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
Ms S Ennis
Mr T Gaston
Mr C McGrath

Observers:

Ms A Reilly 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
Ms L Hogg Clerk / Chief Executive
Ms C Byers Legal Services
Mr R Ramsey Adviser to Speaker
Mr P Stitt Private Secretary to the Speaker
Mr M O’Hare Clerical Supervisor
Mr K Marks Clerical Officer

1 Apologies

1.1 Apologies were received from Claire Sugden, Nuala McAllister, Philip McGuigan and Patsy McGlone.

2 Minutes of previous meeting

2.1 The minutes of the meeting on 24 February 2026 were agreed.

3 Matters Arising

3.1 There were no matters arising.

4 Order Papers and Indicative Timings for week commencing 2 March

Monday 9 March

4.1 Members noted their previous agreement that Opposition business would be given priority on this date.

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

4.3 Members noted that since last meeting, the Minister of Health had scheduled one item of business for this date, First Stage of the Hospital Parking Charges Bill. Members noted correspondence from the Minister, setting out the need for the Bill to pass via accelerated passage (with Second Stage scheduled the next day) and requesting that the First Stage is scheduled on Opposition Day.

4.4 Following discussion, the Committee noted that it was regrettable that Executive business is being sought on an Opposition day, and that Second Stage is being sought the day after the Bill’s introduction.

4.5 The Committee agreed that First Stage of the Bill would be scheduled after Opposition business was completed, and it would only appear on Indicative Timings when the Speaker was satisfied that it was within legislative competence.

4.6 The Committee also agreed to write to the Minister of Health, copied to all Ministers, to advise that:

• A bill should always be introduced in sufficient time to ensure that Members have a proper opportunity to consider it in advance of its Second Stage debate; and
• Acknowledging that there may be, in exceptional circumstances, for reasons of emergency, the need for a Second Stage to be scheduled shortly after introduction, it is not acceptable to limit the Assembly’s time for carrying out scrutiny because of delays within the department or the Executive.

4.7 The Committee noted that no other Executive business was expected. The junior Minister advised that the Minister for the Economy and the Minister of Education were unavailable for Assembly Business this week.

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

4.9 The Committee agreed the Order Paper for Monday 9 March.
Tuesday 10 March
4.10 Members noted that Question Time was scheduled for the Minister for Communities and the Assembly Commission.

4.11 The Committee agreed to schedule an untimed debate for the following items of business:

• Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026;
• Accelerated Passage motion for the Hospital Parking Charges Bill; and
• Second Stage of the Hospital Parking Charges Bill.

4.12 Members noted that if the Assembly does not give its consent for the Hospital Parking Charges Bill to proceed by accelerated passage, Second Stage would not be able to proceed on that date.

4.13 The junior Minister advised that there was currently no further Executive Business for this week.

4.14 The Committee agreed to schedule a Public Petition for David Brooks entitled ‘Protection of Christianity and Christian Ethos within our Schools’.

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

4.16 The Committee agreed the Order Paper for Tuesday 10 March.

5 Provisional Order Papers and Indicative Timings for Monday 16 March

Monday 16 March

5.1 Members noted that because of the St Patrick’s Day public holiday, there would only be one sitting this week.

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

5.3 The Committee agreed to schedule an untimed debate for Second Stage of the Criminal Justice (Sentencing etc) Bill.

5.4 The junior Minister advised that there was currently no further Executive Business for this week.

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

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

• Women’s Health Strategy (Claire Sugden)
• Illegal US and Israeli Attacks on Iran (Sinn Féin)

5.7 The Committee agreed the Provisional Order Paper for Monday 16 March.

6 Any Other Business

6.1 There was discussion about comments which had made in the Chamber on Monday 2nd March regarding timeframes for bringing legislation in the last year of the mandate, and plenary finishing at 4pm the Monday before. The Speaker informed Members that he had written to the First Minister and deputy Minister, on behalf of the Committee, for an update on their Legislative Programme and it was agreed that it would be revisited once a response was received.

6.2 The Committee agreed to meet on Monday 16 March following the adjournment of the Assembly, or at a time yet to be decided if the sitting was running beyond its scheduled finish time.

7 Date and Time of Next Meeting

7.1 The Speaker advised that the next meeting would take place on Tuesday 10 March in Room 106, Parliament Buildings.

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

The Speaker
Chairperson