MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS
BUSINESS COMMITTEE
TUESDAY 3 JULY 2001 AT 12.30 PM
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
The meeting began at 12.46 pm.
Present: The Speaker
Mr I Davis
Mr N Dodds MP
Mr D Ford
Mr A Maskey
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 A Moir Clerk to the Assembly
Mr J Reynolds Principal Clerk of Business
Mr A Rogers Principal Clerk
Ms N Dunwoody Clerk of Plenary Business
Ms G Campbell Private Secretary to the Speaker
Ms I McAuley Legal Adviser
Observers: Mr T McCusker Executive Liaison
Ms J Morrice
Mr D McClelland
Sir J Gorman
Mr D Ervine
1. SPEAKER'S BUSINESS
1.1 The Speaker welcomed Mr Alan Rogers to the meeting and reported that he would be taking over as Principal Clerk of Business from Mr Joe Reynolds on 13 August 2001. This being the last Business Committee which Mr Reynolds would clerk, the Speaker took the opportunity to wish him well in his new post as Principal Clerk of Committees. Members individually took the opportunity to thank Mr Reynolds for his work with the Committee.
2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
2.1 The minutes of the meeting of 26 June 2001 were AGREED by the Committee and signed by the Speaker.
3. MATTERS ARISING
3.1 Questions
The Speaker confirmed that he would be raising with the Head of the Civil Service the issue of written answers to written questions which had been outstanding for several months.
3.2 No Day Named Motions
Members noted a paper summarising the Private Members' Motions which had been debated this session. It was AGREED that the Business Office would provide a full list of Motions tabled throughout the session with dates. The Speaker reminded Members that the outstanding Motions on the No Day Named List would fall at the end of the session, and Members wishing to re-submit Motions should do so after recess.
In this context Members discussed a Motion censuring the Speaker and Deputy Speakers tabled that day by Mr Sammy Wilson. The proposal was made that the Order Paper for Wednesday 4 July should be withdrawn and re-issued possibly with this Motion or other business as additional items of business; this proposal fell (21 votes for, 57 votes against).
4. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
4.1 Draft Criminal Injuries Compensation (NI) Order 2001
Members noted that the report is due to be submitted to the Secretary of State by 30 November 2001 and AGREED to consider, at the first meeting of the Business Committee after the summer recess, a Motion to set up an ad hoc Committee to consider the draft Order.
4.2 Letter from Committee on Procedures - Attendance at Committee Meetings
The Committee on Procedures had been asked by the Chairman of the Committee for Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to consider introducing procedures to address non-attendance by Members at Committee meetings. The Speaker noted that Committees face the dilemma that, in wishing to hear from all those who wish to make representation, they may meet too often and for too long, which can cause problems for Members who sit on more than one Committee. It was AGREED that the Business Office would provide figures for Committee meetings which had been cancelled due to lack of a quorum. It was noted that in other places, business can continue providing there was a quorum at the start of proceedings. It was AGREED that Members would give the matter consideration and notify their representatives on the Committee on Procedures if they had any suggestions.
4.3 Contingency Arrangements
Members discussed the effect of the resignation of the First Minister, and in particular the need to schedule a meeting to provide an opportunity for the election of a First and Deputy First Minister. The Speaker advised Members that if no election is called by 11 August 2001, he has to provide facilities for an election to take place. His understanding was that most Members would be away in August and that the end of July might be a better date for an election. Following further discussion and representations from Members, it was AGREED that if no election has taken place by mid-August, the Speaker will arrange a Plenary Meeting for the purpose of holding an election of a First and Deputy First Minister.
5. DATE, TIME AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING
5.1 The next meeting of the Business Committee was scheduled for Tuesday 4 September 2001, at 12.30 pm, in Room 106.
The meeting adjourned at 1.54 pm.
THE LORD ALDERDICE
The Speaker