Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting began at 1.01pm

Present:

The Speaker
Mr D Brooks
Mr R Butler
Mr T Clarke
Ms S Ennis
Mrs M Guy
Miss N McAllister
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
Mr A Leitch Legal Services
Mr R Ramsey Adviser to the Speaker
Ms L Whinnery Assistant PS to Speaker
Ms P Devlin Assistant Assembly Clerk
Mr M O'Hare Clerical Supervisor

1 Apologies

1.1 Apologies were received from Paula Bradshaw, Andy Allen, John Stewart, Claire Sugden and Philip McGuigan.

1.2 The Speaker welcomed Robbie Butler who was attending as a substitute for the UUP, and thanked Mr Clarke and Ms Ennis for chairing previous meetings in his absence.

2 Minutes of previous meeting

2.1 The minutes of the meeting on 18 March 2025 were agreed.

3 Matters Arising

3.1 There were no matters arising.

4 Order Papers and Indicative Timings for week commencing 31 March

Monday 31 March

4.1 Members noted that Question Time would be for the Executive Office and Minister for Communities.

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

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

4.4 The Committee agreed the Order Paper for Monday 31 March.

Tuesday 1 April

4.5 Members noted that Question Time was scheduled for the Minister for the Economy and the Assembly Commission.

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

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

4.8 The Committee agreed the Order Paper for Tuesday 1 April.

5 Provisional Order Papers and Indicative Timings for week commencing 7 April 2025

Monday 7 April

5.1 Members noted that Question Time was scheduled for the Minister of Education and Minister of Finance.

5.2 The Committee agreed to schedule untimed debates for the following items of business:

• Second Stage of the Deaths, Still-Births and Baby Loss Bill
• The draft Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) (Amendment) Regulations 2024

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

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

5.5 The Committee agreed to schedule an untimed debate for the Committee on Education to extend the Committee Stage of the School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill.

5.6 The Committee agreed to schedule a motion for the Committee for Health on the Core Grant Scheme, with 90 minutes for the debate, 10 minutes each for the move and wind and five minutes for all other contributions.

5.7 The Committee agreed that Private Members’ motions would not be scheduled.

5.8 The Committee agreed the Provisional Order Paper for Monday 7 April.

Tuesday 8 April

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

5.10 The Committee agreed to schedule untimed debates for the following items of business:

• Final Stage of the Child Support Enforcement Bill
• Legislative Consent Motion for the Employment Rights Bill
• The Northern Ireland Climate Commissioner Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025

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

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

5.13 The Committee agreed to schedule a joint motion from the Committee for Finance and Committee for the Economy on the impact of the 2024 Autumn Budget Statement, with 90 minutes for the debate, 10 minutes each for the move and wind and five minutes for all other contributions.

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

• Lack of respite provision in the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust

5.15 The Committee agreed the Provisional Order Paper for Tuesday 8 April.

6 Draft Question Time Rota

6.1 The Committee agreed the Question Time rota for April to July 2025.

6.2 The Speaker informed Members that the deadline for names for the ballot for the first question time after the Easter recess would be Tuesday 1 April, and the deadline for tabling questions would be Thursday 3 April.

7 Any Other Business

7.1 The Speaker advised Members that a paper on recess dates would be provided to the Committee for consideration at the next meeting.

7.2 There was no other business.

8 Date and Time of Next Meeting

8.1 The Speaker advised that the next meeting would take place in Room 106 during the lunchtime suspension on Tuesday 1 April.

The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.07pm.

The Speaker
Chairperson