BUSINESS COMMITTEE
TUESDAY 24 APRIL 2007
IN ROOM 106, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
MINUTES
The meeting began at 12.35
Present: The Speaker (Chair)
Mr PJ Bradley
Mr J Dallat
Mr P Maskey
Mr K McCarthy
Dr W McCrea
Mr D McNarry
Ms C Ní Chuilín
Lord Morrow
Present (secretariat): Mr A Moir The Clerk
Mr J Reynolds Deputy Clerk
In attendance: Mr P Moore Clerk of Business
Mr H Widdis Legal Adviser
Mr R Good Adviser to the Speaker
Ms F Leneghan Assistant Private Secretary to
the Speaker
Observer: Mr J Wells Deputy Speaker
Ms G McKibben OFMDFM
In calling the meeting to order, the Speaker welcomed Mr Maskey, Mr McNarry and Ms Ní Chuilín to their first meeting of the Business Committee.
1. Minutes of the meeting held on 20 March 2007
1.1 The Speaker explained that she had approved the draft minutes of the meeting, as it was thought to have been the last meeting in Transitional Assembly format. Members noted the minutes, and were content that there were no matters arising from them.
2. Arrangements for the first meetings of the restored Northern Ireland Assembly
2.1 The Speaker informed members that the Clerk would issue a provisional Notice to Members on Thursday 3 May, indicating that the Northern Ireland Assembly would meet at 10.30 am on 8 May, in the event that the Secretary of State had made a restoration order on 7 May.
2.2 In response to a member’s question, the Speaker confirmed that the Assembly would operate (from 8 May onwards) under Standing Orders prepared by the Secretary of State. She assured members that further copies of the Standing Orders would issue to all MLAs before 8 May.
2.3 The Speaker drew members’ attention to the draft Order Papers and explained that the business was split between statutory matters (plus arrangements essential for the conduct of further meetings) on the first day, and business related to the establishment of Assembly structures on the second day. No objections to such an arrangement (or to any of the items on the draft Order Papers) were raised by members.
2.4 Members considered a draft Order Paper for Tuesday 8 May. Reminding members that the galleries would not be open until after Prayers , the Speaker advised that she intended to take a few moments before calling the Assembly to Order, to allow Members’ guests and members of the public to take their seats in the Galleries. Because of the anticipated high levels of public and media interest, in the events of 8 May, particular arrangements were being made, in consultation with the Commission for the Transitional Assembly, affecting access to the Building and in particular the Galleries. The Speaker assured members that priority would be given to MLAs, particularly those who were expected to take up office during each sitting, and that neither Assembly nor departmental officials would be allocated seats on either day.
Mr Wells attended the meeting at 1.00 pm
2.5 The Speaker explained that, having called the Assembly to order, one Assembly Member would be called forward to take his seat by signing the Roll of Membership.
2.6 The Speaker reminded members that legislation provided that persons could not take up office (as First Minister or deputy First Minister) until each had affirmed the terms of the Pledge of Office. The Speaker further reminded members that legislation also required ministerial offices to be filled on 8 May, and stressed that formalities regarding nomination and affirmation of the terms of the Pledge of Office must be concluded for each office. The Speaker explained that the Business Office would supply Whips with wording which, if used by those nominated, would ensure that the Assembly was left in no doubt that Members had met the legislative requirements for taking up office.
2.7 Members were reminded about the Business Committee’s formal role in arranging the Assembly’s business, and the requirement that the Business Committee should consider and make a recommendation on the number of Statutory Committees. Members noted that the Business Committee could meet these obligations only after the Assembly had approved its membership. Having noted the names currently being put forward by each party for inclusion in the membership motion, members agreed that the names should be finalised at a meeting of the Transitional Assembly during week commencing 30 April, at which point a provisional start-time for a formal Business Committee meeting could be agreed.
