Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2011/2012
Date: 14 June 2011
Venue: Room 106
1. Introduction and Apologies
1.1 The Speaker thanked Mr Weir for taking the Chair last week. Apologies were noted from Mr P Maskey, Mr J McCallister, Junior Minister Anderson and Junior Minister Bell.
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 7 June 2011
2.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 7 June were agreed and signed by the Speaker.
3. Matters arising
3.1 There were no matters arising.
4. Finalisation of Order Papers for Week Commencing 20 June 2011
Executive Business
4.1 Members noted that, in addition to business already scheduled, the Second Stage of the Budget (No.2) Bill was rescheduled for Monday 20 June; and that an Executive Motion to suspend Standing Orders to allow the sitting to continue past 7pm if necessary was also on the Order Paper.
4.2 Members noted that, due to the changes in scheduled business on Tuesday 14 June, the statement on the NSMC Meeting in Plenary Format would now take place on Tuesday 21 June; and that the Consideration Stage of the Budget (No.2) Bill would take place on Tuesday 21 June, in place of Further Consideration Stage.
4.3 Mr Rogers thanked the Speaker and the Business Committee for rescheduling business due to the unforeseen circumstances which had arisen.
Committee Business
4.4 Members noted that the Committee for Employment and Learning motion on the EU Directive on Conditions for Temporary Agency Workers had now been tabled; and that two hours had been allocated to this debate, as had been agreed previously.
Private Members’ Business
4.5 Members noted that Mr Tom Elliott will now move the Adjournment Topic in place of Mr Danny Kennedy on Tuesday 21 June.
5. Provisional arrangements for Plenary meetings in week commencing 27 June 2011
5.1 Members noted a letter from the Minister of Finance and Personnel regarding his availability to respond to a Committee motion on Tuesday 28 June. Members agreed that, as there is no Business Committee planned for that day, the House should sit over lunchtime on Tuesday 28 June, to allow the Minister to reply to the debate.
Executive Business
5.2 In addition to Question Time to the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister and the Minister for Social Development, members noted that the Further Consideration Stage of the Budget (No.2) Bill; the Final Stage of the Budget (No.2) Bill; and a Motion on the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2011 were also scheduled for Monday 27 June.
5.3 Members noted that, in addition to Question Time to the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, the Minister of Education and the Assembly Commission, a statement on the outcome of the British-Irish Council Summit meeting was also scheduled for Tuesday 28 June.
5.4 Members noted that there may be additional Executive business before recess.
Committee Business
5.5 There was no Committee business requested for Monday 27 June. However, members noted that a motion on Higher Education Tuition Fees and Student Finance was expected to be agreed this week by the Committee for Employment and Learning. Members agreed to allocate 1 hour 30 minutes for the debate, with the usual speaking times, but to consider any request for additional time from the Committee at next week’s meeting.
5.6 Members noted that a joint motion from the Committee for Finance and Personnel and the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment on the Devolution of Corporation Tax Powers had been scheduled for Tuesday 28 June. Members agreed to allocate two hours for the debate, with the usual speaking times.
Private Members’ Business
5.7 Due to the possibility of further Executive business, Members agreed not to select any Private Members’ motions at this stage.
5.8. However, members agreed to schedule an Adjournment Debate on Tuesday 28 June. Under the system for allocating Adjournment Debates, the selection lay with Sinn Féin.
Sinn Féin selected the following topic:
- Broadband access in Greencastle and other rural areas of West Tyrone (Mr B McElduff).
Members agreed to schedule the topic as the Adjournment Debate on Tuesday 28 June.
5.9 Mr Rogers confirmed that the relevant Minister was available to respond to the debate.
6. Any Other Business
6.1 Lord Morrow suggested that the Business Committee could meet concurrently with the plenary sitting, rather than suspending business in the House from 12.30pm – 2pm each Tuesday. He noted that other Committees currently meet during plenary sittings. It was agreed that a paper outlining the available options would be brought to a future meeting of the Business Committee
6.2 Ms McCann advised the Committee that members of her party had raised complaints regarding the searching of Members’ cars in advance of the Prime Minister’s visit last Thursday. The Speaker indicated that, for such visits, security requirements are often outside the Assembly’s control. He advised that matters to do with arrangements for visits were not for the Business Committee, and that they should be raised with the Assembly Commission.
7. Date and Time of next meeting
7.1 Members agreed to meet at approximately 12.30pm on Tuesday 21 June 2011 in Room 106.
The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.00pm.
