1. Minutes of Previous Meeting
2. Matters Arising
3. Arrangements for Forthcoming Plenary Meetings
4. Any Other Business
5. Date, Time and Venue of Next Meeting

Present: The Speaker
Mr D Ford
Dr A McDonnell
Ms M McWilliams
Mr C Murphy
Mr D Watson
Mr J Wilson

Apologies: Mr I Davis
Mr B Hutchinson
Mr A Maskey
Mrs I Robinson

In attendance: Mr M Barnes Ms G Campbell
Mr J Reynolds Mr N Johnston
Mr J Ross

Observers: Ms J Morrice Deputy Speaker
Mr N Dodds

1. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed by the Committee and signed by the Speaker.

2. MATTERS ARISING

2.1 Appointment of New Member: The Speaker informed the Committee that Mr M Morrow, on appointment as the Minister for Social Development, had resigned his position on the Business Committee. In the absence of Mrs Robinson the Speaker obtained the agreement of the Committee to admit Mr Nigel Dodds to the meeting as an observer.

2.2 Deputy Chairpersons of the Business Committee: The Speaker reported that Mr Conor Murphy and Mr Denis Watson were appointed as Deputy Chairpersons of the Business Committee.

2.3 Chamber Seating: A revision to seating arrangements within the Chamber had been carried out over the summer recess. Two extra seats had been installed and it was hoped that, by agreement between the parties, these changes would improve arrangements in the Chamber. Parties agreed to liaise between themselves to try to agree the new arrangements.

2.4 Accommodation: The Speaker outlined the current pressures on accommodation within Parliament Buildings. A review was currently taking place and ideas on how space could be freed up would be welcomed. Members were informed that the shop had been relocated from the basement area to allow it to share premises with the Post Office. The space freed up by this move would be used to develop a lunch facility for parties visiting the building during Sitting days.

2.5 Staffing: The Speaker made the Committee aware of the main areas of pressure on the staffing in Parliament Buildings. Members were encouraged to accept that there is a problem at present which was being addressed as a matter of urgency. Nevertheless there would in the short-term be limitations on the service Members could expect to receive.

2.6 Protocol: In Northern Ireland the Secretary of State decides who to invite to meet Royal/VIP visitors. The Speaker offered to liaise with the Secretary of State, if that were the wish of the Committee, to ask for a change to current procedures thus allowing MLAs to be included on invitation lists. The Committee indicated that it wished the Speaker to discuss the arrangements with the Secretary of State.

3. ARRANGEMENTS FOR FORTHCOMING PLENARY MEETING

3.1 The Speaker circulated a draft Order Paper for consideration. He outlined indicative timings for the order of business for next week's plenary and stressed that Members should again be aware that these timings could change at very short notice.

3.2 The Speaker outlined 3 draft proposals for consideration by the Committee in relation to the draft Regulations laid by the Secretary of State under the Flags (Northern Ireland) Order 2000. Members were informed that agreement on which proposal should be adopted would be required by Thursday lunchtime (7 September). Party Whips were asked to contact the Clerk of Business detailing which option they preferred. If consensus was not achieved then a brief meeting of the Business Committee would be required on Thursday afternoon to discuss the issue further.

4. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

4.1 The Speaker reported that he had been asked for nominations to participate at a meeting of the British/Irish Parliamentary Body on 8-10 October 2000 in Galway. A similar request was also made to nominate 10 Assembly Members who would serve on the Court of the University of Ulster. The Speaker suggested that nominations should be shared equally between the four largest parties and a group made up of the other parties. Committee Members agreed with the Speaker's suggestion and agreed to forward nominations to his Office. In response to a query from Mr Dodds the Speaker explained that nominations would be issued from the Speaker's Office without recourse to the Assembly in plenary.

4.2 The Speaker recommended that within the rota set down for Ministerial Question Time Ministers should be able to change the order of Departments within the day allocated, by agreement amongst themselves and provided that the order was settled in time for the issue of the Order Paper.

4.3 Members were informed by the Speaker that agreement had been reached that Assembly Questions and Ministerial correspondence could be signed in the Minister's absence by the Private Secretary or the Assistant Private Secretary of the relevant Department. However full responsibility for the content of the correspondence would rest with the relevant Minister.

4.4 After discussion it was decided that a Statutory Rule emanating from the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in relation to the Equality (Disability, etc) (Northern Ireland) Order 2000 would be directed to the Committee on Health, Social Services and Public Safety. The Speaker is to liaise with the Chairman of the Committee on Procedures with regard to reviewing Standing Orders in relation to Committee consideration of secondary legislation from the Office of the First Minister/Deputy First Minister.

4.5 The Speaker outlined proposals for recess dates for the 2000/2001 session. These were agreed by the Committee.

5. DATE ,TIME AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING

Subject to agreement at 3.2 above, it was agreed that the next meeting of the Business Committee would take place on Tuesday 12 September 2000 in Room 106 at 12.30 pm.

The meeting adjourned at 2.03 pm.

THE LORD ALDERDICE
The Speaker