Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2009/2010
Date: 11 May 2010
Venue: Room 106
The meeting began at 12.34 pm
1. Introduction and Apologies
1.1 The Speaker thanked Ms Carál Ní Chuilín for chairing the Business Committee meeting in his absence last week.
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 4 May 2010
2.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 4 May were agreed and 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 17 May 2010
4.1 Members noted that the only change to the draft Order Paper for Monday 17 May was the rescheduling of the Second Stage of the Construction Contracts (Amendment) Bill (NIA 16/09).
4.2 Members noted that there was no change to Executive or Committee business agreed for Tuesday 18 May.
Private Members’ Business
4.3 Mr Cobain advised that his party wished to replace the motion on ‘Sustainable Development Strategy’ (D Kennedy, D Kinahan, R Beggs) with ‘Convergence Delivery Plan’ (B McCrea, J McCallister). Members agreed to schedule the motion on ‘Convergence Delivery Plan’ for Tuesday 18 May.
4.4 Junior Ministers Newton and Kelly confirmed that the relevant Minister was available, and that no additional Executive Business was expected. They also informed members that there would be no Ministerial response to the motion on ‘Car Insurance Premiums’ scheduled for Tuesday 18 May. Further, they advised that it had not yet been decided which, if any, Minister would respond to the motion on ‘All-Island Economic Regeneration’ on Monday 24 May.
5. Provisional Arrangements for Plenary meetings in week commencing 24 May 2010
Executive Business
5.1 Members noted that the only Executive Business scheduled for Monday 24 May was Question Time to the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister and the Minister for Social Development.
5.2 In addition to Question Time to the Minister of Justice on Tuesday 25 May, members noted that the Second Stage of the Sunbeds Bill (NIA 18/09) and the Final Stage of the Forestry Bill (NIA 11/08) were also scheduled.
Private Members’ Business
5.3 Members agreed to schedule the Second Stage of Mr John McCallister’s Caravans Bill (NIA 17/09) on Monday 24 May.
5.4 Members agreed to schedule two Private Members’ motions on Monday 24 May and one on Tuesday 25 May.
Under the system of allocating Private Members’ Business, the Alliance, DUP and SDLP had one slot each.
The following motions were proposed:
- ‘Department of Education’s Community Relations Budget’ (T Lunn, N Long, S Farry, A Lo); and
- ‘40 th Anniversary of Disbanding of B-Specials and Formation of UDR’ (M Storey, Lord Morrow).
5.5 The SDLP deferred its selection, and undertook to inform the clerk as soon as possible.
5.6 Members agreed to schedule the motions on ‘Department of Education’s Community Relations Budget’ and ‘40 th Anniversary of Disbanding of B-Specials and Formation of UDR’ on Monday 24 May, and the SDLP motion on Tuesday 25 May. Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for all debates, with the usual speaking times.
5.7 Members agreed to schedule an Adjournment Debate on Tuesday 25 May. Under the system for allocating Adjournment Debates, the selection lay with Sinn Féin.
Sinn Féin selected the following topic:
- ‘The Urban Renewal Area Status of the Upper Long Streets in the New Lodge and the Parkside and Glen Areas’ (C Ní Chuilín).
5.8 Members agreed to schedule the Adjournment Debate on ‘The Urban
Renewal Area Status of the Upper Long Streets in the New Lodge and the Parkside and Glen Areas’ (C Ní Chuilín) on Tuesday 25 May.
5.9 Junior Ministers Kelly and Newton informed members that all relevant Ministers were available.
6. AOB
6.1 Mr Kieran McCarthy expressed his concern and disappointment that neither the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety nor the Minister of Education would be responding to the debate on the ICAN Centre later that day.
7. Date and Time of next meeting
7.1 Members agreed to meet at approximately 12.30 pm on Tuesday 18 May 2010 in Room 106.
The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 12.46pm.
