MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS
BUSINESS COMMITTEE
TUESDAY 16 JANUARY 2001 AT 12.30 PM
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
The Speaker
Mr I Davis
Mr N Dodds
Mr D Ford
Mr B Hutchinson
Mr A Maskey
Mr C Murphy
Mr E McGrady MP
Ms M McWilliams
Mr I Paisley Jnr
Mr D Watson

Apologies:
Mr J Wilson

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

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

1. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

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

The Speaker welcomed Mr Andre Gagnon, Deputy Clerk, Canadian Parliament, who is visiting the Northern Ireland Assembly to advise Assembly Clerks on matters of procedure.

2. MATTERS ARISING

2.1 The Committee AGREED that a special meeting should be convened on Monday 5 February 2001 to discuss the Assembly's practice with regard to offering condolences. Members AGREED to review the paper which had previously been circulated on condolences and submit to the Speaker's Office any recommendations or changes they wish to propose before the end of January 2001.

2.2 The Committee AGREED that the visit to the Centre for Democracy, Washington DC should be planned for 7-14 March 2001. The Speaker reminded Members that the visit was only open to Party Whips/Deputy Whips or their named alternates. Members AGREED to forward names to the Clerk of Business before close of play on 19 January 2001.

3. ARRANGEMENTS FOR FORTHCOMING PLENARY MEETING

3.1 The Speaker circulated draft Order Papers for the Plenary Sittings on 22 and 23 January 2001 and indicated indicative timings for each Sitting.

3.2 The Committee AGREED to include the Motion on Ad Hoc Committee - Life Sentences (Northern Ireland) Order 2001 on the Order Paper for 22 January 2001.

3.3 The Committee AGREED, in the event of Question Time ending early for either of the first two Ministers on the Order Paper, that the Assembly would suspend for the remainder of the half-hour session. If the third session finished early the Assembly will continue with the next item of business on the Order Paper.

The Committee AGREED to remove the Assembly Commission from the rota for Oral Questions and to make alternative arrangements for Questions to the Assembly Commission. This decision would be kept under review. The Clerk of Business would provide a revised rota indicating how this decision would be implemented.

3.4 Some Members expressed concern at the lack of new legislation that was coming forward from Departments. The Speaker advised that he was to meet with Permanent Secretaries and would raise this issue.

3.5 On this basis the Committee AGREED the text of the Order Papers for Monday 22 January and Tuesday 23 January 2001.

4. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

4.1 The Speaker informed Members that Mr Gerald Colan-O'Leary had been appointed as Head of Security within the Northern Ireland Assembly. He would be responsible for security arrangements within the Assembly and would be contacting Business Managers to discuss any security issues that they wished to raise. The Speaker also reported that Mr Waddell, the present Keeper of the House, would be leaving the Assembly at the end of January. Until his replacement was appointed the Head of Security would perform the Keeper's duties in the Chamber.

4.2 The Speaker informed Members that interviews for the post of Examiner of Statutory Rules had now concluded. It was anticipated that this post should be filled in the very near future.

4.3 The Speaker reminded Members of the difficulty associated with individual Members arriving after a Ministerial statement had been made, posing a question which had already been posed in precisely the same form as before, and then leaving the Chamber immediately following the Minister's reply. The Speaker asked the Committee to advise Members of the normal protocols which should apply in these situations.

4.4 The Speaker informed Members that to help alleviate the problem of accommodation, the Northern Ireland Assembly had acquired the premises of the old Provincial Bank Building at the Massey Avenue entrance. The Speaker reported that the Assembly Commission would be keeping the problem of accommodation under review and that he would inform Members of further developments.

5. DATE, TIME AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Business Committee was scheduled for Tuesday 23 January 2001 in Room 106 at 12.30 pm.

The meeting was adjourned at 2.05 pm.