Proceedings of the Committee on the Preparation for Government

23 October 2006

Minutes of the meeting held on Monday, 23 October 2006 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

In the Chair: Francie Molloy

Present: P J Bradley
Diane Dodds
Dr Sean Farren
David Ford
Danny Kennedy
Kieran McCarthy
Alan McFarland
Alban Maginness
Lord Morrow
Conor Murphy MP
John O’Dowd
Edwin Poots
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: Ian Kerr (NIO)
Julie Wilson (NIO)
Richard Bullick (DUP researcher)
Mark Neale (UUP researcher)
Ian Williamson (Alliance researcher)

The meeting commenced at 2.07pm.

1. Apologies

Mark Durkan MP (Mr Bradley 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)

Naomi Long (Mr McCarthy attended as Alliance representative in place of Ms long.)

Dr William McCrea MP (Mrs Dodds 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

Ian Paisley Jnr (Mr Poots attended as the DUP representative in place of Mr Paisley.)

2. Matters Arising

It was agreed that the Committee Clerk would remind the Secretary of State’s office that a reply was still outstanding to the request of 18 October 2006 for letters and documents given to the parties at St Andrews.

3. Future Work Programme

Mr O’Dowd left the meeting at 2.19pm

It was agreed that the Committee would not meet on Tuesday, 24 October 2006 and that the items listed in the draft work plan for that day would be carried forward to the meeting on Wednesday, 25 October 2006.

Mr O’Dowd rejoined the meeting at 2.22pm.

4. Meeting with the Chancellor of the Exchequer

The Committee noted that representatives from all parties are due to meet with the Chancellor on Wednesday, 1 November 2006 to discuss a possible financial package for Northern Ireland. It was agreed that the sub-group on Economic Challenges facing Northern Ireland should, as a priority at its meeting on Thursday 26 October, carry out preparatory work for this meeting with the Chancellor and establish as much consensus as possible on the key issues to be raised. The Chairperson asked that the sub-group should report back to the Committee for its meeting on Monday, 30 October 2006.

5. Issues within Annex A, St Andrews Agreement

The Committee began its consideration of the issues within Annex A of the St Andrews Agreement.

The Chairperson proposed that those parts of the Ministerial Code which reflect paras 2 and 3 of Annex A should be incorporated in legislation before 24 November 2006. There was not consensus and the proposal fell. The Alliance, DUP and UUP supported the proposal and SDLP objected. Sinn Fein did not support or object.

The Chairperson proposed that those parts of the Ministerial Code which reflect para 4 of Annex A should be incorporated in legislation before 24 November 2006. There was not consensus and the proposal fell. The Alliance and DUP supported the proposal and SDLP and UUP objected. Sinn Fein did not support or object.

The Chairperson proposed that the Committee agree to para 5 of Annex A. This was agreed.

The Chairperson proposed that those parts of the Ministerial Code which reflect para 16 of Annex A should be incorporated in legislation before 24 November 2006. There was not consensus and the proposal fell. The DUP supported the proposal and SDLP and UUP objected. Alliance and Sinn Fein did not support or object.

The Chairperson proposed that those parts of the Ministerial Code which reflect para 17 of Annex A should be incorporated in legislation before 24 November 2006. There was not consensus and the proposal fell. The DUP supported the proposal and SDLP and the UUP objected. Alliance and Sinn Fein did not support or object.

The Chairperson proposed that those parts of the Ministerial Code which reflect para 18 of Annex A should be provided for within legislation. There was not consensus and the proposal fell. The Alliance, DUP, SDLP and Sinn Fein supported the proposal and UUP objected.

The Chairperson advised that the Committee would consider paras 6 – 15 of Annex A at its meeting on Wednesday 25 October 2006.

The Chairperson advised that if Members wished to table additional issues to be incorporated into legislation by 24 November 2006, they should inform the Committee Clerk by 24 October 2006 with details and these would then be circulated to other parties.

The Chairperson referred Members to Tab 4 within the papers (conclusions from PfG Committee reports not covered within the St Andrews Agreement). Members were asked to consider for the meeting on 25 October whether any of these needed to be incorporated within legislation by 24 November 2006.

6. AOB

(a) The Committee discussed a paper from the Consumer Council setting out its views on water reform proposals for Northern Ireland. Mr Ford proposed that the matter should be referred to the Committee’s sub-group on Economic Challenges with a request that the sub-group arrange an evidence session with the Council. This was agreed. It was also agreed that the sub-group should report back to the Committee for its meeting on Monday, 30 October 2006.

(b) Mr Kennedy raised the issue of receipt of meeting papers. It was agreed that members should inform the Clerk of their individual preferences for delivery of papers.

7. Next Meeting

It was agreed that the Committee would next meet at 10.00am on Wednesday, 25 October 2006 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings. Lunch will be provided.

The meeting adjourned at 3.55pm.