BUSINESS COMMITTEE
TUESDAY 13 MARCH 2007
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
MINUTES
The meeting began at 1:35 pm
Present: The Speaker (Chair)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr PJ Bradley
Mr J Dallat
Mr K McCarthy
Mr D McClarty
Dr W McCrea
Lord Morrow
Mr C Murphy
Mr J O’Dowd
Present (secretariat): Mr A Moir The Clerk
Mr J Reynolds Deputy Clerk
In attendance: Mr P Moore Clerk of Business
Ms C McGivern Director of Legal Services
Mr R Good Adviser to the Speaker
Ms F Leneghan Assistant Private Secretary to
the Speaker
Observer: Mr N Jackson OFMDFM
1. Introduction
1.1 The Speaker drew Members’ attention to a copy of correspondence she had received the previous day, which had been signed by the leader and Chief Whip of the Alliance party, the representative of the Green Party and the independent Member.
1.2 The Speaker indicated that she was content, from the correspondence, that that the interests of the two Members are to be represented, on the Business Committee, by the Alliance Party representative. However, the Speaker advised that as she had received no indication that either Member intends to adhere to the whip of the Alliance Party, the voting strength of that party in the Business Committee would, in accordance with Standing Order 13 (d), be seven.
1.3 The Speaker further indicated her view that the correspondence did not signify an attempt to form a new party, nor did it signify a change in any Member’s party membership. She advised that the number of seats held by the Alliance party for the purposes of d’Hondt (and for the purposes of nominations to the offices of First Minister and deputy First Minister) would not therefore be affected by the correspondence.
1.4 In response to questioning, the Speaker advised that she wished to speak with the signatories of the correspondence before commenting on any other implications of the correspondence, such as the order in which parties are called to speak. Two of the members present indicated that they believed precedent had been set in similar circumstances in the Assembly established in May 2006.
1.5 Referring to one aspect of the correspondence, Mr McCarthy queried why the Speaker was unable to accept Members entering the designation of identity “United Community”. The Speaker, in response, reminded Mr McCarthy that designations were provided for in legislation and Standing Orders and that only three designations were possible. She further clarified that the Speaker’s ruling would be final in determining a member’s designation.
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 24 January 2007
2.1 Members noted the minutes, and the fact that the Speaker had approved them for publication on the website during dissolution.
3. Matters Arising
3.1 There were no matters arising.
4. Scheduling of business for week commencing 20 March 2007
4.1 The Speaker reminded members that there were certain matters which, according to the St Andrews legislation, must be included in the proceedings of the Transitional Assembly. She advised that, ordinarily, it would be for the Business Committee to decide whether and when to schedule those matters for disposal in plenary.
4.2 On the first of those issues (nominations to the offices of First Minister and deputy First Minister) the Speaker reported that she had received correspondence from the Secretary of State on this issue immediately before the meeting. A copy of the correspondence was provided to members and the Speaker drew their attention to the Secretary of State’s stated intention to provide a direction regarding the relevant Standing Orders, and his comment about proceedings in plenary regarding those nominations. The Speaker reminded members that the Secretary of State had the power to add to, or amend, Transitional Assembly Standing Orders, and to direct how proceedings were to be conducted.
4.3 The DUP representatives indicated a desire to take the matter back to their party group, while the Sinn Féin representatives reported that they had already confirmed their nomination. No other comments were offered.
4.4 The Speaker raised the issue of approval of draft Standing Orders for the Northern Ireland Assembly, reminding members that they had received a report from the subgroup (of the Business Committee) on Standing orders shortly before the election, and that they had agreed to defer decisions on that report until after the election. The Speaker further explained that officials had identified that amendments further to those proposed by the subgroup would be required if the Standing Orders were to comply with the legislation. The Speaker noted that party whips were in receipt of a copy of the newly-amended draft Standing Orders, and additional copies were distributed to members.
With members’ agreement, the Speaker invited the Clerk to the subgroup to join the meeting.
4.5 The Speaker reminded members that, in order for the Transitional Assembly to meet the legislative requirement for approving draft Standing Orders, it must do so before 24 March 2007, otherwise the Secretary of State would prepare draft Standing Orders. Following discussions, members agreed that:
- Approval of draft Standing Orders should be scheduled as an item for plenary business on Tuesday 20 March 2007;
- Amendments should be made to the October 2002 Standing Orders to reflect the recommendations of the subgroup and the additional changes identified since the subgroup had reported, and that an amended version of Standing Orders should be presented as draft Standing Orders for approval by the Transitional Assembly;
- A motion seeking such approval should be tabled and moved in plenary by one of the Chairs of the subgroup, being the first Member available in the order in which the Chair was rotated within the subgroup;
- The draft Standing Orders should be issued to all MLAs prior to the sitting, with Members able to table amendments to any of the Standing Orders up to 9:30 am on Tuesday 20 March;
- Amendments selected by the Speaker would be treated, in debate, similarly to amendments to bills – with Members being entitled to contribute to debate on each ‘question’;
- Each Member’s contribution should be no more than 5 minutes; and
- Standing Orders to which no amendments had been tabled would not need individual approval, but may be approved en bloc.
Mr Murphy left the meeting at 2:05 pm, as did the Clerk to the subgroup.
4.6 The Speaker reminded members that the Transitional Assembly may also approve a draft Ministerial Code before 24 March, and that the Programme for Government Committee (which was due to meet later that day) had responsibility for consideration and preparation of the Code. Following discussions, members agreed that:
- Should a motion relating to the approval of a draft Ministerial Code emerge from the Programme for Government Committee, that motion should be scheduled for debate and included on the Order Paper as first business on Tuesday 20 March 2007; and
- That each Member’s contribution to debate should be limited to ten minutes.
4.7 Members further agreed that:
- Business should commence at noon on Tuesday 20 March;
- Business not concluded on Tuesday 20 March may be carried over to a resumed sitting on Wednesday 21 March; and
- Neither item of business (Standing Orders or Ministerial Code) should be time-limited.
5. Any Other Business
5.1 No other business was raised.
6. Date and time of the next meeting of the Business Committee
6.1 Members agreed to meet 30 minutes after the Assembly is adjourned on Tuesday 20 March 2007 (or after the sitting is suspended to resume the following day, if that occurs).
The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 2:15 pm.
The Speaker