1. Apologies
2. Minutes of Previous Meetings
3. Matters Arising
4. Inquiry into the Legislative Process
5. Any Other Business
6. Date, Time And Venue Of Next Meeting

Present:
Mr D Shipley Dalton (Chairperson)
Mr F Agnew (arrived 3.20pm)
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

The meeting commenced at 3.09 pm.

Mr C Murphy, Mr I Davis, and Mr I Paisley Jnr.

2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS

The minutes of the Committee meeting on 10 October 2001 and of the sub- Committee meeting on 27 November 2001 were both agreed and signed by the Chairperson.

3. MATTERS ARISING

Pre-legislative scrutiny - the Clerk had asked the Principal Clerk of Committees to incorporate this recommendation into the proposed Protocol on Information and Evidence which was to be agreed by the Executive and the Assembly.

Legal advice re Committee authority to amend a Bill - the Committee noted that a response had not been received from OFM/DFM and instructed the Clerk to issue a reminder.

Statutory Rules - the Committee noted that the Examiner of Statutory Rules had proposed a further recommendation to change Standing Orders re Statutory Rules.

4. INQUIRY INTO THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS

Members confirmed receipt of the revised draft of the report. They also noted the summary of the Speaker's comments on the proposed recommendations and the briefing papers prepared by the Clerk on a number of the key recommendations. Members advised that they were still in consultation with their respective parties on some of the key recommendations and therefore were not in a position to commit party positions. Members agreed that nevertheless it would be useful to review all the recommendations at the meeting.

The Committee debated at length the issues raised in Briefing Paper A. Members noted Assembly legal opinion which advised that Committees could be given the authority to amend the face of a Bill. Members noted the potential procedural implications of giving Committees this power and in particular the potential role of a Minister during Committee Stage. Members agreed that this was an issue that required more detailed consultation with the Executive. The Committee's initial view was that this power should not be given to Committees now but this was an issue on which party views should be sought for agreement at the next meeting.

Members debated at length the issues raised in Briefing Paper C. There was consensus on the recommendation that Further Consideration Stage should be limited in scope. However, members agreed that this was an issue on which party views were required before the Committee could agree to the recommendations. The Committee agreed to seek the views of their parties before the next meeting.

The Committee considered Briefing Paper D. Following discussion, members agreed to seek further views from their respective parties and to discuss the matter further at the next meeting of the Committee.

5. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

The Clerk was instructed to produce an amended draft of the Committee's recommendations.

6. DATE, TIME AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING

It was agreed that the next meeting of the Committee would be held on Wednesday 9 January 2001 in Room 152 Parliament Buildings at

The meeting adjourned at 4:31 pm.