COMMITTEE ON PROCEDURES
Minutes of Proceedings
Tuesday, 31 March 2009
Room 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Lord Morrow (Chairperson)
Mr Mervyn Storey (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Mickey Brady
Mr David McClarty
Mr Adrian McQuillan
Mr Declan O’Loan
In Attendance: Ms Stella McArdle (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Jim Beatty (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Ms Linda Hare (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Diarmaid Elder (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: Mr Francie Brolly
Lord Browne
Mr Raymond McCartney
Mr Sean Neeson
Mr Ken Robinson
The meeting opened at 2.03pm in open session.
1. Apologies
These are detailed above.
2. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 3 March 2009
Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting held on 3 March 2009 were agreed.
3. Matters Arising
(a) The Chairperson expressed disappointment that the Committee’s report on Assembly Questions was discussed in the media before being made available to MLAs.
(b) Mr O’Loan asked for his disagreement with Committee meetings being held on Plenary days to be recorded.
4. Draft Amendment to Standing Orders for Assembly Questions
Following approval of the Committee’s inquiry report on Assembly Questions in the Assembly on 30 March 2009, the Committee considered consequential amendments to the relevant Standing Orders.
Mr O’Loan left the meeting at 2.11pm.
The Committee discussed the intervention from the First Minister regarding junior Ministers during the debate on 30 March 2009.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the draft amendments, including minor drafting points to the following:-
(a) SO 19(4)(d);
(b) SO 20(3);
(c) SO 20(4);
(d) SO 20A(1)
Agreed: The Committee agreed to refer the draft Standing Orders to OFMDFM for comment with particular reference to SO20(11) dealing with junior Ministers.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to a short one-item meeting on Monday 20 April 2009 at 2.00pm to consider the response from OFMDFM, a final draft of the amendments and motions for debate.
5. New Standing Orders – Private Bills
Following approval of the Committee’s inquiry report on Private Legislation in the Assembly on 3 November 2008, the Committee considered draft Standing Orders on the issue.
Agreed: It was agreed to refer SO9 and SO15(c) back to the draftsperson for further consideration. Otherwise, the Committee agreed the draft Standing Orders, including a minor amendment to SO3(1)(e).
Agreed: It was agreed that the new Standing Orders would not be printed separately but should be incorporated into the current Standing Orders.
6. Legislative Consent Inquiry
The Committee considered submissions regarding Legislative Consent Motions from a number of departments and a response from OFMDFM to questions outstanding after the presentation from OFMDFM officials at the meeting of 3 March 2009.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to undertake a visit to the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 29 April 2009 to further its inquiry into Legislative Consent Motions. The Chairperson will attend along with one member from each party represented on the Committee.
7. Review of Standing Orders
Members provided feedback on their consultations with party colleagues on Standing Orders requiring urgent review. The Committee then considered a paper suggesting those Standing Orders for priority review.
Agreed: A number of Standing Orders were identified for priority review.
8. SO81 – Interpretation
The Committee considered a revised version of SO81 – Interpretation.
Agreed: The revisions to SO81 were agreed, subject to minor amendments. Consequential changes will be incorporated during a Summer reprint of Standing Orders.
9. Forward Work Plan
The Committee considered a Forward Work Plan up to July 2009.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the Forward Work Plan.
10. Work Shadowing
The Committee considered a letter from the Chairperson’s Liaison Group regarding work shadowing placements during Disability Week in June 2009.
Agreed: Members were encouraged to participate with the initiative.
11. AOB
There were no items for discussion.
12. Date, Time and Place of next meetings
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Monday, 20 April 2009 at 2.00pm in Room 152, Parliament Buildings and then on 5 May 2009 at 2.00pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.19pm