Minutes
Matters Arising
Work Programme
Any Other Business
Date and Time of Next Meeting

Present: Mr C Murphy (Chairman)
Mr F Agnew
Mr A Attwood
Mr R Hutchinson
Mr A Maginness

Clerk to the Committee: Mr J Reynolds

In attendance:Mr J Crozier
Mr J Gillespie

Apologies: Mr D McClarty
Mr T Benson
Mr N Dodds

Before the meeting commenced, Members were given an informal presentation on the Electronic Multi-Option voting system by Mr P Emerson and Mr R Mullan of The de Borda Institute.

The meeting commenced at 3.54 pm.

1. The minutes of the meeting of 18 October 2000 were agreed and signed by the Chairman.

2. The Committee recorded its best wishes for a speedy recovery to Mr T Benson.

3. Visit to the Scottish Parliament. The Clerk summarised the de-briefing paper which was circulated to the Committee. The Members agreed that the visit was worthwhile and would prove to be beneficial when dealing with the ongoing review of legislation within the Assembly.

4. Visit to the Dail. The Committee instructed the Clerk to proceed with arrangements for a visit to the Dail to consider their procedural arrangements, particularly with regard to legislative procedures and to inform the Members of the possible dates for the visit.

5. PROC/5/2000. Standing Order 40. Carry over of Legislation to next session: The Committee agreed to table a Motion for an amendment to be considered by the Assembly to allow for automatic carry-over between sessions.

6. Scrutiny of Legislation from the OFM/DFM. The Members discussed the suggested amendments to Standing Orders received from the OFM/DFM. In the light of the proposals, the Committee instructed the Clerk to seek the views of the Committee of the Centre.

(Mr A Maginness left the meeting 4.15pm)

7. Operational Advice Notes to Standing Orders: The Clerk outlined some minor changes to the draft Operational Advice Notes and the Committee agreed to have the booklet printed and distributed to Members.

8. Procedure for formal expressions of condolence. This item was deferred to the next meeting of the Committee.

9. Press Release. The Committee agreed to the text of a press release regarding the Review of Standing Orders on the Legislative Procedure in the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Committee agreed that the Chairman would represent its views in any interviews required on this matter.

10. Private Member's Bills. In view of the Commission's possible decision to provide financial assistance with the drafting of Private Member's Bills (eight Bills per year), the Committee tasked the Clerk to consider the arrangements in other legislatures to provide proposals with a view to including appropriate selection procedures in Standing Orders.

11. Appointments to the Assembly Commission. The Committee instructed the Clerk to prepare a draft Standing Order which would exclude Chairpersons and Deputy Chairpersons of Statutory Committees and the Chairpersons and Deputy Chairpersons of the Public Accounts and Audit Committees only from holding positions on the Assembly Commission.

12. The next meeting of the Committee was scheduled for Wednesday 13 December 2000 in Room 152, Parliament Buildings at 3.00 pm.

The meeting closed at 4.30 pm.

C MURPHY
Chairman