Present:
The Speaker
Mr I Davis
Mr B Hutchinson
Mr A Maskey
Mr K McCarthy
Dr A McDonnell
Prof M McWilliams
Mr M Morrow
Mr C Murphy
Mr D Watson
Mr J Wilson

1. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS

1.1 The minutes of the previous meeting of 20 November 2001 were AGREED by the Committee and signed by the Speaker.

2. MATTERS ARISING

2.1 Ministerial Code

Members noted Section 3 of the Ministerial Code which had been circulated.

2.2 Ministerial Statements

The Speaker reminded Members of the ruling that those who have been present in the Chamber for the whole of a Ministerial statement will be given precedence in putting questions to the Minister while those who arrive after the Minister has sat down will not be called to speak. Those who are present for part of the statement will be called at the Speaker's discretion and should apologise for their absence. The Speaker indicated that some conventions may evolve over time in relation to Members wishing to speak during debates on Motions. It was AGREED that the Business Office would contact those parties not represented on the Business Committee to notify them of the ruling on statements.

2.3 Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules

The Speaker notified Members he had written to the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister expressing concern at the number of Statutory Rules that had breached the 21-day rule.

2.4 Draft Justice (NI) Bill

The Speaker notified Members he had written to the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State expressing strong concerns about the timescale the Assembly had been given to respond to the report on the draft Justice (NI) Bill.

3. ARRANGEMENTS FOR PLENARY MEETINGS WEEK COMMENCING

3.1 Business for the Plenary Sittings on 3 and 4 December 2001 was discussed, the Order Papers AGREED and indicative timings allocated.

3.2 The Speaker notified Members that the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Sir Reg Empey, would be absent on Executive business during the week of 3 December. The Speaker had accepted the Minister's proposal that the Minister for Employment and Learning, Dr Seán Farren, take questions on his behalf on Monday 3 December and that the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Mr Michael McGimpsey, propose the Further Consideration Stage of the Industrial Development Bill on Tuesday 4 December.

3.3 Members discussed the Motion from the Chairperson of the Ad Hoc Committee on the draft Justice (NI) Bill, which proposed an extension to the timescale for the Committee's report. The Speaker drew Members' attention to the fact that the Bill was to receive its second reading in the House of Commons during the week of 14 January 2002 but that 14 January was the first possible date the report of the Committee could be debated for Assembly approval. It was AGREED that

• the Motion to extend the timescale for the Ad Hoc Committee to report would be tabled on the Order Paper for Monday 3 December;

• if the Motion were agreed, the Speaker would write to the Government Chief Whip asking that the Bill be listed for second reading after 14 January 2002, when the views of the Assembly could be taken into account;

• this letter would be copied to Members of the Business Committee;

• the findings would be copied to the Minister, MPs and Opposition Spokesman in draft form; and

• if notified that the Second Stage of the Bill was listed for 14 January 2002, the Business Committee would consider debating the Report as an early item of business on 14 January 2002 so that when it came to the time for reading in the House of Commons it could be debated as a formal report of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

3.4 It was AGREED that time would be allocated on Tuesday 11 December 2001 to debate the Motion 'Crisis in the Health Service' [Ms C Hanna].

4. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

4.1 The Speaker reminded Members that the official launch of the Assembly Christmas Cards would take place on Wednesday 28 November 2001.

5. DATE, TIME AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING

5.1 The next meeting of the Business Committee was scheduled for Tuesday 4 December 2001, 5 minutes after the rise of the House for lunch, in Room 106.

The meeting adjourned at 1.12 pm.