MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

COMMITTEE ON PROCEDURES
WEDNESDAY 10 OCTOBER AT 3.55 PM IN ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

1. Presentations by Office of the First and Deputy First Minister and Assembly Bill Office
2. Apologies
3. Minutes of Previous Meeting
4. Matters Arising
5. Inquiry into the Legislative Process
6. Any Other Business
7. Date, Time and Venue of Next Meeting

Before the meeting formally convened the Chairperson invited officials from the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister and the Assembly Bill Office to give presentations on the Legislative Process

The Chairperson, on behalf of the Committee, thanked the officials for their very informative and useful presentations.

The meeting formally commenced at 3:55 pm.

Mr F Agnew

The minutes of the meeting of 12 September 2001 were agreed and signed by the Chairperson.

4. MATTERS ARISING

Members were advised that the amendment to Standing Order 52 on Sub Committees was agreed in plenary on 9 October.

5. INQUIRY INTO THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS

The Chairman sought the views of members on the paper proposing suggested areas of questioning for the Chairperson of the Committee for Finance and Personnel and for the representatives from the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister

Members agreed the paper.

The Committee agreed to a proposal from the Clerk to take evidence from Professor Steven Livingstone of the School of Law, Queen's University. It was agreed that evidence from Professor Livingstone would provide an opportunity for members to hear another submission on the Human Rights implications associated with the legislative process. It was agreed to take evidence from Professor Livingstone on the 24 October.

6. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

In general discussion about the difficulty in getting a quorum for meetings Members agreed that, as the review was entering a critical phrase, it was extremely important that as many members as possible attended forthcoming meetings to ensure meetings were quorate. The Clerk was instructed to advise all members of the committee of the importance of attending meetings.

7. DATE, TIME AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING

It was agreed that the next meeting of the Committee on Procedures would be on Wednesday 17 October 2001 in Room 152 Parliament Buildings at 2.30 pm.

The meeting adjourned at 4.20 pm.