Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2011/2012
Date: 17 May 2011
Venue: Room 106
1. Introduction and Apologies
1.1 The Speaker welcomed Ms J McCann and Mr C McDevitt to their first meeting and the new Junior Ministers, who were also present.
1.2 Apologies were noted from Mr P Ramsey.
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 12 May 2011
2.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 12 May were agreed and signed by the Speaker.
3. Matters arising
3.1 There were no matters arising.
4. Seating allocations in Chamber
4.1 Members agreed to formally approve the Chamber seating plan, as had been agreed with Whips before the first sitting.
5. Progress on agreement of Committee Places
5.1 Members confirmed that while numbers for all the committee places had been agreed, names were not yet available.
6. Requirement for a further sitting in week commencing 16 May 2011
6.1 Members therefore agreed that another sitting this week would not be necessary.
7. Provisional arrangements for plenary meetings in week commencing 23 May 2011
7.1 Members considered the Draft Order Paper for Monday 23 May and indicated that committee members’ names from each party would be available by Monday. Members also noted that, with regard to the motion on Appointments to the Assembly Commission, nominations would be required by 3pm today.
7.2 Members noted that, under Standing Order 47, the Business Committee is required to agree the memberships of Committees and that a short meeting of the Business Committee would be required on Monday, prior to the plenary sitting. Members agreed to meet on Monday 23 May at 11am in Room 106.
7.3 Members noted that, as the Executive had not yet met, no Executive business had been scheduled. Members agreed to sit only on Monday 23 May and that no Private Members’ Business would be scheduled.
7.4 Members agreed to schedule a motion to suspend Standing Order 20(1) as it had been agreed previously that there would be no Question Time until Monday 6 June. Members also noted that a motion was required to appoint Ms J McCann to the Business Committee.
7.5 Members agreed to schedule the following motions:
- Appointments to the Assembly Commission;
- Membership of Statutory Committees;
- Membership of Standing Committees; and
- Membership of the Business Committee.
7.6 Members agreed that these motions should be treated as business motions and therefore there would be no debate.
7.7 Members discussed a Provisional Order Paper for Tuesday 31 May. Members noted that as the Executive was not meeting until Thursday 19 May, no Executive Business could yet be scheduled. Members agreed to postpone further consideration of the Provisional Order Paper until the next meeting of the Business Committee.
8. Recess Dates
8.1 Members agreed a proposal for recess dates for 2011/12.
9. Any Other Business
9.1 The Speaker advised members about the referral of the Damages (Asbestos-Related Conditions) Bill by the Attorney General to the Supreme Court. Members noted that the case is scheduled to be heard on 13 – 16 June and has been listed together with an appeal on similar Scottish legislation.
9.2 The Director of Legal Services responded to a number of questions from Mr McDevitt and Mr Weir.
9.3 The Speaker undertook to keep the committee updated on developments.
10. Date and Time of next meeting
7.1 Members agreed to meet at 11.00am on Monday 23 May 2011 in Room 106.
7.2 Members also agreed to bring forward the normal Tuesday meeting to Monday immediately after the House adjourns on Monday 23 May.
The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 12.44pm.
