Minutes of Proceedings

1. Apologies

1.1 Apologies were noted from Mr Gerry Kelly.

2. Minutes of the meeting held on 4 September 2012

2.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 4 September were agreed and signed by the Speaker.  

3. Matters arising

3.1 There were no matters arising.  

4. Finalisation of Order Papers for plenary meetings in week commencing 17 September 2012

Assembly Business

4.1 Members agreed to schedule a Sinn Féin motion to change Committee membership on Monday 17 September

Executive Business

4.2 Members noted that in addition to the Executive business agreed previously, a statement from the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety on the NSMC Meeting in Health and Food Safety sectoral format had been scheduled for Monday 17 September.   

4.3 Members noted that in addition to the Executive Business agreed previously, a statement from the Minister of Finance and Personnel on “Funding for Lending Scheme: Bank Lending to Business in Northern Ireland” had been scheduled for Tuesday 18 September.  

Committee Business

4.4 Members agreed to schedule a motion from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to extend the Committee Stage of the Inquiry into Historical Institutional Abuse Bill until 26 October, on Monday 17 September.

4.5 Members agreed to schedule four motions from the Committee on Procedures to amend Standing Orders on Tuesday 18 September.

Private Members’ Business

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

4.7 The Speaker advised members of correspondence he had received from the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure indicating her unavailability to respond to scheduled plenary business on Tuesday 18 September and Monday 24 September.  It was noted that the Minister of Education had agreed to represent her on both occasions.

4.8 On behalf of the junior Ministers, Mr Alan Rogers advised that all other relevant Ministers were available to respond and, in particular, that the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment would respond to the debate on ‘Short Stay Visa Waver Scheme’ on Monday 17 September.

4.9 The draft Order Papers were agreed.  

5. Provisional arrangements for Plenary meetings in week commencing 24 September 2012

Executive Business

5.1 In addition to Question Time to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, members noted that motions to approve the Landlord Registration Scheme Regulations and the Tenancy Deposit Schemes Regulations had been scheduled for Monday 24 September.

5.2 In addition to Question Time to the Minister of Education and the Minister for Employment and Learning on Tuesday 25 September, Members noted that a statement from the Minister of Finance and Personnel on Public Procurement Issues had also been scheduled.

Committee Business

5.3 Members agreed to schedule a motion from the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety on Paediatric Cardiac Services on Tuesday 25 September. The terms of the motion would be agreed when the Committee met on 12 September.

Private Members’ Business

5.4 Members agreed to schedule the Second Stage of the Civil Service (Special Advisers) Bill on Tuesday 25 September.

5.5 Members agreed to schedule two Private Members’ motions on Monday 24 September but none on Tuesday 25 September. Under the system of allocation, the selections lay with the SDLP and the DUP. The SDLP indicated that it had hoped to select a motion on Shared Paediatric Cardiac Surgery Services, but in view of its similarity to the anticipated Committee motion, deferred its selection and undertook to inform the Clerk as soon as possible.

The following motion was proposed and scheduled for Monday 24 September:

• ‘Animal Cruelty’ (Mr G Robinson, Mr T Buchanan, Ms P Bradley, Mr J Wells).

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

5.7 Members agreed to schedule an Adjournment Debate on Tuesday 25 September. Under the system of allocation, the selection lay with the DUP.  The following topic was proposed and selected:

• ‘Proposed roundabout and dual carriageway for Craigantlet Hills’ (Mr A Easton).

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

5.9 The provisional Order Papers were agreed, subject to confirmation of the SDLP motion.

6. Any other business          

6.1 There was no other business.  

7. Date and Time of next meeting

7.1 Members agreed to meet at approximately 12.30pm on Tuesday 18 September 2012 in Room 106.

The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 12.40pm

Mr William Hay
Speaker