BUSINESS COMMITTEE

TUESDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2006
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

MINUTES

The meeting began at 12.40 pm

Present: The Speaker (Chair)
Mr D Bradley
Mr PJ Bradley
Mrs D Dodds
Mr K McCarthy
Mr D McClarty
Mr P McGuigan
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 J Wells Deputy Speaker
Mr L Heggarty NIO
Mr N Jackson OFMDFM

1. Introduction

1.1 The Speaker referred to comments that had recently been reported in the press and reminded members of the principle, previously recorded in the minutes of the 4 May 2006 meeting of the Business Committee, that matters discussed in the Business Committee should remain in confidence until the Committee’s decisions are publicly communicated on the Committee’s behalf.

2. Minutes of the meetings held on 12 and 14 September 2006

2.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 12 September were agreed and were signed by the Speaker. The minutes of the meeting held on 14 September were agreed, subject to the correction of a typographical error at Paragraph 1.1, and the Speaker signed the amended minutes.

3. Matters Arising

3.1 Referring to paragraph 3.6 of the minutes of the 12 September meeting (invitation to the Secretary of State), the Speaker confirmed that an invitation to the Business Committee had been included in her letter to the Secretary of State following that meeting. Members were provided with a copy of the Secretary of State’s reply, in which he declined the invitation and asked the Speaker to pass on his regrets to the Committee.

3.2 The Speaker also confirmed that the report attached to her letter had also made reference to the proposal that the Secretary of State should make arrangements to allow for Adjournment debates, as referred to in paragraphs 3.4 and 3.5 of the minutes of the 12 September meeting. The Speaker pointed out that the Secretary of State’s reply had not included any response to this proposal.

3.3 The Speaker referred to paragraph 1.5 of the minutes of the meeting held on 14 September (arrangements for making reports available to Members). Members confirmed that the arrangements had proved adequate in terms of availability of the report on Law and Order Issues.

3.4 The Speaker thanked members who had attended the short session referred to in paragraph 2.1 of the minutes of the 14 September meeting (practical issues that arise during Assembly sittings) and a copy of a two-page handout on the issues covered during that session was provided to members.

3.5 The Speaker confirmed that she had written to the Chairs of the Preparation for Government Committee, in accordance with the proposal referred to in paragraph 2.2 of the minutes of the meeting held on 14 September (on the subject of the budget announcement), and a copy of the letter was provided to members.

3.6 Mr McCarthy thanked the Speaker for making arrangements to provide Members with a copy of the speech delivered on Monday 11 September by the First Minister for Wales (as referred to in paragraph 2.3 of the minutes).

4. Arrangements for forthcoming plenary meetings

4.1 The Speaker reported that she had received no indication of agreement of any further report by the Preparation for Government Committee, and that no further motion had been tabled in the Business Office.

4.2 The Speaker went on to inform members that she been made aware, immediately before the Business Committee meeting, that the Secretary of State was minded to direct that the Assembly meet during the following week to debate the work of the Preparation for Government Committee in relation to Rights, Safeguards, Equality Issues and Victims. The Speaker also anticipated that the Secretary of State might seek the views of the Business Committee regarding a suitable date or dates for such a debate.

4.3 In light of this development, members accepted the Speaker’s suggestion that the Business Committee should be reconvened on Wednesday 20 September in order to consider correspondence that might be received from the Secretary of State.

4.4 Members were advised that the report on the matters of Rights, Safeguards, Equality Issues and Victims had been completed but that the Preparation for Government Committee had failed to reach consensus on a proposal that the report should be printed. Members were further advised that the PFG intended to meet again to consider a report on issues relating to the Institutions.

5. Any Other Business

5.1 Members from the parties other than Sinn Féin (who offered no view) agreed an earlier suspension of the day’s sitting (19 September) to facilitate a number of Members who wished to speak in the debate but who could not attend the Chamber until the following day.

6. Date, Time and Venue of Next Meeting

6.1 Notwithstanding the earlier agreement to an additional meeting, the Committee agreed to meet on Tuesday 26 September 2006 at 12.30 in Room 106, Parliament Buildings.

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

The Speaker