Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting began at 1.03 pm

Present:

The Speaker (Chairperson)
Ms P Bradshaw
Mr R Butler
Mr T Clarke
Ms S Ennis
Mr P McGlone
Mr C McGrath
Mr P McGuigan
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
Ms L Hogg Clerk / Chief Executive
Dr G McGrath Director of Parliamentary Services
Ms R Ellis 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
Mr K Marks Clerical Officer

1 Apologies

1.1 Apologies were received from Andy Allen, John Stewart and Nuala McAllister.

2 Minutes of previous meeting

2.1 The minutes of the meeting on 28 January 2025 were agreed.

3 Matters Arising

3.1 There were no matters arising.

4 Order Papers and Indicative Timings for week commencing 10 February

Monday 10 February

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

4.2 Members noted that Executive Business remained as scheduled at the last meeting.

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

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

4.5 Members noted a small amendment to the motion scheduled by People before Profit, and a Committee membership motion.

4.6 The Committee agreed the Order Paper for Monday 10 February.

Tuesday 11 February

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

4.8 Members noted that the LCM for Great British Energy Bill remained scheduled.

4.9 The Committee agreed to schedule an untimed debate to consider the Farm Sustainability (Transitional Provisions) Regulations (NI) 2025.

4.10 The junior Minister advised that no additional Executive business was expected at that time.

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

4.12 The Alliance party agreed to facilitate a switch of adjournment debate with Sinn Féin, because the Education Minister would be unavailable on this date.

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

• Waste Water Infrastructure in East Belfast

4.14 The Committee agreed the Order Paper for Tuesday 11 February.

5 Provisional Order Papers and Indicative Timings for week commencing 17 February 2025

Monday 17 February

5.1 The Committee agreed to schedule an untimed debate for Second Stage of the Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill.

5.2 The Committee agreed to schedule a motion to establish an Ad Hoc Committee to consider the Committee stage of the Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill comprising two Members each from Sinn Féin and the DUP and one each from Alliance, UUP and SDLP, to report to the Assembly by 1 April 2025.

5.3 The Committee agreed that this motion would be scheduled as a business motion with no amendment or debate.

5.4 Members noted that Question Time was scheduled for the Executive Office and Minister of Finance.

5.5 Members noted that five items of Executive business had been scheduled for this date, as follows:

• Motion to suspend Standing Order 10(2) to 10(4)
• Supply Resolution for Spring Supplementary Estimates 2024-25
• Supply Resolution for Vote on Account 2025-26
• Supply Resolution for Statement of Excesses 2023-24
• First Stage of the Budget Bill

5.6 The Committee agreed to schedule the motion to suspend Standing Orders as a business motion with no debate or amendment.

5.7 The Committee agreed to schedule a single debate for all three Supply Resolution motions.

5.8 The Committee agreed to allocate 4½ hours for the debate, with 1 hour for the Minister to use for the move and wind at his discretion, 10 minutes for a representative of the Opposition, 10 minutes for a representative of the Committee for Finance and 7 minutes for all other contributions.

5.9 The Committee agreed to schedule First Stage of the Budget Bill.

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

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

5.12 The Committee agreed that insufficient time was available to schedule Private Members motions.

5.13 The Committee agreed the Provisional Order Paper for Monday 17 February.

Tuesday 18 February

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

5.15 The Committee agreed to schedule untimed debates for the following Bill stages:

• Second Stage of the Budget Bill
• Second Stage of the Sign Language Bill
• Further Consideration Stage of the Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Bill

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

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

5.18 The Committee agreed not to schedule a Private Members motion.

5.19 The Committee agreed to reschedule the Sinn Féin adjournment debate which was originally scheduled for 11 February.

5.20 The Committee agreed the Provisional Order Paper for Tuesday 18 February.

6 Any Other Business

6.1 The Speaker advised Members that the Minister of Finance had written to him to explain the urgent need for the Budget Bill to receive Royal Assent before any department reaches the cash limit imposed by the Budget (No. 2) Act 2024 and is therefore seeking to schedule the last two stages of the Bill on Tuesday 25 February, which was provisionally scheduled to be the next opposition day.

6.2 The Speaker sought the views of the Opposition representatives on whether they preferred to schedule their business between the last two stages of the Bill on 25 February, or to defer opposition day until the following Tuesday.

6.3 The opposition representative advised that their preference was for the next opposition day to be deferred until Tuesday 4 March.

6.4 There was no other business.

7 Date and Time of Next Meeting

7.1 The Speaker advised that the next meeting would take place in Room 106 during the lunchtime suspension on Tuesday 11 February.

The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.13 pm.

The Speaker
Chairperson