Present: The Speaker
Mr I Davis
Mr N Dodds MP
Mr B Hutchinson
Dr A McDonnell
Mr K McCarthy
Ms M McWilliams
Mr A Maskey
Mr D Watson
Mr J Wilson

In attendance: Mr A Moir Clerk to the Assembly
Mr A Rogers Principal Clerk of Business
Ms N Dunwoody Clerk of Plenary Business
Ms G Campbell Private Secretary to the Speaker

Observers: Mr T McCusker Executive Liaison
Ms J Morrice
Mr D McClelland
Mr J Tierney

Apologies: Mr E McGrady MP

1. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

1.1 The minutes of the meeting of 9 October 2001 were AGREED by the Committee and signed by the Speaker.

2. MATTERS ARISING

2.1 The Speaker advised Members that he had met with officials from OFMDFM on Thursday 11 October to discuss how the draft Programme for Government may be presented to the Assembly in future. It had been proposed that the Programme would be introduced by a statement but this would then be followed up the next day by a full debate on a 'Take Note' Motion tabled by OFMDFM. The vote to accept the Programme for Government would be taken subsequent to the consultation period and would be on foot of an amendable Motion. Members AGREED this approach.

3. ARRANGEMENTS FOR PLENARY MEETING WEEK COMMENCING 22 OCTOBER 2001

3.1 Business for the Plenary Sitting on 22 October 2001 was discussed, the Order Paper AGREED and indicative timings allocated.

3.2 It was AGREED that the debate on the Motion 'Report by the Committee for Education' should not be time limited. It would be interrupted for Question Time (see para 3.3) and then resume until 6.00 pm.

3.3 It was AGREED that if Ministerial resignations took place before Question Time on Monday 22 October, Question Time would commence at the time designated for whichever would then be the first available Minister. If there were no representative from both FM and DFM then the Speaker would be minded to rule that OFMDFM Question Time could not take place.

3.4 It was AGREED that there would be no Plenary sitting on Tuesday 23 October 2001.

3.5 The Speaker clarified that personal statements do not afford an opportunity for a debate in the Chamber; a debate may only take place on foot of a substantive Motion listed on the Order Paper.

3.6 Committee Reports

The Speaker clarified that, where a Committee report is due for debate in Plenary, it is usual for that Committee to set an embargo on that report until the debate has started. It is to be regarded as poor practice if a Committee Chair then breaks their Committee's embargo.

4. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

4.1 Business Bundle

In response to a query from Ms McWilliams, the Speaker asked Whips to check with Members that their Business Bundle arrives on a Friday each week, and not later.

4.2 d'Hondt Procedures

The Speaker spelt out the issues arising for Plenary Business as a result of potential Ministerial resignations. Standing Order 42(3) provides that there would follow a 7-day period for nominations to those vacant posts. On expiry of the 7 days, the d'Hondt procedure would have to be run but Standing Orders do not prescribe a timescale for this to occur. The Business Committee had decided at its previous meeting that d'Hondt should be run at the next available Plenary session after the expiry of the 7-day period.

Against this background, the Speaker gave the following clarification:

Should resignations/dismissals be notified this week, the next normal sitting, after the expiry of the 7 days and the Recess, would be in the week commencing 5 November. This, however, is after the expiry of the 6-week deadline for election of a First and Deputy First Minister. The d'Hondt process could only be run following this deadline if there was a further one-day suspension during the weekend of 3 November. If this were to happen the 7 day period for nominations would start again and d'Hondt could not therefore be run until week commencing 12 November at the earliest.

4.3 Following discussion, the Committee confirmed its previous decision that the running of d'Hondt would take place at the next normal Plenary session after the expiry of the 7-day nomination period, which is now likely to be after the Recess.

5. DATE, TIME AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING

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

The meeting adjourned at 1.20 pm.