BUSINESS COMMITTEE

TUESDAY 27 JUNE 2006
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

MINUTES

The meeting began at 12.40 pm

Present: The Speaker (Chair)
Mr D Bradley
Mr M Copeland
Mr J Dallat
Mr K McCarthy
Mr D McClarty
Mr J O’Dowd

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

In attendance: Mr P Moore Clerk of Business
Ms L Gordon Clerk of Business
Mr R Good Adviser to the Speaker
Mr H Widdis Legal Adviser
Ms F Lenaghan Assistant Private Secretary to the Speaker

Observers: Ms C Salters NIO
Mr A Rogers OFMDFM

1. Introduction

1.1 The Speaker welcomed Mr Copeland to his first meeting.

2. Minutes of the meetings held on 20 and 21 June 2006

2.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 20 June were noted by Mr O’Dowd on behalf of his party as he had not attended that meeting. The minutes, and those of the meeting on 21 June, were otherwise agreed and were signed by the Speaker.

3. Matters Arising

3.1 Referring to paragraphs 2.1 and 2.2 of the minutes of the meeting held on 20 June, the Speaker informed members that she had written a letter to the Secretary of State reporting the Business Committee’s views on the establishment of a working group on the economy. She informed members that the Secretary of State had not yet replied, but was likely to do so by 30 June.

3.2 Referring to paragraphs 2.4 to 2.6 of the minutes of the meeting on 20 June, the Speaker advised that while she had received no formal reply from the Secretary of State, he had indicated no objection to recess commencing after Friday 7 July and continuing until week commencing 4 September. The Speaker reminded members that neither Standing Orders nor the Secretary of State directions to date precluded committees from meeting during recess, and that the Business Committee would need to meet during week commencing 28 August, assuming the anticipated dates for recess were confirmed.

4. Arrangements for forthcoming plenary meetings

4.1 The Speaker confirmed that no referral of business for debate had been received from the Preparation for Government Committee.

4.2 Mr O’Dowd confirmed that his party’s position on the conduct of debates remained unchanged. Representatives of the three remaining parties in attendance agreed that only one motion (that on the Review of Public Administration) should be referred to the Secretary of State as business for debate during week commencing 3 July.

4.3 There was general consensus among the three parties that it would be helpful, in terms of making a judgement on the value of debates, if the Secretary of State would provide a response to the motion on industrial rating as agreed by the Assembly on 6 June.

5. Motions and Amendments – draft guidance

5.1 Members agreed to adopt the guidance without amendment.

6. Any Other Business

6.1 No items of business were raised.

7. Date, Time and Venue of Next Meeting

7.1 The Speaker advised members that she would call an additional meeting of the Business Committee in the event that the Preparation for Government Committee referred matters to the Business Committee for debate in the Assembly during week commencing 3 July. She asked members to be prepared to meet at lunchtime on 30 June, and undertook to provide as much notice as possible.

7.2 Regardless of any additional meeting, the Committee agreed to meet on Tuesday 4 July 2006 at 12.30 in Room 106, Parliament Buildings.

The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.05 pm.

The Speaker