PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE TO ADVISE THE PRESIDING OFFICER

TUESDAY 16 FEBRUARY 1999 AT 6.01 PM

IN ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:

Lord Alderdice (Initial Presiding Officer)

Mr I Davis

Mr D Ford

Mr B Hutchinson

Mr A Maskey

Mr E McGrady MP

Dr A McDonnell (representing Mr M Durkan)

Mr M Morrow

Mr P Robinson MP

Mr C Wilson

Mr J Wilson

Mr J Reynolds

Mr N Johnston

Miss A Moore

Mrs G Campbell

Apologies were received from Mr Watson and Mr McCartney.

1. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed. It was noted that the minutes of meetings were only approved after they had been signed off at a subsequent meeting.

2. MATTERS ARISING

Adjournment Debates: A note detailing the new arrangements for the conduct of Adjournment Debates had been issued to Members on 9 February.

There was a discussion about bringing forward the closing time for receipt of suggestions for the Adjournment Debates to allow the topic selected to be shown on the Order Paper.

Agreed: That applications should be made by 12.00 pm on Thursdays prior to the next scheduled sitting of the Assembly.

That the new arrangements will take effect from Thursday 25 February for the plenary meeting scheduled for week commencing 1 March 1999.

Timing for receipt of amendments to motions was also discussed.

Registration of Political Parties: There was nothing further to report.

Committee on Standing Orders: The Initial Presiding Officer reported that Mr McCartney had suggested tabling a business motion to determine the membership of the Committee on Standing Orders. However such a motion would not have been deemed competent.

The Committee on Standing Orders is content that the Northern Ireland Unionist Party be given observer status on the Committee.

The suggestion that a business motion requesting full membership of the Committee on Standing Orders for the Northern Ireland Unionist Party was discussed.

Register of Members' Interests: The matter will be taken forward by the Committee on Standing Orders.

Agreed: That a motion to establish a Register of Members' Interests will be tabled for debate during the plenary session in the week commencing 1 March.

3. PLENARY MEETING ON 22, 23 FEBRUARY

Agreed: That the Order Paper would include:

Presentation of the Report from the Shadow Assembly Commission to be followed by a question and answer session.

Business motion to approve the Report from the Shadow Assembly Commission.

Debate on a motion to establish All Party Interest Groups.

That business will be completed on 22 February.

4. PLENARY MEETING ON 1, 2 MARCH

Agreed: That the Order Paper would include:

Presentation of the Report from the Committee on Standing Orders.

Debate on a motion to establish a Register of Members' Interests.

5. FUTURE PLENARY MEETINGS

The Initial Presiding Officer said that indications are that everything should be in place to allow for the operation of d'Hondt either late in the week commencing 1 March or early week commencing 8 March. Dates for future plenary meetings would be raised at the next meeting of the Committee.

6. REGISTER OF MEMBERS' INTERESTS

See Item 2 above.

7. LINES OF COMMUNICATION

A note from the Deputy Clerk was circulated giving suggestions on how decisions taken by the Shadow Assembly Commission should be communicated to the Board of Management. It was agreed that this should improve the current arrangements.

8. PHOTOGRAPH OF THE ASSEMBLY IN SESSION

Agreed: That the Initial Presiding Officer should select a photograph for publication.

9. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Assembly Website: A list of documents for inclusion on the Assembly Website was circulated and discussed.

Agreed: That any document produced by the Assembly and in the public domain should be published on the Website.

Transition Programme: The Initial Presiding Officer advised the Committee that Joyce Quin, Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, will be giving a briefing to Members on 26 February at 10.30 am in Parliament Buildings and that she would be introduced by Paul Murphy MP, Minister of State.

Audio-Visual Equipment: Mr B Hutchinson asked about access to audio-visual equipment. The Initial Presiding Officer expected access to such facilities to be available soon.

Annunciators: Mr P Robinson asked when annunciator facilities would be made available. The Initial Presiding Officer undertook to look into the matter.

Visitors: Mr McGrady noted that a number of people are being left unaccompanied within the building. The Initial Presiding Officer said he would raise the matter with the Keeper of the House.

Restaurant Facilities: It was noted that the Basement Restaurant had been extremely busy on Monday 15 February. The Initial Presiding Officer said that the Shadow Assembly Commission is likely to recommend establishment of a House Committee that will look at issues such as this.

Functions: Mr J Wilson reported that some Members felt the cost of holding a function in Parliament Buildings was too high. The Initial Presiding Officer said he would report back to the Shadow Assembly Commission.

10. DATE, TIME AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Committee was arranged for Tuesday 23 February at 10.30 am in Room 152.