Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting began at 1.03pm

Present:

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

Observers:

Ms J Bunting Junior Minister
Mr D McCreedy Executive Office

In attendance:

Ms C McKay Clerk of Business
Mr P Gill Clerk Assistant
Dr G McGrath Director of Parliamentary Services
Mr J McMillen Head of Legal Services
Mr R Ramsey Adviser to Speaker
Ms E Lynn Diary Secretary 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 Claire Sugden, Philip McGuigan, and Paula Bradshaw.

1.2 Members noted that Mr Gaston was attending as a substitute for Ms Sugden.

2. Declaration of Interests

2.1 Mr Timothy Gaston declared an interest in relation to business scheduled on the draft Order Paper for Monday 2 February and advised that he would recuse himself from the consideration of, and any discussions on, the draft Order Paper and Indicative Timings for Monday 2 February.

3 Minutes of previous meeting

3.1 The minutes of the meeting on 20 January 2026 were agreed.

4 Matters Arising

4.1 There were no matters arising.

5 Order Papers and Indicative Timings for week commencing 2 February

Monday 2 February

5.1 The Committee agreed to schedule a Committee Membership motion for the UUP. The Speaker noted that this motion was to replace Robbie Butler on the Business Committee and thanked Mr Butler for his contribution to the work of the Committee.

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

5.3 The junior Minister advised that no other Executive business was expected.

5.4 Members noted that plenary time for a motion from the Committee on Standards and Privileges remained scheduled, and that the motion, the detail of which was provided on the draft Order Paper, seeks to impose a sanction on Mr Timothy Gaston following an investigation by the Commissioner for Standards.

5.5 The Committee agreed to allocate 90 minutes for the debate including 10 minutes for move and wind and 10 minutes to be allocated to the complainant and respondent, with the respondent being able to choose whether to speak after the complainant or before the wind.

5.6 Members noted that all other business was as scheduled at the last meeting.

5.7 The Committee agreed the Order Paper for Monday 2 February.

Tuesday 3 February

5.8 Members noted that Question Time was scheduled for the Minister of Finance.

5.9 Members noted that no Executive business had been scheduled.

5.10 The junior Minister advised that the Minister of Finance may make a statement on an NSMC SEUPB meeting on this date.

5.11 The Committee agreed to the DUP request to change their motion scheduled at last week’s meeting on Tackling Motor Insurance Costs for Young Drivers to a motion on Reform of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, following the Minister for Infrastructure’s announcement on graduated licences for young drivers announced earlier that day. The Committee agreed that the text of the motion would be provided after the meeting.

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

5.13 The Committee agreed the Order Paper for Tuesday 3 February.

6 Provisional Order Papers and Indicative Timings for week commencing 9 February

Monday 9 February

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

6.2 The Committee agreed to schedule an untimed debate for a Legislative Consent Motion for the Public Office (Accountability) Bill.

6.3 The Speaker emphasised the importance of the timeliness of LCMs to enable proper scrutiny.

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

6.5 The Committee agreed to schedule the following Private Members’ motion for Sinn Féin:

• Commissioned Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Services

6.6 The Committee agreed to schedule a motion for Alliance, the detail of which would be provided after the meeting.

6.7 The junior Minister advised that there may be two statements from the Minister for the Economy on this date, both relating to NSMC meetings.

6.8 The Committee agreed the Provisional Order Paper for Monday 9 February

Tuesday 10 February

6.9 The Committee agreed that Opposition business would be given priority on this date.

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

6.11 Members noted that no Executive business had been scheduled.

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

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

6.14 The Opposition representative selected the following motions:

• Breach of the Ministerial Code of Conduct
• Rejecting the Non-Domestic Rates Revaluation
• Social Media Restrictions for Children and Young People

6.15 The Committee agreed to allocate 90 minutes for the first two motions and 60 minutes for the third motion, with associated speaking times.

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

• Access to GP Services within South Antrim

6.17 The Committee agreed the Provisional Order Paper for Tuesday 10 February.

7 Adjournment Debates: Review Re Eligibility Of Topics

7.1 Members noted a paper reviewing the eligibility of topics for adjournment debates.

7.2 The Committee agreed that adjournment debates should continue to focus on localised constituency matters and agreed a specific definition to reflect this.

7.3 The Committee agreed to endorse other principles and conventions regarding the process for when a tabling member is unavailable and where the topic is not under the responsibility of a Minister.

8 Any Other Business

8.1 There was no other business.

9 Date and Time of Next Meeting

9.1 The Speaker advised that the next meeting would take place on Tuesday 3 February in Room 106, Parliament Buildings.

The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.14pm.

The Speaker
Chairperson