MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS COMMITTEE ON PROCEDURES WEDNESDAY 3 JULY 2002 AT 1:00 PM IN ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr P McNamee (Chairperson)
Mr F Agnew
Mr I Davis
Mr A Maginness (left at 1.26 pm)
Mr M Morrow
Dr W McCrea
Clerk to the Committee: Mr C McGarrity
In attendance: Mr J Crozier
Ms L Dempster
The meeting commenced at 1.11 p.m.
Mr McNamee advised members that Mr Murphy had resigned as Chairperson and that he had been appointed by his party nominating officer to take the position.
1. APOLOGIES
Mr Shipley Dalton, Mr McClarty.
2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
The minutes of the Committee meeting held on 12 June 2002 were agreed and signed by the Chairperson.
3. MATTERS ARISING
Matters arising were dealt with as agenda items.
4. REVIEW OF ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS
The Chairperson reported that the visit to the Dáil on 26 June had been extremely worthwhile as it had given an opportunity to see how questions to the Taoiseach were handled. The meeting with the new Ceann Comhairle, Dr Rory O'Hanlon and a number of TD's and officials had been very positive.
The Committee noted the report tabled on the visit.
The Committee also noted two additional papers drawn from the House of Commons Procedure Committee's report into parliamentary questions.
The Committee were advised that that it had been intended to have representatives from the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister present to outline their views on how procedures re Questions could be improved. However officials from the OFM/DFM had advised the Clerk that the Executive was not yet in a position to offer its views.
The Committee agreed that the Clerk should prepare draft recommendations and proposals for the Committees consideration.
ACTION: Clerk
5. MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENTS
The Committee considered a paper on the time period to be included in Standing Orders for a rerun of the d'Hondt procedure to fill a vacant Ministerial post.
The Committee agreed to consult with party colleagues and resume discussion at the next meeting.
ACTION: Members
6. VOTING - REGISTRATION OF ABSTENTIONS
The Committee considered a paper setting out the current situation in the Assembly for abstentions during divisions in plenary and the practice in other legislatures.
The Committee agreed that there should be a facility for formally recording abstentions in divisions. The Committee instructed the Clerk to prepare a paper proposing a new procedure.
ACTION: Clerk
7. URGENT BUSINESS
Members considered a briefing paper setting out the implications of an amendment suggested by the Business Committee, that a motion to introduce an item of urgent business should be taken as the final item of business before the adjournment, rather than the penultimate, as the Committee had recommended. The Committee also discussed, at length, the introduction of greater flexibility in the timing which should apply to the tabling of such motions.
The Committee instructed the Clerk to prepare a paper outlining options for consideration.
ACTION: Clerk
8. INQUIRY INTO THE COMMITTEE SYSTEM
Mr Tim Moore (Assembly Research Service) updated members on several issues raised during his presentation at the previous meeting on his report on committee systems and procedures in other legislatures.
The Committee agreed to proceed with arrangements to visit the Flemish Parliament, the European Parliament and the Catalan Parliament.
ACTION: Clerk
9. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
10. DATE AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING
It was agreed that the next meeting of the Committee would be held on Wednesday
11 September 2002 in Room 152 Parliament Buildings at 1:00 pm.
The meeting adjourned at 1:58 pm.
P McNAMEE
Chairperson, Committee on Procedures
