MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS
BUSINESS COMMITTEE
TUESDAY 17 SEPTEMBER 2002 AT 12.30 PM
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
The meeting began at 12.35 pm.
Present: The Speaker
Mr I Davis
Mr B Hutchinson
Ms P Lewsley
Mr K McCarthy
Ms M McWilliams
Mr M Morrow
Mr I Paisley Jnr
Ms S Ramsey
Mr D Watson
In attendance: Mr A Moir, Clerk to the Assembly
Ms N Dunwoody, Clerk Assistant
Mr A Rogers, Principal Clerk of Business
Mr S McCourt, Clerk of Business
Mr R Good, Adviser to the Speaker
Ms G Campbell, Private Secretary to the Speaker
Ms R Donnelly, Assistant Clerk of Business
Observers: Rev R Coulter
Ms R Flanagan, Executive Liaison
Mr D McClelland
Ms J Morrice
1. SPEAKER'S BUSINESS
1.1 The Speaker welcomed Ms Patricia Lewsley to her first Business Committee meeting.
2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
The minutes of the previous meeting of 10 September 2002 were AGREED by the Committee.
3. MATTERS ARISING
3.1 Westminster Legislation and Devolved Matters
Members discussed a paper on proposed arrangements for handling Northern Ireland devolved matters included in Westminster Legislation. It was AGREED to forward the paper to the Chairpersons' Liaison Group subject to a minor amendment to paragraph 7(vi).
3.2 Adjournment debate - The future use of Gosford Castle
The Speaker informed Members that he had received notification from Mr Ivan Davis advising that Mr Danny Kennedy would not be available to speak on his adjournment motion scheduled by the Business Committee for debate on 17 September.
On this subject, it was AGREED that in future Members will only be allowed to table 1 adjournment topic each week for consideration by the Business Committee.
4. ARRANGEMENTS FOR PLENARY MEETINGS WEEK COMMENCING 23 SEPTEMBER 2002
4.1 Monday, 23 September 2002
It was noted that the First Minister and Deputy First Minister had indicated that they wished to make a statement to the Assembly on the 'Draft Programme for Government' on 23 September 2002. The Speaker advised Members of the Executive's proposed arrangements for presenting the 'Draft Programme for Government' to the Assembly.
The Business Committee AGREED that since Mr Trimble and Mr Durkan will be presenting the PfG as First Minister and Deputy First Minister, as well as Leaders of their respective Parties, further speaking opportunities should be restricted to the Leaders of the remaining Parties, or their nominees who will speak for approximately five minutes.
It was noted that the Executive wished to bring the following legislation forward for the sitting on 23 September 2002:
- First Stage:
Audit and Accountability Bill
[Minister of Finance and Personnel]
Health and Personal Social Services (Quality Improvement and Regulation) Bill
[Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety]
- Second Stage:
Areas of Special Scientific Interest Bill
[Minister of the Environment]
- Consideration Stage:
Company Directors' Disqualification Bill
[Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment]
State Pension Credit Bill
[Minister for Social Development]
- Final Stage:
Social Security Bill
[Minister for Social Development]
It was noted that the Minister for Employment and Learning had tabled two motions in relation to the following statutory rules:
- Draft Fixed Term Employees(Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations (NI) 2002 - subject to approval by resolution
- Part Time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) (Amendment) Regulation (NI) 2002 - subject to confirmatory resolution
It was AGREED that two motions tabled by the Chairperson of the Committee for the Environment seeking extensions of the Committee Stages of the Planning (Amendment) Bill and the Local Air Quality Management Bill would be included on the Order Paper for 23 September 2002.
It was AGREED that the motion tabled by the Chairperson of the Committee for Enterprise Trade and Investment to debate the 'Minister's response to the Energy Inquiry Report' would be included on the Order Paper for 23 September 2002.
4.2 Tuesday, 24 September 2002
It was noted that provisional notice had been received indicating that the Minister of Finance and Personnel would make a statement on the 'Draft Budget 2003-2004' to the Assembly on 24 September 2002.
It was noted that the Executive wished to bring the following legislation forward for the sitting on 24 September 2002:
- Further Consideration Stage:
Children (Leaving Care) Bill
[Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety]
State Pension Credit Bill
[Minister for Social Development]
It was noted that the First Minister and Deputy First Minister had tabled a motion to 'note the draft Programme for Government' for debate on 24 September 2002.
It was AGREED that a motion tabled by the Chairperson of the Committee for Education seeking an extension of the Committee Stage of the Education and Libraries Bill would be included on the Order Paper for 24 September 2002.
The draft Order Papers were AGREED and indicative timings allocated for the sittings on 23 and 24 September 2002.
5. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
5.1 Motion - 'Foot-and-Mouth Disease' Report
The Speaker drew Members' attention to the Private Members' Motion tabled by Mr Ian Paisley Jnr concerning the PricewaterhouseCoopers report on the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's handling of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Northern Ireland. In particular, he highlighted that, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms Bríd Rodgers, had given a commitment, in correspondence of 5 September 2002, to the Business Committee to bring forward a motion to debate this matter in late October.
Taking into consideration the 'Rule of Anticipation' he considered that an Executive motion as opposed to a Private Members' motion would be a more effective means to debate the matter. The Speaker confirmed that if the Minister did not bring forward her motion in the proposed timescale then it would be appropriate for the Business Committee to consider Mr Paisley's motion for selection.
5.2 Delegation from Albertan Parliament
The Speaker informed Members that he would be hosting a dinner, on 23 September, for a delegation from the Albertan Parliament. The Speaker extended an invitation to one nominee from each party.
5.3 Speaker's Absence
The Speaker advised Members that he would be absent from the Assembly during the weeks commencing 30 September and 25 November. The Speaker confirmed that Mr Denis Watson and Mr Conor Murphy would chair the respective meetings of the Business Committee in his absence.
6. DATE, TIME AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING
6.1 The next meeting of the Business Committee was scheduled for Tuesday 24 September 2002, at 12.30 pm, in Room 106.
The meeting adjourned at 1.19 pm.
THE LORD ALDERDICE
The Speaker