TUESDAY 27 NOVEMBER 2001 AT 10.30 AM
IN ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

1. Minutes of Previous Meeting
2. Matters Arising
3. Legislative Review
4. Any Other Business
5. Date, Time and Venue of Next Meeting

Present:
Mr C Murphy (Convenor)
Mr A Maginness
Mr M Morrow
Mr D McClarty
Mr P McNamee

Clerk to the Committee:
Mr C McGarrity

In attendance:
Mr J Crozier
Mr J Gillespie

Apologies:
Mr I Davis

1. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the previous meeting of the sub-Committee, held on 21 November 2001, were agreed and signed by the Convenor.

2. MATTERS ARISING

None.

3. LEGISLATIVE REVIEW

The Convenor advised Members that it was possible that the Committee would not report to the Assembly before the Christmas Recess.

With the agreement of the members present, the Clerk gave the background to each of the draft recommendations, including the comments of the Speaker made at the previous meeting and summarised in the minutes.

It was further agreed that this be referred to the Chairpersons Liaison Committee for incorporation into the Memorandum of Understanding which it was drafting for agreement with the Executive.

After discussion, it was agreed that the report should note that the issue had been considered.

There was considerable discussion on this issue, ranging from the legal authority conferred on Committees by the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and the provisions of the Belfast Agreement to the availability of technical expertise in drafting amendments. It was felt that definitive legal advice should be sought on the powers of Committees and that the Executive be asked to provide a response.

The Clerk was instructed to prepare a short paper outlining the pros and cons of the issue. Members could then raise the matter with their parties and come back to the next Committee meeting with a view on the proposal.

Members accepted that there might be an advantage in not applying the 5-day rule between Second Stage and Committee Stage, but were concerned about extending it to other stages.

The Clerk was instructed to prepare a short paper outlining the pros and cons of the issue. Members could then raise the matter with their parties and come back to the next Committee meeting with a view on the proposal.

There was lengthy discussion on the recommendations, including the arguments set out in the briefing note provided. Members agreed to seek the views of the their parties before making a decision on the matter.

Members considered the briefing note (Tab D) and discussed the issue of parity legislation and whether it should be in a separate category and allowed to proceed under the accelerated passage procedure. It was noted that the Social Development Committee was examining the issue and it was agreed to await the outcome of its study.

Agreed.

It was noted that the Examiner of Statutory Rules was working on an amendment to Standing Order 41.

The sub-Committee accepted the Speaker's argument that it would be inappropriate for him to forward submissions received (after First Reading) from the NIHRC.

In subsequent discussion the issue of a proposal to create a Standing Committee on human rights was raised. After some debate members agreed that this was an issue on which party views should be sought. The Clerk was instructed to prepare a short paper outlining the pros and cons of the issue. Members could then raise the matter with their parties and come back to the next Committee meeting with a view on the proposal.

It was noted that this issue was currently being taken forward by the Assembly Commission and therefore this recommendation could be dropped..

4. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

A list of final recommendations was to be prepared for consideration by the full Committee.

5. DATE, TIME AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING

It was agreed that the next meeting would be a full meeting of the Committee on Procedures and would be held on Wednesday 5 December 2001 in Room 152 Parliament Buildings at 3.00 pm.

The meeting adjourned at 11.57 am.