Official Report: Minutes of Evidence
Ad Hoc Committee on the Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill, meeting on Tuesday, 1 April 2025
Members present for all or part of the proceedings:
Mr Phillip Brett (Chairperson)
Mrs Cathy Mason (Deputy Chairperson)
Ms Paula Bradshaw
Mr Pádraig Delargy
Mr Gary Middleton
Mr John Stewart
Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill: Clause-by-clause Consideration
The Chairperson (Mr Brett): Members, we will go through the Bill clause by clause. I will formally put the Question on each clause, and we will see whether there is consensus.
Clause 1 (Independent Financial Review Panel renamed as Remuneration Board)
The Chairperson (Mr Brett): I refer members to the Committee amendment at page 55 of the meeting papers. The Committee agreed a Committee amendment to add the word "independent" to the name of the Remuneration Board:
"Clause 1, Page 1, Line 3
After the second ‘the’ insert ‘Independent’".
Is the Committee content with the amendment?
Members indicated assent.
Question, That the Committee is content with the clause, subject to the proposed amendment, put and agreed to.
Question, That the Committee is content with clause 2, put and agreed to.
Question, That the Committee is content with clause 3, put and agreed to.
Clause 4 (Temporary appointments)
The Chairperson (Mr Brett): I refer members to the Commission's amendments at page 56 of the meeting papers. The Assembly Commission advised the Committee of its intention to amend clause 4 to provide clarity on the arrangements for temporary appointments to the board. The Commission provided detail on that at last week's meeting. Amendment No 1 is as follows:
"Clause 4, Page 2, leave out lines 39 to 41 and insert—
‘(9) Subject to the preceding provisions of this section, a temporary appointment is to be treated for all purposes (including, for example, for the purposes of section 5) as if it were an appointment under section 4(1).’"
Amendment No 2 is as follows:
"Clause 4, Page 2, Line 41, at end insert—
‘(10) But an order under subsection (7) may disapply or modify a provision of this Act (other than section 4(4)) in its application to a temporary appointment.’"
Is the Committee content with the amendments?
Members indicated assent.
Question, That the Committee is content with the clause, subject to the proposed amendments, put and agreed to.
Question, That the Committee is content with clause 5, put and agreed to.
Question, That the Committee is content with clause 6, put and agreed to.
Clause 7 (Minor and consequential amendments)
The Chairperson (Mr Brett): There are two consequential amendments to clause 7 as a result of the Committee's agreed amendment to clause 1. Amendment No 1 is as follows:
"Clause 7, Page 3, Line 34
Before ‘Remuneration’ insert 'Independent'"
Amendment No 2 is as follows:
"Clause 7, Page 3, Line 39
After ‘The’ insert ‘Independent’"
Is the Committee content with the amendments?
Members indicated assent.
Question, That the Committee is content with the clause, subject to the proposed amendments, put and agreed to.
Clause 8 (Continuity of the law)
The Chairperson (Mr Brett): There is a consequential amendment to clause 8 as a result of the Committee's agreement to the amendment to clause 1. The amendment is as follows:
"Clause 8, Page 4, Line 21
After the second ‘the’ insert ‘Independent’"
Is the Committee content with the amendment?
Members indicated assent.
Question, That the Committee is content with the clause, subject to the proposed amendment, put and agreed to.
Question, That the Committee is content with clause 9, put and agreed to.
Question, That the Committee is content with clause 10, put and agreed to.
The Chairperson (Mr Brett): There is a consequential amendment to the short title as a result of the Committee's agreed amendment to clause 1:
"Clause 11, Page 4, Line 33
Before ‘Remuneration’ insert ‘Independent'"
Is the Committee content with the amendment?
Members indicated assent.
Question, That the Committee is content with the clause, subject to the proposed amendment, put and agreed to.
Question, That the Committee is content with the long title, put and agreed to.
The Chairperson (Mr Brett): That completes the formal clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill. I will now allow members to have a look at the draft report. Are members content that we move into closed session to do that?
Members indicated assent.