Proceedings of the Committee on the Preparation for Government

17 October 2006

Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, 17 October 2006 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

In the Chair: Francie Molloy

Present: Diane Dodds
Dr Sean Farren
David Ford
Dolores Kelly
Danny Kennedy
Naomi Long
Alan McFarland
Michael McGimpsey
Alban Maginness
Conor Murphy MP
John O’Dowd
Ian Paisley Jnr
Peter Robinson MP
Caitriona Ruane

In Attendance: Nuala Dunwoody (Clerk Assistant)
Debbie Pritchard (Principal Clerk)
Christine Darrah (Assembly Clerk)
Jim Beatty (Assistant Clerk)
Pauline Hunter (Clerical Officer)

Observing: Jim Wells (Chairperson)
Hilary Jackson (NIO)
Clare Salters (NIO)
Brian Barrington (SDLP researcher)
Richard Bullick (DUP researcher)
Mark Neale (UUP researcher)

The meeting commenced at 4.18pm.

1. Apologies

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

Michelle Gildernew MP (Ms Ruane attended the meeting as SF representative in place of Ms Gildernew MP)

Dr William McCrea MP (Mr Robinson MP attended as DUP representative in place of Dr McCrea MP.)

Dr Alasdair McDonnell MP (Mr Maginness attended as SDLP representative in place of Dr McDonnell MP.)

Martin McGuinness MP (Mr O’Dowd attended as SF representative in place of Mr McGuinness MP.)

David McNarry (Mr McGimpsey attended as UUP representative in place of Mr McNarry.)

Lord Morrow (Ms Dodds attended the meeting as DUP 
representative in place of Lord Morrow)

Ms Ruane joined the meeting at 4.29pm.
Ms Kelly left the meeting at 4.31pm.
Mr Maginness left the meeting at 4.31pm.

2. Northern Ireland Office Staff

It was agreed to admit observers from the NIO to the meeting. 

3. Letter of 13 October 2006 from the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Committee noted a letter from the Secretary of State (SoS) to the Speaker dated 13 October 2006, directing the Committee to meet on 17 October 2006. The Committee noted the indication by the SoS regarding the voting arrangements. Following discussions, the Chairperson proposed that the Committee retain its present voting system but that in the event of no consensus, the minutes would record how each party voted. There was consensus and the proposal was agreed.

Ms Kelly rejoined the meeting at 4.36pm.

4. Previous Minutes

The minutes of the meeting of 6 October 2006 were agreed.

Mr Maginness rejoined the meeting at 4.39pm.

5. Future Work Programme

The Committee considered the table setting out the issues in the St Andrews Agreement, which had been prepared by staff.

Mr Murphy MP left the meeting at 5.05pm.

It was agreed that the parties would take the table away for further consideration. In the interim, staff would prepare another table setting out those issues previously considered by the Committee but not covered in the St Andrews Agreement.

Mr Ford proposed that the Committee should ask the Secretary of State for copies of all the additional papers that were circulated to one or more of the parties during and since the St Andrews discussions. This was agreed.

6. Next Meeting

It was agreed that the Committee would next meet at 2.00pm on Friday, 20 October 2006 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting adjourned at 5.13pm.