Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2011/2012
Date: 14 June 2011
Venue: Room 21
1.32pm The meeting opened in public session.
1. Apologies
None.
1.33pm Mr Allister joined the meeting.
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 2 June 2011
Members noted the minutes of the meeting held on 2 June 2011. The minutes had been approved by the Chairperson so that an extract could be included in the Committee report.
3. Forward Work Programme
The Committee considered a proposed Forward Work Programme, plus a briefing paper prepared by the Clerk, which included options and recommendations for dealing with each of the items to be taken forward by the Committee.
1.35pm Mr Maginness joined the meeting.
Agreed: The following amendments to the Forward Work Programme
were agreed:
(a) To begin consideration of the following items at the meeting
scheduled to be held on 13 September 2011:
- Standing Order 27 – Voting/Divisions
- Standing Order 65(6) – Suspending a sitting for one hour
(b) To begin consideration of family friendly practices and the
impact of late sittings at the meeting scheduled to be held on
11 October 2011.
Agreed: Subject to the above amendments, the Forward Work
Programme was agreed.
Agreed: It was agreed that from September to December 2011, the
Committee would meet on the second Tuesday of each month
at 1.30pm.
4. Presentation from Standing Orders Draftsperson
1.40pm Ronan Cormacain, legislative drafter of Standing Orders, joined the
meeting and gave a presentation on ‘Quality in Standing Orders’, and outlined
the work he carries out for the Committee. This was followed by a question
and answer session.
The Committee agreed that research should be carried out into the arrangements for answering Members’ questions in other legislatures,
compared with the Northern Ireland Assembly.
1.58pm Mr Allister left the meeting.
1.58pm Mr Gardiner left the meeting.
1.58pm Mr Lyttle left the meeting.
2.01pm Mr Clarke left the meeting.
2.04pm Lord Morrow left the meeting.
The Chairperson thanked Mr Cormacain for the presentation.
2.05pm Mr Cormacain left the meeting.
5. Any other Business
None.
6. Date, time and place of next meeting
It was agreed that the next meeting of the Committee would take place on Tuesday, 13 September 2011 at 1.30pm in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.
2.07pm The Chairperson adjourned the meeting.
