Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting began at 1.00pm

Present:

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

Observers:

Mrs P Cameron 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 J McMillen Head of Legal Services
Mr R Ramsey Adviser to the Speaker
Ms E Lynn Diary Secretary to Speaker
Ms P Devlin Assistant Assembly Clerk
Mr M O'Hare Clerical Supervisor

1 Apologies

1.1 Apologies were received from Andy Allen and Nuala McAllister.

2 Minutes of previous meeting

2.1 The minutes of the meeting on 19 November were agreed.

3 Matters Arising

3.1 There were no matters arising.

4 Order Papers and Indicative Timings for week commencing 2 December

Monday 2 December

4.1 The Committee agreed to schedule Committee Membership motions for Sinn Féin and the DUP.

4.2 Members noted that Question Time would be for the Minister for the Economy and Minister of Education.

4.3 Members noted that there was no Executive Business.

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

4.5 The junior Minister advised of a potential statement from the Minister of Justice.

4.6 The Committee agreed the Order Paper for Monday 2 December.

Tuesday 3 December

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

4.8 Members noted that the Agriculture Bill had been introduced the day before so its Second Stage remained scheduled.

4.9 The junior Minister indicated that no other Executive business was expected at that time.

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

4.11 The Committee agreed the Order Paper for Tuesday 3 December.

5 Provisional Order Papers and Indicative Timings for week commencing 9 December

Monday 9 December

5.1 The Committee agreed to schedule a Public Petition for Connie Egan.

5.2 The Committee agreed to schedule a one-hour debate for a motion from the Assembly Commission on its budget for 2025-2026 with up to 10 minutes for the move and wind and up to five minutes for all other contributions.

5.3 Members noted that Question Time was scheduled for the Executive Office and Minister of Health.

5.4 The Speaker informed members that he had received a letter from the Executive Office advising that, as the deputy First Minister had responded to oral questions the previous day, the First Minister would be responding to questions on 9 December.

5.5 The Committee agreed this change to the rota.

5.6 The Committee agreed to schedule an untimed debate for a legislative consent motion on the Arbitration Bill.

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

5.8 The Committee agreed to schedule a motion from the Committee for Communities on Welfare Supplementary Payments, with an hour and a half for the debate and the usual timings.

5.9 The Committee agreed to schedule an all-party motion on behalf of the Women’s Caucus, with an hour and a half for the debate and the usual timings.

5.10 The Committee agreed the Provisional Order Paper for Monday 9 December.

Tuesday 10 December

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

5.12 The junior Minister advised of the possibility of a statement from the Minister for Infrastructure.

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

5.14 The Speaker reminded members of his preference that the debate on a democratic consent motion should take place during a scheduled sitting and that, as this was the last scheduled plenary before Christmas recess, he recommended that the Committee sets aside time for that debate and if a democratic consent motion has not been tabled by the next meeting, the Committee could schedule private members’ motions instead.

5.15 The Committee agreed to the Speaker’s proposed approach.

5.16 The Speaker advised members that, as the period during which any Member may table a democratic consent motion commenced over the weekend, he would inform parties at the close of business on Friday 29 November if a motion had been tabled by FMdFM, noting that although this did not prevent FMdFM from tabling a motion on Saturday 30 November, it would give parties an indication of the situation during normal working hours.

5.17 The Speaker advised that the wording of the democratic consent is defined in law and cannot be varied or amended, and so he expected parties to collaborate with each other when tabling the motion; agreeing in advance which names would appear on the Order Paper and which members would move and wind on the motion. He noted that if parties were unable to cooperate, he would consider all tabled democratic consent motions as a single cross-party motion and ask the tabling parties to submit one name to appear on the order paper and agree who will move and wind on the motion.

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

• Integrated Education Provision in South Belfast

5.19 The Committee agreed the Provisional Order Paper for Tuesday 10 December.

6 Question Time Rota for January – Easter 2025

6.1 The Committee agreed a draft Question Time rota for the period January to Easter 2025.

6.2 Members noted that names for the ballot for the first Question Time in January should be submitted to Business Office by Tuesday 10 December.

7 Any Other Business

7.1 A member asked if guidance required that MLAs who make contributions in the Chamber in Irish are required to notify other Members that they intend to do so.

7.2 Whips agreed to remind Members who contribute in Irish to briefly pause to allow other Members to get their headphones on in sufficient time to hear the translation in full.

7.3 There was no other business.

8 Date and Time of Next Meeting

8.1 The Speaker advised that the next meeting would take place at 1pm on Tuesday 3 December in room 106, Parliament Buildings.

The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.11pm.

The Speaker
Chairperson