BUSINESS COMMITTEE
FRIDAY 24 NOVEMBER 2006
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
MINUTES
The meeting began at 09.20 am
Present: The Speaker (Chair)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr PJ Bradley
Mr J Dallat
Mr K McCarthy
Dr W McCrea
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 F Molloy Deputy Speaker
Mr N Jackson OFMDFM
1. Introduction
1.1 The Speaker welcomed members to the first meeting of the Business Committee of the Transitional Assembly and advised that she would assume members and alternates of the previous Committee to be members and alternates of the new Committee unless otherwise informed. No changes were offered by members.
1.2 The Speaker advised that a direction regarding business for the Assembly sitting on 24 November had been received very late in the previous day, and that formal notice and an Order Paper for the sitting had been available in Members’ pigeon-holes from early that morning.
2. Standing Orders for the Transitional Assembly
2.1 The Speaker advised that Standing Orders for the Transitional Assembly had been determined initially by the Secretary of State and that a copy of these had been placed in Members’ pigeon-holes overnight. In response to a question from Mr O’Dowd, the Speaker clarified that Standing Orders could be made, amended and repealed by the Assembly if a motion were carried with cross-community support.
2.2 The Speaker added that, if she felt it necessary, she would also draw from previous rulings from the Chair (both in the Northern Ireland Assembly and in the Assembly set up under the Northern Ireland Act 2006) and from Erskine May.
3. Establishment of the Programme for Government Committee
3.1 The Speaker reported that the Secretary of State had issued a direction, dated 23 November 2006, that the Business Committee shall establish a Programme for Government Committee. Members were provided with a copy of the direction, which also provided for the date, time and chairmanship of the Committee’s first meeting, its membership, and the Committee’s right to determine its own procedures.
3.2 In light of the comprehensive nature of the direction, the Speaker invited members to record formally that the Business Committee had established the Programme for Government Committee in fulfilment of its obligations under Standing Orders.
3.3 Representatives of four of the parties agreed to the Committee’s establishment and representatives of the DUP reserved the party’s position on the matter. The Programme for Government Committee’s establishment was therefore agreed.
4. Seating Arrangements
4.1 Members agreed that seating arrangements in the Chamber for the sitting on 24 November should be the same as those agreed in the Business Committee on 11 May2006. Members also agreed that the arrangements should remain unchanged for further meetings of the Transitional Assembly up to 30 January 2007, unless a party brought forward alternative proposals which were acceptable to the Business Committee.
5. Order Paper
5.1 The Speaker reported the Order Paper had been prepared in accordance with the Secretary of State’s direction of 23 November. The Speaker explained how she intended to conduct the proceedings, which were to include statements from two nominating officers, followed by statements from other party leaders.
5.2 Members agreed that the two Nominating Officers would be allowed ten minutes each to speak, with other party leaders being allowed five minutes each.
Lord Morrow and Dr McCrea left the meeting at 9.45 am.
5.3 Mr McGuigan proposed, on behalf of Sinn Féin, that any person nominated during the proceedings should also have an opportunity to speak about the nomination. The UUP and the Alliance Party were against the proposal, while the SDLP abstained. On the basis of voting arrangements provided for in Standing Orders, the motion therefore fell.
5.4 The Speaker reiterated that proceedings would be conducted in accordance with the Secretary of State’s direction, and that her intention was to provide the Secretary of State with a report on the Nominating Officers’ statements, any judgement on which would be for the Secretary of State. However, the Speaker cautioned members that she had been informed that a further direction was likely to issue prior to the commencement of proceedings.
6. Date, Time and Venue of Next Meeting
6.1 The Speaker drew members’ attention to aspects of the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006 which provided that further meetings of the Assembly may be held at such times and places as the Speaker may notify to members. The Speaker also referred to the provision in Standing Orders that she would prepare an Order Paper for each sitting, and that the Business Committee shall make arrangements for the business of the Assembly.
6.2 The Speaker indicated her intention, where possible and subject to any power exercised by the Secretary of State, to prepare Order papers on the basis of the Business Committee’s decisions.
6.3 The Speaker reminded members that motions tabled in the Assembly that had been established under the Northern Ireland Act 2006 had no validity in the Transitional Assembly, but that Members were free to table motions in accordance with Standing Orders. The Speaker advised that revised guidance on motions and amendments would be available for consideration by the Business Committee at the next scheduled meeting.
6.4 Members agreed to meet at 12.30 pm on Tuesday 28 November 2006 in Room 106 Parliament Buildings.
The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 10.00 am.
The Speaker