Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting began at 4.33pm

Present:

The Speaker
Ms P Bradshaw
Mr D Brooks
Mr M Durkan
Mr T Elliott
Mrs S Ennis
Miss N McAllister
Mr C McGrath
Mr P McGuigan
Mr J Stewart

In attendance:

Dr A McGarel Clerk of Business
Mr P Gill Clerk Assistant
Ms L Hogg Clerk/Chief Executive
Dr G McGrath Director of Parliamentary Services
Ms T Caul Director of Legal, Research & Governance Services
Mr J McMillen Head of Legal Services
Mr R Ramsey Adviser to the Speaker
Mr G Ervine PS to the Speaker
Ms P Devlin Assistant Assembly Clerk
Mr M O'Hare Clerical Supervisor

1.1 The Speaker welcomed Members to the first Business Committee meeting of the mandate, and his first meeting as Speaker.

2 Apologies

2.1 Apologies were received from Trevor Clarke.

3 Matters Arising

3.1 There were no matters arising.

4 Establishment of Statutory Committees

4.1 The Speaker advised that Standing Order 47 requires that the number of statutory committees to be established (and their membership) shall be determined by the Assembly after all Ministerial offices have been filled and the Business Committee has considered the matter and made a recommendation. The Speaker informed Members that a paper on the issue had been included within their papers.

4.2 The Committee agreed to table a motion in the name of the Business Committee to establish 9 statutory committees.

5 Appointment of Chairs/Deputy Chairs of Statutory and Standing Committees

5.1 The Speaker advised that in accordance with Standing Order 48, d’Hondt will be run for the appointment of Chairpersons and Deputy Chairpersons of statutory committees, and briefly summarised the process.

5.2 Members were content that the proposed statutory committee places reflected the requirements of Standing Orders.

5.3 The Speaker advised that in accordance with Standing Order 51 and 52, d’Hondt will be run for the appointment of Chairpersons and Deputy Chairpersons of standing committees, and briefly summarised the process.

5.4 Members were content that the proposed standing committee places reflected the requirements of Standing Orders.

5.5 The Committee noted that there would now be 12 standing committee Chair and Deputy Chair posts to be filled.

6 Election of Principal Deputy Speaker

6.1 The Speaker briefly summarised the process for election of a Principal Deputy Speaker

6.2 The Committee agreed to schedule the election of a Principal Deputy Speaker.

6.3 The Committee agreed to schedule 30 minutes for Members to speak following nominations, and to adhere to the convention that only one Member per party would speak and would be given up to 3 minutes. 

7 Motion to Exclude Question Time

7.1 The Committee agreed to table a motion to suspend Standing Order 20 (1) for 6 February 2024, as a business motion and subject to cross-community vote.

7.2 The Committee agreed the draft Order Paper for the sitting on 6 February 2024.

8 Any Other Business

8.1 Members queried whether an all-party motion could be added to the Order Paper and were advised that this would require the Committee to consider a revised Order Paper.

8.2 The Committee agreed that if a motion could be agreed by all parties by 6pm that evening a revised Order Paper would be circulated for agreement and usual timings for a 2-hour debate would apply.

9 Date and Time of Next Meeting

9.1 The Speaker advised that the next meeting would take place after the sitting on 6 February in room 106, and that at that meeting he would be inviting the Committee to consider various procedures relating to the arrangement of plenary sittings.

The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 4.48pm