Committee on Procedures
Minutes of Proceedings - 21 May 2025
Committee on Procedures - 21 May 2025.pdf (101.41 kb)
Meeting Location: Room 21, Parliament Buildings
Present: Órlaithí Flynn MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Present by Video or Teleconference:
Trevor Clarke MLA
Danny Donnelly MLA
Aoife Finnegan MLA
William Irwin MLA
Maolíosa McHugh MLA
Apologies:
Kellie Armstrong MLA (Chairperson)
Robbie Butler MLA
Cara Hunter MLA
In Attendance:
Stella McArdle, Assembly Clerk
Christine Darrah, Assembly Clerk
Michael Best, Assistant Assembly Clerk
Veronica Lo Pinto, Clerical Officer
The meeting started at 10.12 a.m. in public session.
1. Apologies
As above.
2. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 7 May 2025.
3. Matters Arising
None.
4. Scrutiny of Delegated Powers in Bills - Briefing by Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the meeting should move into closed session.
The meeting moved into closed session at 10.13 a.m.
Danny Donnelly joined the meeting at 10.14 a.m.
The Deputy Chairperson welcomed Ms Angela Kelly, Examiner of Statutory Rules (ESR) to the Assembly, to the meeting.
Ms Kelly briefed the Committee on the scrutiny of delegated powers in Bills and her current role in the process
The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
The Deputy Chairperson thanked Ms Kelly and she left the meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider provision in Standing Orders for the current role undertaken by the ESR in relation to the scrutiny of delegated powers in legislation and the publication of her reports.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to commission a draft Standing Order and associated legal advice from Assembly Legal Services to provide for the current role of the ESR in the scrutiny of delegated powers in legislation and publication of her reports.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to add consideration of the scrutiny of delegated powers in bills subject to accelerated passage to its list of future work items to be considered for prioritisation at its next review of strategic priorities.
5. Inquiry into Extension of Standing Order 27A Voting by Proxy - Bereavement - Legal Advice
The Chairperson welcomed Mr Adam Leitch, Assembly Legal Adviser, to the meeting.
Mr Leitch outlined an illustrative draft Standing Order and associated legal advice to provide for bereavement in Standing Order 27A Voting by Proxy.
The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
The Deputy Chairperson thanked Mr Leitch and he left the meeting.
The Committee indicated a preferred approachthat Standing Order 27A should be amended to include a reference to bereavement.
The Committee discussed a range of issues relating to the categories of bereavement and duration of a proxy vote for bereavement.
The Committee discussed a number of principles that may be included in the Standing Order.
The Deputy Chairperson advised the Committee that consideration on the principles and practical/administrative matters that could assist the Speaker when developing guidance to inform the operation of the Standing Order would take place at the next meeting on 4 June 2025.
The meeting moved into public session at 11.56 a.m.
6. Forward Work Programme
The Committee considered an updated Forward Work Programme.
Agreed: The Committeeagreed the updated Forward Work Programme.
7. Correspondence
The Committee noted correspondence from the Clerk to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) setting out the primacy of the PAC over Northern Ireland Audit Office reports and providing information on the subject of its current inquiries.
8. Chairperson's Business
None.
9. Any Other Business
None.
10. Date, Time and Place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 4 June 2025 at 10.00 a.m. in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 11.57 a.m.
Kellie Armstrong MLA
Chairperson, Committee on Procedures
4 June 2025
