COMMITTEE ON PROCEDURES
Minutes of Proceedings
Tuesday, 15th September 2009
Room 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Lord Morrow (Chairperson)
Mr Mervyn Storey (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Mickey Brady
Mr Francie Brolly
Lord Browne
Mr Raymond McCartney
Mr David McClarty
Mr Adrian McQuillan
Mr Sean Neeson
Mr Declan O’Loan
Mr Ken Robinson
In Attendance:
Mrs Mairead Mageean (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Jim Beatty (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Ms Sharon Greene (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Dagmar Walgraeve (Clerical Officer)
The meeting opened at 2.07pm in open session.
Mrs Mageean and Ms Greene were welcomed as new staff to the Committee. The members recorded their appreciation for the work and assistance provided by Ms McArdle and Ms Hare.
1. Apologies
None.
2. Draft Minutes of the meeting held on 2 June 2009
Agreed: The draft Minutes of the meeting held on 2 June 2009 were agreed.
3. Matters Arising
(a) The Committee was updated on the work being done to display details of the questions being answered during Question Time on the television screens in the public gallery of the Chamber. A trial has worked well and should be extended to Assembly Channel 20 and the public screens in the coming weeks.
Agreed: The clerk will update the Committee on progress, including on the extension of the information to the televisions in the Great Hall.
(b) The Committee noted the completion and distribution of the summer reprint of Standing Orders.
4. Draft End-of-Session Report
The Committee considered the draft end-of-session report for the period 1 September 2008 to 31 August 2009 which detailed the work and achievements of the Committee.
Agreed: It was agreed that the end-of-session report can be placed on the Committee’s webpage.
5. Revised Standing orders – Committee on Standards and Privileges
In light of the revised Code of Conduct together with the Guide to the Rules relating to the conduct of Members which takes effect from 12 October 2009, the Committee considered amendments to Standing Orders 57, 69 and 81.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the amendments to SO57, SO69 and SO81.
Agreed: It was agreed that the chairperson should sign the relevant motions for tabling in the Business Office. The motions should be debated on 12 October 2009.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek clarification from the Committee on Standards and Privileges on what sanctions might be applied to a member who breaches the proposed SO49A.
Mr McQuillan joined the meeting at 2.17pm.
6. Quorum
Some issues about quorum in the Assembly had been referred to the Committee for consideration.
Agreed: The Committee is content with how the current Standing Orders are applied.
7. Publication of Members’ Attendance
It is intended to publish details of members’ attendance at committee meetings, Members were provided with individual details in respect of the Committee on Procedures.
Agreed: Members will contact the Committee Office by midday on Friday, 18 September 2009 if they do not agree with the details provided.
The meeting went into Closed Session from 2.20pm.
8. Inquiry on Legislative Consent Motions
The Committee was updated on responses to its proposals from the Chairpersons’ Liaison Group and the Executive and considered a draft report on the issues arising from its inquiry.
Mr Brolly joined the meeting at 2.23pm.
Agreed:
Front Cover
Membership and Powers
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Summary of Recommendations
Introduction
Consideration of Key Issues
Minutes of Proceedings
Subject to correction of the entry for 31 March 2009.
Minutes of Evidence
Written Submissions
Research Papers
Other Papers
Agreed : The Committee ordered the report to be printed today and agreed for two copies to be lodged with the Business Office.
Agreed: Committee members will receive a copy of the report when it is printed.
Agreed: The report will be embargoed until commencement of the debate on the report in Plenary.
Agreed : MLAs will receive a copy of the report the week before the report is due to be debated.
Agreed: A copy will be sent to Legislation Progress Unit, OFMDFM, after MLAs have received their copies.
Agreed: It was agreed that the chairperson should sign the relevant motion for tabling in the Business Office.
9. New Standing Orders – Policing and Justice
The Committee considered new Standing Orders, 44A, 49A and 49B and a proposed amendment to SO81 along with advice from the Assembly’s Legal Services.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee on Standards and Privileges regarding possible sanctions on a member’s failure to comply with the requirements within the proposed SO49A.
Agreed : While satisfied with the proposed SO49A, subject to resolution of the comments from Legal Services, the Committee agreed to ask the draftsperson to rewrite the draft Standing Orders in line with the solutions proposed by Legal Services.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the time allowed within the draft SO44A for nomination and agreement of the Minister of Justice should be extended to 30 minutes.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to include a definition of ‘Minister of Justice’ within SO81.
Agreed: It was agreed that the Committee would write to the Assembly and Executive Review Committee to ask if that committee will undertake a review of the new arrangements before May 2012.
10. Correspondence
(a) The Committee discussed correspondence from Ms Paddy Kelly, Children’s Law Centre, about how to rectify an alleged misrepresentation within the Official Record.
Agreed: It was agreed that this issue would be discussed in detail at a future meeting.
Agreed: It was agreed that the chairperson should reply to Ms Kelly.
Mr Brady left the meeting at 3.00pm.
(b) The Speaker had written to invite the chairperson for dinner with the European Board of the International Ombudsman Institute.
Agreed: As the chairperson and deputy chairperson are unable to attend, it was agreed that Lord Browne should represent the Committee at the dinner.
Mr Robinson left the meeting at 3.04pm.
(c) The Speaker had written to the Committee about the concerns of the Buisness Committee should the Speaker and deputy Speakers become ill at the same time and be unable to chair the Assembly.
Agreed: It was agreed that clerk would prepare a paper for the Committee’s consideration at the next meeting.
11. AOB
No items were raised.
12. Date, Time and Place of next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will be at 2.00pm on Tuesday, 6 October 2009 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.07pm.
Lord Morrow,
Chairperson, Committee on Procedures