Proceedings of the Committee on the Preparation for Government

17 July 2006

Minutes of the meeting held on Monday, 17 July 2006 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

In the Chair: Jim Wells

Present: John Dallat
George Dawson
Diane Dodds
Dr Sean Farren
David Ford
Michelle Gildernew MP
Danny Kennedy
Kieran McCarthy
Dr William McCrea MP
Dr Alasdair McDonnell MP
Alan McFarland
David McNarry
Conor Murphy MP
John O’Dowd

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

Observing: Francie Molloy (Chairperson) 

The meeting commenced at 12.04pm

1. Apologies

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

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

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

Lord Morrow

Mr Paisley

2. Previous Minutes

The minutes of the meeting of 10 July 2006 were agreed.

3. Report of meeting between the Chairpersons and the Secretary of State on 11 July 2006

Mr Molloy joined the meeting for discussion of this item.

As directed by the Committee at its meeting on 10 July 2006, the Chairpersons met with the Secretary of State on 11 July 2006 to clarify issues relating to the direction of 3 July 2006. The Chairpersons reported on their meeting.

4. Direction from the Secretary of State on 11 July 2006

The Committee discussed the direction and the establishment of the three sub-groups.

Dr McDonnell MP joined the meeting at 12.20pm.

Mrs Dodds joined the meeting at 12.25pm as the DUP representative in place of Mr Paisley.

Dr McCrea MP left the meeting at 12.39pm.

Mr McNarry proposed that the Committee accepts in principle that whatever comes from a sub-group or sub-groups will go to the Assembly for debate. There was not consensus and the proposal fell.

5. Establishment of Sub-groups

Mr McFarland proposed that nominations should be asked from the other three parties to act as reserves for the Chairpersons, regardless of whether they are used. There was not consensus and the proposal fell.

A draft paper setting out procedures for the sub-groups was tabled and considered by the Committee.

The meeting was suspended at 1.00pm.

The meeting reconvened at 1.10pm.

Mr Dawson joined the meeting at 1.34pm as DUP representative in place of Dr McCrea.

The procedures were agreed, subject to the following changes:-

(a) the quorum will be 7, excluding the Chairperson

(b) the dates for the meetings of each sub-group will be a matter for the sub-group

(c) deputies may attend meetings if members of the sub-group are unable to do so.

6. Terms of Reference and Nominations for Sub-Groups

Draft Terms of Reference for the sub-groups were tabled.

The Terms of Reference for the sub-group on the Economic Challenges facing Northern Ireland were agreed subject to the following change to paragraph 3:-

To consider how other matters, including an economic package/peace dividend, could contribute to economic regeneration and how this might be delivered.

Mr Kennedy proposed that until the DUP reports back from its meeting with the Secretary of State, the Chairmen do not call the first meetings of the sub-group to consider changes to the institutions set up under the Belfast Agreement and the sub-group on the devolution of criminal justice and policing. There was not consensus and the proposal fell.

The parties made the following nominations to the sub-group on the Economic Challenges facing Northern Ireland:-

Alliance – D Ford and S Neeson

Sinn Fein – M Gildernew and M McLaughlin (deputy - B McElduff)

SDLP – A McDonnell and M Ritchie (deputy - J Dallat)

UUPAG – D McNarry and E Birnie (deputy - R Beggs)

It was agreed that other nominations would be notified to the Committee Clerk by close of play on 18 July 2006.

7. Referral by the Secretary of State 3 July 2006: PfG Work Programme

It was agreed that consideration of the letter of 3 July 2006 from the Secretary of State and the future work programme for the Committee should be deferred until the next meeting.

8. Letter of 7 July 2006 from the Clerk to the Assembly

The Committee noted the letter from the Clerk to the Assembly advising that the powers of the Speaker under Standing Order 17 do not extend to the Deputy Speakers in exercising their roles as Chairpersons. 

9. Next Meeting

The Committee will next meet at 10.00am on Monday, 24 July 2006 in Room 144 Parliament Buildings.

The meeting adjourned at 2.33pm.