Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting began at 2.49pm

Present:

The Speaker
Ms P Bradshaw
Mr D Brooks
Mr K Buchanan
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
Ms R Ellis 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

1.1 The Speaker welcomed Members to the meeting.

2 Apologies

2.1 Apologies were received from Trevor Clarke. The Speaker welcomed Keith Buchanan who was attending in place of Mr Clarke.

3 Draft Minutes of the Meeting on 3 February 2024

3.1 The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting on Saturday 3 February 2024.

4 Matters Arising

4.1 There were no matters arising.

5 Business Committee Administration

5.1 The Speaker advised that, to enable the Committee to schedule business effectively going forward, there were a number of matters to consider.

Seating arrangements in the Chamber

5.2 The Committee agreed to retain the current seating arrangement in the Chamber.

Speaking list

5.3 The Committee agreed that the approach to speaking in the Chamber agreed by the previous Business Committee, would continue to be utilised.

5.4 Members noted that the Speaker would adjust the conventional approach to calling speakers to meet the requirements for the opposition.

5.5 Members noted that Standing Orders require that a member of the opposition is called to ask the first question after an oral ministerial statement.

5.6 The Committee agreed that in appropriate circumstances, the Speaker should retain the option to apply a grace period of up to 15 minutes during timed debates.

Private Members’ Motions and Adjournment Debates

5.7 The Committee agreed to retain the current approach to scheduling private members’ motions and adjournment debates.

Draft Question Time Rota

5.8 The Committee agreed a draft Question Time rota for the period up to Easter 2024.

5.9 Members noted that names for the ballot for the first question times on week commencing 19 February should be submitted to the Business Office by 1pm on Wednesday 7 February, and that thereafter names should be submitted on a Tuesday.

Allocation of Plenary Time to the Opposition

5.10 Members noted receipt of an advice paper on the allocation of plenary time to the opposition, as required by Standing Order 12(4A).

5.11 The Committee agreed to consider the options contained in the paper and to further discuss the matter at the next meeting.

6 Order Papers and Indicative Timings for the Plenary Sittings During Week Commencing 12 February

Members’ Statements

6.1 The Speaker informed Members that Members’ Statements had been introduced during the last mandate as a means for Members to raise matters of importance to them and their constituencies, and for which no other mechanism was available to do so.

6.2 The Speaker advised that in the last mandate these were scheduled as the first item of business on a Monday where time pressures allowed, but as Executive Ministers were newly appointed, they were likely to bring limited business in the next few weeks. The Speaker proposed that in the interim, Members considered scheduling Members’ Statements at the beginning of each sitting.

6.3 The Committee agreed to schedule Members’ Statements as the first item of business each day until Executive business becomes more frequent.

Monday 12 February 2024

Assembly Business

6.4 As Question Time would not commence until week commencing 19 February, the Committee agreed to schedule a motion to suspend Standing Order 20(1).

Membership of Statutory and Standing Committees

6.5 Members noted that the Clerk Assistant would be liaising with parties to assist them in considering the allocation of Members to committees, and that when this had been agreed, two reports on the membership of statutory and standing committees will be laid in the Business Office.

6.6 Members noted that the two motions on the draft Order Paper, in the name of the Business Committee, would seek the approval of the Assembly for the proposed membership.

6.7 Members noted that they would be required to meet briefly prior to Monday’s sitting to approve these documents formally after which they would be laid in the Business Office.

Suspension of Standing Order 79(2) & Appointment of the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission

6.8 Members noted that a draft motion to appoint Members to the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission was included in their papers, and that it would be a business motion that would require cross-community support.

6.9 Members noted that Standing Order 79(2) states that appointments to the Assembly Commission should be made within 28 days of the first Assembly sitting after dissolution, and that as this had not happened, a motion to suspend the Standing Order must precede the motion to appoint Members to the Commission.

6.10 The Committee agreed to schedule a motion to suspend Standing Order 79(2) and a motion to appoint Members to the Assembly Commission.

6.11 Members agreed to provide the Clerk of Business with confirmation of their party’s nominee, so that it could be included on the motion.

Private Members’ Business

6.12 Members noted that scheduled business allowed time for Private Members business to be scheduled.

6.13 The Committee agreed to schedule two Private Members’ motions and that selections would be for Sinn Féin and the DUP.

6.14 The Committee agreed to schedule the following Private Members’ motion for Sinn Féin:
• High Quality Affordable Childcare

6.15 The Committee agreed that the DUP could provide details of their motion after the meeting.

6.16 The Committee agreed the draft Order Paper for Monday 12 February 2024.

Tuesday 13 February 2024

Members’ Statements

6.17 The Committee agreed to schedule Members Statements.

Assembly Business

6.18 The Committee agreed to schedule a motion to suspend Standing Order 20(1).

Private Members’ Business

6.19 The Committee agreed to schedule two Private Members’ motions, for Alliance and Sinn Féin.

6.20 The Committee agreed that both parties could notify the Business Office of their selected motions by close of business that afternoon.

6.21 The Committee agreed to schedule the following adjournment debate for Sinn Féin:
• Domiciliary Care Packages in the Northern Health and Social Care Trust

6.22 The Committee agreed usual timings should be applied to the Private Members’ Motions.

6.23 The Committee agreed the draft Order Paper for Tuesday 13 February 2024.

7 Provisional Order Papers and Indicative Timings for the Plenary Sittings on Week Commencing 19 February

Monday 19 February 2024

Members’ Statements

7.1 The Committee agreed to schedule Members’ Statements.

Executive Business

7.2 Members noted that Question Time would commence on this date, with oral questions to the Executive Office and the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

Private Members’ Business

7.3 The Committee agreed to schedule two Private Members’ motions, for DUP and UUP, with the details of the motions to be provided at a later date.

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

Tuesday 20 February 2024

Members’ Statements

7.5 The Committee agreed to schedule Members’ Statements.

Executive Business

7.6 Members noted that Question Time would be for the Minister for Communities.

Private Members’ Business

7.7 The Committee agreed to schedule two Private Members’ motions, for Sinn Féin and Alliance, with the details of the motions to be provided at a later date.

7.8 The Committee agreed to schedule an adjournment debate for the DUP, with details of the topic to be provided at a later date.

7.9 The Committee agreed usual timings should be applied to the Private Members’ Motions.

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

8 Any Other Business

8.1 The Speaker informed Members that, in accordance with Standing Order 54, he would be appointing two members of the committee to act as Chairperson in his absence, and that by convention they would be the chief whips of the two largest parties.

8.2 A Member advised the Committee that he had been approached by Claire Sugden MLA who informed him that she had agreed to act as the representative for the smaller parties and independents on Business Committee. The Speaker advised that he too had been notified of this and was aware that Ms Sugden had the consent of all members of the smaller parties and independents.

8.3 The Committee agreed that it was content for Ms Sugden to join the Committee, and for a draft business motion to appoint her to be brought to the Committee for approval at the next meeting.

8.4 The Speaker advised that from the next meeting onwards the Committee will be meeting during the lunchtime suspension of Tuesday’s sitting.

8.5 The Committee agreed that no refreshments other than water should be provided at future meetings.

8.6 There was no other business.

9 Date and Time of Next Meeting

9.1 The Speaker advised that the next meeting would take place before Monday’s sitting to formally agree the reports on the membership of statutory and standing committees.

9.2 The Committee agreed to meet at 10.45am on Monday 12 February.

The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 3.13pm