Committee on Procedures
Minutes of Proceedings - 14 October 2026
Committee on Procedures - 14 October 2026.pdf (147.8 kb)
Meeting Location: Room 21, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Kellie Armstrong MLA (Chairperson)
Trevor Clarke MLA
Danny Donnelly MLA
Present by Video or Teleconference:
Órlaithí Flynn MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Andy Allen MLA
Danny Baker MLA
Cara Hunter MLA
Philip McGuigan MLA
Apologies:
Cheryl Brownlee 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 10.07 a.m. in public session.
1. Apologies
As above.
2. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 30 September 2026.
3. Maters Arising
The Chairperson informed the Committee that the motion to amend Standing Order 42A Legislative Consent Motions had been approved by the Assembly on Monday 5 October 2026. The online version of Standing Orders had been updated and the hard copies would be updated in due course
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the meeting should move into closed session for the next two agenda items.
The meeting moved into closed session at 10.10 a.m.
Trevor Clarke joined the meeting at 10.10 a.m.
4. Northern Ireland Act 1998 Section 42 – Petitions of Concern – Consideration of draft Committee Report and draft Motions
The Committee considered the sections of the draft report on Petitions of Concern that had not yet been agreed.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the Powers and Membership section of the report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the Abbreviations and Acronyms section of the report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to include Appendix 1: Draft Standing Orders, in the report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to include Appendix 2: Minutes of Proceedings, in the report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson would approve the Minutes of Proceedings for this meeting to enable a link to them to be included in the report when published on the Committee’s webpage.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to include Appendix 3: Correspondence, in the report.
The Committee considered the Executive Summary section of the report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed paragraph 1 of the Executive Summary.
Agreed: The Committee agreed paragraph 2 of the Executive Summary.
Agreed: The Committee agreed paragraph 3 of the Executive Summary.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the Contents page of the report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the Cover page of the report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the report be the second report of the Committee on Procedures to the Assembly and that it should be published.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to provide an advance copy of the report to the Speaker.
The Committee considered the draft motions for the Standing Orders on Petitions of Concern.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the motion on new Standing Order 28 be tabled in the Business Office to be scheduled for debate in Plenary.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the motion on new Standing Order 28A be tabled in the Business Office to be scheduled for debate in Plenary.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the motion on new Standing Order 36A be tabled in the Business Office to be scheduled for debate in Plenary.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the motion on new Standing Order 40A be tabled in the Business Office to be scheduled for debate in Plenary.
The Committee considered a draft press release to accompany publication of the report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the draft press release.
The Chairperson informed the Committee that completed the work on Petitions of Concern and thanked Members for their input and detailed consideration of this issue.
5. Anomalies and Technical Issues with Standing Orders – (1) Ministerial Appointments; and (2) the Opposition
Cara Hunter declared an interest as a member of the Opposition.
The Chairperson welcomed Paul Gill, Clerk Assistant, and Jonathan McMillen, Head of Assembly Legal Services, to the meeting.
Mr Gill and Mr McMillen briefed the Committee on a range of anomalies and technical issues in Standing Orders relating to Ministerial Appointments and to the Opposition.
The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
Danny Donnelly left the meeting at 11.01 a.m.
The Chairperson thanked Mr Gill and Mr McMillen and they left the meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a written briefing paper on the issues discussed.
The meeting moved into public session at 11.27 a.m.
6. Forward Work Programme
The Committee considered an updated Forward Work Programme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the Forward Work Programme.
7. Correspondence
The Committee noted an invitation from the Committee for Finance to a Ribbon Display Ceremony as part of Baby Loss Week.
The Committee noted that Assembly Bill Office officials would respond to queries in an email from the Head of Communications and Events for RenewableNI concerning the Renewable Electricity Generation Bill.
8. Chairperson’s Business
None.
9. Any Other Business
None.
10. Time and date of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 4 November 2026 at 10.00 a.m. in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 11.29 a.m.
Kellie Armstrong MLA
Chairperson, Committee on Procedures
4 November 2026
