MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS
BUSINESS COMMITTEE
TUESDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2002 AT 12.40 PM
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
The meeting began at 12.49 pm.
Present: The Speaker
Mr I Davis
Mr B Hutchinson
Mr A Maskey
Mr K McCarthy
Ms M McWilliams
Mr M Morrow
Mr C Murphy
Mr I Paisley Jnr
Mr J Tierney
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: Ms L Devlin Executive Liaison
Dr A McDonnell
1. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
1.1 The minutes of the previous meetings of 4 and 11 February 2002 were AGREED by the Committee and signed by the Speaker.
2. MATTERS ARISING
2.1 Legislative Process - Latest Dates for Introducing Legislation
Members received a copy of a paper identifying procedural timescales for different stages of legislation and the latest dates at which Bills should be introduced to ensure their complete passage prior to dissolution of the Assembly on 21 March 2003. The paper suggested that the latest date would be 6 June 2002. The Speaker informed Members that the document would be sent to the First and Deputy First Ministers and had already been copied to the Head of the Civil Service. Members were asked to inform their Committee and Ministerial colleagues of the advice contained in the paper.
2.2 Review of Public Administration
A motion had been tabled by the First and Deputy First Ministers that the Assembly take note of the proposed terms of reference for the review of Public Administration. The Speaker informed the Committee that the proposed date for debate on the motion was 25 February 2002. Meanwhile, all Members would be circulated with a copy of the proposed terms of reference and a covering letter from the First and Deputy First Ministers.
Mr Alex Maskey urged that the motion should be brought to the Assembly on 25 February so that the review process could be brought forward and not let slip any further.
It was confirmed that the Committee's preferred approach was that the review process should be scrutinised through the Committee of the Centre with Statutory Committees being involved in those issues that would come within their specific remit.
3. ARRANGEMENTS FOR PLENARY MEETINGS WEEK COMMENCING
18 FEBRUARY 2002
3.1 The Speaker reminded Members that the First Stage of the Budget Bill had been tabled for Monday 11 February by the Committee but had actually been placed on the Order Paper for Tuesday 12 February. Members were advised that this was because the Minister of Finance and Personnel had requested that the First Stage be taken after the debate on the Supply Resolutions on Monday. Since the normal order for business is that legislation is taken prior to motions, the First Stage could not take place on Monday and therefore was moved to Tuesday.
3.2 Nominations were received for Private Members' Motions to be tabled on the Order Paper for 19 February and Members voted as follows:
School Buses Architectural Industry General Amnesty Primary Care Groups Part-time Workers' Pension Rights |
[Mr D Kennedy] [Mr G Savage] [Mr D Ford] [Mr T Gallagher] [Mr J Kelly] |
52 votes 44 votes 53 votes 31 votes 22 votes |
'School Buses' and 'General Amnesty' were therefore selected.
3.3 Draft Order Papers were then AGREED and indicative timings allocated for the sittings on 18 and 19 February 2002.
3.4 Members discussed the process of selecting Private Members' motions. It was AGREED that the matter would be brought forward as a substantive agenda item for the next meeting of the Business Committee.
4. DRAFT ROTA FOR QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER 11 MARCH-13 MAY 2002
4.1 The draft rota was AGREED.
5. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
5.1 Mr Conor Murphy asked if separate passes could be issued for people on internships or work experience at the Assembly to allow them to move unescorted through the building. The Speaker agreed to refer the matter to the Assembly Commission.
6. DATE, TIME AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING
6.1 The next meeting of the Business Committee was scheduled for Tuesday 19 February 2002, at 12.30 pm (or at the rise of the Assembly for lunch) in Room 106.
The meeting adjourned at 1.45 pm.
THE LORD ALDERDICE
The Speaker