Proceedings of the Committee on the Preparation for Government

4 September 2006

Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 4 September 2006 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

In the Chair: Jim Wells

Present: P J Bradley
Sean Farren
David Ford
Michelle Gildernew MP
Patricia Lewsley
Naomi Long
Dr William McCrea MP
Alan McFarland
Michael McGimpsey
Martin McGuinness MP
David McNarry
Conor Murphy MP
Ian Paisley Jnr
Peter Robinson MP

In Attendance: Nuala Dunwoody (Clerk Assistant)
Debbie Pritchard (Principal Clerk)
John Torney (Principal Clerk)
Alan Patterson (Principal Clerk)
Christine Darrah (Clerk)
Gillian Lyness (Assistant Clerk)
Elaine Farrell (Clerical Supervisor)

Observing Francie Molloy (Chairperson)
Richard Bullick (DUP researcher)
Mark Neale (UUPAG researcher)

The meeting commenced at 10.02 am.

1. Apologies

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

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

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

Ms Gildernew joined the meeting at 10.03 am

Mr McGimpsey joined the meeting at 10.05am

2. Report of the sub-group on Economic Challenges facing Northern Ireland

It was agreed that the Committee’s deliberations on the sub-group’s report would not be included in Hansard.

The Committee then agreed the Report and recommendations.

The Committee agreed that the report should be printed as the first report from the Committee on the Preparation for Government.

Mr McFarland joined the meeting at 10.12am

The Committee agreed that the Chairperson should agree the minutes of the meeting relevant to the discussion of the report, so that they could be incorporated in the printed report.

The Committee agreed revised terms of reference for the sub-group.

The Committee agreed that the sub-group should submit an interim report to the Committee by 4 October 2006 on its work relating to an economic package/peace dividend and should report on the rest of its work by 23 October 2006.

10.27am the Chair instructed Hansard to commence the record of the meeting.

Mr Molloy joined the meeting at 10.32 am

The Committee discussed the wording of the motion for debate on the Report on Economic Challenges facing Northern Ireland.

Mr PJ Bradley left the meeting at 11.15 am.

Ms Lewsley joined the meeting at 11.20 am

Mr Paisley Jnr joined the meeting at 11.20 am.

Mr Murphy left the meeting at 11.20 am.

The paper ‘The Northern Ireland Political Process: Work Plan’ was circulated to Members.

Ms Lewsley left the meeting at 11.32 am

Ms Lewsley rejoined the meeting at 11.35 am

Ms Long left the meeting at 11.45 am

Mr McGimpsey left the meeting at 11.46 am

Ms Long rejoined the meeting at 11.47am

Mr McGimpsey rejoined the meeting at 11.49am

Mr McGuiness proposed the motion that will go to the Business Committee be deferred until Monday 11 September 2006. There was not consensus and the proposal fell.

It was agreed to table the following motion: 
‘That the Assembly approves the first report from the Committee on the Preparation for Government on the economic challenges facing Northern Ireland; agrees that it should be submitted to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and, pending restoration of the Institutions, calls on the Secretary of State, the Committee on the Preparation for Government and others to take action to implement the recommendations in the Report.’

It was proposed the Motion is referred by this Committee to the Business Committee for debate in Plenary on 11 &12 September 2006. There was not consensus and the proposal fell.

It was agreed the Motion should be referred to the Business Committee but with no suggested date for Plenary.

The report will be embargoed until the commencement of a debate in the Assembly.

The meeting suspended at 12.10pm.

The meeting reconvened at 12.47pm.

2. Previous Minutes

The minutes of the meeting of Tuesday 29 August 2006 were agreed.

3. Matters Arising

The Chairperson drew members’ attention to a letter from the Speaker regarding the production and distribution of the Official Report.

Michelle Gildernew commented favourably on the work undertaken by Hansard staff and asked that this be recorded in the minutes.

Mr Paisley Jnr joined the meeting at 12.59 pm

Mr McNarry left the meeting at 1.00pm

Ms Lewsley left the meeting at 1.08pm

4. Draft Ministerial Code

It was agreed that the paper tabled by the DUP on the Ministerial Code and the additional information to be provided by OFMDFM would be discussed at the meeting on 13 September 2006.

It was also agreed that the Motion “that the Committee believes that a breach of the Ministerial Pledge of Office should be actionable in the courts and followed by disqualification from office” referred from the Committee discussing law and order issues on 30 August should be considered at the meeting on 13 September.

Ms Lewsley joined the meeting at 1.15 pm.

Mr McNarry joined the meeting at 1.19 pm.

5. Institutional Issues deferred from previous meetings

The Committee considered a number of issues deferred from previous meetings.

It was agreed that the Appointment/Election of First Minister and Deputy First Minister was an issue requiring further discussion by the parties in preparation for Government.

It was agreed that the issue of the number and role of the North/South Implementation bodies was an issue requiring further discussion by the parties in preparation for Government.

It was agreed that the issue of accountability between the Executive and the Assembly should be considered when discussing the Ministerial Code at the meeting on 13 September.

It was agreed that collective responsibility/decision-taking within the Executive should be considered when discussing the Ministerial Code at the meeting on 13 September.

It was agreed that the issue of accountability of Ministers to the Assembly on North/South Ministerial Council matters should be considered when discussing the Ministerial Code at the meeting on 13 September.

It was agreed that incorporation of a commitment to uphold the rule of law in the Pledge of Office should be considered when discussing the Ministerial Code at the meeting on 13 September.

It was agreed that an obligation for Ministers to attend meetings of the Executive, the North/South Ministerial Council and the British-Irish Council should be considered when discussing the Ministerial Code at the meeting on 13 September.

Mr Paisley Jnr left the meeting at 1.26 pm.

Mr Paisley Jnr joined the meeting at 1.30 pm.

6. Committee Work Programme

The Committee noted the proposed revised work programme and agreed that meetings could be held on the Thursday of particular weeks if this was considered necessary.

7. Any Other Business

The Committee considered an invitation from Monica McWilliams, Northern Ireland Human Rights Chief Comissioner, to participate in a symposium on the issue of a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. The Committee agreed to request alternative dates from the Chief Commissioner.

8. Next Meeting

The Committee will meet at 10.00 am on Wednesday 6 September 2006 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings to discuss Policing and Justice issues.

The Committee will meet at 2.00pm on Wednesday 13 September 2006 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings to discuss Institutional issues.

The meeting adjourned at 1.36 pm.