MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS

Present:
The Speaker
Mr I Davis
Mr N Dodds MP
Mr K McCarthy
Mr A Maskey
Mr C Murphy
Mr D Watson
Mr J Wilson

1. ARRANGEMENTS FOR PLENARY MEETING 13 SEPTEMBER 2001

1.1. The Speaker confirmed that the Plenary meeting of 13 September had been convened to allow Members to express their condolences following the events of Tuesday 11 September in the United States of America.

1.2 The Speaker clarified that he had originally called the Business Committee to meet at 12.30 pm. He had then received a letter from Sir Reg Empey and Mr Séamus Mallon proposing an earlier meeting of the Assembly under Standing Order 11 and requesting the earliest possible time. The time for the Sitting had then been arranged for 2.00 pm and the Business Committee rearranged for 10.00 am.

1.3 The draft Order Paper was circulated. One amendment to the Motion of Condolence put down by Sir Reg Empey and Séamus Mallon had been tabled but not selected.

1.4 Arrangements for the Plenary Sitting were discussed. The Speaker confirmed that one representative from each Party would be called to speak to the Motion. Following discussion it was AGREED that Party representatives would speak for 3-4 minutes and that the Speaker would intervene after 5 minutes.

1.5 The Speaker advised Members that he had arranged for a Book of Condolence to be prepared and that Members would be invited after the Adjournment to sign the Book. Afterwards the Book would be placed in the Great Hall for signature by those in Parliament Buildings including Assembly Secretariat Staff, Members' Staff, Party Staff, the Press and Civil Servants working on the Stormont Estate.

1.6 Mr Dodds queried whether larger parties should not be given a longer speaking time than those parties with less representatives. It was AGREED that while this could be a matter for future consideration by the Committee, existing procedures would be retained for the Condolence debate. Mr D Watson advised Members that he was content for his Party's views in this context to be represented in the Plenary Session by a larger party.

2. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

2.1 The Speaker advised Members that the Union Flags were flying at half mast on Parliament Buildings. This was the same practice as was being adopted in the rest of the UK.

3. PLENARY BUSINESS MONDAY 17 SEPTEMBER 2001

3.1 The Speaker clarified that business would be debated on a rolling basis, that is to say, if the Regional Development Strategy debate were to finish before its indicative time, the Social Development Motion would be called and so on until 2.30 pm, when Question Time would begin.

4. DATE, TIME AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING

4.1 The next meeting of the Business Committee was confirmed as Tuesday 18 September 2001 at 1.00 pm in Room 106.

The meeting adjourned at 10.38 am.