1. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS

1.1 The minutes of the previous meeting of 12 March 2002 were AGREED by the Committee and signed by the Speaker.

2. MATTERS ARISING

2.1 Visit of Canadian Senate Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries

Members stated that the visit of the Canadian Senate Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries had been successful and thanked the Clerk to the Assembly for hosting lunch with the Canadian Committee.

2.2 St Patrick's Night Event

It was noted that the St Patrick's Night event hosted by the Speaker on Saturday 16 March 2002 had been successful and the Speaker thanked Ms Georgie Campbell and Mr Dermot Macgreevy for their help in organising the event.

2.3 Letter from Chairperson, Committee on Procedures re Amendments to Standing Orders

Members noted that the Committee on Procedures is carrying out a review of Assembly plenary times and of facilities for tabling urgent business.

3. ARRANGEMENTS FOR PLENARY MEETING 8 APRIL 2002

3.1 The draft Order Paper was AGREED and indicative timings allocated for the sitting on 8 April 2002. It was AGREED (68 votes to 31) that there would be no sitting on 9 April 2002.

3.2 It was AGREED that the Order Paper would be issued on Thursday 4 April 2002.

4. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

4.1 Public Holidays

Members noted that there will be an additional bank holiday this year to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen's Golden Jubilee. As a result two successive public holidays will fall on plenary days, ie Monday and Tuesday 3 and 4 June 2002.

4.2 Golden Jubilee

The Speaker advised Members that while there is a view that Her Majesty The Queen should be invited to the Assembly during her visit to Northern Ireland as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations, he had not yet taken any action on the matter until he had spoken to all the parties. The Speaker proposed that, if no objections were raised during his meetings with the parties, he would proceed to issue an invitation to Her Majesty to attend Parliament Buildings for a reception in the Great Hall at which she could meet with Members and make a short address. The Speaker wished to have the Business Committee's provisional agreement because the next meeting would not take place until after Easter recess. This approach was AGREED.

5. DATE, TIME AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING

5.1 The next meeting of the Business Committee was scheduled for Tuesday 9 April 2002, at 12.30 pm in Room 106.

5.2 The Speaker wished Members a Happy Easter.

The meeting adjourned at 1.07 pm.