Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting began at 1.04pm

Present:

The Speaker
Ms P Bradshaw
Mr D Brooks
Mr T Clarke
Mr T Elliott
Mrs S Ennis
Mr C McGrath
Mr P McGuigan
Ms K Nicholl

Observers:

Ms A Reilly Junior Minister
Mr D McCreedy Executive Office

In attendance:

Ms C McKay Clerk of Business
Mr P Gill Clerk Assistant
Dr G McGrath Director of Parliamentary Services
Ms T Caul Director of Legal, Governance & Research
Ms L Hogg Clerk/Chief Executive
Mr R Ramsey Adviser to the Speaker
Ms P Devlin Assistant Assembly Clerk
Mr M O'Hare Clerical Supervisor

1 Apologies

1.1 Apologies were received from John Stewart and Cara Hunter.

1.2 Kate Nicholl attended in place of Nuala McAllister.

2 Minutes of previous meeting

2.1 The minutes of the meeting on 19 March 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 15 April

Monday 15 April

4.1 The Committee noted that Members’ Statements remained scheduled.

4.2 The Committee agreed to schedule a Public Petition for Patrick Brown entitled Completion of A1 Road Improvements.

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

4.4 Members noted that Question Time would be for the Executive Office and the Minister of Health.

4.5 Members noted that The Period Products (Department of Education Specified Public Service Bodies) Regulations (Northern Ireland) remained scheduled.

4.6 Members noted that the Minister of Health had scheduled First Stage of the Hospital Parking Charges Bill.

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

4.8 The Committee noted that Private Members’ motions for SDLP and Sinn Féin remained scheduled.

4.9 The Committee agreed the Order Paper for Monday 15 April 2024.

Tuesday 16 April

4.10 Members noted that 16 April was a scheduled opposition day.

4.11 Members noted that the Opposition had scheduled two debates of one and a half hours duration, and another one-hour debate.

4.12 Members agreed that the usual speaking times would apply to all three debates.

4.13 Members noted that Question Time was scheduled for the Minister for Infrastructure.

4.14 Members noted that the Notice of Forthcoming Assembly Business from the Executive Office indicated two items of business, a motion seeking approval for the Hospital Parking Charges Bill to proceed by Accelerated Passage, and Second Stage of the Hospital Parking Charges Bill.

4.15 The Speaker advised that it was regrettable that the Minister was seeking to table Executive Business on an opposition day, noting the Business Committee’s previous agreement that it would only schedule Executive Business on Opposition Days in exceptional circumstances. The Speaker informed Members that a letter from the Minister explaining the reasons why this was necessary had been included in their papers.

4.16 A representative of the opposition expressed reservations in relation to the scheduling of Executive Business on Opposition Day and that it would be preferable, if possible, to schedule the items on another date. The Speaker said that the Bill should have been introduced earlier, but noted the explanation provided by the Minister in his letter, setting out the exceptional need to schedule these items of business on 16 April.

4.17 The Committee agreed to schedule untimed debates for the Accelerated Passage motion and for Second Stage of the Bill.

4.18 Members noted that if the Assembly did not consent to the Bill proceeding by accelerated passage, second stage could not go ahead on that date.

4.19 Due to the additional business, the Committee agreed to defer the Alliance adjournment debate scheduled for 16 April.

4.20 The Committee agreed the Order Paper for Tuesday 16 April 2024.

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

Monday 22 April

5.1 Members noted that Question Time was scheduled for the Minister of Justice and Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

5.2 Members noted that the Executive had scheduled a legislative consent motion from the Minister for Communities on the Pensions (Special Rules for End of Life) Bill.

5.3 The Committee agreed to schedule an untimed debate for the LCM.

5.4 The Committee agreed to schedule Members’ Statements.

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

5.6 The following motions were scheduled:

• Ramming of Police Vehicles in South Armagh (DUP)
• Relationships and Sexuality Education (Alliance)

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

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

Tuesday 23 April

5.9 The Committee agreed to schedule a Public Petition for Peter McReynolds entitled ‘Commission Adult ADHD Services in Northern Ireland’.

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

5.11 Members noted that the Minister of Health had scheduled Consideration Stage of the Hospital Parking Charges Bill, subject to the successful passage of earlier stages on 16 April.

5.12 Members noted that by convention the debate would be untimed, but if no amendments were received Consideration Stage would last approximately 10 minutes.

5.13 Members agreed to schedule an untimed debate for Consideration Stage of the Hospital Parking Charges Bill.

5.14 The Committee agreed to schedule Members’ Statements.

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

5.16 The Committee agreed that Sinn Féin could notify the Business Office of its chosen motion by 3pm that day.

5.17 The DUP scheduled a motion entitled ‘Increasing the Number of Foster Carers’.

5.18 The Committee agreed to reschedule the Alliance adjournment debate on Maze/Long Kesh Redevelopment and Investment on this date.

5.19 The Committee agreed the Provisional Order Paper for Tuesday 23 April 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 16 April.

The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.13pm.

The Speaker
Chairperson