OP 37-09/10
ORDER PAPER
MONDAY 22 FEBRUARY 2010
The Assembly to sit at noon.
1. Prayers
2. Executive Committee Business
Motion - The Rates (Regional Rates) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010
Proposed: That the Rates (Regional Rates) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010 be affirmed.
Minister of Finance and Personnel
Motion - Legislative Consent Motion - Equality Bill
Proposed: That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension to Northern Ireland of the provisions of the Equality Bill dealing with the abolition of the presumption of advancement.
Minister of Finance and Personnel
3. Question Time
3.1 Education
3.2 Employment and Learning
4. Committee Business
(a) Motion - Amend Standing Orders
Proposed: Leave out Standing Orders 66 to 68 and insert –
‘66. PUBLIC ACCESS TO ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS
(1) Members of the public seeking to attend proceedings of the Assembly shall be permitted in such places reserved for them by the Speaker save that –
(a) they are not permitted in the Public Gallery during Prayers;
(b) they are not permitted to have any item in the Public Gallery which in the opinion of the Speaker could interfere with the preservation of order; and
(c) the Speaker may, in the interests of preserving order, require them to leave.
(2) Where the proceedings are committee proceedings, members of the public shall be permitted in such places reserved for them by the chairperson of the committee save that –
(a) they are not permitted to have any item in a public area which in the opinion of the chairperson could interfere with the preservation of order;
(b) the chairperson may, in the interests of preserving order, require them to leave; and
(c) the committee may resolve to sit in closed session.
(3) An authorised person may, during proceedings of the Assembly, lawfully remove any member of the public who is –
(a) in breach of paragraph (1) or (2);
(b) in a place reserved for members of the Assembly; or
(c) acting in a disorderly manner.
(4) In this order “authorised person” means –
(a) the Speaker or a person authorised by the Speaker;
(b) in the case of committee proceedings, the chairperson or a person authorised by the chairperson.
(5) This order applies whether the proceedings are carried on in Parliament Buildings or in some other place.
(6) These provisions are without prejudice to any other functions of the Speaker, the Assembly Commission or an authorised person in respect of Parliament Buildings which may be exercised by virtue of any other statutory provision or rule of law.
67. MEDIA ACCESS TO ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS
Standing Order 66 applies to the media as if –
(a) references to members of the public were references to members of the media;
(b) references to the Public Gallery were references to the Press Gallery; and
(c) references to public areas were references to areas reserved for the media.’
Chairperson, Committee on Procedures
(b) Motion - Amend Standing Orders
Proposed: Leave out Standing Order 74
Chairperson, Committee on Procedures
5. Private Members’ Business
Motion - Delay in Local Government Reform Programme
Proposed: That this Assembly notes with concern the ongoing uncertainty and delay in the local government reform programme; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to advise when the relevant legislation will be put to the Executive and the Assembly for approval.
Mr R Beggs
Mr D Kinahan
Motion - 50/50 Recruitment Policy
Proposed: That this Assembly notes the renewal for one final year of ‘50/50’ recruitment to the police in Northern Ireland; looks forward to the next substantial recruitment competition when, for the first time in a decade, Protestant applicants will face no barriers on the grounds of perceived religious affiliation in the process of being considered for a career in the police.
Mr G Campbell
Mr P Weir
Mr T Clarke
6. Adjournment
Statements by Ministers may also be taken at any time subject to the Speaker’s approval.
Notice of Statements will appear on the Annunciator