Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting began at 1.02pm

Present:

Mr T Clarke (Acting Chairperson)
Mr A Allen
Mr D Brooks
Ms S Ennis
Mrs M Guy
Mr P McGlone
Mr C McGrath

Observers:

Ms A Reilly Junior Minister
Mr D McCreedy Executive Office

In attendance:

Dr A McGarel Clerk of Business
Mr P Gill Clerk Assistant
Dr G McGrath Director of Parliamentary Services
Ms L Hogg Clerk / Chief Executive
Ms A McCabe Legal Services
Mr P Stitt PS to the Speaker
Ms P Devlin Assistant Assembly Clerk
Mr M O'Hare Clerical Supervisor

1 Apologies

1.1 Mr Clarke advised Members that the Speaker was unavailable and he would be chairing the meeting in his absence.

1.2 Apologies were received from Paula Bradshaw, John Stewart and Philip McGuigan.

2 Minutes of previous meeting

2.1 The minutes of the meeting on 4 March 2025 were agreed.

3 Matters Arising

3.1 There were no matters arising.

4 Order Papers and Indicative Timings for Tuesday 18 March

4.1 Members noted that there would be no sitting on Monday 17 March due to the St Patrick’s Day public holiday.

Tuesday 18 March

4.2 Members noted that Question Time was scheduled for the Executive Office.

4.3 Members noted that all business remained as scheduled at the last meeting with.

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

4.5 The Committee agreed the Order Paper for Tuesday 18 March.

5 Provisional Order Papers and Indicative Timings for 24 March 2025

Monday 24 March

5.1 The Committee agreed that opposition business would be given priority on this date.

5.2 Members noted that Question Time was scheduled for the Minister for Infrastructure and Minister of Justice.

5.3 Members noted that no Executive business had been scheduled.

5.4 The junior Minister advised that no Executive business was expected.

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

5.6 The Opposition representative selected the following three motions, two of which would be of 90 minutes’ duration and one of 60 minutes’ duration with the usual speaking times:

• Funding for Childcare
• Ambulance Waiting Times
• Green Energy Transition

5.7 Members’ attention was drawn to the convention that a motion that is the same in substance as another that has been debated by the Assembly within the last six months, should not be scheduled except with the agreement of the Business Committee, and that this convention could be considered to apply for two of the three selected opposition motions.

5.8 Following discussion, the Committee agreed that there had been a material change in circumstances surrounding the subject matter of one of the motions since the issue had last been debated and that the other was sufficiently dissimilar from a previous motion on the subject as it called on a different Minister to act, so both could be scheduled.

5.9 The Committee agreed that the opposition could notify the Business Office of their preferred running order of the motions after the meeting.

5.10 The junior Minister advised that all Ministers would be available to respond.

5.11 The Committee agreed the Provisional Order Paper for Monday 24 March.

Tuesday 25 March

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

5.13 Members noted that First Stage of the Deaths, Still-Births and Baby Loss Bill had been scheduled, and would be added to Indicative Timings when the Bill’s legislative competence had been confirmed.

5.14 The Committee agreed to schedule an untimed debate for the Ad Hoc Committee on the Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill to extend the committee stage of the Bill.

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

5.16 The Committee agreed to schedule the following Private Members’ motions for DUP and Alliance:

• Hydrogen Innovation Strategy
• Tackling the Financial and Societal Impacts of Division

5.17 The Committee agreed to schedule an adjournment debate and that the UUP could postpone their adjournment debate scheduled for later that day, and reschedule it on 25 March.

5.18 The junior Minister advised that all Ministers would be available to respond.

5.19 The Committee agreed the Provisional Order Paper for Tuesday 25 March.

6 Any Other Business

6.1 There was no other business.

7 Date and Time of Next Meeting

7.1 The Acting Speaker advised that the next meeting would take place in Room 106 during the lunchtime suspension on Tuesday 18 March.

The Acting Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.12pm.

Acting Chairperson