MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS
BUSINESS COMMITTEE
TUESDAY 3 OCTOBER 2000 AT 12.30 PM
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
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
The meeting began at 12.34 pm
Present: The Speaker
Mr I Davis
Mr N Dodds
Mr D Ford
Mr B Hutchinson
Mr A Maskey
Dr A McDonnell
Mr C Murphy
Ms M McWilliams
Mr I Paisley Jnr
Nominated Deputies: Mr J Tierney Mr D McClarty
Apologies: Mr E McGrady MP
Mr J Wilson
In attendance: Mr J Reynolds Ms G Campbell
Mr J Ross Mr N Johnston
Observers: Ms D McClelland Deputy Speaker
1. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed by the Committee and signed by the Speaker.
top2. MATTERS ARISING
2.1 The Speaker confirmed that he had received the names of Pat McNamee, David McClarty and John Tierney as deputies to the Business Committee. The Speaker requested other party nominations to be brought forward as soon as possible.
top3. ARRANGEMENTS FOR FORTHCOMING PLENARY MEETING
3.1 The Speaker circulated a draft Order Paper for the plenary sitting on 9/10 October 2000 and outlined indicative timings for the order of business.
3.2 The Speaker outlined the arrangements for taking the Consideration Stage of Bills. The Speaker reported that in the event of no amendment being made after Consideration Stage it was his intention to put the question on clause stand part to cover all the clauses during Further Consideration Stage to avoid unnecessarily prolonging this stage of the legislative procedure. The Committee agreed to adopt these proposals as convention for future legislation going through Consideration and Further Consideration Stage.
3.3 A proposal by Dr A McDonnell to include a Private Members' Motion on the Report on Secondary Education standing in the name of Mr T Gallagher was carried by 54 votes to 26.
3.4 The Speaker outlined to Members the procedure associated with Ministerial Question Time. To enable as many questions as possible to be answered by Ministers the number of supplementaries are generally limited to 2 or 3 per question, unless the issue is of substantial interest. In response to a request from Mr Ian Paisley Jnr to ensure that supplementary questions relate directly to the main question, the Speaker outlined the need for flexibility to be exercised by all Members and Speakers in the Assembly during Question Time.
top4. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
4.1 The Speaker reported the current arrangements associated with protocol in relation to Royal Visits. The Speaker agreed to keep Members informed of future developments.
4.2 The Committee agreed, in principle, to accept an invitation from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation for 5/6 Members of the Assembly to visit Germany over the Hallowe'en recess. Party Whips agreed to lodge their nominations with the Speaker's Office before the next meeting of the Committee.
top5. DATE ,TIME AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Business Committee was scheduled for Tuesday 10 October 2000 in Room 106 at 12.30 pm.
topThe meeting was adjourned at 1.50 pm.
THE LORD ALDERDICE
The Speaker
19 September 2000 / Menu / 10 October 2000