Proceedings of the Committee on the Preparation for Government

5 June 2006

Minutes of the meeting held on Monday, 5 June 2006 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

Present Mark Durkan MP
David Ford
Michelle Gildernew MP
Danny Kennedy
Naomi Long
Rev William McCrea MP
Alasdair McDonnell MP
Alan McFarland
Michael McGimpsey
Martin McGuinness MP
Maurice Morrow
Conor Murphy MP
Ian Paisley Jnr

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 11.09am.

Apologies Sean Farren

Selection of Chairperson

Ms Dunwoody, as acting Chair pending the selection of a Chairperson, explained her role.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) questioned the meaning of the term ‘consensus’ in the direction from the Secretary of State. A discussion followed and it was agreed that this Committee would regard consensus as ‘general all party agreement’.

Ms Dunwoody then called for nominations for chairperson. Sinn Fein proposed that the Committee be co-chaired by Sinn Fein and DUP. There was not consensus and the proposal fell.

Sinn Fein proposed the Committee be chaired by Sinn Fein and DUP rotating the chair each week. There was not consensus and the proposal fell.

The DUP proposed that Ms Dunwoody chair the Committee. Ms Dunwoody refused the nomination and the proposal fell.

Sinn Fein proposed that the Chair should rotate among all parties. There was not consensus and the proposal fell.

The DUP proposed that the Speaker of the Assembly should chair the Committee. There was not consensus and the proposal fell.

Sinn Fein proposed rotating the Chair among those parties willing to take the Chair. There was not consensus and the proposal fell.

The DUP proposed that David Ford should be the Chairperson. Mr Ford asked for a brief adjournment and this was agreed.

The meeting adjourned at 11.59am.

The meeting reconvened at 12.19pm.

Mr Ford advised that he would not accept the nomination and the proposal fell.

Mr Ford offered to take the Chair at the meeting today if rotation was agreed in principle. This was proposed by the SDLP. There was not consensus and the proposal fell.

The DUP proposed and seconded Rev Wm McCrea as Chairperson. Rev McCrea accepted the nomination. There was not consensus and the proposal fell.

Adjournment
It was agreed that the Secretary of State should be asked to clarify what was meant by the term ‘consensus’ in the direction. The Committee was advised that the date for the next meeting was a matter for direction by the Secretary of State. 

The meeting adjourned at 12.30pm.