Ad Hoc Committee on the Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill
Minutes of proceedings 20 February 2025
Meeting Location: Room 21, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Phillip Brett MLA, Chairperson
Cathy Mason MLA, Deputy Chairperson
Paula Bradshaw MLA
Gary Middleton MLA
Present by video or telephone conference:
Pádraig Delargy MLA
Apologies:
Daniel McCrossan MLA
In Attendance:
Jim McManus, Committee Clerk
Roisin Donnelly, Assistant Committee Clerk
Carla Campbell, Clerical Supervisor
The meeting commenced at 2:02 pm in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies as above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
There was no Chairperson’s business.
3. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 18 February 2025.
4. Matters Arising
There were no matters arising.
5. Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill – oral evidence from the NI Assembly Commission
The following members of the NI Assembly Commission and NI Assembly officials joined the meeting at 2:03 pm:
Andy Allen MLA;
Trevor Clarke MLA
Sinéad Ennis MLA;
Nuala McAllister MLA;
Colin McGrath MLA;
Lesley Hogg, Clerk and Chief Executive of the NI Assembly; and
Tara Caul, Director of Legal, Governance and Research Services, NI Assembly.
The Chairperson congratulated Mr Allen on his participation and achievements at the recent Invictus Games.
Sinéad Ennis MLA outlined the provisions of the Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill.
This was followed by a question and answer session.
The Chairperson thanked the Assembly Commission Members and Assembly officials for their attendance.
The evidence session was reported by Hansard.
Agreed: To ask the Commission to provide details, when available, of which Assembly committee will scrutinise delegated legislation, provided for at Clause 4 of the Bill, to allow the Commission to make provision about temporary appointments to the Board by order. Standing Order 43(1)(b) requires that every statutory rule or draft statutory rule which is subject to Assembly proceedings shall stand referred to the appropriate committee for scrutiny.
6. Correspondence
The Committee noted correspondence from the Assembly Bill Office confirming the commencement of the committee stage of the Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill on 18 February.
7. Forward Work Programme
The Committee considered a draft Forward Work Programme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed its Forward Work Programme.
8. Any Other Business
There was no other business.
9. Date, Time and Place of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee was scheduled to take place at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, 25 February 2025 in Room 30.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:45 pm.
Phillip Brett MLA
Chairperson, Ad Hoc Committee on the Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill
25 February 2025
