Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting began at 1.02pm

Present:

The Speaker
Ms P Bradshaw
Mr R Butler
Mr T Clarke
Mr A Easton
Mr T Elliott
Mrs S Ennis
Ms C Hunter
Miss N McAllister
Mr C McGrath
Mr P McGuigan

Observers:

Mrs P Cameron Junior Minister
Ms C Kerr Executive Office

In attendance:

Dr A McGarel Clerk of Business
Mr P Gill Clerk Assistant
Dr G McGrath Director of Parliamentary Services
Ms A McKelvey Legal Adviser
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 Claire Sugden. Mr Alex Easton attended in her place.

1.2 The Speaker welcomed Mr Butler back to the Committee.

2 Minutes of previous meeting

2.1 The minutes of the meeting on 9 April 2024 were agreed.

3 Matters Arising

3.1 There were no matters arising.

4 Order Papers and Indicative Timings for the Plenary Sittings during Week Commencing 22 April

Monday 22 April

4.1 The Committee noted that Members’ Statements remained scheduled.

4.2 The Committee agreed to schedule a Committee Membership motion for the Alliance party, and that in accordance with convention it would be treated as a business motion with no amendment or debate.

4.3 Members noted that Question Time would be for the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

4.4 Members noted that a Legislative Consent Motion on the Pensions (Special Rules for End of Life) Bill remained scheduled.

4.5 Members agreed to schedule an untimed debate to consider the Coronavirus Act (Registration of deaths and still-births) (Extension) (No.2) Order.

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

4.7 The Committee noted that Private Members’ motions for DUP and Alliance remained scheduled.

4.8 The Committee agreed the Order Paper for Monday 22 April 2024.

Tuesday 23 April

4.9 The Committee noted that Members’ Statements remained scheduled.

4.10 The Committee noted that a Public Petition presentation by Peter McReynolds remained scheduled.

4.11 Members noted that Question Time was scheduled for the Minister for Communities.

4.12 Members noted that Consideration Stage of the Hospital Parking Charges Bill remained scheduled subject to the successful passage of earlier stages of the Bill.

4.13 The Committee noted that Private Members’ motions for Sinn Féin and the DUP remained scheduled.

4.14 The Committee noted that the Alliance adjournment debate, originally scheduled for 16 April but subsequently deferred, had been rescheduled for that date.

4.15 The Committee agreed the Order Paper for Tuesday 23 April 2024.

5 Provisional Order Papers and Indicative Timings for the Plenary Sittings during Week Commencing 29 April

Monday 29 April

5.1 Members noted that Question Time was scheduled for the Executive Office and Minister for the Economy.

5.2 Members noted that the Executive had scheduled four items of business as follows:

• Further Consideration Stage of the Hospital Parking Charges Bill;

• The draft Period Products (Department for the Economy Specified Public Service Bodies) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024;

• The Lay Magistrates (Eligibility) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024; and

• The draft Period Products (Department of Justice Specified Public Service Bodies) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024

5.3 Members noted that as with previous stages of the Hospital Parking Charges Bill, scheduling would be subject to the Bill having successfully completed its earlier stages.

5.4 The Committee agreed to schedule untimed debates for all four items of business.

5.5 The Committee agreed to schedule Members’ Statements.

5.6 The Committee agreed to schedule Private Members’ motions for the UUP and Sinn Féin with the usual timings.

5.7 The UUP selected a motion on a Loneliness Strategy, and advised that other parties had been invited to sign the motion.

5.8 The Committee agreed that Sinn Féin could notify the Business Office of their selected motion later that day.

5.9 The junior Minister confirmed that Ministers would be available to respond.

5.10 Having sought confirmation that an applicability motion had been tabled and queried the timeframe for its debate, a Member was informed that there had been no request to date for a debate on the motion but it must be scheduled for debate and voted on by a specific deadline.

5.11 The Committee agreed the Provisional Order Paper for Monday 29 April 2024.

Tuesday 30 April

5.12 Members noted that Question Time was scheduled for the Minister of Education.

5.13 Members noted that no Executive Business had been scheduled for this date.

5.14 The Committee agreed to schedule Members’ Statements at the beginning of the sitting.

5.15 The Committee agreed to schedule Private Members’ motions for Alliance and DUP with the usual timings.

5.16 The following motions were scheduled:

• Display of Flags, Emblems and Banners (Alliance)
• Implementation of the Autism (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 (DUP)

5.17 The Committee agreed to schedule an adjournment debate for the DUP.

5.18 The DUP scheduled the following topic on behalf of Alex Easton:

• Closure of the Bangor and Newtownards Minor Injury Units

5.19 The junior Minister confirmed that Ministers would be available to respond.

5.20 The Committee agreed the Provisional Order Paper for Tuesday 30 April 2024.

6 Any Other Business

6.1 A Member asked when guidance on Private Members Bills might be issued, and was advised by the Speaker that it was being worked on and would issue soon.

6.2 There was no other business.

7 Date and Time of Next Meeting

7.1 The Speaker advised that the next meeting would take place at 1pm on Tuesday 23 April.

The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.09pm.

The Speaker
Chairperson