Order Paper

Reference: OP 89/11-15

Date: 02 October 2012

The Assembly to sit at 10.30am.

Indicative Timings for Order of Business

Question for Urgent Oral Answer

1. Prayers

2. Executive Committee Business

Motion: Authority to make appointments to the NI Judicial Appointments Commission

Proposed:

That, pursuant to paragraph 2 of Schedule 6 to the Northern Ireland Act 2009, sub-paragraph (1) of that paragraph is not to apply.

First Minister and deputy First Minister

3. Question Time

3.1 Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister

3.2 Finance and Personnel

4. Private Members’ Business

Motion: Opportunities for Businesses to Access New Markets and Finance

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the recent action taken by the European Central Bank and the US Federal Reserve to help stabilise the global economy, and the opportunities that this presents for Northern Ireland companies to expand and to increase exports; recognises the continuing problems of small and medium-sized enterprises accessing bank lending; further notes the availability of several significant sources of business finance; and calls on the Executive to use its influence to ensure that businesses are connected efficiently to these funding sources and that their use is maximised.

Mrs J Cochrane
Mr S Dickson
Mr C Lyttle

Motion: Levels of Absenteeism in Schools

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises that the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister is responsible for co-ordinating the work of the Executive and for children and young people's issues; notes the high levels of pupil absenteeism in primary and post-primary schools in many communities, and in particular, the high levels in areas identified by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency as being predominately Protestant; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to ensure that an integrated approach to identifying the causes of absenteeism is adopted by all relevant Departments and appropriate action is taken, in conjunction with parents or guardians, to enable more young people to reach their full potential.

Mr R Beggs [R]
Mr M Nesbitt
Mr D Kinahan