Committee on Procedures
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 9 NOVEMBER 2010
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Lord Browne (Chairperson)
Mr Mervyn Storey MLA (Deputy Chairperson) Mr Thomas Burns MLA
Mr Paul Butler MLA
Mr Billy Leonard MLA
Mr David McClarty MLA
Mr Adrian McQuillan MLA
Lord Morrow MLA
Mr Ken Robinson MLA
In Attendance:
Mrs Mairead Mageean (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Karagh McGoldrick (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Sharon Greene (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Jonathan McMillen (Legal Services) – for item 4 only
Apologies:
Mr Mickey Brady MLA
Mr Sean Neeson MLA
1.35 p.m. The meeting opened in public session
1. Apologies.
Apologies are detailed above.
1.36 p.m. Mr Adrian McQuillan joined the meeting
2. Draft minutes of meeting on 19 October 2010.
Agreed: The minutes were agreed as drafted for publication on the Assembly website.
1.37 p.m. Mr Ken Robinson and Mr Mervyn Storey joined the meeting
3. Matters arising.
None
4. Inquiry into the participation of the Attorney General in the proceedings of the Assembly.
The Chairperson advised members that the Committee on Standards and Privileges will provide its views on how Members’ Interests and the Code of Conduct for Members should apply to the Attorney General after it has received legal advice on the matter.
Members considered legal advice on the Attorney General’s accountability in relation to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS).The Chairperson invited Mr Jonathan McMillen, Legal Services, to brief the committee and answer members’ questions on his advice.
Agreed: The Committee acknowledged the ambiguity in the legislation surrounding the Attorney General’s accountability for the Public Prosecution Service and agreed that this is not a matter for Standing Orders.
Agreed: The Committee noted that the Department of Justice will be consulting on options for addressing the accountability arrangements for the Public Prosecution Service and agreed that, in the meantime, it would continue its work to produce Standing Orders to facilitate the participation of the Attorney General in the proceedings of the Assembly.
The Chairperson invited members to give their Parties’ views on whether the Attorney General should appear in the Chamber and, if so, how he should participate in Assembly proceedings.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that Party views should be collated and brought to the next meeting and that the Committee for Justice should be updated on the Committee’s work.
5. Revised Standing Orders on Question Time.
Members considered the draft motion and amendment to Standing Order 20(1) to change Question Time on Tuesdays to 2.00 p.m. to 3.00 p.m.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the draft motion and amendment to Standing Order 20 (1).
Agreed: Members agreed that, should the motion be carried, Committee meetings would be rescheduled to start at 1.00 p.m.
1.55p.m. Lord Morrow joined the meeting.
6. Ministerial Attendance in the Chamber.
Members considered information on Ministerial availability and attendance in the Chamber.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to monitor the position for a time.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson should advise the Speaker of the Committee’s decision.
7. Personal Statements - practice elsewhere
Members discussed options for handling Personal Statements.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the handling arrangements for Personal Statements detailed in the Assembly Companion should remain in place.
Noted: Lord Morrow did not agree.
8. Forward Work Programme. Members considered a draft Forward Work Programme for the period 9 November to 14 December and the revised Work Programme for the Committee’s inquiry to inform Standing Orders in relation to the Attorney General.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the Forward Work Programme and the revised Work Programme for the inquiry to inform Standing Orders in relation to the Attorney General.
9. Correspondence Members noted correspondence from the Chairperson to the First Minister and deputy First Minister in relation to the change to Question Time on Tuesdays; a letter from an individual in relation to an employment matter; and a memo from the Clerk to the Committee for Justice in relation to Public Prosecution Service statistics.
10. Any other business. The Committee considered the provision of water for Committee meetings.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that tap water should be provided for future Committee meetings instead of bottled water.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to monitor the need for other refreshments at Committee meetings.
11. Date, time and place of next meeting. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 23 November 2010 at 1.30 pm in Room 144 Parliament Buildings
2.17 p.m. The Chairperson adjourned the meeting.
Lord Browne
Chairperson, Committee on Procedures
14 December 2010
19 October 2010 / Menu |
