Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting began at 1.03pm

Present:

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

Observers:

Ms J Bunting Junior Minister
Mr D McCreedy Executive Office

In attendance:

Ms C McKay Clerk of Business
Dr G McGrath Director of Parliamentary Services
Ms L Hogg Clerk / Chief Executive
Ms H Smyth Legal Services
Mr R Ramsey Adviser to Speaker
Ms E Lynn Diary and Correspondence Secretary to Speaker
Mr M O'Hare Assistant Clerk
Ms S Garner Clerical Supervisor
Mr K Marks Clerical Officer

1 Apologies

1.1 Apologies were received from Nuala McAllister.

2 Minutes of previous meeting

2.1 The minutes of the meeting on 9 June 2026 were agreed.

3 Matters Arising

3.1 There were no matters arising.

4 Order Papers and Indicative Timings for week commencing 15 June

4.1 Members noted and discussed scheduling options, including the ongoing Consideration Stage of the Justice Bill, and agreed to look at it further when considering the Order Papers and Provisional Order Papers.

Monday 22 June

4.2 Members noted that Question Time was scheduled for The Executive Office and the Minister of Education.

4.3 Members agreed to schedule a motion to Suspend Standing Order 39(2) in relation to the passage of the Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill, and that the debate would be untimed.

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

4.5 Members agreed that the Consideration Stage of the Justice Bill would be scheduled as the last item of business.

4.6 Members agreed that Monday’s sitting would begin at 11.00am and conclude at around 10.30pm.

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

4.8 The Committee agreed the Order Paper for Monday 22 June.

Tuesday 23 June

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

4.10 Members noted that the following three additional items of Executive business had been scheduled:

• two motions from the Minister for Communities to approve Social Security Benefits Up-rating statutory rules; and
• a motion to approve the Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations.

4.11 The Committee agreed to schedule untimed debates for each of the items and that the two motions relating to social security rules would be considered in a single debate.

4.12 The junior Minister advised that two Ministerial Statements were expected from the Minister of Health and the Minister for Infrastructure.

4.13 The Committee agreed to schedule untimed debates for the following Committee extension motions:

• Committee Stage of the Hunting with Dogs Bill; and
• Committee Stage of the Education Inspections Bill.

4.14 Members agreed that the Consideration Stage of the Justice Bill would be scheduled as the last item of business and that the sitting would finish around 10.30pm.

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

4.16 The Committee agreed the Order Paper for Tuesday 23 June.

5 Provisional Order Papers and Indicative Timings for week commencing 29 June

Monday 29 June

5.1 The Committee agreed to schedule a Public Petition for Alan Chambers entitled ‘Save Our Trees’.

5.2 Members noted that Question Time was scheduled for the Minister of Health and the Minister for Infrastructure.

5.3 The Committee agreed to schedule untimed debates for the following items:

• The Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay (General) (Amendment) Regulations Northern Ireland) 2026

• The Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay (Employment and Earnings) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026

• The Mandatory Use of Closed Circuit Television in Slaughterhouses (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2026

5.4 The Committee agreed that time be allocated for the conclusion of any business that had not been finished at the sitting on Tuesday 23 June, as the last item of business, and that the sitting should end around 10.30pm.

5.5 The junior Minister advised that two Ministerial Statements from the Minister of Finance were expected on this date.

5.6 The Committee agreed to schedule a motion for the Committee on Procedures, seeking to Repeal of Standing Order 70 and Consequential Amendments and allocated 1 hour for the debate with 10 minutes to move the motion, 10 minutes for the Chairperson of the Standards and Privileges Committee, 5 minutes to wind and 3 minutes for all other contributors.

5.7 The Committee agreed to schedule a second motion for the Committee on Procedures to establish a new Standing Order 43A Scrutiny of Delegated Powers in Bills, and allocated 1 hour for the debate with 10 minutes to move the motion, 10 minutes for the wind and 5 minutes for all other contributors.

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

5.9 The Committee agreed that no Private Members business would be scheduled.

5.10 The Committee agreed the Provisional Order Paper for Monday 29 June.

Tuesday 30 June

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

5.12 The Committee agreed to schedule untimed debates for:

• Final Stage of the Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill;

• Further Consideration Stage of the Dilapidation Bill;

• Second Stage of the Fisheries, Aquaculture and Water Environment Bill;

• Second Stage of the Victims and Witnesses of Crime Bill; and

• Consideration Stage of the General Teaching Council Bill.

5.13 The Committee agreed that time be allocated for the conclusion of any business that had not been finished at the sitting on Monday 29 June, as the last item of business.

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

5.15 The Committee agreed that no Private Members business would be scheduled.

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

5.17 The Committee agreed the Provisional Order Paper for Tuesday 30 June.

6 Correspondence

6.1 The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee on Procedures regarding its progress to bring forward a motion on the repeal Standing Order 70.

6.2 The Committee noted correspondence from the Secretary of State in relation to the dissolution date ahead of the Assembly election and local council election on 6 May 2027.

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 during the lunchtime suspension on Tuesday 23 June in Room 106, Parliament Buildings.

The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.19pm

The Speaker
Chairperson