Minutes of Proceedings

1. Introduction and Apologies

1.1 Apologies were noted from Mr John McCallister and Mr Pat Ramsey.

2. Minutes of the meeting held on 27 September 2011

2.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 27 September were agreed and signed by the Speaker.

3. Matters arising

3.1 With reference to paragraph 6.1 of the minutes, the Speaker referred the Committee to information regarding the speaking opportunities that had been provided for other Members since the start of the new mandate.

4. Finalisation of Order Papers for Week Commencing 10 October 2011

Executive Business

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

Committee Business

4.2 In addition to the Committee Business already scheduled, Members noted that the Assembly and Executive Review Committee motion seeking the agreement of the Assembly to refer to it the review of the arrangements for appointing the Minister of Justice had now been tabled. Members agreed to schedule the motion on Monday 10 October as a business motion, in line with what was agreed for the two previous motions of this nature from the AERC.

Private Members’ Business

4.3 Members noted that Alliance changed its original selection immediately after last week’s meeting and that consequently the new motion on “Dealing with the Past” is shown on the Draft Order Paper.

4.4 Junior Minister Anderson confirmed that all the relevant Ministers were available to respond to debates.

5. Provisional arrangements for Plenary meetings in week commencing 17 October 2011

Executive Business

5.1 Members noted that, apart from Question Time to the Minister for Regional Development, and the Minister of Social Development, no further Executive business had been scheduled on Monday 17 October.

5.2 Members noted that, apart from Question Time to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, no further Executive business had been scheduled on Tuesday 18 October.

Committee Business

5.3 Members noted that no Committee Business had been requested.

Private Members’ Business

5.4 Members agreed to schedule two Private Members’ Motions on Monday 17 October and two on Tuesday 18 October.

Under the system of allocation for Private Members’ motions the selections lay with Sinn Féin, SDLP, DUP, and Sinn Féín.

The following motions were proposed:

• ‘Development of an All-Ireland Job Creation Strategy’ (Mr P Flanagan, Mr D McKay, Ms S Ramsey);
• Rural Schools (Mr C McDevitt, Mr D Bradley, Mr J Byrne); and
• ‘Anti-Social Behaviour’ (Mr D McIlveen, Mr G Dunne).

5.5 Sinn Féin deferred its second selection, and undertook to inform the Clerk as soon as possible. Members agreed that up to 1 hour 30 minutes should be allocated for the debates, with the usual speaking times.

5.6 Members agreed to schedule an Adjournment Debate on Tuesday 18 October. Under the system for allocating Adjournment Debates, the selection lay with the UUP.

The UUP selected the following topic:

• Quality of Housing Executive repairs in North Antrim

Members agreed to schedule the topic as the Adjournment Debate on Tuesday 18 October.

5.7 Junior Minister Anderson confirmed that all relevant Ministers were available to respond to the Private Members’ Motions and the Adjournment debate

6. Any Other Business

6.1 The Speaker asked party Whips to remind all their members to translate all their remarks, including the numbers of questions, if they speak in a language other than English.

7. Date and Time of next meeting

7.1 Members agreed to meet at approximately 12.30pm on Tuesday 11 October 2011 in Room 106.

The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 12.49pm.

Mr William Hay
Speaker