COMMITTEE ON PROCEDURES WEDNESDAY 12 SEPTEMBER 2001 AT 3.00 PM IN ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

The meeting commenced at 3.04 pm

Present:
Mr C Murphy (Chairperson)

Mr I Davis
Mr A Maginness
Mr P McNamee
Mr R Hutchinson

Clerk to the Committee: Mr C McGarrity

In attendance:
Mr J Crozier
Mr J Gillespie

Apologies:
Mr A Attwood
Mr N Dodds
Mr D McClarty
Mr I Paisley Jnr
Mr D Shipley-Dalton

1. EXPRESSION OF SYMPATHY

The Chairperson expressed his sympathy on behalf of the Committee to the victims of the terrorist attacks in America on 11 September 2001.

2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the meeting of 20 June 2001 were agreed and signed by the Chairperson.

3. MATTERS ARISING

3.1 Audit Committee

The Clerk informed the Committee that the motion to amend Standing Order 58 was not moved as the Public Accounts Committee and the Audit Committee needed to give further consideration to the amendment. An amended motion would be brought before the Committee when a final draft was available.

3.2. Question Time

The Clerk informed the Committee that the Executive had not had an opportunity before the summer recess to consider the proposal to move Question Time. A composite response would be submitted on this matter. A separate response from the Minister for Health, Social Services & Public Safety had been circulated to Members. The Committee agreed to revisit this issue on receipt of the Executive response.

3.3. Sub Committees

Members agreed to table the motion on sub-Committees, the wording of which had been agreed at its meeting on 20 June 2001. It was agreed to review the operation of the amended Standing Order after six months.

Members also discussed the quorum for Committees and sub-Committees and the desirability of joint sub-Committees. It was agreed that the Clerk should prepare papers on joint sub-Committees and options for changing the quorum of Committees for discussion at a later date.

4. Work Programme

The Committee agreed the proposed work programme.

4.1. Visit to Westminster

The Committee agreed that it would be useful, inter alia, to visit Westminster to meet the House of Commons Modernisation Committee, which is currently examining the practices and procedures of the House. The Clerk informed the Committee that the Procedures Committee of the Scottish Parliament had expressed interest in a reciprocal visit to the Assembly. The Committee agreed that the Clerk should pursue both matters.

5. Legislative Review

Members agreed (1) that the Committee should take oral evidence and (2) the timetable for the next stages of the Legislative Review. As part of its preparation for hearings, the Clerk was tasked to arrange a presentation by OFM/DFM on the role of Departments in formulating legislation. It was agreed that the presentation would be on 10 October 2001.

The Members agreed that the Committee of the Centre should be copied sections of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission report which referred to that Committee.

ACTION: CLERK

6. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

There was no further business.

7. DATE, TIME AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING

It was agreed the next meeting of the Committee on Procedures would be on Wednesday 10 October 2001 in Room 152 Parliament Buildings at 3.00 pm.

The meeting adjourned at 3.34 pm.

C MURPHY
Chairperson, Committee on Procedures