Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting began at 1.00pm

Present:

The Speaker (Chairperson)
Mr A Allen
Ms P Bradshaw
Mr D Brooks
Mr T Clarke
Ms S Ennis
Mr P McGlone
Mr C McGrath
Mr J Stewart

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 C Byers Legal Adviser
Mr R Ramsey Adviser to the Speaker
Mr P Stitt PS to Speaker
Ms P Devlin Assistant Assembly Clerk
Mr M O'Hare Clerical Supervisor

1 Apologies

1.1 Apologies were received from Claire Sugden, Philip McGuigan and Nuala McAllister.

2 Minutes of previous meeting

2.1 The minutes of the meeting on 12 November were agreed.

3 Matters Arising

3.1 There were no matters arising.

4 Order Papers and Indicative Timings for week commencing 25 November

Monday 25 November

4.1 Members noted that Question Time would be for the Executive Office and Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

4.2 Members noted that there was no additional Executive Business.

4.3 Members noted that the First Stage of the Agriculture Bill would appear on Indicative Timings when legislative competence has been confirmed.

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

4.5 Members noted that the Private Members’ motion scheduled by Alliance at the last meeting had called on the First Minister and deputy First Minister for response, but as the issues raised fell within the remit of the Minister for Communities, the text of the motion had been revised with the consent of the Alliance party.

4.6 The junior Minister advised that no other business was expected.

4.7 The Committee agreed the Order Paper for Monday 25 November. 

Tuesday 26 November

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

4.9 Members noted that a motion to approve a Statutory Instrument on Greenhouse Gas Emissions remained scheduled, but there was no additional Executive Business.

4.10 The junior Minister advised that there may be a statement from the Minister of Health on this date.

4.11 Members noted that the motion from the Committee on Procedures, for which they had scheduled time last week, was now available and made provision in Standing Orders for the establishment of the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee.

4.12 Members noted that all other business remained as scheduled last week.

4.13 The Committee agreed the Order Paper for Tuesday 26 November. 

5 Provisional Order Papers and Indicative Timings for week commencing 2 December

Monday 2 December

5.1 The Committee agreed to schedule the presentation of a Public Petition by Andrew McMurray calling for the Mourne Mountain Gondola Project to be stopped.

5.2 Members noted that Question Time was scheduled for the Minister for the Economy and Minister of Education.

5.3 Members noted that no Executive Business had been requested.

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

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

5.6 The Committee agreed to schedule Private Members motions.

5.7 The Sinn Féin representative noted that an All-party motion on Homelessness had been tabled and recommended it should be scheduled to correspond with Homelessness Awareness week, if other parties were content.

5.8 The Committee noted that by convention, All-party motions are scheduled without a party using their pick and agreed to schedule an All-party motion on Homelessness Awareness Week 2024.

5.9 The Committee agreed to schedule a Private Members motion for Sinn Féin relating to regulation of the aesthetics industry, which was already on the No Day Named List but a slight reword would be provided after the meeting.

5.10 The Committee agreed the Provisional Order Paper for Monday 2 December.

Tuesday 3 December

5.11 Members noted that Question Time was scheduled for the Minister of Finance and the Assembly Commission.

5.12 The Committee agreed to schedule an untimed debate for Second Stage of the Agriculture Bill, subject to the Bill being introduction on 25 November.

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

5.14 The Committee agreed to schedule the following Private Members’ motion for SDLP:
• All-Island Rail Fares

5.15 The Committee agreed to schedule the following adjournment debate for the DUP:
• Need for significant roadworks across South Down

5.16 The junior Minister confirmed all Ministers were available to respond.

5.17 The Committee agreed the Provisional Order Paper for Tuesday 3 December.

6 Any Other Business

6.1 A Member asked the Speaker if he could clarify the procedure around the granting of an extra minute to a Member who accepts an intervention during contributions to debate.

6.2 The Speaker advised that the intended purpose of this convention was to encourage debate in the Chamber and allow time for a Member to respond to an intervention. He emphasised that allowing an extra minute was solely at the discretion of the Chair and that if a Member who has only seconds left to speak accepts an intervention, they are unlikely to be given additional time.

6.3 A Member expressed the view that 3 minutes to speak in a debate was very restrictive, suggested five minutes would be more appropriate with parties submitting fewer speakers, and asked the Opposition to consider this for future Opposition days.

6.4 The Opposition representative responded that they had taken this approach because when they had scheduled longer debates, there were few speakers from other parties and the debates often finished ahead of time as a result.

6.5 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 26 November in room 106, Parliament Buildings.

The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.09pm.

The Speaker
Chairperson