Seòmar agus comataidhean

I welcome everyone back to the meeting, and I welcome our second panel of witnesses. Joining us today are Denis Naughten TD, who is a member of Dáil Éireann, and Gerit Vermeylen, who is director of legislative services at the Flemish Parliament. I welcome both gentlemen to the meeting. We were going to be joined by the Hon Laurence Skelly, who is President of Tynwald, but unfortunately he is unwell. On behalf of the committee, I say that we hope that he makes a swift and full recovery.

Thank you, Mr Naughten. That was a fantastic flavour.

I turn to Gerit Vermeylen. As director of legislative services, you have the privilege of being the one person here today who is not elected, but perhaps that gives you an insight that we do not have. Would you like to explain how the Flemish Parliament managed during the Covid period?

Good morning, and welcome to the 11th meeting of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee in 2022. I remind members who are joining us remotely to place an R in the chat function on BlueJeans if they would like to come in on any issue.

Our first agenda item is a decision on taking business in private. Does the committee agree to take agenda items 3 and 4 in private? Agenda item 3 is consideration of the evidence that we will hear at item 2, and item 4 is consideration of the Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016 impact assessment. Do members agree to take those items in private?

Members indicated agreement.

That is very helpful. Lord Gardiner, I turn to you for a similar introduction to where the House of Lords is at the moment.

Thank you, Collette.

Moving on to scrutiny, I will put the witnesses into the capable hands of Edward Mountain, who has a few questions on that subject.

That is helpful.

Mr Vermeylen, my understanding is that the Flemish Parliament does not have proxy voting for members who cannot attend. Is there a view to move to that, or has the electronic voting system removed any demand for it?

That is very helpful. Thank you.

I am grateful for your empathy, Edward.

I think that Mr Naughten wanted to comment on that point as well.

That brings us to the end of our questions. I thank both of the witnesses in the second panel for attending. It has been fascinating to hear from other legislatures, which is an advantage of IT, although it is always a disappointment that we cannot share a cup of coffee or tea and chat outside the room, where so much of the work is done, as all parliamentarians are aware. I thank Mr Naughten TD and Mr Vermeylen, director of legislative service, for their contributions.

That draws to an end the public part of the meeting.

I am glad to see that, no matter where a Parliament sits, members are governed by bells ringing in various places.

Bob Doris has the next set of questions.