Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting began at 1.05pm

Present:

The Speaker
Mr T Clarke
Mr T Elliott
Mrs S Ennis
Ms C Hunter
Miss N McAllister
Mr C McGrath
Mr P McGuigan
Ms K Nicholl
Mr J Stewart
Ms C Sugden

Observers:

Ms A Reilly Junior Minister
Mr D McCreedy Executive Office

In attendance:

Dr A McGarel Clerk of Business
Mr P Gill Clerk Assistant
Dr G McGrath Director of Parliamentary Services
Ms K McDonald Legal Adviser
Ms L Hogg Clerk/Chief Executive
Mr R Ramsey Adviser to the Speaker
Mr P Stitt PS to the Speaker
Ms P Devlin Assistant Assembly Clerk
Mr M O'Hare Clerical Supervisor

1 Apologies

1.1 Apologies were received from Paula Bradshaw and David Brooks.

2 Minutes of previous meeting

2.1 The minutes of the meeting on 5 March 2024 were agreed.
 

3 Matters Arising

3.1 The Speaker advised the Committee that he had received two responses from parties on the allocation of plenary time to smaller parties and independent members, and suggested that other parties may wish to submit their views.

3.2 There were no other matters arising.

4 Order Paper and Indicative Timings for the Plenary Sitting on 19 March

4.1 The Committee noted that Members’ Statements remained scheduled.

4.2 Members noted that following the switch agreed at the last meeting, Question Time would be for the Minister for the Economy and the Assembly Commission.

4.3 Members noted that a single untimed debate on two motions to affirm statutory rules from the Minister for Communities remained scheduled.

4.4 Members noted that an untimed debate on a motion to approve a statutory rule from the Minister of Health remained scheduled.

4.5 Members noted that a single untimed debate on three motions to approve statutory rules from the Minister for the Economy remained scheduled.

4.6 Members noted that the Notice of Forthcoming Assembly Business indicated no business other than that which was scheduled at the last meeting.

4.7 The junior Minister advised that no further business was expected.

4.8 The Committee noted that Private Members’ motions for the UUP and Sinn Féin, and an adjournment debate for the UUP, remained scheduled.

4.9 The UUP sought the consent of the Committee to switch their motion on Addressing NI Water Challenges, originally scheduled for 19 March, with one of the parties due to schedule a motion on 8 April.

4.10 Following discussion, the Committee agreed to facilitate a switch between the UUP and DUP.

4.11 The DUP selected the following motion in place of the UUP motion:

• Setting Ambitious Targets for Job Creation

4.12 The Committee agreed to schedule the motion with the usual timings for the debate.
4.13 A Member raised an issue relating to oral questions to the Assembly Commission.

4.14 The Speaker advised that while it was a valid query, it was a matter for the Commission and he would consider the options available.

4.15 The Committee agreed the Order Paper for Tuesday 19 March 2024.

5 Provisional Order Papers and Indicative Timings for the Plenary Sittings during Week Commencing 8 April

Monday 8 April

5.1 Members noted that following last week’s switch, Question Time was scheduled for the Executive Office and the Minister of Education.

5.2 Members noted that the Executive had not scheduled any further business.

5.3 The Committee agreed to schedule Members’ Statements.

5.4 The Committee agreed to schedule the following Private Members’ motion for Alliance with the usual timings:

• Strategic Framework for a Shared Future

5.5 Members noted that the UUP motion on Addressing NI Water Challenges would be rescheduled on this date with the same timings.

5.6 The junior Minister confirmed all Ministers were available to respond.

5.7 Members noted that as amendments cannot be tabled during recess, the deadline for amendment to motions on Monday 8 April would be 9.30am on Thursday 21 March.

5.8 The Committee agreed the Provisional Order Paper for Monday 8 April 2024.

Tuesday 9 April

5.9 Members noted that Question Time was scheduled for the Minister of Finance.

5.10 Members noted that the Executive had scheduled two items of business, as follows:
• Supply Resolution for the Northern Ireland Spring Supplementary Estimates 2023-2024

• Supply Resolution for the Northern Ireland Estimates Vote on Account 2024-2025

5.11 The Committee agreed to schedule a single debate to consider both motions, which would be given a total of 4 hours 30 minutes, with 40 minutes for the Minister of Finance to use at her discretion for both move and wind.

5.12 The Committee agreed that both the Chair of the Committee of Finance and a representative of the Opposition would be allocated 10 minutes to speak.

5.13 Members noted that the current Opposition leader and Finance Committee Chair would not be given both 10-minute timeframes in which to speak, but could elect to take either one.

5.14 Members noted that as amendments cannot be tabled during recess, the deadline for amendments to motions on Tuesday 9 April would be 9.30am on Friday 22 March.

5.15 The Committee agreed to schedule Members’ Statements.

5.16 The Committee agreed that insufficient time was available for Private Members motions, but scheduled the following adjournment debate for Sinn Féin:
• Housing in North Belfast

5.17 The Committee agreed the Provisional Order Paper for Tuesday 9 April 2024.

6 Any Other Business

6.1 The Committee agreed to provide views on priority areas of work for the Committee on Procedures at a party level rather than issue a Committee response.

6.2 The Committee agreed to facilitate a request from the Minister of Health to switch his oral questions slot on 13 May with that of the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister on 20 May.

7 Date and Time of Next Meeting

7.1 The Speaker advised that the next meeting would take place at 1pm on Tuesday 19 March in room 106.

The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.18pm.