Proceedings of the Committee on the Preparation for Government

10 July 2006

Minutes of the meeting held on Monday, 10 July 2006 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

In the Chair: Francie Molloy

Present: Dr Sean Farren
David Ford
Michelle Gildernew MP
Danny Kennedy
Alban Maginness
Kieran McCarthy
Dr William McCrea MP
Alan McFarland
David McNarry
Martin McGuinness MP
John O’Dowd
Margaret Ritchie
Mervyn Storey

In Attendance: Nuala Dunwoody (Clerk Assistant)
Debbie Pritchard (Principal Clerk)
Jim Beatty (Assistant Clerk)
Pauline Innes (Clerical Officer)
Peter Gilleece (Senior Researcher)

Observing: Jim Wells (Chairperson) 

The meeting commenced at 2.02pm

1. Apologies

Mr Murphy MP (Mr O’Dowd attended the meeting as Sinn Fein representative in place of Mr Murphy MP)

Mr Durkan MP (Ms Ritchie attended the meeting as SDLP representative in place of Mr Durkan MP)

Dr McDonnell MP (Mr Maginness attended the meeting as SDLP representative in place of Dr McDonnell MP)

Mrs Long (Mr McCarthy attended the meeting as Alliance representative in place of Mrs Long)

Lord Morrow (Mr Storey attended the meeting as DUP representative in place of Lord Morrow)

2. Change in membership

Mr David McNarry would now attend as UUPAG nomination in place of Mr McGimpsey.

3. Previous Minutes

The minutes of the meeting of 3 July 2006 were agreed subject to an amendment to the spelling of ‘Clogher’.

4. Letter from the Speaker to the Chairpersons on 4 July enclosing directions from the Secretary of State on 3 July 2006.

Dr Farren proposed that the Committee should accept the directions from the Secretary of State; move to establish the Sub-groups, agree the terms of reference and the schedule of meetings.

There was not consensus and the proposal fell.

Dr McCrea left the meeting at 2.50pm

Mr McGuiness proposed that the Committee should send a report to the Secretary of State that the DUP has set its face against the establishment of the Sub-groups.

There was consensus and the proposal was agreed.

Mr Kennedy proposed that the Committee should refer the directions to the Secretary of State for clarification on the anomalies raised during the meeting.

There was consensus and the proposal was agreed.

It was also agreed that the two Deputy speakers and the two Clerks should meet the Secretary of State and the Committee should adjourn.

5. Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Committee was provisionally arranged for Monday 17 July at 12 o’clock.

The meeting adjourned at 3.08pm