Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2008/2009
Date: 27 January 2009
Venue: Room 106
The meeting began at 12.35 pm
1. Minutes of the meeting held on 20 January 2009
1.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 20 January 2009 were agreed and were signed by the Speaker.
2. Matters Arising
2.1 There were no matters arising.
3. Finalisation of Order Papers for Plenary meetings in week commencing 2 February
Committee Business
3.1 Members agreed to schedule a motion, from the Committee for Education, to extend the committee stage of the Education Bill, for Monday 2 February.
Private Members’ Business
3.2 The DUP requested that the motion on ‘North-South Ministerial Council’, scheduled for Monday 2 February, be replaced with the motion on ‘Consultative Group on the Past’. Members agreed to the request.
4. Provisional arrangements for Plenary meetings in week commencing 9 February
Executive Committee Business
4.1 In addition to Question Time on Monday 9 February, members agreed to schedule the Consideration Stage of the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Bill for Tuesday 10 February.
Committee Business
4.2 Members agreed to schedule a motion, from the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, on ‘Efficiency Savings’ for Tuesday 10 February. Members agreed to allocate up to 1 hour 30 minutes for this debate.
Private Members’ Business
4.3 Members agreed to schedule two private Members’ motions on Monday 9 February and one private Members’ motion on Tuesday 10 February. Under the system of allocating private Members’ business, the UUP, DUP and Sinn F é in had one slot each. The following motions were proposed to fill the three available slots:
- ‘Walking and Cycling to School Initiatives ’ (R Beggs, F Cobain, J McCallister)
- ‘North-South Ministerial Council’ (D Simpson, W McCrea)
- ‘Supported Housing’ (S Ramsey, C N í Chuil í n, M Anderson, M O’Neill)
4.4 Members therefore agreed to schedule the motions on ‘North-South Ministerial Council’ (D Simpson, W McCrea) and ‘Supported Housing’ (S Ramsey, C N í Chuil í n, M Anderson, M O’Neill) for Monday 9 February; and the motion on ‘Walking and Cycling to School Initiatives’ (R Beggs, F Cobain, J McCallister) for Tuesday 10 February. Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for each debate, with the usual speaking times.
4.5 Members further agreed to schedule one adjournment topic on Tuesday 10 February. Members proposed a total of three adjournment topics as follows:
- ‘Magilligan Greencastle Car Ferry ’ (J Dallat)
- ‘Cherry Lodge Respite Facility, Randalstown’ ( W McCrea)
- ‘Protection of the Belfast Hills’ (P Butler)
4.6 A vote being called, the votes of party delegations were cast as follows:
- Magilligan Greencastle Car Ferry: 25 votes
- Cherry Lodge Respite Facility, Randalstown: 51 votes
- Protection of the Belfast Hills: 27 votes
4.7 Members therefore agreed to schedule the adjournment topic ‘Cherry Lodge Respite Facility, Randalstown’ ( W McCrea) for Tuesday 10 February.
5. Any Other Business
5.1 There was no other business
6. Date and Time of next meeting
6.1 Members agreed to meet at approximately 12.30 pm on Tuesday 3 February 2009 in Room 106.
The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 12.50 pm.
