1. Minutes of Previous Meeting
2. Matters Arising
3. Legislative Review
4. Members Interests
5. Committees- Chairpersons casting vote
6. Amendments to Standing Orders
7. Any Other Business
8. Date, Time and Venue of Next Meeting

Present: Mr C Murphy (Chairman)
Mr F Agnew (Arrived 4.14)
Mr I Davis
Mr A Maginness (Arrived 4.05)
Mr D Mc Clarty
Mr P McNamee
Mr I Paisley

Clerk to the Committee: Mr C McGarrity

In attendance: Mr J Crozier
Mr J Gillespie

Apologies: Mr A Attwood
Mr R Hutchinson
Mr D Shipley-Dalton

1. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the meeting of 9 May 2001 were agreed and signed by the Chairman.

2. MATTERS ARISING

2.1 Private Members' Bills

Members noted that due to diary commitments it was unlikely that the Speaker would be able to attend a meeting of the committee before the summer recess.

2.2 Question Time

Members agreed to take this item and Agenda Item 5 together. The Committee considered a request from the business committee to amend Standing Orders to permit Question time to start at 12.00pm as opposed to 2.30. It was agreed that members should seek party views and report back at the next meeting.

Plenary Timings

Members agreed to seek party views on whether the current temporary arrangement of Monday plenary times starting at 12.00 as opposed to 10.30 should be made permanent for the start of the next session..

ACTION: MEMBERS

2.3 Sub Committees

Members noted the Chairpersons Liaison Group support for the proposal that committees should be given the authority to create sub committees without the approval of the Business Committee or the assembly. Members discussed the issue of quorum for sub committees and the issue of joint sub committees. Members agreed that the Clerk should be preparing a paper for discussion at the next meeting.

ACTION: CLERK

3. Legislative Review

Members noted the submission from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and agreed that it should be discussed at a future meeting. Members were advised that opinion on the issues raised in the submission have been sought from the Assemby Legal Advisor.

3.1 Speaking rights of Committee Chairpersons at Consideration Stage

The Committee agreed that the Clerk should to reply to the Clerk of the Health Social Services and Public Safety Committee advising that this issue had been raised by a number of committees in their submissions to the legislative Review Inquiry and therefore it would be addressed ion the Committees Report. It would therefore be inappropriate for the Committee to offer is view on the issue in advance of this.

ACTION: CLERK

4. Members Interests

Standing Order 64

Members discussed the issues raised in the briefing paper. In general discussion on proposed changes the Committee agreed the proposed Standing Order but that it should not provide a definition of an immediate relative.

Standing Order 57

Members agreed that the removal of the Commissioner of Standards should be on the same grounds as that of the Comptroller and Auditor General i.e. by agreement of two third of the seats in the Assembly. Members agreed to the proposed amendment o the Standing Order with this proviso.

The Clerk was instructed to write to the Committee on Standards and Privileges and advise of the above.

ACTION: CLERK

5. Committees- Chairpersons casting vote

The Committee agreed that this matter would best be taken forward as part of the ongoing review into the legislative process.

The Committee agreed to amend Standing Order 72 to clarify its interpretation.

7. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

The Chairman reminded Members of the requirement to declare any pecuniary interest that may have arisen due to the recent elections.

8. DATE, TIME AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING

It was agreed the next meeting of the Committee on Procedures would be on Wednesday 20 June 2001 in Room 152 Parliament Buildings at 3.00 PM.

The meeting adjourned at 4.36 PM.