BUSINESS COMMITTEE
TUESDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2006
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
MINUTES
The meeting began at 12.40 pm
Present: The Speaker (Chair)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr D Bradley
Mr PJ Bradley
Mr K McCarthy
Dr W McCrea
Mr D McClarty
Mr B McElduff
Mr C Murphy
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
Ms P Carson Speaker’s Office
Observers: Mr I Kerr NIO
Mr N Jackson OFMDFM
1. Minutes of the meeting held on 24 October 2006
1.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 24 October were agreed and were signed by the Speaker.
2. Matters Arising
2.1 There were no matters arising
3. Arrangements for forthcoming plenary meetings
3.1 The Speaker reported that the Secretary of State had indicated (during a meeting with her earlier in the day) that he did not envisage directing any further meetings of the Assembly in its current form.
3.2 The Speaker also reported her understanding that the current Assembly would be wound up on 23 November, and a Transitional Assembly established from 24 November, through legislation to be published on Thursday 16 November.
3.3 The Speaker advised that the Secretary of State had asked that members be informed that there would be a sitting on 24 November and that she understood that this would be the first meeting of the Transitional Assembly. The Speaker anticipated that a direction for such a meeting might not be received until immediately prior to its taking place, but suggested that Members would be notified of the planned meeting following publication of the legislation.
3.4 Given the proposed timetable, the Speaker anticipated that she would not be in a position to call another meeting of the Business Committee prior to 24 November. She undertook, however, to ensure that whips were provided with information about business for that day’s sitting as soon as possible after it became available, and suggested that this might involve an informal meeting of whips. She further anticipated calling a meeting of the Business Committee of the Transitional Assembly at an early date.
3.5 In response, Mr McCarthy proposed a Committee recommendation that there should be an election of First Minister and Deputy First Minister conducted in plenary (in public) on 24 November. Mr Murphy suggested that the Committee could indicate that it wished to see a plenary held, and a First Minister and deputy First Minister in place, by 24 November. The Speaker pointed out that neither suggestion was in order, as the Business Committee could make recommendations only for the Assembly set up under the Northern Ireland Act 2006, and not for sittings of the proposed Transitional Assembly. However, she undertook to pass all the parties’ views on to the Secretary of State.
3.6 Dr McCrea indicated that the DUP could not have agreed with Mr McCarthy’s proposal, had it been in order, and cautioned that matters (including a pledge) also remained to be resolved before nominations could be expected.
3.7 Mr McClarty sought assurances that the Business Committee would have more influence regarding business in the Transitional Assembly, and the Speaker indicated that this was indeed her expectation.
4. Any Other Business
4.1 The Speaker reminded members about a briefing event on Northern Ireland’s participation in the 41st Smithsonian Folklife festival in Washington DC in summer 2007. The event, arranged by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, was due to take place in Parliament Buildings following the Business Committee meeting.
5. Date, Time and Venue of Next Meeting
5.1 The Speaker advised that this matter had already been covered under Item 3.
The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.00 pm.
The Speaker
The minutes of this final meeting of the Business Committee were not formally considered by members of the Committee. They were, however, approved by the Speaker
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