Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting began at 1.03pm

Present:

The Speaker (Chairperson)
Mr D Brooks
Mr R Butler
Ms P Bradshaw
Mr T Clarke
Lord Elliott
Ms S Ennis
Mr P McGlone
Mr P McGuigan

Observers:

Ms A Reilly Junior Minister
Mr D McCreedy Executive Office

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 Apologies

1.1 Apologies were received from Nuala McAllister.

2 Minutes of previous meeting

2.1 The minutes of the meeting on 3 September 2024 were agreed.

3 Matters Arising

3.1 There were no matters arising.

4 Order Papers and Indicative Timings for week commencing 16 September

Monday 16 September

4.1 The Committee agreed to schedule a Public Petition for Ms Bradshaw.

4.2 The Committee agreed to schedule a Committee Membership motion for the DUP.

4.3 Members noted that Question Time would be for the Minister for Communities and the Minister Finance.

4.4 Members noted that one additional item of Executive Business had been scheduled for this date; a statement from the Executive Office on the Launch of the Ending Violence against Women and Girls Strategic Framework and First Delivery Plan for which the Speaker had already agreed plenary time would be available.

4.5 Members noted that all other business remained as scheduled at the last meeting.

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

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

4.8 The Speaker advised that Private Members’ motions for DUP and Sinn Féin had been scheduled at the last meeting but the detail of the Sinn Féin motion remained outstanding.

4.9 Sinn Féin selected the following motion:

• Dynamic Pricing

4.10 The Committee agreed the Order Paper for Monday 16 September.

Tuesday 17 September

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

4.12 Members noted that two items of Executive Business had been scheduled for this date, as follows:

o A statement from the Minister for Communities on the NSMC language body.
o First Stage of the Justice Bill.

4.13 Members noted that both items were subject to confirmation and would be included on Indicative Timings once formally notified.

4.14 The Committee agreed that the Bill stage would be scheduled as an untimed item.

4.15 Members noted that Members’ Statements and Committee Business remained as scheduled at the last meeting.

4.16 The Speaker advised that Private Members’ motions for DUP and Alliance had been agreed at the last meeting but details remained outstanding.

4.17 The Committee agreed to schedule the following motions:

• Funding for Health Service Transformation (DUP)
• Removing the Barriers to Green Growth

4.18 The Committee noted that the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister would not be available to respond to the DUP’s previously scheduled adjournment debate.

4.19 The Alliance representative agreed to check if another Minister could respond on behalf of the AERA Minister.

4.20 The Committee agreed the Order Paper for Tuesday 17 September.

5 Provisional Order Papers and Indicative Timings for week commencing 23 September

Monday 23 September

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

5.2 Members noted that four items of Executive Business had been requested for this date:

o A motion to suspend Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4)
o Final Stage of the Budget (No. 2) Bill
o Two Statutory Rules related to Occupational Pension Schemes from the Minister for Communities.

5.3 The Committee agreed to schedule the motion to suspend Standing Orders as a business motion with no debate or amendment.

5.4 The Committee agreed to schedule untimed debates for the three remaining items of business.

5.5 The junior Minister advised that no other business was expected at that time.

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

5.7 The Committee agreed that insufficient time was available to schedule Private Members business.

5.8 The Committee agreed the Provisional Order Paper for Monday 23 September.

Tuesday 24 September

5.9 Members noted that Question Time was scheduled for the Minister of Health.

5.10 Members noted that no Executive business was scheduled for this date.

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

5.12 The Committee agreed to schedule Private Members’ motions for Sinn Féin and DUP.

5.13 The Committee agreed to schedule the following motion for Sinn Féin:

• Lowering the Voting Age for 16 and 17 Year Olds

5.14 The Committee agreed that the detail of the DUP motion would be provided to Business Office at a later stage.

5.15 The Committee agreed to schedule the following adjournment debate for Alliance:

• Child Poverty in North Belfast

5.16 The Committee agreed the Provisional Order Paper for Tuesday 24 September. 

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 17 September in room 106, Parliament Buildings.

The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.10pm.

The Speaker
Chairperson