Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting began at 1.01pm

Present:

The Speaker (Chairperson)
Mr D Brooks
Mr R Butler
Mr T Clarke
Ms S Ennis
Miss N McAllister
Mr C McGrath

Observers:

Mrs 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
Dr G McGrath Director of Parliamentary Services
Ms T Caul Director of Legal, Governance and Research Services
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 Paula Bradshaw, Claire Sugden, Patsy McGlone, Lord Elliott and Philip McGuigan.

2 Minutes of previous meeting

2.1 The minutes of the meeting on 25 June 2024 were agreed.

2.2 The minutes of the meeting on 6 August 2024 were agreed.

3 Matters Arising

3.1 There were no matters arising.

4 Procedural Issues Arising from Recent Co-Options

4.1 Members noted that following the recent general election, four new MLAs had been co-opted to the Assembly.

4.2 Members noted that the co-option of Peter Martin in place of Alex Easton increased the DUP’s representation from 25 to 26 Members, which had implications for Committee membership and other previously agreed administrative procedures.

4.3 The Speaker advised that papers had been circulated in advance and invited the Clerk Assistant to summarise the necessary changes to committee membership.

4.4 The Sinn Féin representative confirmed that the party would give up one of its three places on the Committee for the Executive Office.

4.5 The Committee agreed that Timothy Gaston would be offered a position on the Committee for the Executive Office and, if he accepts, agreed that a motion would be tabled in the name of the Business Committee appointing Mr Gaston as a member.

4.6 The Committee agreed that no further action was necessary in relation to standing committee membership.

4.7 The Committee agreed the revised seating plan for the Assembly Chamber.

4.8 The Committee agreed to adopt the revised speaking list.

4.9 The Committee agreed that the revised rotas for private members’ motions and adjournment debates would apply going forward.

5 Order Papers and Indicative Timings for week commencing 9 September

Monday 9 September

5.1 The Committee agreed to schedule Committee Membership motions for the UUP and Alliance.

5.2 Members noted that Question Time would be for the Executive Office and the Minister of Justice.

5.3 Members noted that one item of Executive Business had been requested for this date; Consideration Stage of the Budget (No.2) Bill.
5.4 Members agreed to schedule an untimed debate for Consideration Stage of the Bill.

5.5 The junior Minister advised that no further 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 to schedule Private Members’ motions for DUP and Sinn Féin.

5.8 The following motion was scheduled for the DUP:
• Making the Case for Additional Police Resources

5.9 The Committee agreed that Sinn Féin would provide a motion to Business Office after the meeting.

5.10 The junior Minister advised that the Justice Minister was available.

5.11 The Committee agreed the Order Paper for Monday 9 September.

Tuesday 10 September

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

5.13 Members noted that no Executive Business had been scheduled for this date.

5.14 The junior Minister advised that no business was currently expected.

5.15 Members noted that the Committee for Communities was seeking to schedule a motion to extend the Committee Stage of the Child Support Enforcement Bill.

5.16 The Committee agreed to schedule an untimed debate for the Committee for Communities’ extension motion.

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

5.18 The Committee agreed to schedule the following Private Members’ motions:

• Budgetary Pressures (Alliance)
• Late Payments in the Public Sector (DUP)

5.19 The Committee agreed to schedule an adjournment debate for Sinn Féin, the topic of which would be provided to Business Office after the meeting.

5.20 The Committee agreed the Order Paper for Tuesday 10 September.

6 Provisional Order Papers and Indicative Timings for week commencing 16 September

Monday 16 September

6.1 Members noted that Question Time was scheduled for the Minister for Communities and Minister for the Economy.

6.2 The Speaker advised that he had received correspondence from the Minister for the Economy seeking to switch his Question Time slot with that of the Minister of Finance on 23 September.

6.3 The Committee agreed to the requested switch, so the Minister for the Economy would respond to oral questions on 23 September and the Minister of Finance on 16 September.

6.4 Members noted that two items of Executive Business had been requested for this date:

o Further Consideration Stage of the Budget (No.2) Bill
o A motion to suspend Standing Order 39(2) in respect of the Budget No. 2 Bill

6.5 Members agreed to schedule untimed debates for both items of business.

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

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

6.8 The Committee agreed to schedule Private Members’ motions for UUP and Sinn Féin.

6.9 The following Private Members’ motion was scheduled for the UUP:

• Great Britain to Northern Ireland Trade

6.10 The Committee agreed that Sinn Féin would provide a motion to Business Office after the meeting.

6.11 The Committee agreed the Provisional Order Paper for Monday 16 September.

Tuesday 17 September

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

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

6.14 Members noted that the Committee on Procedures wished to schedule a motion to amend Standing Order 30, for which it had requested one hour of plenary time.

6.15 The Committee agreed to schedule a one-hour debate for the Committee on Procedures with ten minutes to move / wind and five minutes for all other speakers.

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

6.17 The Committee agreed to schedule Private Members’ motions for DUP and Alliance, the details of which would be provided to Business Office at a later stage.

6.18 The Committee agreed to schedule the following adjournment debate for the DUP:

• Pollution in Lough Erne

6.19 The Committee agreed the Provisional Order Paper for Tuesday 17 September.

7 Any Other Business

7.1 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 10 September in room 106, Parliament Buildings.

The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.17pm.

 The Speaker
Chairperson