Proceedings of the Committee on the Preparation for Government

25 August 2006

Minutes of the meeting held on Friday, 25 August 2006 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

In the Chair: Jim Wells

Present: Alex Attwood 
David Ford
Derek Hussey
Patricia Lewsley
Naomi Long
Alban Maginness
Lord Morrow
Nelson McCausland
Alan McFarland
Philip McGuigan
Dermot Nesbitt
John O’Dowd
Edwin Poots

In Attendance: Nuala Dunwoody (Clerk Assistant)
Christine Darrah (Committee Clerk)
Joanne Adair (Assistant Clerk)
Gillian Lyness (Assistant Clerk)

Observing: Stephen Farry (Alliance researcher)
Clive McFarland (DUP researcher)

The meeting commenced at 10.04 am.

1. Apologies

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

Mr Kennedy (Mr Hussey attended the meeting as DUP representative in place of Mr Kennedy)

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

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

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

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

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

Mr McNarry (Mr Nesbitt attended the meeting as UUPAG representative in place of Mr McNarry)

Mr Paisley, Jnr (Mr Poots attended the meeting as DUP representative in place of Mr Paisley, Jnr) 

Mr Hussey joined the meeting at 10.10 am

2. Previous Minutes

The minutes of the meeting of 18 August 2006 were agreed.

3. Matter Arising

The Committee noted that the Ulster Unionist Party paper ‘Equality: Labour Market Issues’ had been placed on the Preparation for Government Committee pages of the Assembly website.

4. Discussion on the Past and its Legacy

Each party gave a short presentation on the issue of the past and its legacy.

Mr Nesbitt left the meeting at 11.15 am

Ms Long proposed that a Victims Forum should be established. There was no consensus and the proposal fell.

The meeting was suspended at 12.20 p.m.

The meeting reconvened at 12.43 pm

Ms Long rejoined the meeting at 12.45 pm
Mr Poots left the meeting at 12.45 pm
Mr O’Dowd left the meeting at 12.45 pm

Mr Hussey rejoined the meeting at 12.47 pm
Mr Attwood rejoined the meeting at 12.49 pm

It was agreed that the issue of victims should be identified and given priority within the Programme for Government.

Mr O’Dowd rejoined the meeting at 1.07 pm
Mr Poots rejoined the meeting at 1.08 pm

It was agreed that a Family Liaison Officer should be established immediately to support the families of the Disappeared.

Mr Maginness proposed that full, independent, Corey-compliant Inquiries for those promised at Weston Park should take place. There was not consensus and the proposal fell.

Ms Long proposed that there ought to be a Day of Remembrance and Reflection. There was not consensus and the proposal fell.

5. Next Meeting

The Committee will next meet at 10.00am on Tuesday 29 August 2006 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings to discuss Institutional issues. The next meeting dealing with rights, safeguards, equality and victim’s issues will be held on Friday 1 September. This will be an all-day meeting with lunch provided.

Mr Attwood left the meeting at 1.59 pm

The meeting adjourned at 2.02 pm