MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS
BUSINESS COMMITTEE
TUESDAY 6 FEBRUARY 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
Mr J Wilson

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

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

1. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the meeting on 30 January 2001 were AGREED by the Committee and signed by the Speaker.

2. MATTERS ARISING

Messaging Facility

2.1 The Speaker informed Members that he had asked for a paper to be prepared on the introduction of a messaging facility. However, since this involves a considerable amount of research, it will be some weeks before this paper will be available to the Business Committee.

2.2 Tabling Assembly Business

The Speaker canvassed the views of the Committee regarding Members tabling items of Assembly business that relate to constituencies other than those they represent. Members requested more time to review this process and AGREED that it should be brought forward at a future meeting of the Committee.

2.3 St Patrick's Night

The Speaker requested that any comments or suggestions Members may have in relation to an event to mark St Patrick's Day should be forwarded to his Private Secretary as early as possible.

2.4 Committee Facilities

The Speaker informed Members that costings relating to the use of venues to enable Committees to meet outside Parliament Buildings, would be circulated when they became available. The Speaker emphasised that costs would only be incurred when the venues were used by Committees.

3. ARRANGEMENTS FOR FORTHCOMING PLENARY MEETING

3.1 The proposed business for the Plenary Sittings on 12 and 13 February 2001 was discussed and agreed indicative timings allocated.

4. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

4.1 Memorial Service

The Speaker informed Members that a Memorial Service for Mr Tom Benson would be held on 12 February 2001 in the Senate Chamber at 1.00 pm.

4.2 New Assembly Clerks

The Speaker informed Members that new Assembly Clerks operating in the Division Lobbies may not yet be familiar with all Members. The Speaker requested that Whips and Tellers should remind their Members to call out their surname when voting in a Division.

4.3 Rota for Oral Questions

The Committee AGREED the rota for Questions for oral answer between 5 March and 30 April 2001.

4.4 British/Irish Interparliamentary Body

The Speaker informed Members that the next meeting of the British/Irish Interparliamentary Body would be held on 26 February 2001 in Killarney.

4.5 Indicative Timings

The Speaker informed Members that Indicative Timings of Assembly business should only be used as a guide and that party groups should make their Members aware that business may be brought forward or indeed slip back at very short notice. The Committee AGREED to keep the issue of timing of Assembly business under review.

4.6 Oral and Written Questions

The Speaker drew Members' attention to the convention which had been established whereby transferred oral questions received a written response from the Department to which they were transferred.

The Speaker reminded Members that on notification of the transfer of his or her question, a Member may choose to withdraw the question and re-submit it as an oral question to the responsible Department. It was agreed that Members be reminded of these options in the next All Party Notice.

Mr McCusker agreed to examine the process adopted by Departments for transferring and receiving Assembly oral questions and report back to the Committee.

The Speaker agreed there was a need for the Speaker and Deputy Speakers to exercise consistency during Ministerial Question Time with particular attention to the process of asking supplementary questions. The Speaker reminded Members that the Annunciator informs Members of those oral questions that had been transferred to other Departments.

5. DATE, TIME AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Business Committee was scheduled for Tuesday 13 February 2001 in Room 106 at 12.30 pm.

The meeting adjourned at 2.05 pm.