1. Minutes
2. Matters Arising
3. Definitions of Sessions
4. Further Consideration Stage
5. Correspondence
6. Any Other Business
7. Date and Time of Next meeting

Present: Mr C Murphy (Chairman)
Mr D Shipley Dalton
Mr R Hutchinson
Mr P McNamee
Mr M Morrow

Apologies: Mr A Attwood
Mr A Maginness

Clerk to the Committee: Mr J Reynolds

In attendance: Mr J Gillespie

The meeting commenced at 3.05 pm.

1. The minutes of the meeting of 7 June 2000 were agreed and signed by the Chairman.

2. The Chairman brought to the attention of the Members Proc/1/2000 Addendum (circulated) which sets out proposed changes to the original paper. The Clerk advised the Committee that the proposed changes would inevitably result in a confusion around the numbering of Standing Orders. It was agreed that a revised text which took account of re-numbering should be brought to the Assembly as part of the proposed amendments to Standing Orders. The Committee agreed to adopt all the recommendations with the exception of numbers 52 and 79.

3. DEFINITIONS OF SESSIONS

Paper Proc/4/2000. The Committee deliberated the proposed new Standing Order and it was agreed the Clerk would prepare a paper which would outline the options available to the Committee.

4. Paper Proc/3/2000. This matter was considered. The Committee agreed to return to this matter at the next meeting of the Committee.

5. Standing Order 39(1). The Committee discussed the effects this was having on the passage of legislation. The Clerk was tasked to prepare a paper providing options on how to shorten the time for the passage of legislation.

6. The Chairman informed the Committee of letters sent to The Speaker and Mr D McClelland, Chairman, of the Committee on Standards and Privileges, seeking their views on aspects of Standing Orders, required by the Northern Ireland Act 1998, which had not yet been set out.

7. The Committee agreed that the Chairman, and Deputy Chairman should seek a meeting with The Speaker to prioritise the issues raised in his letter (7 June) to the Committee.

8. Consideration of the draft acknowledgement to Professor C Campbell was deferred to a later meeting of the Committee.

9. Party business. This matter was deferred to a later meeting.

10. The next meeting of the Committee was arranged for Wednesday 21 June 2000 at 3.00 pm in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting closed at 4.37 pm.