Committee on Procedures

Minutes of proceedings 09 April 2025

Committee on Procedures, minutes of proceedings 9 April 2025.pdf (105.96 kb)

Meeting Location: Room 21, Parliament Buildings

Present:                   

Kellie Armstrong MLA (Chairperson)

Órlaithí Flynn MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Trevor Clarke MLA

Danny Donnelly MLA

Present by Video or Teleconference:

Robbie Butler MLA

Aoife Finnegan MLA

Cara Hunter MLA

William Irwin MLA

Maolíosa McHugh MLA

Apologies:               

None

In Attendance:       

Stella McArdle, Assembly Clerk

Christine Darrah, Assembly Clerk

Michael Best, Assistant Assembly Clerk

Veronica Lo Pinto, Clerical Officer

The meeting started at 10.01 a.m. in public session.

1.      Apologies

As above.

2.      Draft Minutes

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 26 March 2025.

3.      Matters Arising

None.

4.      Northern Ireland Act 1998 Section 42 – Petitions of Concern – Committee Consideration

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the meeting should move into closed session.

The meeting moved into closed session at 10.03 a.m.

The Chairperson welcomed Assembly Officials, Mr Paul Gill, Clerk Assistant, Ms Helen Smyth, Legal Adviser and Ms Liz Marsh, Clerk of Bills, to the meeting.

Trevor Clarke joined the meeting at 10.14 a.m.

Órlaithí Flynn joined the meeting at 10.37 a.m.

The Committee discussed a range of issues relating to Petitions of Concern.

The officials provided further information on a number of issues during the discussions.

Robbie Butler left the meeting at 10.42 a.m.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to request, for further consideration, a draft Standing Order and associated legal advice from Assembly Legal Services in connection with Section 42(6)(b) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

The Committee noted that it may write to the Assembly and Executive Review Committee on Section 42(6)(b) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 at a later stage.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to request, for further consideration, a draft Standing Order and associated legal advice from Assembly Legal Services in connection with a technical discrepancy in Standing Order 60(4).

Agreed: The Committee agreed to request, for further consideration, a draft Standing Order and associated legal advice from Assembly Legal Services in connection with Section 42(6)(d) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

The Chairperson thanked Mr Gill, Ms Smyth and Ms Marsh and they left the meeting.

The Committee noted the information provided on the processes followed by the Business Office in relation to the receipt, handling and publication of Petitions of Concern.

5.       Inquiry into Standing Order 27A Voting by Proxy – Bereavement and for Absence on Official Assembly Business

The Committee considered whether Standing Order 27A Voting by Proxy should be extended to include bereavement.

Trevor Clarke left the meeting at 11.29 a.m.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that Standing Order 27A Voting by Proxy should be extended to cover bereavement.

The Committee discussed a range of issues relating to the potential definition or description to be used for this category of proxy voting.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to request legal advice from Assembly Legal Services on the legal meaning of bereavement, with reference to its potential use in the Standing Order.

Trevor Clarke re-joined the meeting at 11.49 a.m.

The Committee considered whether Standing Order 27A Voting by Proxy should be extended to include absence on official Assembly business.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that Standing Order 27A Voting by Proxy should be extended to cover absence on official Assembly Business.

The Committee discussed a number of examples of what could potentially fall within the category of official Assembly business.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to request legal advice from Assembly Legal Services on the potential definition or description of official Assembly business for use in the Standing Order.

The Chairperson advised the Committee that a further discussion on the issues would be scheduled in due course.

The meeting moved into public session at 11.59 a.m.

6.      Forward Work Programme

The Committee considered an updated Forward Work Programme.

Agreed: The Committeeagreed the updated Forward Work Programme.

7.      Correspondence

The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee on Standards and Privileges asking that the necessary work be undertaken by the Committee to repeal Standing Order 70 and bring the required related amendments to Standing Orders to the Assembly for approval.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to add this item of work to its Forward Work Programme, to be scheduled for consideration on an appropriate date, and to advise the Committee on Standards and Privileges accordingly.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Assembly Head of Human Resources providing information on the welfare support available to MLAs and comparable services available in other legislatures.

8.      Chairperson’s Business

None.

9.      Any Other Business

The Chairperson informed the Committee that the total cost of the reprint of Standing Orders covering the three additions agreed by the Assembly since the beginning of the current mandate was £639.38.

The Committee noted the cost of the reprint of sections of Standing Orders.

10.   Date, Time and Place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 7 May 2025 at 10.00 a.m. in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting was adjourned at 12.04 p.m.

Kellie Armstrong MLA

Chairperson, Committee on Procedures

7 May 2025