BUSINESS COMMITTEE
TUESDAY 5 DECEMBER 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
Mrs D Dodds
Mr K McCarthy
Mr D McClarty
Mr P McGuigan
Mr C Murphy
Mr I Paisley (Jnr.)
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
Mr H Widdis Legal Adviser
Ms F Leneghan Assistant Private Secretary to
the Speaker
Observers: Mr J Wells Deputy Speaker
Mr N Jackson OFMDFM
1. Introduction
1.1 Before moving to the agenda, the Speaker clarified that she had received no direction from the Secretary of State in relation to the selection of amendments for, or any other aspect of, the previous day’s debate. She also advised that she would continue to uphold the convention that the Speaker should not give reasons for acceptance or rejection of amendments. In thanking the Speaker for her clarification, Mr Paisley (Jnr) suggested that it might be in order for the Speaker to repeat this clarification in the Chamber.
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 28 November 2006
2.1 The Speaker asked members to consider the accuracy of paragraph 6.7 of the draft minutes, which, while it reflected her understanding of the Business Committee’s agreement regarding the application of speaking time limits, did not reflect some members’ reported understanding of the issue. The Speaker undertook to ensure that there is clarity in the Business Committee’s decisions, but also reminded members that discussions within the Committee should not be the subject of comment on the floor of the Chamber.
2.2 Members agreed that there was no need to amend the paragraph in question. The minutes of the meeting on 28 November were then agreed and were signed by the Speaker.
3. Matters Arising
3.1 Referring to paragraphs 2.3 to 2.4 of the minutes (questions about the direction of 24 November) the Speaker reported that the Secretary of State had provided clarification, about his direction on 24 November, in a letter to Mr McClarty dated 30 November. Members acknowledged receipt of a copy of the letter, which had been forwarded to whips by the Business Office at the Secretary of State’s request.
3.2 The Speaker provided an update to members on the matter raised in paragraph 5 of the minutes (review of security at Parliament Buildings), advising that a meeting of the Commission for the Transitional Assembly had been scheduled to take place when the House rose later in the day. The Speaker assured members that full terms of reference for the review would be considered at that meeting.
3.3 The Speaker advised members that, in accordance with paragraph 7.1 of the minutes (votes in vacancy), a supplementary guidance paper was available for members’ consideration. It was clarified for members that the entitlement to exercise such a vote was limited to a vacancy in the membership of the Assembly. The Speaker invited members to contact the Business Office if they had any further queries regarding the supplementary guidance. The Speaker informed members that they had also been provided with a copy of the main four-page guidance on the conduct of lobby voting. She advised that if no objections were raised at the next scheduled meeting of the Business Committee, it would be assumed that members were content to operate on the basis of the two sets of guidance.
4. Revised Guidance on Motions and Amendments
4.1 Members agreed to adopt the revised guidance on motions and amendments. The Speaker advised that a copy would be issued to each MLA and asked members to urge their colleagues to read it carefully.
5. Preparation and consideration of draft Standing Orders
5.1 The Speaker drew members’ attention to a letter from the Programme for Government Committee, to the effect that the PFG would not involve itself in the preparation and consideration of draft Standing Orders for the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Speaker reminded members that the task was a requirement of the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006, and must be completed within the lifetime of the Transitional Assembly.
5.2 Members discussed two options for completing the task, involving either the establishment of an Assembly Committee or a sub-group of the Business Committee.
5.3 In view of the short time available in which to carry out this work, members agreed that:
- A subgroup of the Business Committee should consider draft Standing Orders for the Northern Ireland Assembly;
- The subgroup’s membership should reflect the party strengths on the Business Committee (2 members each for DUP, Sinn Féin, UUP and SDLP and 1 member from Alliance);
- Membership should be drawn from those who were members of, and alternate attendees at, the Business Committee;
- The subgroup should seek representations on Standing Orders through written correspondence with those members not represented on the Business Committee;
- The subgroup’s quorum would be 5 members;
- The subgroup would agree its own chairing arrangements; and
- The subgroup should report to the Business Committee by Tuesday 16 January 2006.
5.4 Members were advised that Clerks would take forward the arrangements for a first meeting during the latter part of the week, and that a Clerk would take the chair to conduct the appointment of a subgroup chair.
6. Christmas recess
6.1 Members agreed to a proposal (from Mr Paisley (Jnr.)) that recess should run from after Friday 22 December, with meetings to recommence on Wednesday 3 January (i.e. recess from 23 December to 2 January inclusive), and with the first plenary anticipated on Monday 8 January. The Speaker encouraged members to stress the value of the Business Committee’s decision to their colleagues in the Programme for Government Committee and its subgroups.
7. Arrangements for plenary meetings during week commencing 11 December
7.1 Mr Paisley (Jnr.) proposed that the motion on the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006, in the names of Mr Donaldson and Mr Dawson, should be scheduled for debate. There were no objections to the proposal and it was therefore carried.
7.2 Mr McGuigan proposed that the motion on an Integrated Risk Management Plan, in his own name, should be scheduled for debate. There were no objections to the proposal and it was therefore carried.
7.3 Members agreed that both motions should be scheduled for debate on Monday 11 December, with the DUP motion in the morning (commencing at 10.30 am) and the Sinn Féin motion in the afternoon (from 2 pm). Members further agreed to allocate 2 hours to each debate.
7.4 Mr Paisley (Jnr.) proposed that the motion on the police college, in his own name and that of Mr Campbell, should be scheduled for debate. All parties bar one agreed to the proposal, which was effectively carried by 85 votes to 18.
7.5 Mr McClarty proposed that the motion on the introduction of an offence of corporate manslaughter, in the names of Mr Gardiner and Mr Robinson, should be scheduled for debate. There were no objections to the proposal and it was therefore carried.
7.6 Members agreed that these motions should be scheduled for debate on Tuesday 12 December, with the UUP motion in the morning (commencing at 10.30 am) and the DUP motion in the afternoon (from 2 pm). Members further agreed to allocate 2 hours to each debate.
7.7 Mr McCarthy proposed that the motion on Water Charges, in the name of Mr Cree, should be scheduled for debate. Members referred to discussions the previous week on the appropriateness of scheduling a debate on an issue that was to be considered by the PFG or one of its subgroups, with Mr McCarthy reminding members that his party was not represented on these groups. No other parties supported the proposal, which was effectively defeated by 98 votes to 5. However, all members agreed that the motion should be scheduled (provisionally) for debate during the week commencing 18 December.
7.8 No further motions were proposed. Members agreed that, for all four debates, speaking times should be limited to 15 minutes for the Member proposing each motion, and 10 minutes for all other contributions, including the wind.
8. Any Other Business
8.1 No other business was raised.
9. Date and time of next meeting
9.1 Members agreed to meet at 12.30 pm on Tuesday 12 December 2006 in Room 106 Parliament Buildings.
The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.30 pm.