1. Apologies
2. Minutes of Previous Meeting
3. Matters Arising
4. Committee of the Centre
5. Review of Assembly Questions
6. Assembly Sittings
7. Urgent Business
8. Ministerial Appointments
9. Official Report (Hansard)
10. Private Members Bills
11. Operational Advice Notes
12. Any Other Business
13. Date and Venue of Next Meeting

Present:
Mr C Murphy (Chairperson)
Mr A Maginness
Mr M Morrow(from 1.22 p.m.)
Mr D McClarty
Dr. W. McCrea
Mr P McNamee

In attendance:
Mr J Crozier
Mr J Gillespie

The meeting commenced at 1.15 p.m. in public session.

1. APOLOGIES

Mr Agnew, Mr Davis, Mr Hutchinson.

The minutes of the Committee meeting held on 8 May 2002 were agreed and signed by the Chairperson.

3. MATTERS ARISING

A letter had been sent to the Speaker advising of the Committee's decision not to introduce a new Standing Order dealing with the election. No response had been received.

Scrutiny of Statutory Rules

The amendments to Standing Order 41 had been passed.

Committee Quorum

A letter had been sent to the Chairpersons Liaison Group advising that this would be considered as part of the review of committee structures. No response had been received.

Mr Maginness, in his capacity as Chairperson of the Chairpersons Liaison Group, advised that the issue had been considered again by the CLG. It remained of the view that the lowering of the quorum for committees should be pursued in the interim period. The Committee noted his comments but maintained their view that the issue should only be considered as part of the Review, and not as a separate issue.

4. COMMITTEE OF THE CENTRE

The Committee resumed consideration of an amendment to extend the remit of the Committee of the Centre to include the Water Appeals Commission and the Planning Appeals Commission. It accepted the suggested wording submitted by the Assembly's legal adviser.

The Committee agreed to table a motion to make the necessary amendments.

The Committee considered the briefing paper and noted two additional papers tabled: viz

1. the interim analysis of the Questionnaires;
2. the Business Office report into Assembly Questions.

The Clerk expanded on the 11 key issues detailed in the briefing paper and summarised the main points contained in the researchers' report. The Committee noted that a final report would be made when all replies from Members had been analysed.

In further discussion on the Review of Assembly Questions, The Committee agreed

1. to invite the Executive to make a submission;
2. to encourage Party colleagues to complete outstanding Questionnaires; and
3. that the Chair should undertake preliminary discussion with the BBC regarding a possible change to the start time of Question Time.

ACTION: Clerk

The Committee noted the response from the Business Committee, which outlined its agreement to the Committees proposed changes to Standing Order 10. The amendments would permit scheduled business to continue, if necessary, up to 7.00 p.m. and would formalise the authority of the Business Committee to arrange an earlier start to plenary session on a Monday.

The Committee agreed to table a motion to make the amendment to Standing Order 10 and the consequential amendment to Standing Order 18.

ACTION: Clerk

The Committee noted the response from the Business Committee in which it sought a draft Standing Order which would facilitate an urgent motion. The Committee considered the draft Standing Order and Briefing paper tabled by the Clerk.

The Committee agreed that the draft Standing Order, together with the summary paper highlighting the practice in other places should be submitted to the Business Committee for comment.

ACTION: Clerk

8. MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENTS

The Clerk spoke to the briefing paper, which outlined the potential gaps in Standing Orders in relation to Ministerial Appointments.

The Committee agreed that it was not necessary to detail in Standing Orders additional circumstances which would require a complete re-run of D'Hondt for all Ministerial Offices. In relation to the specification of a time period in Standing Orders for the rerunning of D'Hondt the Committee agreed to defer decision on this issue until the next meeting in order to allow Members to seek the views of their parties.

The Clerk spoke to the Briefing Paper and draft Standing Order.

The Committee agreed to introduce a new Standing Order entitled "Official Report (Hansard)" and to table the Order as presented.

ACTION: Clerk

The Committee considered the guidance document produced by the Clerk and approved by the Speaker, on the procedures for Members and Committees to introduce a Bill.

The Committee agreed to invite the Clerk to the Assembly to the next meeting to further explain the guidance.

ACTION: Clerk

The Committee considered an Operational Advice Note setting out the stages of the legislative process. The Clerk explained it was one, of several advice notes intended for inclusion in the reprint of Standing Orders, which would be available after the summer recess.

The Committee agreed the content of the Operational Advice Note.

ACTION: Clerk

Mr McNamee highlighted the apparent absence of a facility to record a Members formal abstention during a Vote.

The Committee instructed the Clerk to prepare a paper on the issue for consideration at the next meeting.

13. DATE AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING

It was agreed that the next meeting of the Committee would be held on Wednesday 12 June in Room 152 Parliament Buildings at 1:00 pm.

The meeting adjourned at 1:51 pm.

C MURPHY
Chairperson, Committee on Procedures

8 May 2002 / Menu / 12 June 2002