COMMITTEE ON PROCEDURES
Minutes of Proceedings
Tuesday, 3 February 2009
Room 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Lord Morrow (Chairperson)
Mr Mervyn Storey (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Mickey Brady
Mr Francie Brolly
Lord Wallace Browne
Mr Raymond McCartney
Mr David McClarty
Mr Adrian McQuillan
Mr Sean Neeson
Mr Declan O’Loan
Mr Ken Robinson
In Attendance:
Ms Stella McArdle (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Jim Beatty (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Ms Noelle Bourke (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Diarmaid Elder (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
None
The meeting opened at 2.05pm in closed session.
1. Inquiry into Assembly Questions
Members noted further evidence in relation to the inquiry.
The Committee considered a draft report for its inquiry.
Executive Summary
Paragraph 1 - amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 2 – 7 - agreed
Paragraph 8 - to be reconsidered at the next meeting.
Paragraphs 9 – 10 - agreed.
Paragraph 11 – to be reconsidered at the next meeting.
Paragraphs 12 – 15 - agreed.
Summary of Recommendations
To be considered at the next meeting
Main Report
Paragraphs 1 – 46 – agreed
Paragraph 47 – the Committee agreed a revised shuffle system
Paragraphs 48 – 52 – agreed
Paragraph 53 – the Committee agreed a condition on the revised shuffle system
Paragraphs 54 – 65 – agreed
Paragraphs 66 - to be reconsidered at the next meeting
The Chairperson proposed that the Committee should agree Paragraph 67, subject to the presence of either the FMdFM. Those in favour of the motion – Lord Morrow, Mr Storey, Lord Browne, Mr McQuillan, Mr Brady, Mr Brolly and Mr McCartney. Those against the motion – Mr O’Loan and Mr Robinson. The motion was agreed.
Paragraphs 68 – 76 – agreed
Paragraph 77 – the Committee agreed that Question Time on a Tuesday should be from 3.00pm – 3.30pm
Paragraph 78 – 87 - agreed
Paragraph 88 – the Committee agreed that no time limits would be applied
Paragraphs 89 – 103 - agreed
Paragraph 104 – amended and agreed
Paragraphs 105 – 107 – agreed
Paragraph 108 – the Committee agreed two new recommendations on Priority Written Answers
Paragraphs 109 – 114 – agreed
Agreed: It was agreed that a final draft report would be considered at the next meeting.
The meeting moved into open session at3.15 pm.
2. Apologies
There were no apologies.
Mr Storey left the meeting at 3.16pm.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 6 January 2009
Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting held on 6 January 2009 were agreed.
4. Matters Arising
There were no Matters Arising.
Mr O’Loan left the meeting at 3.18pm.
5. Review of SO19 Questions and SO20 Private Notice Questions
Mr Brady left the meeting at 3.19pm.
The Committee considered a paper on SO19 Questions and SO20 Private Notice Questions.
The meeting was suspended at 3.32pm.
The meeting reconvened at 3.50pm with Lord Morrow, Lord Browne,
Mr Brolly, Mr McQuillan, Mr Neeson and Mr Robinson present.
Mr McCartney rejoined the meeting at 3.53pm.
Agreed: The Committee agreed essential provisions required and referred the matter to the draftsman.
6. SO18 Ministerial Statements
The Committee considered a paper on SO18 Ministerial Statements.
Mr McClarty joined the meeting at 4.02pm.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the amendments to the Standing Order. A motion for debate in plenary will be discussed at the meeting on 3 March 2009.
The Committee considered a draft report on Written Ministerial Statements.
Agreed: The draft report was agreed and the Committee ordered it to be printed. It was agreed to embargo the report until 00.01am on Friday, 13 February 2009.
7. SO27 Voting when Speaker’s decision is challenged
The Committee considered a paper on SO27 Voting and noted correspondence from the Assembly’s Business Office and Legal Services.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the amendments to the Standing Order. A motion for debate in plenary will be discussed at the meeting on 3 March 2009.
8. SO9(2) Quorum
The Committee considered a draft motion for debate in plenary.
Agreed: It was agreed that the motion should be tabled in the Business Office along with the motions in respect of SO18 and SO27 which will be before the Committee at its meeting on 3 March 2009.
9. Assembly Executive and Review Committee Report
Following approval of the above report by the Assembly on Tuesday 20 January 2009, the Committee considered a paper on the likely need for changes to Standing Orders.
Agreed: It was agreed to write to the AE&RC for clarification on a number of issues.
10. Inquiry on Legislative Consent
The Committee considered draft Terms of Reference and workplan for this inquiry.
Agreed: The Terms of Reference and workplan were agreed.
11. Correspondence
(a) Letter from the Speaker
The Committee considered a letter from the Speaker about the need for changes to SO24 Matters of the Day.Agreed: It was agreed that the Committee was content with the wording and there was no need to change the Standing Order.
(b) Letter from the Committee on Standards and Privileges (Tabled)
The Committee considered a letter from the Chairperson of the above Committee relating to the outcome of its review of the Code of Conduct.Agreed: It was agreed that the Chairperson would meet with the Chairperson of the Committee on Standards and Privileges to discuss the likely impact of its review on Standing Orders.
12. AOB
There were no items for discussion.
13. Date, Time and Place of next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Tuesday, 3 March 2009 at 2.00pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.38pm