Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting began at 12.35 pm

1. Minutes of the meeting held on 16 October 2007

1.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 16 October were agreed and were signed by the Speaker.

2. Matter Arising

2.1 There were no matters arising.

3. Arrangements for plenary meetings in week commencing 5 November

3.1 Members were referred to draft Order Papers for Monday 5 November and Tuesday 6 November, along with a notice of forthcoming Executive business.

Executive Business

3.2 Members noted that statements were anticipated from the Minister of Finance and Personnel (Monday) and the Minister of Culture Arts and Leisure (Tuesday). The junior Minister advised that the Environment Minister’s intention to make a statement on PPS 14 may also be notified, subject to legal action, but that the Minister was not available on either 5 or 6 November.

3.3 Several issues were raised about Ministerial Statements:

• the dissatisfaction expressed by one party’s MLAs that important issues were being dealt with through statements and not therefore subject to a vote in the Assembly;
• the provision in Standing Orders requiring only two-and-a-half hours’ notice to be given to the Speaker;
• the absence of provision in Standing Orders to require Ministers to make copies of statements available to Members prior to delivery;
• the need to strike a balance between early provision of copies of a statement to Members (in order that they may be prepared to ask questions) and the need to ensure that the contents are not more widely disseminated before delivery of the statement in the Chamber; and
• the time set aside in Standing Orders for questions following statements.

Members agreed that the Speaker should write to the Chairperson of the Committee on Procedures, asking his Committee to consider whether the procedures governing ministerial statements could be improved.

3.4 Returning to the business, members agreed to schedule a motion seeking accelerated passage for the Children (Emergency Protection Orders) Bill on Monday 5 November, and were reminded that the motion would require cross-community support. They also agreed that no time limit should be applied to this item.

3.5 Members agreed that the Second Stage of the Bill should also be scheduled on Monday 5 November.

3.6 Members agreed to schedule the Consideration Stage of the Children (Emergency Protection Orders) Bill on Tuesday 6 November, noting that this Stage could only be taken if the accelerated passage motion was approved on Monday 5 November.

3.7 Members were reminded that time limits are not applied during stages of Bills.

Committee Business

3.8 Members agreed to schedule a motion for a ‘take-note’ debate on the report of the Independent Water Review Panel’s Strand One Report, as tabled by the Chairperson of the Committee for Regional Development. Members agreed to allocate up to two hours for this debate.

Mr Burns joined the meeting at 12.45.

Private Members’ business

3.9 By consensus, members agreed that they should schedule only one Private Member’s motion on Monday 5 November.

3.10 Two proposals were made regarding the scheduling of business for Tuesday 6 November. On a vote being called, 63 votes were cast in favour of scheduling one motion plus an adjournment topic, while 25votes were cast in favour of scheduling two motions plus an adjournment topic (the former proposal being carried).

3.11 By consensus, members agreed to schedule ‘Homelessness in Foyle’ as the adjournment topic for Tuesday 6 November.

3.12 Four motions were proposed for debate over the two days, and the Committee was unable to achieve a consensus on the selection of two. On a vote being called, votes were cast as follows:

• ‘Costs of Division’ (D Ford, S Farry) For: 9; Against: 53 (proposal fell)
• ‘Ageism in the NHS’ (D Bradley, C Hanna) For: 53; Against: 53 (fell)
• ‘Irish-Medium Club Bank’ (M McIlveen, M Storey) For: 53; Against: 53 (fell); and
• ‘Management of the Fisheries Conservancy Board’ (D McNarry, J Shannon, F Brolly, P Ramsey) For: 106; Against: 0 (proposal carried).

3.13 Three further motions were proposed for debate. A vote was also called on these, and votes were cast as follows:

• ‘Teaching Jobs’ (D Bradley) For: 51; Against: 37 (carried)
• ‘Co-ownership and shared equity’ (S Gardiner, K Robinson, D Kennedy) For: 46; Against: 25 (carried)
• ‘Dangerous dogs legislation’ (T Lunn, N Long) For: 37; Against: 53 (fell).

Following further discussion, the proposal to schedule the motion on co-ownership was withdrawn, on the basis that it may be reconsidered at the next meeting.

3.14 Members agreed to schedule the motion on the Fisheries Conservancy Board on Monday 5 November, and the motion on Teaching Jobs on Tuesday 6 November. They further agreed that up to two hours should be allocated for each debate, and that speaking times should remain as they have been in previous Private Members’ debates.

3.15 Members agreed that the Order Papers for week commencing 5 November should issue as normal on Wednesday 24 October.

4. Any Other Business

4.1 Referring to the sitting on Monday 22 October, the Speaker expressed concerns that Ministers and Members had not been in the Chamber in good time to lead items of business. The Speaker reminded whips that it was important for them to ensure their colleagues attended the Chamber and that indicative timings should not be relied upon too heavily. Lord Morrow pointed out that he did not consider that his role as Chief Whip included responsibility for the attendance of Ministers.

4.2 Further to previous discussions in the Business Committee (on 9 October 2007), members agreed that they should, at the meeting scheduled for 6 November, seek to schedule business for the two weeks commencing 12 and 19 November.

4.3 Mr McNarry referred to the current week’s sitting arrangements, and asked whether it would be possible for the Assembly to sit on Mondays and Thursdays on a more regular or permanent basis. He was reminded that, according to Standing Orders, sittings were to be arranged on Mondays and Tuesdays, although the Business Committee could arrange for additional sittings if necessary.

4.4 The Speaker reminded members that no items of business could be tabled in the Business Office during the Halloween recess week.

5. Date and Time of next meeting

5.1 Members agreed to meet during the lunchtime suspension at approximately 12.30 pm on Tuesday 6 November in Room 106.

The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.35 pm.

William Hay
The Speaker