2.8 Members noted the first three items on the draft Order Paper for Wednesday 9 May (Prayers, Speaker’s Business and the election of Speaker). Members were advised that there would be an opportunity for Members to speak during the course of debate following nominations to the office of Speaker. The Speaker informed members that, in the event of a Member’s successful election as Speaker, she would wish to say a few words before handing over to her successor. It was agreed that party leaders would also be given an opportunity to make some remarks at this stage.
2.9 Members noted that, if appropriate, the newly-elected Speaker would preside over the fourth item (election of Deputy Speaker(s)) and subsequent items of business. The Speaker reminded members that if things remained as they were, two Deputy Speakers would, in accordance with legislation, be deemed to have been elected as Deputy Speakers on 8 May. Mr McNarry and Mr Bradley recorded, on behalf of their parties, their dissatisfaction with this legislative provision. The Speaker encouraged members to consult with their parties and to bring their views to the following week’s meeting, in order to achieve greater clarity on the number of Deputy Speaker vacancies which might be filled through the planned election. Members were advised that it would be in order to refer to an outgoing Deputy Speaker during the course of debate following nominations to the office of Deputy Speakers.
2.10 Members were provided with an explanation of the process for electing both Speaker and Deputy Speakers. It was clarified that there was no procedural impediment to one or more Deputy Speakers being from the same party as the Speaker. Members were also reminded that Deputy Speakers must be elected with cross-community support, and the Speaker confirmed that all three Deputy Speakers would be of equal standing.
2.11 In considering the fifth item on the draft Order Paper (Committee Business) Members were advised that Standing Orders required the establishment of Statutory Committees and the separate establishment of an Audit Committee. Members were further advised that Standing Orders require that a resolution on the appointment of members to the Assembly Commission shall require cross-community support. Members expressed some concern that it was not completely clear from the draft Order Paper that there were three separate motions within the ‘Committee Business’ item.
2.12 Members agreed that they would consult their party groups regarding the name of the Committee that was currently (on the draft motion to establish Statutory Committees) entitled the ‘Committee of the Centre’ and that the Committee’s name for the motion should be agreed at the following week’s meeting.
2.13 Members agreed that names proposed for inclusion in the Assembly Commission motion would also be finalised at the following week’s meeting.
2.14 Members noted the inclusion of two separate processes for nominations and appointments to the offices of Chairs and Deputy Chairs of Statutory and Standing Committees. The Speaker reminded members that the formal process must be completed for each of these offices.
2.15 In drawing members’ attention to the two draft motions to approve membership of Statutory and then Standing Committees, the Speaker reminded members that the allocation of seats on Committees was a matter initially for the Business Committee, and that it must be done in accordance with Standing Orders. The Speaker said that she was aware that whips may attempt to make indicative allocations prior to restoration, and, in wishing them success in that work, reminded members that any agreed arrangements would still require formal approval. There were no objections to the Speaker’s suggestion that, if advance agreement were not reached, the Assembly sitting would be suspended to allow formal discussions to take place, with membership lists subject to the Assembly’s approval on resumption of the sitting.
3. Any Other Business
3.1 The Speaker drew members’ attention to a paper on Assembly Questions, which incorporated suggestions on lead-in times and a draft Question Time rota up to the summer recess, and to draft guidance notes for Members on Questions. She drew their further attention to draft guidance notes on Motions and Amendments. Members agreed to discuss all the papers with their party groups and to bring any issues to the following week’s meeting, with a view to ensuring formal agreement to the arrangements (and approval of the guidance) by the new Business Committee at the earliest possible opportunity.
3.2 Mr McNarry recorded his thanks to Business Office staff for their production of the draft guidance. He expressed a desire to observe the electronic ‘shuffle’ of questions for oral answer, which selected questions in a random order for answer in the Chamber. He was advised that he was welcome to observe the shuffle, which took place in the Business Office, and that other whips and Members were equally entitled to do so. Members were reminded that the shuffle did not occur at a fixed time and frequently occurred quite late on a Tuesday evening.
4. Date and time of the next meeting
4.1 Members agreed to meet at 11.30 am on Tuesday 1 May 2007 in Room 106.
The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1:40 pm.
The Speaker