Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting began at 1.03pm

Present:

The Speaker
Ms P Bradshaw
Mr D Brooks
Mr T Clarke
Mr T Elliott
Mrs S Ennis
Ms C Hunter
Miss N McAllister
Ms C Sugden

Observers:

Mrs A Reilly 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
Mr J McMillen Head of Legal Services
Mr A Leitch Legal Adviser
Ms P Devlin Assistant Assembly Clerk
Mr M O'Hare Clerical Supervisor

1 Apologies

1.1 Apologies were received from Robbie Butler, Philip McGuigan and Colin McGrath.

2 Minutes of previous meeting

2.1 The minutes of the meeting on 16 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 29 April

Monday 29 April

4.1 The Committee noted that Members’ Statements remained scheduled.

4.2 Members noted that the Notification of Executive Business indicated two additional items of business for this date; a motion to suspend Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4); and an applicability motion for Regulation (EU) 2023/2419 on the labelling of organic pet foods.

4.3 Members noted that the motion to suspend standing orders would require cross-community support.

4.4 Members noted that the wording of an applicability motion is defined in law and therefore cannot be amended.

4.5 The Committee agreed to schedule an untimed debate for the applicability motion.

4.6 Members noted that Question Time would be for the Executive Office and Minister for the Economy.

4.7 Members noted that untimed debates for Further Consideration Stage of the Hospital Parking Charges Bill and three statutory rules remained scheduled.

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

4.9 The Committee noted that Private Members’ motions for UUP and Sinn Féin remained scheduled.

4.10 The Committee agreed that all Private Members business should remain on the Order Paper.

4.11 The Committee noted that following last week’s meeting, the UUP had been advised that there would be no ministerial response to their selected Private Members motion, and so had tabled a revised version.

4.12 The Committee agreed to list the revised UUP motion on the Order Paper.

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

Tuesday 30 April

4.14 The Committee noted that Members’ Statements remained scheduled.

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

4.16 Members noted that no Executive Business had been scheduled.

4.17 The junior Minister advised that two Ministerial Statements were expected to be scheduled on this date.

4.18 Members noted that Private Members’ motions for Alliance and DUP remained scheduled.

4.19 Members noted that an adjournment debate had been scheduled by the DUP for Alex Easton.

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

5 Provisional Order Paper and Indicative Timings for the Plenary Sitting on 7 May

5.1 Members noted that because of the May Day bank holiday, there would be only one sitting during this week, on Tuesday 7 May.

Tuesday 7 May

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

5.3 Members noted that one item of Executive Business had been scheduled for this date: Final Stage of the Hospital Parking Charges Bill.

5.4 The Committee agreed to schedule an untimed debate for Final Stage of the Bill.

5.5 Members noted that the Committee on Standards and Privileges has indicated that it may want up to an hour and a half of plenary time to be allowed on the Provisional Order Paper for a Committee motion, the detail of which would be agreed at its meeting the following day.

5.6 The Committee agreed to schedule time for the Standards and Privileges Committee motion, with details to be confirmed at a later date.

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

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

5.9 Sinn Féin selected a motion on an All-Ireland Tourism Strategy.

5.10 The Committee agreed to allow the SDLP to confirm their chosen motion by the end of the day.

5.11 The Committee agreed to schedule an adjournment debate for the SDLP.

5.12 The SDLP selected the following topic:

• Housing Crisis on the North Coast

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

5.14 The Committee agreed the Provisional Order Paper for Tuesday 7 May 2024.

6 Any Other Business

6.1 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 29 April.

The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.08pm.

The Speaker
Chairperson