COMMITTEE ON PROCEDURES
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY, 1 JUNE 2010
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Lord Browne MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Mervyn Storey MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Thomas Burns MLA
Mr Paul Butler MLA
Mr Billy Leonard MLA
Mr Adrian McQuillan MLA
Mr Sean Neeson MLA
Mr Ken Robinson MLA
In Attendance:
Mrs Mairead Mageean (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Leanne Johnston (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Dagmar Walgraeve (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr David McClarty MLA
The meeting opened at 2.02 pm in open session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are stated above.
The Chairperson welcomed Mr Burns and Mr Butler to their first meeting of the Committee and expressed the Committee’s thanks to Mr McCartney and Mr O’Loan for their contributions to the work of the Committee.
2. Draft Minutes of the Meeting on 4 May 2010
Agreed: for publication on the Assembly website.
3. Matters Arising
None.
Mr Neeson joined the meeting at 2.04pm.
4. Oral Question Time – Draft Motions
The Committee considered draft amendments to Standing Order 20 and the associated draft motions which provide that there should be (i) an additional slot from 2.30pm for Question Time on Tuesdays; and (ii) a limit of two minutes to the Minister’s response to the lead question and one minute to supplementary questions.
Agreed: Members considered and agreed the final draft amendments to Standing Order 20 and draft motions which will be tabled in the Business Office for plenary debate at the end of June.
5. Extending Sitting Times – Draft Motions
At the meeting on 4 May 2010 the Committee considered a draft amendment to Standing Orders to enable sittings on a Monday to go beyond 7.00pm and requested that final draft amendments and draft motions be provided to include a requirement for the motion to specify a time limit and to give the Speaker discretion over acceptance of the motion.
Agreed: Members considered and agreed the final draft amendments to Standing Orders 10 and 12(7) and draft motions which will be tabled in the Business Office for plenary debate at the end of June.
6. Review of Standing Orders and Forward Work Programme
The Committee considered the Forward Work Programme and a paper (i) summarising the work of the Committee in this session and (ii) highlighting issues which could be considered in the next session. Members noted that 31 Standing Orders have been amended since September 2009 including Standing Orders on the devolution of Policing and Justice, Sub judice and public access to Parliament Buildings and Assembly proceedings, including for the media.
Agreed: Members noted the papers on the work of the Committee this session and agreed the Forward Work Programme for September to November 2010.
Mr McQuillan joined the meeting at 2.10pm.
7. Correspondence
The Committee considered correspondence received from the Chairperson of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee about ending its role in relation to the Attorney General and the Public Prosecution Service.
The Committee also noted correspondence from the Assembly and Executive Review Committee to the First Minister and deputy First Minister on the issue.
Agreed: The Chairperson informed members that a meeting took place between the Chairpersons of the Committee for Justice, Committee on Procedures, Assembly and Executive Review Committee and the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister when it was agreed that the Committee for Justice and the Committee on Procedures will take forward work on the roles and responsibilities of the Attorney General instead of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee.
Agreed: Members were in agreement with this decision.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Chairperson to the Junior Ministers in relation to the number of Questions not answered in full or part due to disproportionate cost. Members also noted a letter to the Speaker drawing his attention to members’ concerns in relation to the lack of quality and detail given in some responses to Assembly Questions.
The Committee noted a letter to the Speaker in relation to draft amendments to Standing Orders on extending Monday sittings and changes to Question Time. The Committee also noted the Speaker’s response on this issue indicating that the Business Committee was content with all the proposed changes and commencing the work done by the Committee on these matters.
8. Any Other Business
The Chairperson commented that the Committee should proceed with Standing Orders in relation to the role of the Attorney General and that research should be carried out during recess and brought to the first meeting in September.
9. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
Members agreed that the next scheduled meeting will be on Tuesday, 14 September 2010 at 2.00 pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 2.15pm.