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 I Davis
Mr N Dodds
Mr D Ford
Mr B Hutchinson
Mr C Murphy
Dr A McDonnell
Mr E McGrady MP
Ms M McWilliams
Mr I Paisley Jnr
Mr D Watson
Mr J Wilson

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

Observers: Sir J Gorman Deputy Speaker
Mr D McClelland Deputy Speaker
Ms J Morrice Deputy Speaker
Mr T McCusker Executive Liaison
Mr P Price

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

2.1 The Speaker requested that comments on the notional agenda for the proposed visit by a delegation of the Northern Ireland Assembly to the Centre for Democracy, Washington DC in Spring 2001 should be conveyed to the Speaker's Office at the earliest possible date.

2.2 The Speaker's Adviser outlined arrangements for the forthcoming visit by the President of the United States of America and issued Members with an outline programme of events. The visit to Parliament Buildings is scheduled for 13 December 2000 between 9.45 am and 12.45 pm. There will be three elements to the outline programme:

(a) photo-call and meeting with the First Minister and Deputy First Minister;

(b) private meetings with some or all of the Assembly parties; and

(c) an informal reception for all Assembly Members.

The Committee AGREED that press coverage should be restricted to the Gallery areas with no ground floor photography. The Speaker's Adviser agreed to issue Members with indicative timings of the events when arrangements for the visit became more definitive.

2.3 The Speaker reminded Members that Deputy Speaker Jane Morrice, on his behalf, would host a drinks reception between 6.00 pm and 7.00 pm on 6 December 2000 in the Members' Dining Room for the World Affairs Councils of America. Nominated representatives were required (five from each of the larger parties and two from each of the others) to be forwarded to the Speaker's Office at the earliest possible opportunity.

3.1 The Speaker circulated draft Order Papers for the plenary sittings on 11/12 December 2000 and indicated indicative timings.

Mr Conor Murphy recorded his reservation about a Motion regarding the Ad Hoc Committee, Financial Investigation (NI) Order being selected to appear on the Order Paper when the Business Committee had had only a very limited opportunity to consider the merit in this approach to the issue. The Speaker circulated a draft Order Paper for the plenary sitting on 18/19 December for information only.

3.2 The Speaker indicated that due to the nature of Assembly business on the Order Paper for 12 December 2000 one Private Members' Motion from the No Day Named List could be included. Members offered support for 3 different Motions. To decide the matter the Committee voted for the Motions on Capital Spending (31 votes), Postal Delivery Service (26 votes) and Aggregates Tax (42 votes). After elimination of the Motion receiving the lowest number of Committee votes, Members voted to place the Motion on Aggregate Tax on the Order Paper by 50 votes to 39 votes.

3.3 On this basis the Committee AGREED the text of the Order Papers for Monday 11 December and Tuesday 12 December 2000.

4.1 Weekly Information Bulletin:

The Committee agreed that the list of Committee memberships, Departments and Ministers should only appear in the Weekly Information Bulletin on the first Saturday of every month with the intervening issues containing updated material when appropriate.

4.2 Decorum in the Chamber:

The Speaker asked Members to remind their colleagues that they should not pass in front of a Member who is speaking directly to the Chair. He also reminded Members that they should not enter the Chamber during Prayers.

4.3 Question Time:

The Speaker outlined the arrangements for taking Supplementary Questions during Ministerial Question Time. The Speaker directed the Clerk of Business to produce guidance for the Committee indicating that these were guidelines rather than rules.

Mr Jim Wilson recorded that he would be writing to the Speaker on the issue of timings for debates. The Committee agreed that this area would require further discussion and should be put on the agenda for a future meeting.

The next meeting of the Business Committee was scheduled for Tuesday 12 December 2000 in Room 106 at 12.30 pm.

The meeting was adjourned at 2.20 pm.

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28 November 2000 / Menu / 12 December 2000