COMMITTEE ON PROCEDURES
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY, 2 FEBRUARY 2010
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Lord Morrow MLA (Chairperson)
Mervyn Storey MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Lord Browne MLA
Mr David McClarty MLA
Mr Adrian McQuillan MLA
Mr Sean Neeson MLA
Mr Ken Robinson MLA
In Attendance: Mrs Mairead Mageean (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Colin Jones (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Ms Leanne Johnston (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Dagmar Walgraeve (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: Mr Billy Leonard MLA
The meeting opened at 2.04 pm in open session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are stated above.
2. Draft Minutes of the Meeting on 12 January 2010
Agreed: for publication on the Assembly website.
3. Matters Arising
Members noted that the Speaker’s Office will respond directly to the Committee on issues raised in relation to the Speaker’s role in plenary when Ministers are responding to Assembly Questions.
4. Standing Orders on Policing and Justice
Following the Committee’s decision at the last meeting that, should a new committee be established, d’Hondt should be rerun for the allocation of chairpersons and deputy chairpersons to all committees, the Committee considered draft Standing Orders provided by the draftsperson.
Agreed: that the Committee was content with the current draft of the Standing Orders, and that these should be developed further, as legal advice had recently been received.
Agreed: that the draft Standing Orders on Policing and Justice, together with relevant background papers, will be forwarded for comment to officials in the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister and the Office of Legislative Counsel.
Members noted that, depending on the outcome of the ongoing negotiations on the devolution of policing and justice powers, an urgent Committee meeting may be necessary to consider and agree relevant Standing Orders and accompanying motions for plenary debate. If such a meeting were unnecessary, the draft Standing Orders will be considered at the next scheduled meeting on 2 March 2010.
5. Standing Orders on Access to Assembly Proceedings
Members considered draft Standing Orders and accompanying motions on access to Assembly proceedings.
Agreed: that the Committee was content with the draft Standing Orders and the accompanying draft motions which will be tabled in the Business Office for plenary debate.
6. Standing Order 73: Sub Judice
The Committee considered a draft Standing Order on Sub Judice.
Agreed: that the Committee was content with the draft Standing Order and that a finalised Standing Order and a draft motion will be considered at the next meeting.
7. Scrutiny of the Northern Ireland Act’s Compatibility with Standing Orders
Members noted that the secretariat had carried out an initial examination of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 to ensure that Standing Orders reflected the legislative requirements stipulated in the Act.
Agreed: that further examination of the legislation will be carried out and legal advice sought, and that the outcomes will be included for consideration by the Committee at a future meeting.
8. Any Other Business
None.
9. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
Should a further meeting in February 2010 not be required, the next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 2 March 2010 at 2.00 pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings. Members noted that the Committee meeting in April 2010 was currently scheduled during Easter Recess.
Agreed: that, should it be necessary to hold this meeting, it will be brought forward to 23 March 2010.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 2.17 pm.