Minutes of Proceedings

Introduction and Apologies

1.1       Apologies were noted from Mr P Weir.

2.         Minutes of the meeting held on 21 February 2012

2.1       The minutes of the meeting held on 21 February 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 5 March 2012

Executive Business

4.1      Members noted that, in addition to business scheduled previously, a statement on an NSMC Agriculture Sectoral meeting had been scheduled for Monday 5 March.

Committee Business

4.2      Members noted that no Committee Business had been requested.

Private Members’ Business

4.3      Members noted that there were no changes to the Private Members’ Business previously agreed.

4.4      The Order Papers were agreed.

5          Provisional arrangements for Plenary meetings in week commencing 12 March 2012

Executive Business

5.1       Members noted that the following Executive Business was scheduled for Monday 12 March:

• Question Time to the Minister for Social Development, and to the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister;
• Introduction of the Superannuation Bill, subject to the Speaker’s agreement;
  • Motion on the Rates (Regional Rates) Order (NI) 2012; and 
  • Motion on the Rates (Microgeneration) Order (NI) 2012.  

5.2       Members noted that Question Time to the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure and to the Minister of the Environment was scheduled for Tuesday 13 March.

Committee Business

5.3       Members agreed to schedule a motion from the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety on the ‘Provision of IVF Treatment’ on Monday 12 March, with the usual timings.  

Private Members’ Business

5.4      Members agreed to schedule one Private Members’ motion on Monday 12, and two on Tuesday 13 March.

 5.5     Under the system of allocation, the selections lay with UUP, Sinn Féin and DUP.

The following motion was proposed and scheduled for Monday 12 March:

• ‘Multi-Agency Support Teams’ (Mr R Beggs, Mr J McCallister).

Members agreed that Sinn Féin could advise the clerk of its selection for Tuesday 13 March after the meeting.  The party duly advised that it had selected the motion on ‘Cross-Border Education’ (Mr B McElduff, Mr F McCann).  The second motion for Tuesday 13 March was proposed and scheduled, as follows:

• ‘Kinship Care’ (Miss M McIlveen, Mr J Wells).

5.6      Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for each of the debates, with the usual speaking times.

5.7      Members agreed to schedule an Adjournment Debate on Tuesday 13 March. Under the system of allocation, the selection lay with DUP.

The following topic was proposed and selected:

• ‘Regeneration of Bangor Town Centre’ (Mr G Dunne).

5.8       Junior Minister Bell advised that all relevant Ministers were available to respond.  

6.         Any Other Business  

6.1       The Speaker referred members to a letter from the Minister of the Environment requesting an exchange of his Question Time slot on 20 March with the Minister of Finance and Personnel on 26 March. Members approved the exchange.

7.         Date and Time of next meeting

7.1       Members agreed to meet at approximately 12.30pm on Tuesday 6 March 2012 in Room 106.

The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 12.37pm.

Mr William Hay
Speaker