Minutes of Proceedings

Session: Session currently unavailable

Date: 06 September 2022

Assembly Commission Minutes of Proceedings 6 September 2022.pdf (163.74 kb)

The Northern Ireland Assembly Commission

Meeting Venue: Parliament Buildings, Room 106

Meeting date: Tuesday 6 September 2022

Meeting Time: 2.00 pm

 

Assembly Commission Members:

Alex Maskey, Speaker (Chairperson)

Trevor Clarke MLA

John Blair MLA

Robbie Butler MLA

Dolores Kelly

 

Officials present:

Lesley Hogg, Clerk/Chief Executive

Gareth McGrath, Director of Parliamentary Services

Robin Ramsey, Adviser to the Speaker/Head of Corporate Support

Janet Hughes, Clerical Supervisor

David Lynn, Head of Building Services

 

Others in attendance:

Pat Sheehan MLA

 

The meeting commenced at 2.04 pm.

1. APOLOGIES

There were no apologies.

 

2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

None.

 

3. CHAIRPERSON’S BUSINESS

The Speaker noted the meeting had been scheduled to allow further discussion on the allocation of office accommodation within Parliament Buildings, following an informal meeting on the issue in August.

The Speaker also noted that following the Assembly Commission’s agreement, officials had written to all MLAs whose votes were not currently allocated on the Assembly Commission, to give them the opportunity to do so.

 

4. ALLOCATION OF ACCOMMODATION FOR POLITICAL PARTIES IN
PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS FOLLOWING THE MAY 2022 ELECTION

Lesley Hogg presented a paper on the allocation of accommodation for political parties in Parliament Buildings following the May 2022 election, following consideration of the issue by Members at an informal meeting of the Assembly Commission in August.  She also noted that Members had been provided with the opportunity to inspect accommodation in Parliament Buildings.

Following discussion, the Speaker proposed that he and the Clerk/Chief Executive would consider the points made by Members and bring back options to seek a resolution.

Members were content and it was also agreed that:

  • Officials would have further discussions with Members on a one to one basis;
  • That the accommodation allocated to other building users would be taken into account, including its location and utilisation; and
  • That a framework for the allocation of accommodation, along with guidance for the vacation of accommodation prior to the end of the current Mandate would be brought forward for agreement.

 

5. AOB

The Speaker advised Members that independent reviews of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People and the Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland were taking place and that an Assembly Commission perspective had been sought.

Mrs Hogg subsequently tabled a paper on the matter and advised that the paper would be circulated by correspondence to seek agreement on the proposed draft response. She added that if necessary a meeting would be held to discuss the matter further.

 

6. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The date of the next meeting is to be confirmed.

The meeting ended at 2.41 pm.

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