BUSINESS COMMITTEE

THURSDAY 14 SEPTEMBER 2006
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

MINUTES

The meeting began at 12.40 pm

Present: The Speaker (Chair)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr J Dallat
Mrs D Dodds
Mr K McCarthy
Mr D McClarty
Lord Morrow
Mr J O’Dowd

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

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

Observers: Mr I Kerr NIO
Ms D Griffith OFMDFM

1. Arrangements for forthcoming plenary meetings

1.1 The Speaker reported that a motion, signed by the chairs of the Preparation for Government Committee and relating to the Committee’s report on Law and Order Issues, had been tabled in the Business Office on Wednesday 13 September. A copy of the motion was provided to members.

1.2 Members noted that the requirements of Standing Orders, and practicalities surrounding printing and Members’ receipt of copies of the report, meant that the earliest practicable date for plenary debate was Tuesday 19 September.

1.3 The Preparation for Government Committee motion was proposed by UUPAG for debate on Tuesday 19 September, continuing into Wednesday if necessary. The DUP, SDLP and Alliance party were content with this proposal.

1.4 Sinn Fein indicated that, regardless of the merits of the motion, the party would not support the proposal to debate the report.

1.5 The parties (other than Sinn Fein) agreed that arrangements for debate (in the event that a sitting was directed to discuss the report) should be the same as those for the debate on economic challenges. Parties further agreed that copies of the report should not be posted out, but should be made available for Members to collect from the Business Office on Friday afternoon. Otherwise, the report would be pigeonholed first thing on Monday morning (18 September).

2. Any Other Business

2.1 The Speaker invited members to attend a short session on practical issues that arise during Assembly sittings, to be held in the Chamber on Monday 18 September (assuming no plenary sitting was directed on that date).

2.2 Mr Dallat proposed that the Business Committee should write to the Preparation for Government Committee asking it to address the issue of the forthcoming budget announcement (in December) and to bring forward plans to allow the Assembly to conduct an early debate on the matter. The DUP, UUPAG and Alliance Party agreed with the proposal, while Sinn Féin did not support it.

2.3 Mr McCarthy sought a copy of the speech made by the First Minister for Wales on 11 September, and the Speaker agreed that if a copy was available, it would be distributed to Members.

3. Date, Time and Venue of Next Meeting

3.1 The Speaker advised that the Business Committee would meet as usual on Tuesday 19 September 2006 at 12.30 in Room 106, Parliament Buildings.

The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.00 pm.

The Speaker