Proceedings of the Committee on the Preparation for Government

16 June 2006

Minutes of the meeting held on Friday, 16 June 2006 in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

Chairperson: Francie Molloy

Present: John Dallat 
Diane Dodds
Dr Sean Farren
David Ford
Michelle Gildernew MP
Danny Kennedy 
Kieran McCarthy
Dr William McCrea MP
Alan McFarland
Patsy McGlone
Michael McGimpsey
Martin McGuinness MP
Conor Murphy MP
Ian Paisley Jnr

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 3.30pm.

1. Apologies

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

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

Mr Morrow (Mrs Dodds attended the meeting as the DUP representative in place of Mr Morrow)

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

2. Minutes of Last Meeting

The minutes of the meeting of 13 June 2006 were agreed subject to the following amendments:-

Insert the names of Mrs Dodds and Mr McFarland among those present at the meeting. 

3. Meeting in Closed/Public Session

The Committee agreed that the meeting should remain closed. The DUP asked that it be noted that it was content for all meetings to be held in public.

4. Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson asked members if they wished to put forward any items for consideration for plenary business. There was then a detailed discussion about plenary business.

Mr McGuinness proposed that all party leaders should meet the Chancellor of the Exchequer as a joint delegation on his forthcoming visit to Northern Ireland on Monday, 19 June 2006.

Mr Ford proposed a ‘take note’ debate on 20 June 2006 on a paper to be considered by the Committee at its meeting on Monday, 19 June 2006.

Debate followed.

Mr Kennedy joined the meeting at 3.55pm.

Mr McGimpsey and Mr McGlone left the meeting at 4.42pm.

Mr McGlone rejoined the meeting at 4.46pm.

Mr McGimpsey rejoined the meeting at 4.47pm.

The Chairperson put the proposal made earlier by Mr McGuinness. There was not consensus and the proposal fell.

Mr Ford withdrew his earlier proposal.

It was agreed to meet on Monday 19 June 2006 at 2.30pm for presentations on the papers submitted by the parties.

The meeting adjourned at 5.50pm.