker would advise Whips at next week’s meeting about how he proposed to operate the other changes relating to supplementary questions and the length of Ministerial answers.
Private Members’ Business
5.6 Members agreed to schedule two Private Members’ motions on Monday 29 November, subject to any additional Executive Business being scheduled next week, and two motions on Tuesday 30 November.
Under the system of allocating Private Members’ motions, the UUP, DUP, Sinn Féin and the SDLP each had a selection.
The following motions were proposed:
- Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (D McNarry, L Cree);
- Specialist Neurology Beds (G Robinson, J Wells); and
- Health and Social Care Services for Vulnerable People (T Gallagher, M Ritchie, M Bradley).
5.7 Sinn Féin deferred its selection, and undertook to inform the clerk as soon as possible.
5.8 The Junior Ministers advised members that the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment would be unavailable on both Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 November, but that all other relevant Ministers were available. The UUP opted to change their selection as a result, and agreed to inform the clerk of a revised motion as soon as possible.
5.9 Members agreed to schedule the UUP’s motion and the DUP’s motion on ‘Specialist Neurology Beds’ on Monday 29 November, and Sinn Féin’s motion and the SDLP’s motion on ‘Health and Social Care Services for Vulnerable People’ on Tuesday 30 November. Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for the debates, with the usual speaking times.
5.10 After the meeting, Mr Armstrong advised the Clerk that he wished to select the motion on ‘Driving under the Influence of Drink or Drugs’ (D Kinahan, J McCallister), and Ms Ní Chuilín advised that she wished to select a motion on ‘Neighbourhood Renewal’ (C Ní Chuilín, J O’Dowd, M Brady, M Anderson).
5.11 Members agreed to schedule an Adjournment Debate on Tuesday 30 November. Under the system for allocating Adjournment Debates, the selection lay with the UUP.
The UUP selected the following topic:
- The future of Home Start in the Ards Peninsula and Comber areas of the Strangford Constituency (D McNarry).
Members agreed to schedule the topic as the Adjournment Debate on Tuesday 30 November.
6. Any other business
6.1 Members agreed to the First Minister and deputy First Minister’s request to exchange their Question Time slot on 13 December with the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment’s slot on 6 December.
7. Date and Time of next meeting
7.1 Members agreed to meet at approximately 12.30pm on Tuesday 23 November 2010 in Room 106.
The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 12.50pm.
Mr Peter Weir
Acting Chairperson
9 November 10 / Menu |
