1. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS

1.1 The minutes of the previous meeting of 22 January 2002 were AGREED by the Committee and signed by the Speaker.

2. SPEAKER'S BUSINESS

2.1 The Speaker welcomed Mr John Tierney to his first meeting as a full Member of the Business Committee.

3. MATTERS ARISING

3.1 Assembly Commission

The Speaker advised Members that he had met with the smaller parties to discuss their representation to the Assembly Commission. Ms McWilliams stated that she was collating papers in this respect which she would present to a later meeting of the Committee.

3.2 Nominees for Assembly and Business Trust Dinner

The Speaker reminded Members to forward nominations for the dinner planned for 1 February 2002. The Speaker drew Members' attention to a paper outlining the proposed membership and scope of the Assembly and Business Trust, which was based on other parliamentary models, and reminded Members of the potential role of such an organisation.

3.3 Review of Public Administration

The Speaker notified Members that he had written to the First and Deputy First Ministers regarding the outcome of the Business Committee's deliberations on the conduct of the review of public administration. The Speaker further explained that he had received an oral response from OFMDFM thanking him for the letter and requesting an opportunity for an official to give the Business Committee a full briefing on the process. This approach was AGREED. Members also noted, however, that there are already 2 Private Members' Motions on the No Day Named List relating to the subject, and that there is a general perception that there has been undue delay in initiating the review. In this respect it was AGREED that a relevant official from OFMDFM suitably conversant with all the issues should be invited to attend the next meeting of the Committee to give a presentation on and answer questions about the review process.

3.4 St Patrick's Day

The Speaker reminded Members they were invited to nominate other Members willing to provide entertainment at the St Patrick's Day event due to be held on the evening of 16 March 2002. The Speaker would meanwhile proceed with the organisation of the event.

3.5 Committee Meetings on Sitting Days

Members were advised that the issue of Committee meetings taking place during Plenary sittings was raised at the Chairperson's Liaison Group on 22 January and would be fully discussed at its next meeting. Members discussed current business before Committees, and the lack of legislative progress. It was clarified that Committees and Private Members may bring forward legislation. Ms McWilliams noted that some legislation has now been highlighted by the Minister as requiring accelerated passage. Under the Programme for Government it would appear that there is a large volume of pending legislation which may come to Committees all at the same time; this obviates effective scrutiny and creates potential problems managing Committee and Plenary business. It was AGREED that OFMDFM should be asked to explain as a matter of urgency to the Business Committee where the current bottlenecks exist in the legislative process and what measures are in place to deal with them. This could be done by way of a presentation to the Committee by the same official dealing with the Review of Public Administration.

4. ARRANGEMENTS FOR PLENARY MEETINGS WEEK COMMENCING

4.1 The Speaker explained that he had given permission for a Member to make a Personal Statement on Monday 4 February; this would be the first item of Speaker's Business on that day. It was clarified that, as with normal procedure, the other Member involved in the issue would be given the opportunity to reply.

4.2 The Speaker drew Members' attention to Question Time on Monday 28 January when 15 of the 52 questions listed were withdrawn and 5 could not be answered because Members were not in their places.

4.3 It was AGREED (47 votes for, 27 notes against) that there should be one day's sitting to be held on 4 February. Ms McWilliams requested that her party's objection be minuted.

4.4 It was AGREED that no Private Members' Business would be placed on the Order Paper.

4.5 On this basis draft Order Papers were AGREED and indicative timings allocated for the sitting on 4 February 2002.

5. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

5.1 Following the death of Mr Daniel McColgan the Assembly had observed one minute's silence on Monday 14 January 2002. The Speaker had written to Mr McColgan's partner and to his colleagues at Consignia tendering his sympathy and enclosing a copy of Hansard for that day. Members were copied an acknowledgement letter from Consignia.

6. DATE, TIME AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING

6.1 The next meeting of the Business Committee was scheduled for Tuesday 5 February 2002, at 12.30 pm in Room 106.

The meeting adjourned at 1.35 pm.