Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting began at 1.04pm

Present:

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

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
Ms H Smyth Legal Services
Mr R Ramsey Adviser to Speaker
Ms E Lynn Diary and Correspondence Secretary to the 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 the Speaker and Nuala McAllister.

2 Minutes of previous meeting

2.1 The minutes of the meeting on 8 September 2026 were agreed.

3 Matters Arising

3.1 Members noted that the Second Stage of the Display of Flags and Emblems Bill was not concluded on 14 September 2026 and, in line with Standing Order 10(3C), it is postponed until such times as the Business Committee determines.

3.2 The Committee also noted that it was unlikely all of the business on the Order Paper for Tuesday 14 September would be reached and noted options for either concluding the business (in line with Standing Order 10(5)) or rescheduling these items.

3.3 The Committee agreed that the sitting on Tuesday 15 September should be adjourned no later than 10.30pm, on the basis that any business not concluded would be rescheduled for the following week.

3.4 The Committee agreed to issue a revised Order Paper for Tuesday 15 September removing the following items:

• Second Stage – Housing (Amendment) Bill;
• Consideration Stage – Irish-medium Education (Workforce Plan) Bill; and
• Adjournment debate on Modernisation of A26 Frosses Road.

3.5 Following discussion on whether it might be possible to defer votes to a later sitting, the Committee noted potential difficulties with this approach.

4 Order Papers and Indicative Timings for week commencing 21 September

Monday 21 September

4.1 Members noted that Question Time was scheduled for the Executive Office and the Minister of Health.

4.2 Members noted that no Executive Business had been scheduled.

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

4.4 The Committee agreed to schedule untimed debates for the Committee for Infrastructure to extend the Committee Stage of the Harbours Bill and the Committee for Justice to extend the Committee Stage of the Victims and Witnesses of Crime Bill.

4.5 Following discussion, the Committee agreed that the sitting should adjourn no later than 10.30pm, and to schedule untimed debates for the following items:

• Second Stage – Tree Protection Bill
• Consideration Stage – Education (Holiday Meal Payments) Bill
• Second Stage – Housing (Amendment) Bill
• Consideration Stage – Irish-medium Education (Workforce Plan) Bill.

4.6 The Committee agreed the Order Paper for Monday 21 September.

Tuesday 22 September

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

4.8 Members noted that no Executive Business had been scheduled.

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

4.10 The Committee agreed to schedule two untimed debates for the Committee for Economy to extend both the Committee Stages of the Regional Balance Bill and the Renewable Electricity Generation Bill.

4.11 Members agreed that the following items of planned business would be postponed;

• UUP motion on Banning the Use of Aversive Training Tools for Domestic Animals;
• SF motion on Geo-blocking of RTÉ;
• SF Adjournment debate on Continuous Delay of Promised New Build at Oakridge Social Education Centre, Dungannon.

4.12 Following discussion, the Committee agreed to reschedule untimed debates for the following items:

• Second Stage of the Display of Flags and Emblems Bill; and
• Consideration of business not concluded on Tuesday 15 September 2026.

4.13 The Committee agreed that the sitting should adjourn no later than 10.30pm on the basis that any business not concluded would be rescheduled for the following week.

4.14 The Committee agreed the Order Paper for Tuesday 22 September.

5 Provisional Order Papers and Indicative Timings for week commencing 28 September

Monday 28 September

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

5.2 Members noted that no Executive Business had been scheduled.

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

5.4 The Committee agreed to schedule a motion for the Committee on Standards relating to its Report on proposed updates to the Assembly Members' Code of Conduct and the Guide to the Rules relating to the Conduct of Members, 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.

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

5.6 The Committee agreed to schedule a Public Petition for Nick Mathison entitled ‘Install Road Safety Measures in Darragh Cross’.

5.7 The Committee agreed to provisionally schedule an item so that business not concluded on Tuesday 22 September could resume, if required, and that this would be revisited at next week’s meeting.

5.8 The Committee agreed the Provisional Order Paper for Monday 28 September.

Tuesday 29 September

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

5.10 The Committee agreed to schedule an untimed debate for the following item:

• The draft Grants to Water and Sewerage Undertakers Order (Northern Ireland) 2027.

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

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

5.13 The Committee agreed to schedule a Public Petition for Eóin Tennyson entitled ‘Bus Service Provision in Bleary’.

5.14 The Committee agreed to provisionally schedule an item so that business not concluded on Monday 28 September could resume, if required, and that this would be revisited at next week’s meeting.

5.15 The Committee agreed the Provisional Order Paper for Tuesday 29 September.

6 Any Other Business

6.1 There was no other business.

7 Date and Time of Next Meeting

7.1 The Acting Speaker advised that the next meeting would take place during the
lunchtime suspension on Tuesday 22 September in Room 106, Parliament
Buildings.

The Acting Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.48pm

The Speaker