Committee on Procedures
Minutes of proceedings 25 March 2026
Committee on Procedures, minutes of proceedings 25 March 2026.pdf (154.14 kb)
Meeting Location: Room 21, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Kellie Armstrong MLA (Chairperson)
Cheryl Brownlee MLA
Trevor Clarke MLA
Philip McGuigan MLA
Present by Video or Teleconference:
Órlaithí Flynn MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Danny Baker MLA
Robbie Butler MLA
Danny Donnelly MLA
Cara Hunter MLA
Apologies:
None
In Attendance:
Stella McArdle, Assembly Clerk
Christine Darrah, Assembly Clerk
James Gilsenan, Assembly Clerk
Michael Best, Assistant Assembly Clerk
Veronica Lo Pinto, Clerical Officer
The meeting started at 10.02 a.m. in public session.
1. Apologies
None.
2. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 11 March 2026.
3. Matters Arising
None.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the meeting should move into closed session.
The meeting moved into closed session at 10.03 a.m.
4. Standing Order 42A Legislative Consent Motions – Consideration of draft Standing Order
The Chairperson welcomed Ms Helen Smyth, Assembly Legal Adviser, to the meeting.
Philip McGuigan joined the meeting at 10.06 a.m.
Ms Smyth outlined a draft revised Standing Order 42A reflecting proposed changes to the Legislative Consent Motion (LCM) process and associated legal advice.
Robbie Butler joined the meeting at 10.16 a.m.
The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
Danny Donnelly joined the meeting at 10.32 a.m.
Órlaithí Flynn joined the meeting at 10.39 a.m.
The Chairperson thanked Ms Smyth and she left the meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to undertake further consideration of draft Standing Order 42A and associated issues at a future meeting.
5. Scrutiny of Delegated Powers in Bills by the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly – Further Consideration of draft Standing Orders
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the oral briefings by Miss Angela Kelly, Assembly Examiner of Statutory Rules, and Dr Frank Geddis, Assembly Clerk Assistant, on this issue should be held jointly.
The Chairperson welcomed Miss Angela Kelly, Assembly Examiner of Statutory Rules, and Dr Frank Geddis, Assembly Clerk Assistant, to the meeting.
Miss Kelly and Dr Geddis briefed the Committee on the current role of the Examiner of Statutory Rules as reflected in draft Standing Order 43A, the provision of a delegated powers memorandum for non-Executive Bills and proposed minor amendments to the draft Standing Order.
The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
The Chairperson thanked Miss Kelly and Dr Geddis and they left the meeting.
Cara Hunter left the meeting at 10.58 a.m.
Philip McGuigan left the meeting at 10.59 a.m.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to commission a revised draft Standing Order 43A and associated legal advice.
6. Review of Strategic Priorities – Final Selection of Strategic Priorities
The Committee noted the progress made to deliver a number of the priority areas of work agreed in September 2025 and considered those issues were work had not yet started.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule an oral briefing by Assembly officials on the anomalies in Standing Orders relating to the Opposition and Ministerial Appointments and potential amendments to address the issues.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek the views of the Assembly Commission on whether it considers it desirable to amend Standing Orders to change the timeline for appointments to the Commission to sync with the changes to the time period for the appointment of the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
Trevor Clarke declared an interest as a Member of the Assembly Commission.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek the views of the Assembly Commission on a potential change to Standing Orders in relation to Commission written answers to Assembly questions.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request information from the Business Office on the practical and operational arrangements for the publication of Assembly Commission written answers to Assembly questions.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule an oral briefing by Assembly Business Office officials on Assembly questions and the review of its Guidance for Members.
The meeting moved into public session at 11.25 a.m.
7. Forward Work Programme
The Committee considered an updated Forward Work Programme.
Agreed: The Committeeagreed the updated Forward Work Programme.
8. Correspondence
None.
9. Chairperson’s Business
None.
10. Any Other Business
None.
11. Date, Time and Place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 15 April 2026 at 10.00 a.m. in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 11.26 a.m.
Kellie Armstrong MLA
Chairperson, Committee on Procedures
15 April 2026
