Proceedings of the Committee on the Preparation for Government

26 June 2006

Minutes of the meeting held on Monday, 26 June 2006 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

In the Chair: Francie Molloy

Present: John Dallat 
Dr Sean Farren
David Ford
Michelle Gildernew MP
Danny Kennedy
Kieran McCarthy
Dr William McCrea MP
Dr Alasdair McDonnell MP
Alan McFarland
Martin McGuinness MP
David McNarry
John O’Dowd
Maurice Morrow
Ian Paisley

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

Observing: Jim Wells (Chairperson) until 12.14pm

The meeting commenced at 12.08pm.

1. Apologies

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

Ms Long (Mr McCarthy attended the meeting as Alliance representative in place of Ms Long)

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

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

2. Presentations on papers from parties

At 12.12pm Dr Farren made a presentation on behalf of the SDLP and then took questions from the other parties.

Mr Ford joined the meeting at 1.39pm.

Mr McCarthy left the meeting at 2.06pm.

Mr Paisley left the meeting at 2.18pm.

Ms Gildernew MP left the meeting at 2.37pm.

The meeting was suspended at 15.05pm.

The meeting reconvened at 15.23pm.

3. Apologies

Mr Paisley (Mrs Dodds attended the meeting as the DUP representative in place of Mr Paisley)

The meeting continued with questions to the SDLP.

Mr Dallat left the meeting at 3.50pm.

Dr McCrea MP left the meeting at 4.15pm.

Questions to the SDLP concluded at 4.18pm.

4. Minutes of the meeting of 20, 21 and 22 June 2006

The Committee agreed the Minutes subject to the following amendment -

At paragraph 7, delete the reference to ‘Mr McGuinness’ and insert Mr Murphy MP’

Mr McNarry left the meeting at 4.25pm.

5. Matters Arising

Letter of 20 June 2006 from Clerk to the Assembly

The Committee noted the letter.

The Committee agreed the Minutes of Friday, 16 June 2006 subject to the following amendment -

Delete the three paragraphs after ‘4.47pm’ from ‘Mr McGuinness’ to ‘taped’

6. Issues raised by parties – draft table issued to parties on 16 June 2006

It was agreed to review the draft table at the next meeting.

7. AOB

It was agreed that the names of those attending the Committee meetings would be included in the Hansard Report of the meetings.

8. Next Meeting

The next meeting was agreed for Wednesday, 28 June 2006 at 10.00am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting was adjourned at 4.46pm.