Proceedings of the Committee on the Preparation for Government

21 August 2006

Minutes of the meeting held on Monday, 21 August 2006 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

In the Chair: Jim Wells (until 2.05pm)
Francie Molloy (from 2.05pm)

Present: P J Bradley
Gregory Campbell MP
Dr Sean Farren
David Ford
Naomi Long
David McNarry
Michael McGimpsey 
John O’Dowd
Patricia O’Rawe
Ian Paisley Jnr
Peter Robinson MP

In Attendance: Nuala Dunwoody (Clerk Assistant)
Christine Darrah (Assembly Clerk)
Jim Beatty (Assistant Clerk)
Pauline Innes (Clerical Officer)
David Douglas (Clerical Officer)

Observing: Francie Molloy (Chairperson)
Stephen Farry ( Alliance researcher)
Mark Neal (UUPAG researcher) 
Sean Oliver (Sinn Fein researcher)
Philip Weir (DUP researcher)

The meeting commenced at 10.04am.

1. Apologies

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

Ms Gildernew MP

Mr Kennedy

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

Dr McDonnell MP

Mr McFarland (Mr McGimpsey attended the meeting as UUPAG representative in place of Mr McFarland)

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

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

Mr Murphy MP (Ms O’Rawe atteneded the meeting as Sinn Fein representative in place of Mr Murphy)

2. Previous Minutes

The minutes of the meeting of Monday, 14 August 2006 were agreed.

3. Draft Ministerial Code

The Committee considered the draft Ministerial Code provided in their papers. It was agreed to defer further discussion and to return to this issue later.

4. Discussion on Institutional Issues

Mr McNarry joined the meeting at 10.21am.

It was agreed that information and annual reports from the North/South Ministerial Council, the North/South Implementation Bodies and the British Irish Council should be provided for the Committee, along with relevant analysis and summaries.

Mr Ford proposed that the annual report of the North/South Ministerial Council should be presented in person to both the Assembly and the Oireachtas by the First Minister, the Deputy First Minister, An Taoiseach and An Tanaiste. There was not consensus and the proposal fell.

Mr Robinson proposed that in relation to the North/South Ministerial Council, the First Minister and Deputy First Minister should report either to the full Assembly or to the Committee for the Centre. There was not consensus and the proposal fell.

It was agreed that information on the role of the NI Audit Office in relation to the North/South Implementation Bodies should be provided to the Committee.

It was agreed that nominations to the North/South Ministerial Council and the requirement to attend should be incorporated into the Ministerial Code.

The meeting was suspended at 12.25pm.

The meeting reconvened at 12.53pm.

Ms Long joined the meeting at 12.57pm. 
Mr Paisley joined the meeting at 1.05pm. 
Mr Campbell left the meeting at 1.15pm.

Mr Robinson proposed that the British Irish Council should have its own secretariat. There was not consensus and the proposal fell.

Mr Campbell rejoined the meeting at 1.41pm.

Dr Farren proposed that consideration should be given to the setting up of a North/South Consultative Forum. There was not consensus and the proposal fell.

Mr Molloy joined the meeting at 1.55pm.

It was agreed that parties would submit papers identifying those elements within a Ministerial Code which should be incorporated into legislation.

5. Referral by the Secretary of State on 3 July re draft Programme for Government

It was agreed that the Secretary of State should be advised that the Programme for Government is not a matter for this Committee.

6. Any Other Business

It was agreed to refer the issue of whether responsibility for firearms and explosives licensing should lie with the Minister for Public Safety or a Minister for Policing and Justice to the Wednesday meeting of the Committee.

Mr Wells left the meeting at 2.05pm. 
Mr Molloy took the Chair at 2.05pm.

7. Next Meeting

The Committee will next meet at 10.00am on Wednesday, 23 August 2006 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings to discuss issues relating to Law and Order.

It was agreed that the meeting on Tuesday 29 August 2006 would be an all-day meeting with lunch provided.

The meeting adjourned at 2.14pm.