BUSINESS COMMITTEE

TUESDAY 16 MAY 2006
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

MINUTES

The meeting began at 12.05 pm

Present: The Speaker (Chair)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr J Dallat
Mr K McCarthy
Mr D McClarty
Dr W McCrea
Dr A McDonnell
Mr P McGuigan
Mr M Morrow
Mr C Murphy

Present (secretariat): Mr A Moir The Clerk
Mr J Reynolds Deputy Clerk

In attendance: Ms C McGivern Director of Legal Services
Mr P Moore Clerk of Business
Mr R Good Adviser to the Speaker
Ms G Campbell Private Secretary to the Speaker

Observers: Mr F Molloy Deputy Speaker
Mr J Wells Deputy Speaker
Mr PJ Bradley SDLP Alternate
Ms C Salters NIO
Mr S Johnston OFMDFM

Apologies: None.

1. Introduction

1.1 The Speaker sought and obtained the Committee’s agreement to invite the recently appointed Deputy Speakers to attend and observe the current and subsequent meetings. The Committee also agreed that Mr Bradley should be permitted to observe the current meeting, as one of his party’s alternate attendees. The Speaker stated that she was content for a similar arrangement to apply to other parties, provided she was given prior notice.

2. Minutes of the meeting held on 11 May 2006

2.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 11 May 2006 were agreed and were signed by the Speaker.

3. Matters Arising

3.1 In relation to paragraph 3 of the minutes, the Speaker informed members that she had received a letter from the Alliance party naming Ms Long and Mr Neeson as the party’s alternate attendees to the Business Committee.

3.2 Referring to paragraph 4 of the minutes, the Speaker advised that she intended to take legal advice before ruling on a matter raised as a Point of Order at the sitting on 15 May. The Speaker proposed to make an announcement to this effect during the 16 May sitting, and undertook to inform members of the Committee as to when a ruling would be made. The Speaker further clarified that while the relevant Standing Order defined roles for the Clerk and the Speaker in relation to the list of seats held, there was no such role for the Business Committee.

3.3 Referring to paragraph 4.1 of the minutes the Speaker advised that she would make an announcement during the 16 May sitting to the effect that all Members had taken their seats in accordance with Standing Orders.

3.4 In response to a view expressed to her prior to the meeting, the Speaker indicated that she expected arrangements on party seating (as referred to in paragraph 4.5 of the minutes) to remain in place until the summer recess. She also advised that, without prejudice to the outcome of her consideration of legal advice on the Point of Order (referred to earlier), the order of speaking in debate would be affected by an increase in the number of Members of one party. The Speaker confirmed that, pending legal advice, she considered the Ulster Unionist Party Assembly Group (UUPAG) to be a party in the Assembly. The Speaker indicated that other implications would be considered following receipt of the legal advice.

3.5 Regarding paragraph 4.6 of the minutes, the Speaker thanked members for their co-operation regarding the minute’s silence at the previous day’s sitting. The Speaker advised that the draft protocol on condolences referred to in the minutes would be submitted to the Business Committee as soon as possible. In the meantime, the Speaker’s view was that such matters should be brought to the Business Committee and not raised on the floor of the Chamber.

3.6 Referring to paragraph 10.1 of the minutes, one member raised a practical issue about Members’ receipt of Order Papers. The Speaker undertook to look into the matter.

3.7 One member, referring to paragraph 11.1 of the minutes, indicated that there had been some difficulty with party staff gaining access to the galleries. The Speaker advised that this was already under investigation.

3.8 Finally, the Speaker invited comments on the guidance, referred at paragraph 11.2 of the minutes, that had been provided to members at the previous meeting. No comments were made.

4. Arrangements for Plenary Meeting on 16 May 2006

4.1 The Speaker outlined the background to the issue of a second Order Paper for the sitting on 16 May, and clarified that she would ‘put the question’ at the conclusion of the debate.

4.2 Following discussions, there was general consensus that the first round of speakers during the debate should be allowed ten minutes, with subsequent speakers being limited to five minutes each.

5. Arrangements for Plenary Meeting on 22 May 2006

5.1 The Speaker advised that she had not yet received a formal direction from the Secretary of State, but that there was no indication that business other than the election of First Minister and Deputy First Minister would be referred to the Assembly.

5.2 The Speaker directed members to their copies of guidance on the forms of wording to be used in the election. She advised that the guidance also covered the possibility that the Secretary of State might direct that nomination of Ministers should subsequently be taken as an item of business.

6. Arrangements for selecting business for further plenary meetings

6.1 The Speaker reported that she had sought clarification regarding a mechanism through which the Assembly might take responsibility for managing some of its own business, and that she had been assured that the Secretary of State would agree to a mechanism, and provide additional Standing Orders to allow its operation. The Committee (other than one party’s representatives) agreed a mechanism for Assembly business and agreed that new Standing Orders should allow for the operation of this mechanism.

6.2 One member expressed his belief that the mechanism, in relation to the Speaker’s selection of amendments, would put the Speaker in a difficult position, while another member pointed out that the Speaker exercised such a role in other places.

6.3 Members agreed that the Business Committee would consider only those motions tabled at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start time of the Business Committee, and that multiple motions on the same subject should not be accepted onto the ‘no-day-named’ list.

7. Arrangements for the plenary meeting on 23 May

7.1 The Speaker asked members to consider whether or not the Business Committee should submit its views on a number of motions to the Secretary of State as potential business for 23 May in the event that an election on 22 May was not successful.

7.2 One party’s representatives asked that it be placed on record that the party would not consider any motions for debate prior to the election of First Minister and Deputy First Minister. In the representatives’ view, advice should be taken on whether or not the Assembly would be able to set up Committees, either as a result of certain motions being carried or through consensus in the Business Committee.

7.3 Members representing the remaining four parties considered eight motions as possible business for 23 May. Of these, three motions were proposed:

 Restoration of Devolution (tabled by David McClarty). This was proposed as business by one party and supported by another. Not withstanding one party’s general objection, there was no strong opposition to taking this motion.
 Financial and Economic Package for Northern Ireland (tabled by Maurice Morrow and William McCrea). This was proposed as business by one party. It was agreed as business by another but “should be deferred for a week or two”. The two other parties taking part in the discussion expressed no strong opposition to taking this motion.
 Rural Planning policy – to cease implementation of PPS 14 (tabled by Patsy McGlone and Tommy Gallagher). This was proposed as business by one party and supported by another. It was agreed as business by a third party, provided its motion was selected, with a fourth party signalling that it was content with the proposal.

It was agreed that all three motions represented significant issues, which would stimulate substantial debate, and there was some consensus on a view that only two of the three should be taken on the same day.

7.4 The Speaker advised members that the parties’ views would be reported to the Secretary of State.

8. Any Other Business

8.1 One member expressed the view that if the election of First Minister and Deputy First Minister was not successful, the Business Committee should consider whether to meet on one or two days per week, with the member favouring one day only.

9. Date, Time and Venue of Next Meeting

9.1 It was agreed to meet on Tuesday 23 May 2006 at noon in Room 106, Parliament Buildings.

The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.25 pm.

The Speaker