Proceedings of the Committee on the Preparation for Government

24 July 2006

Minutes of the meeting held on Monday, 24 July 2006 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

In the Chair: Francie Molloy

Present: Diane Dodds
Dr Sean Farren
David Ford
Naomi Long
Dr Alasdair McDonnell MP
Alan McFarland
David McNarry
Lord Morrow
Conor Murphy MP
John O’Dowd
Margaret Ritchie

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

The meeting commenced at 10.06am.

1. Apologies

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

Ms Gildernew MP

Mr Kennedy

Dr McCrea MP

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

Mr Paisley

2. Previous Minutes

The minutes of the meeting of 17 July 2006 were agreed, subject to the following:-

‘Item 9. The date of the next meeting should read - 24 July 2006.’

3. Sub-groups on Changes to the Institutions and Devolution of Policing and Justice

The Deputy Speaker asked for nominations from the parties for the sub-groups on Changes to the Institutions and Devolution of Policing and Justice.

The following were nominated as members of the sub-group on Changes to the Institutions:-

Alliance - David Ford Kieran McCarthy

SDLP - P J Bradley Dr Sean Farren

Sinn Fein - Conor Murphy John O’Dowd

The Chairperson advised that party nominations to the sub-group on Changes to the Institutions should be notified to the Clerk by close of play on Tuesday, 25 July 2006. The DUP stated that it would not be nominating members to the two sub-groups.

The Terms of Reference for the sub-group on Changes to the Institutions were agreed.

Mrs Dodds joined the meeting at 10.13am as DUP representative in place of Dr McCrea MP.

Dr McDonnell MP joined the meeting at 10.18am.

Mr McFarland joined the meeting at 10.25am.

Dr Farren proposed that the Preparation for Government Committee continue to discuss the issues identified for the other two sub-groups on Institutions and Policing and Justice and other matters, in this Committee. There was consensus and the proposal was agreed.

It was agreed to advise the Secretary of State of this decision.

4. Next Meeting

The Committee will next meet at 10.00am on Wednesday, 26 July 2006 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting adjourned at 11.25am