Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting began at 12.45 pm

1. Introduction

1.1 The Speaker welcomed Mr D Kennedy to the meeting in place of Mr F Cobain and noted an apology from Mr B Armstrong.

2. Minutes of the meeting held on 21 October 2008

2.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 21 October 2008 were agreed and were signed by the Speaker.

3. Matters Arising

3.1 There were no matters arising.

4. Finalisation of Order Papers for Plenary meetings in week commencing 10 November

Private Members’ Business

4.1 Ms C Ní Chuilín requested that the motion on the ‘New Regional Children and Women’s Hospital’, originally scheduled for Tuesday 11 November, be swapped with the motion on ‘Alcohol Misuse’, originally scheduled for Monday 10 November. Members agreed to the request.

5. Provisional arrangements for Plenary meetings in week commencing 17 November

Executive Business – week commencing 17 November 2008

5.1 Aside from Question Time on Monday 17 November, there was no further Executive Business notified for Monday 17 or Tuesday 18 November.

Committee Business

5.2 There was no Committee Business.

Private Members’ Business

5.3 Members agreed to schedule the Second Stage of the Private Members’ Bill, on the Community Use of School Premises, for Monday 17 November. Members were reminded that no time limits were fixed for debates on Bill Stages. However, members agreed that 1 hour 30 minutes should be sufficient for the purposes of indicative timings.

5.4 Members agreed to schedule: one private Members’ motion on Monday 17 November and four private Members’ motions on Tuesday 18 November. Members further agreed to schedule one adjournment topic on Monday 17 November. Members proposed a total of five motions as follows:

• ‘Education, Employment and Training’ (S Ramsey, M O’Neill, C McGill, P Butler)
• ‘Rural Out of Hours Ambulance Coverage’ (A McQuillan, Lord Morrow)
• ‘Executive Committee – Requirement to Meet’ (R Empey, M McGimpsey)
• ‘Reaffirmation of Executive Matters’ (D O’Loan, M Durkan, A McDonnell, P McGlone)
• ‘Varney II Report’ (S Farry, S Neeson)

5.5 Members therefore agreed to schedule the motion on ‘Executive Committee – Requirement to Meet’ (R Empey, M McGimpsey) for Monday 17 November as there may be a slight overlap between it and the Reaffirmation of Executive Matters motion; and the motions on ‘Education, Employment and Training’ (S Ramsey, M O’Neill, C McGill, P Butler), ‘Rural Out of Hours Ambulance Coverage’ (A McQuillan, Lord Morrow), ‘Reaffirmation of Executive Matters’ (D O’Loan, M Durkan, A McDonnell, P McGlone) and ‘Varney II Report’ (S Farry, S Neeson) for Tuesday 18 November. Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for each debate, with the usual speaking times.

5.6 Members proposed a total of two adjournment topics as follows:

• ‘Sexual assault in South Belfast’ (A Lo)
• ‘The Redeployment of Department of Agriculture and Rural Development jobs from Derry/Londonderry’ (M Bradley)

5.7 A vote being called, the votes of party delegations were cast as follows:

• Sexual assault in South Belfast: 62 votes
• The Redeployment of Department of Agriculture and Rural Development jobs from Derry/Londonderry: 43 votes

5.8 Members therefore agreed to schedule the adjournment topic ‘Sexual assault in South Belfast’ (A Lo) for Monday 17 November.

6. Any Other Business

6.1 Lord Morrow raised the issue of Members not having had enough individual speaking time during the debate on the ‘Report of the Committee on Procedures on its Inquiry into Private Legislation’, on Monday 3 November, even though the full time allocated for the debate was not used. Lord Morrow asked that the Business Committee consider introducing some flexibility to enable the Speaker/Deputy Speaker to allocate additional speaking time for Member’s contributions if the allocated time is not going to be fully utilised. The Speaker expressed sympathy with the member’s view and undertook to consider the issue and bring the matter back to the Committee at a later date.

6.2 Lord Morrow raised the exclusion of Mr N McCausland from the Chamber earlier in the day. Lord Morrow referred to packs, supplied by Research and Library Services, that provide Members with information and resources for each private Members’ debate. He pointed out that Mr McCausland had used a book, which is available in the Library, for obtaining information for his speech, part of which was then deemed to be unparliamentary. Lord Morrow asked if Members should continue to use information provided by the Research and Library Service. The Speaker invited Mr H Widdis, Legal Services to comment and Mr Widdis provided legal advice. Mr T Reaney, Clerk/Director General, stated that Mr McCausland did not quote from the book, but rather made the comments as if they were his own. He commented that when using material from books, newspapers or other sources, Members might usefully state that they are quoting from that source. The Speaker reiterated his reason for excluding Mr McCausland and reminded Whips that Members should be more careful about what they say in the Chamber.

7. Date and Time of next meeting

7.1 Members agreed to meet at approximately 12.30 pm on Tuesday 11 November 2008 in Room 106.

The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.15 pm.

William Hay
The Speaker