Minutes of Proceedings

Session: 2011/2012

Date: 24 April 2012

Venue: Room 106

Observers:

Mr R Beggs, Deputy Speaker
Mr J Dallat, Deputy Speaker
Mr F Molloy, Principal Deputy Speaker
Junior Minister Bell
Mr A Rogers, OFMDFM

1. Introduction and Apologies

1.1 The Speaker welcomed Mrs Sandra Overend to the Business Committee and reminded Mr Swann and Mrs Overend of the need to appoint a substitute who can attend meetings if they are not available.

1.2 Apologies had been received from Mr Stewart Dickson and the Speaker welcomed Mr Kieran McCarthy in his place.

2. Minutes of the meeting held on 17 April 2012

2.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 17 April were agreed and signed by the Speaker.

3. Matters arising

3.1 There were no matters arising.

4. Finalisation of Order Paper for Plenary meetings week commencing 30 April 2012

Executive Business

4.1 Members noted that no additional Executive Business had been scheduled.

Committee Business

4.2 Members noted that in addition to the Committee Business already agreed, a motion to change Committee Membership had been scheduled on Monday 30 April.

Private Members’ Business

4.3 Having deferred the choice of a Private Members’ motion at the last meeting it was noted that the SDLP had selected the motion on ‘The Gathering: An Irish Homecoming’ for Monday 30 April.

4.4 Members agreed to schedule the motion for Monday 30 April with the usual timings.

4.5 Junior Minister Bell confirmed that all relevant Ministers were available.

4.6 The Order Papers were agreed.

5. Provisional arrangements for Plenary meeting on Tuesday 8 May 2012

Executive Business

5.1 Members noted that the Final Stage of the Pensions Bill was scheduled for Tuesday 8 May and that, while there is no time limit applied to legislation, an hour and a half was indicated.

5.2 Members also noted the four Question Time slots:

Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister;
Minister for Regional Development;
Minister for Social Development; and
Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure.

Committee Business

5.3 Members noted that no Committee Business had been requested.

Private Members’ Business

5.4 Members agreed to schedule one Private Members’ motion on Tuesday 8 May.

Under the system of allocation for Private Members’ motions the selection lay with the UUP.

The following motion was scheduled for Tuesday 8 May:

‘Support for Victims and Survivors’ (Mr T Elliott, Mr M Nesbitt,

Mr D Kinahan).

5.5 Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for the debate, with the usual speaking times.

5.6 Members agreed to schedule an Adjournment Debate on Tuesday 1 May 2012. The selection lay with DUP and the following topic was provisionally scheduled:

‘Future of the Prison Service Lisnevin site in Millisle’ (Mr A Easton).

Members agreed to provisionally schedule the topic as the Adjournment Debate on Tuesday 8 May.

5.7 Junior Minister Bell confirmed that all relevant Ministers were available to respond.

5.8 The provisional Order Papers were agreed.

5.9 Members discussed the possibility of scheduling a cross-party motion in the near future.

6. Any other business

6.1 The Speaker advised Members that he had previously written to the First Minister and deputy First Minister on the issue of the Executive’s legislative programme.

6.2 The Speaker asked junior Minister Bell, if at next week’s meeting he might be in a position to update the Committee on likely Executive business which might be brought to the Chamber.

6.3 Junior Minister Bell advised that, within the Programme of Government 2011-15, there is a range of proposals for legislation. He agreed to relay the concerns of the Business Committee to the Executive at its next meeting and to report back.