Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting began at 1.02pm

Present:          The Speaker
                        Ms P Bradshaw
                        Mr D Brooks
                        Mr T Clarke
                        Mr T Elliott
                        Mrs S Ennis
                        Ms C Hunter
                        Miss N McAllister
                        Mr C McGrath
                        Mr P McGuigan
                        Mr J Stewart

Observers:      Ms A Reilly Junior Minister
                         Mrs P Cameron Junior Minister
                         Mr D McCreedy Executive Office


In attendance: Dr A McGarel Clerk of Business
                          Mr P Gill Clerk Assistant
                          Ms R Ellis 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

1.1 The Speaker welcomed Members to the meeting.

2 Apologies

2.1 Apologies were received from Mark Durkan. Cara Hunter attended in his place.

3 Minutes of previous meetings

3.1 The minutes of the meeting on 6 February 2024 were agreed.

3.2 The minutes of the meeting on 12 February 2024 were agreed.

4 Matters Arising

4.1 There were no matters arising.

5 Order Papers and Indicative Timings for the Plenary Sittings during Week Commencing 19 February

Monday 19 February

5.1 The Committee agreed to schedule Members’ Statements.

5.2 The Committee agreed to schedule a Committee Membership motion to appoint Claire Sugden to the Business Committee.

5.3 The Committee agreed to schedule a Committee Membership motion for the SDLP, to replace Mark Durkan with Cara Hunter on the Business Committee.

5.4 The Committee noted that the Executive had scheduled four items of business, as follows:

• First Stage of the Budget Bill
• Suspension of Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4)
• Suspension of Standing Order 42(5)
• Second Stage of the Budget Bill.

5.5 The Speaker advised that the Minister of Finance had written to him to explain the urgent need for the Budget Bill to receive Royal Assent.

5.6 The Committee agreed to schedule a motion to suspend Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4) which by convention would be treated as a business motion with no amendment or debate.

5.7 The Committee agreed to schedule a motion to suspend Standing Order 42(5) which by convention would have an untimed debate.

5.8 The Committee agreed to schedule an untimed debate for Second Stage of the Budget Bill.

5.9 The Speaker informed Members that officials would be briefing the Committee for Finance shortly before plenary on Monday and the Chairperson must have time to advise him before the end of the debate on second stage, if the Committee is willing for the Bill proceed by accelerated passage, in accordance with Standing Order 42(2).

5.10 Members noted that Question Time would commence on this date and would be for the Executive Office and the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

5.11 The junior Minister advised that there was a possibility of two Ministerial Statements for this date.

5.12 The Committee agreed that the two Private Members’ motions they had scheduled on the provisional Order Paper would be deferred.

5.13 The Committee agreed the Order Paper for Monday 19 February 2024.

Tuesday 20 February

5.14 The Committee agreed to schedule untimed debates for Consideration Stage, Further Consideration Stage, and Final Stage of the Budget Bill.

5.15 Members noted that, if there were no amendments to the Bill, Consideration Stage and Further Consideration stages would be very short.

5.16 The Committee agreed that Members would be able to table amendments for Consideration Stage up to one hour after the Second Stage debate finishes, and that amendments for Further Consideration Stage could be tabled for up to one hour after Consideration Stage ends.

5.17 Members noted that if amendments were made to the Bill at Consideration Stage, time would be required for it to be republished before Further Consideration Stage could commence.

5.18 The Committee agreed on that basis to schedule two Private Members motions to take place between the amending stages of the Budget Bill.

5.19 Members noted that if amendments were made to the Bill at Further Consideration Stage, the sitting would be suspended for a period to allow it to be republished again and legal checks carried out.

5.20 The junior Minister advised that there was no indication of any further business at this stage.

5.21 Members noted that motions for the DUP and UUP had been deferred from Monday 19 February.

5.22 The Committee agreed to schedule the following Private Members’ motions for the DUP and UUP:

• Action Plan on Waiting Lists (DUP)
• Speech and Language Therapists (UUP)

5.23 The Committee agreed to schedule an adjournment debate, on the basis that if business ran late it would be deferred until a later date.

5.24 The Committee agreed to schedule the following adjournment debate for the DUP:

• Call for Immediate Progression on the A4 Enniskillen Southern Bypass

5.25 The Committee agreed the Order Paper for Tuesday 20 February 2024.

6 Provisional Order Papers and Indicative Timings for the Plenary Sittings on Week Commencing 26 February

Monday 26 February

6.1 The Committee agreed to schedule Members’ Statements.

6.2 Members noted that Question Time would be for the Economy and Education Ministers.

6.3 Members noted that there had been no requests for Assembly or Executive business to date.

6.4 The junior Minister advised that no additional business was expected at that time.

6.5 The Committee agreed to schedule two Private Members’ motions and that selections would be for Sinn Féin and Alliance.

6.6 The Committee agreed to schedule the following Private Members’ motions:

• Implementation of the Strategic Framework to End Violence against Women and Girls (Sinn Féin)
• Special Educational Needs and Disability – Investment and Transformation (Alliance)

6.7 The junior Minister indicated that all relevant Ministers were available to respond.

6.8 The Committee agreed the Provisional Order Paper for Monday 26 February 2024.

Tuesday 27 February

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

6.10 Members noted that no other Executive Business had been requested.

6.11 The junior Minister advised that no additional business was expected at that time.

6.12 The Committee agreed to schedule two Private Members’ motions and that selections would be for DUP and SDLP.

6.13 The Committee agreed to schedule the following Private Members’ motion for the DUP:

• Capital Investment in Fishing Industry

6.14 The Committee agreed that the SDLP could defer selection of their motion.

6.15 The Committee agreed not to schedule an adjournment debate in case the debate scheduled for 20 February had to be deferred.

6.16 The junior Minister indicated that all relevant Ministers were available to respond.

6.17 The Committee agreed the Provisional Order Paper for Tuesday 27 February 2024.

7 Opposition Days

7.1 The Speaker advised that Standing Order 12(4A) provides that ten days per Assembly session is allocated to opposition business and that it is for the Business Committee to decide how the time should be allotted.

7.2 Members noted that an advice paper had been circulated the previous week and was included in their meeting papers.

7.3 The Speaker asked if Members had any views on the proposed options.

7.4 A representative of the opposition advised that their preference was for all opposition days to be on a Monday, and for any emerging Executive Business to be taken after opposition business on those days.

7.5 Following discussion, the Committee agreed the principles on which Opposition days should be arranged as set out in the paper. The Committee also agreed to schedule the first opposition day on Monday 4 March and to schedule future opposition days on both Mondays and Tuesdays in accordance with the proposals in the paper until the end of the current session and to review arrangements on an ongoing basis.

7.6 The opposition representative stated that the review should take into account occasions when Executive Business exceeds two ministerial statements on an opposition day.

8 Speaker’s Rulings

8.1 Members noted receipt of the Speaker’s Rulings, updated to August 2022.

8.2 The Committee agreed that these should be made available for all Members to access on the Members’ portal.
 

9 Any Other Business

9.1 The Speaker advised that options for recess periods would be brought to next week’s meeting.

9.2 There was no other business.

10 Date and Time of Next Meeting

10.1 The Speaker advised that the next meeting would take place at 1pm on Tuesday 20 February in room 106.

The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.28pm.