Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting began at 1.05pm

Present:

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

In attendance:

Dr A McGarel Clerk of Business
Mr P Gill Clerk Assistant
Ms R Ellis Legal Services
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 Nuala McAllister.

2 Minutes of previous meeting

2.1 The minutes of the meeting on 3 December 2024 were agreed.

3 Matters Arising

3.1 There were no matters arising.

4 Order Papers and Indicative Timings for week commencing 13 January 2025

Monday 13 January

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

4.2 The Committee agreed to schedule an untimed debate to consider the draft Human Medicines (Amendment) (Modular Manufacture and Point of Care) Regulations 2024.

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

4.4 The Committee agreed to schedule the following Private Members’ motions for Alliance and the DUP:

• Ambulance Waiting Times (ALL)
• Protecting Frontline Services from Increase in Employers’ National Insurance (DUP)

4.5 The Committee agreed the Order Paper for Monday 13 January 2025.

Tuesday 14 January

4.6 The Committee agreed that opposition business would be given priority on this date.

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

4.8 Members noted that no Executive Business had been requested.

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

4.10 The Committee agreed to schedule the following opposition motions:

• Ending violence against women and girls
• Tackling online violence against women and girls
• Relationships and Sexuality Education and Healthy Young Adult Relationships
• Gender based budgeting

4.11 The Speaker noted that some members had previously expressed concerns about timings for contributions to one-hour debates and asked the Committee if they wished to reconsider those timings.

4.12 The Committee agreed that speaking times would remain unchanged, with five minutes for the move and wind and three minutes for all other contributions.

4.13 The Committee agreed to reschedule the following adjournment debate for Alliance, which had been postponed on 10 December 2024:

• Integrated Education Provision in South Belfast

4.14 The Committee agreed the Order Paper for Tuesday 14 January.

5 Provisional Order Papers and Indicative Timings for week commencing 20 January 2025

Monday 20 January

5.1 Members noted that Question Time was scheduled for the Executive Office and Minister for the Economy.

5.2 The Committee agreed to schedule an untimed debate to consider the draft Period Products (Department of Health Specified Public Service Bodies) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024.

5.3 The Committee agreed to schedule a motion for the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to extend the Committee Stage of the Agriculture Bill, with no time limits to the debate.

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

5.5 The Committee agreed to schedule the following Private Members’ motions for UUP and Sinn Féin.

• Protection of Rights and Safety in Custodial Facilities (UUP)
• Specialist Autism Mental Health Services (SF)

5.6 The Committee agreed the Provisional Order Paper for Monday 20 January.

Tuesday 21 January

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

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

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

5.10 The Committee agreed to schedule the following Private Members’ motions for the DUP and Sinn Féin:

• Unlocking Funding for Childcare Providers (DUP)
• Reducing Stigma in Mental Illness (SF)

5.11 The Committee agreed to schedule the following adjournment debate for Sinn Féin:

• Improved Access to the Accident and Emergency Department in Altnagelvin Hospital

5.12 The Committee agreed the Provisional Order Paper for Tuesday 21 January.

6 Any Other Business

6.1 There was no other business.

7 Date and Time of Next Meeting

7.1 The Speaker advised that the next scheduled meeting would take place on Tuesday 14 January in Room 106, Parliament Buildings.

The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.12pm.

The Speaker
Chairperson