Proceedings of the Committee on the Preparation for Government

18 September 2006 (AM)

Minutes of the meeting held in part private / public session on Monday, 18 September 2006 in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.

In the Chair: Jim Wells

Present: Alex Attwood
Fred Cobain
David Ford
Michelle Gildernew MP
William Hay
Dolores Kelly
Gerry Kelly
Danny Kennedy
Naomi Long
Alban Maginness
Kieran McCarthy
Alan McFarland
Martin McGuinness MP
Ian Paisley Jnr
Peter Weir

In Attendance: Nuala Dunwoody (Clerk Assistant)
Martin Wilson (Principal Clerk)
Neil Currie (Assistant Clerk)
Elaine Farrell (Clerical Supervisor)
David Douglas (Clerical Officer)
Tim Moore (Senior Researcher)

Observing: Francie Molloy (Chairperson)
Ciaran Kearney (Sinn Fein researcher)
Richard Bullick (DUP researcher)

The meeting commenced at 9.48am in private session.

1. Apologies

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

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

Dr McCrea MP (Mr Weir attended the meeting as DUP representative in place of Dr McCrea MP)

Dr McDonnell MP (Ms Kelly attended the meeting as SDLP representative in place of Dr McDonnell MP)

Mr McNarry (Mr Cobain attended the meeting as UUP representative in place of Mr McNarry)

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

Mr Murphy MP (Mr Kelly attended the meeting as Sinn Fein representative in place of Mr Murphy MP)

The meeting moved to public session at 9.57am.

2. Meeting with the Secretary of State

The Rt Hon Mr Peter Hain MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with Ms Hilary Jackson and Mr Nick Perry in attendance, joined the meeting at 9.57am.

The Secretary of State answered members’ questions under the following headings: