Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2011/2012
Date: 26 May 2011
Venue: Room 21
The meeting opened in closed session at 4.01pm.
Members agreed that meetings of the Committee in closed session could be recorded, for use by Committee staff as an aide memoir, and then destroyed immediately after use.
1. Inquiry into Standing Orders for Principal Deputy Speaker
a) Briefing from Legal Services
4.02pm Jonathan McMillen from Assembly Legal Services joined the meeting and briefed the Committee on the legal advice he had provided on this matter. This was followed by a question and answer session.
4.12pm Mr Lyttle joined the meeting.
4.15pm Mr Maginness joined the meeting.
The Chairperson thanked Mr McMillen for the briefing.
4.45pm Mr McMillen left the meeting.
The meeting moved into public session at 4.45pm.
b) Briefing from Research and Information Service
4.46pm Ray McCaffrey and Tim Moore from theResearch and Information Service joined the meeting and briefed the Committee on theresearch paper they had provided on this matt er. This was followed by a question and answer session.
The Committee requested further related information be provided by the Research and Information Service for the next meeting.
The Chairperson thanked Mr McCaffrey and Mr Moore for the briefing.
4.56pm Mr McCaffrey and Mr Moore left the meeting.
c) Consideration of written and oral submissions from parties
Members considered written submissions from the DUP, the Green Party, Sinn Fein and independent Member, David McClarty.
Oral submissions were also provided by the parties at the meeting.
Following discussion, a proposal on the way forward was submitted by Mr Clarke and an amendment to the proposal was submitted by Mr Allister.
The Chairperson suspended the meeting for five minutes in order to marshall the proposal and the amendment.
5.20pm Meeting suspended
5.26pm Meeting reconvened in public session with the same members present.
It was proposed by Mr Clarke:
“That the Committee continue with the business to change Standing Orders as directed by the motion agreed by the Assembly on 16 May 2011.”
An amendment was proposed by Mr Allister:
“For avoidance of doubt, that there shall be no change or addition to the remit or functions of anyone appointed to the position of Principal Deputy Speaker.”
The question was put that the amendment be made.
The Committee divided on the amendment. Ayes 4; Noes 5.
| Ayes | Noes |
| Jim Allister | Trevor Clarke |
| Samuel Gardiner | Gerry Kelly |
| Chris Lyttle | Oliver McMullan |
| Alban Maginness | Lord Morrow |
| Sue Ramsey |
The amendment accordingly fell.
The question was put on the motion.
The Committee divided. Ayes 6; Noes 3.
| Ayes | Noes |
| Trevor Clarke | Jim Allister |
| Gerry Kelly | Samuel Gardiner |
| Chris Lyttle | Alban Maginness |
| Oliver McMullan | |
| Lord Morrow | |
| Sue Ramsey |
The proposal accordingly was agreed to.
2. Forward Work Programme
Members considered the Forward Work Programme.
Agreed: It was agreed that the next meeting would proceed as set out in
the Forward Work Programme.
Agreed: It was agreed that the meeting scheduled for 2 June 2011 would
now commence at 4.00pm.
The Chairperson advised that the first two items on the agenda would now be considered.
3. Apologies
Mr George Robinson
Mr Mervyn Storey
4. Minutes of the meeting held on 24 May 2011
Members agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 24 May 2011.
5. Correction of Hansard transcripts by Members
Members agreed to Committee staff providing Hansard with their personal email addresses so that Hansard transcripts can be emailed to members.
6. Any other Business
None.
7. Date, time and place of next meeting
It was agreed that the next meeting of the Committee would take place on Tuesday, 31 May 2011 at 1.30pm in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5.34pm.
