NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY BUSINESS COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2010
ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
The meeting began at 12.37 pm
Present:
The Speaker (Chairperson)
Mr B Armstrong
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
Ms C McKay Assistant Clerk
Mrs M Mageean Clerk of Business
Ms F Leneghan Assistant Private Secretary to the Speaker
Ms K McDonald Legal Adviser
Observers:
Mr D McClarty Deputy Speaker
Junior Minister Kelly
Junior Minister Newton
Mr N Jackson OFMDFM
1. Introduction and Apologies
1.1 The Speaker thanked Mr Peter Weir for chairing last week’s meeting, and noted apologies from Mr Thomas Burns.
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 23 November 2010
2.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 23 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 6 December 2010
Executive Business
4.1 Members noted the possible introduction of the Planning Bill on Monday 6 December, subject to the Speaker’s clearance.
4.2 Members noted that the Consideration Stage of the Construction Contracts (Amendment) Bill was scheduled for Monday 6 December. Committee Business
4.3 Members noted that the motion from the Committee for Education, scheduled for debate on Monday 6 December, had been tabled. As the Committee was keen to have as long a debate as possible given the cross-departmental implications of the motion, members agreed to extend the time allocated at last week’s meeting from two hours to three hours.
4.4 Members agreed to schedule a motion on Monday 6 December from the Committee for Justice to extend the Committee Stage of the Justice Bill.
Private Members’ Business
4.5 Members noted that there was no change to the Private Members’ Business previously scheduled.
5. Provisional Arrangements for Plenary meetings in week commencing 13 December 2010
Executive Business
5.1 As the Speaker advised members that there was a possibility of additional Executive Business following the Executive meeting on 2 December, members agreed to schedule all known business, and review the position at next week’s meeting.
5.2 Members noted that the only confirmed Executive Business on Monday 13 December was Question Time to the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and the Minister for Regional Development, but that there was a possibility that an NSMC Statement on the meeting in Health and Food Safety Sectoral format and the Consideration Stage of the Energy Bill may also be scheduled.
5.3 In addition to Question Time to the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure and the Minister of Education on Tuesday 14 December, members noted that the following Executive Business was also scheduled:
- Second Stage – Planning Bill (subject to its introduction on 6 December);
- Further Consideration Stage – Construction Contracts (Amendment) Bill;
- Final Stage – Student Loans (Amendment) Bill; and
- Final Stage – Tourism (Amendment) Bill.
5.4 Members agreed to schedule an additional sitting on Wednesday 15 December, under the provisions of Standing Order 10(6), and noted the possibility that a DSD Statement and a Legislative Consent Motion could be scheduled.
Committee Business
5.5 Members agreed to schedule a motion from the Assembly Commission on its ‘Report on Financial Support to Members of the Assembly’ on Monday 13 December. Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for the debate, with the usual speaking times.
Private Members’ Business
5.6 Members agreed to schedule the Consideration Stage of Mr John McCallister’s Caravans Bill on Tuesday 14 December.
Members agreed to schedule the Second Stage of the following Private Members’ Bills on Wednesday 15 December:
- Apartment Developments’ Management Reform Bill (K McCarthy);
- Hunting Bill (B Wilson); and
- Victims and Survivors (Disqualification) Bill (P Weir).
5.7 Members agreed to schedule one Private Members’ motion on Monday 13 December.
Under the system of allocating Private Members’ motions, the DUP had the next selection.
The following motion was proposed:
- Post-Primary Transfer Advice (J Craig, M McIlveen, M Storey, D Hilditch).
5.8 The Junior Ministers advised that only a limited number of Ministers might be available on Monday 13 December, due to the British Irish Council Summit meeting. The DUP opted to defer its selection until the position was clearer about which Ministers were available.
5.9 Members agreed to schedule an Adjournment Debate on Wednesday 15 December. Under the system for allocating Adjournment Debates, the selection lay with the SDLP.
The SDLP selected the following topic:
- Future of the former Shackleton army base site at Ballykelly (Mr J Dallat).
Members agreed to schedule the topic as the Adjournment Debate on Wednesday 15 December.
5.10 The Junior Ministers confirmed that the relevant Minister was available to respond to the Adjournment Debate.
5.11 Members agreed to review all scheduled business at next week’s meeting, when the position on Executive Business is clearer.
6. Draft Rota for Questions for Oral Answer – 17 January to 22 March 2011
6.1 Members agreed the draft Rota for Questions for Oral Answer from 17 January to 22 March 2011.
7. Any Other Business
Ruling on Amendments to Standing Orders for Question Time
7.1 The Speaker referred members to his Ruling on Amendments to Standing Orders for Question Time and his draft letter to the Executive, which had been tabled for their information. The Speaker advised members that:
- If Ministers need longer than two minutes to answer, they should advise the House at the start of their Question Time slot;
- Extensions to answers will be the exception, and in any case should not be longer than three minutes; and
- Supplementary questions should be brief, relevant and contain only one enquiry.
Members were content with the Ruling and the draft letter to the Executive.
Members not in their place for Question Time and Number of Questions Withdrawn
7.2 The Speaker expressed concern that there had been no improvement in recent weeks. Members continued to withdraw their questions at the last minute, or simply were not in their place without any notice. The Speaker advised that the matter may need to be referred to the Committee on Procedures in the future, but in the first instance, responsibility lay with Whips. He therefore asked Whips to ensure that only party members who are available on the relevant day should be included in the shuffle. The Speaker also asked Whips to take responsibility for confirming at group meetings that party colleagues who have a question listed later that day will be present at Question Time. The Business Office should be notified of any absences no later than 30 minutes prior to the start of Question Time.
7.3Mr Pat Ramsey expressed his support the Speaker’s position and commented that the practice recently was extremely discourteous to the House. Whips agreed to liaise with their party colleagues to ensure, as far as possible, that Members with a listed oral question are in the Chamber to ask it.
8. Date and Time of next meeting
8.1 Members agreed to meet at approximately 12.30pm on Tuesday 7 December 2010 in Room 106.
The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 12.51pm.
Mr William Hay
Speaker
23 November 10 / Menu |
