Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting began at 12.30pm

1. Introduction

1.1 The Speaker welcomed members back to the Business Committee following summer recess. The Speaker noted apologies from junior Minister Kelly and Mr Cobain and welcomed Mr J McCallister to the meeting in Mr Cobain’s place. The Speaker also welcomed Miss Ciara McKay to the meeting in place of Mr Alan Murphy.

2. Minutes of the meeting held on 23 June 2009

2.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 23 June 2009 were agreedand 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 14 September

Assembly Business

4.1 Members agreedto schedule a business motion on Membership of the Committee of the Regions for the plenary sitting on Monday 14 September (see paragraph 8.1 and 8.2 below). Members also agreedto schedule a business motion from Sinn Fein relating to an Appointment to the Assembly Commission.

Executive Business

4.2 In addition to Question Time on Monday 14 September, members agreedto schedule the First Stage of the Department of Justice Bill and the First Stage of the Rates (Amendment) Bill. Members notedthatthree Ministerial Statements were planned (on the NSMC Plenary Meeting, the NSMC Aquaculture and Marine Sectoral Meeting and the Regional Transportation Strategy Review) on Monday 14 September.

4.3 In addition to Question Time on Tuesday 15 September, members agreedto schedule the Second Stage of the Forestry Bill. Members noted that the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety intended to make a statement on swine flu.

Committee Business

4.4 Members noted that the DUP had tabled two motions to change Statutory and Standing Committee memberships. Members agreedto schedule these motions for Monday 14 September. There was no Committee Business for Tuesday 15 September.

4.5 Junior Minister Newton confirmed that all Ministers were available on 14 and 15 September.

Private Members’ Business

4.6 Members noted that a new 100 slot debate rota had been started for the new session, based on previous agreement at the Business Committee.

4.7 Members agreedto schedule one motion on each day. Under the system of allocating Private Members’ Business, the DUP and Sinn F éin had one motion each. The following motion was proposed by the DUP to fill the available slot on Monday 14 September:

• Compensation from the Libyan Government (Rt Hon Jeffrey Donaldson and Mr Nigel Dodds).

The following motion was proposed by Sinn F éin to fill the available slot on Tuesday 15 September:

• Home Improvement Grants (F McCann, C N í Chuil ín, M Brady).

Members agreedthat up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for each debate, with the usual speaking times.

4.8 Members agreedto schedule one adjournment topic for Tuesday 15 September. Members proposed a total of four adjournment topics as follows:

• ‘ Tor Bank School and Lagan College, South Belfast’ (Anna Lo);
• ‘Extending the natural gas network in the Strangford Constituency’ (Simon Hamilton);
• ‘Flash flooding in Newtownstewart’ (Pat Doherty); and
• ‘Sectarianism in Coleraine’ (John Dallat).

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

• Tor Bank School and Lagan College, South Belfast: 9 votes
• Extending the natural gas network in the Strangford Constituency: 35 votes
• Flash flooding in Newtownstewart: 27 votes
• Sectarianism in Coleraine: 16 votes

4.10 Members therefore agreed to schedule the adjournment topic ‘Extending the natural gas network in the Strangford Constituency’ (Simon Hamilton) for Tuesday 15 September.

5. Provisional Arrangements for Plenary meetings in week commencing 21 September 2009

Executive Business

5.1 In addition to Question Time on Monday 21 September, members notedthe proposal for a Ministerial Statement on NSMC Agricultural Sectoral Meeting.

5.2 In addition to Question Time on Tuesday 22 September, members agreedto schedule the Second Stage of the Department of Justice Bill.

Committee Business

5.3 There was no Committee Business.

5.4 Junior Minister Newton informed the Committee of the unavailability of the following Ministers at the Plenary meetings on 21 and 22 September.

• Neither the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment nor the Minister for Employment and Learning would be available on either date;
• The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety would not be available on 21 September;
• The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development would not be available on 22 September.

Private Members’ Business

5.5 Members agreedto schedule two Private Members’ motions on Monday 21 September and one motion on Tuesday 22 September.

Under the system of allocating Private Members’ Business, the UUP, DUP and SDLP had one slot each. The following motion was proposed by the UUP to fill one of the available slots on Monday 21 September:

• Financial Support (T Elliot, D Kennedy and D McNarry).

The DUP agreed to confirm their motion the next day for the second available slot on Monday 21 September.

The following motion was proposed by the SDLP to fill the available slot on Tuesday 22 September.

• Civil Service Equal Pay Claim (D O’Loan, D Kelly and P Ramsey).

5.6 Peter Weir asked for clarification regarding the motion selected for Tuesday, due to its similarity to a previous debate. It was agreedthat clarification would be sought after the meeting and that the position could be reviewed at the next meeting.

5.7 Members agreedto schedule one adjournment topic for Tuesday 22 September. Members proposed a total of two adjournment topics as follows:

• ‘Flash flooding in Newtownstewart’ (P Doherty); and
• ‘Sectarianism in Coleraine’ (J Dallat).

5.8 Sinn F éin withdrew the topic on ‘Flash Flooding in Newtownstewart’. Members therefore agreedto schedule the adjournment topic ‘Sectarianism in Coleraine’ (J Dallat) for Tuesday 22 September.

6. Whips List for Supplementaries at Question Time

6.1 The Speaker reminded members that it was agreed on 16 June that, from September, a three month trial period would begin where no lists of names would be accepted for supplementaries at Question Time. From Question Time next Monday, the original questioner will continue to be called automatically for a supplementary, but the Chair will then take the decision on who else to call on the basis of those who indicate an interest by standing at the right time.

6.2 The Speaker asked the Whips to caution Members that they will not be called if there is any doubt at the table about whether they have indicated an interest. However, the Speaker advised members that if a particular Member has a strong interest in a matter, he would be sympathetic to an approach from a Whip in advance of Question Time.

7. Swine Flu: Matters Relating to Plenary Business

7.1 Members noted the paper on Swine Flu and agreed that the Speaker should write to the Chair of the Committee on Procedures, as proposed.

8. Any Other Business

Assembly nominations to the Committee of the Regions

8.1 The Speaker referred members to letters that had been received from OFMDFM and NILGA. After discussion, it was agreed that the four largest parties would provide names to the Speaker on the basis of:

• DUP – one district Councillor to be a full member;
• Sinn F éin – one MLA to be a full member;
• UUP and SDLP to agree on one further MLA and one further district Councillor to be alternate members.

8.2 It was noted that names would be required by Wednesday 9 September to allow a motion to be included in the Order Paper for Monday 14 September.

9. Date and Time of next meeting

9.1 Members agreedto meet at approximately 12.30 pm on Tuesday 15 September 2009 in Room 106.

The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.05 pm.

William Hay
The Speaker