PN 02/06 Committee on Preparation for Government meets in Stormont

Date 16 August 2006 PN 02/06

Committee on the Preparation For Government

Committee on Preparation For Government meets in Stormont

The Preparation for Government Committee has continued to meet over the summer recess and will continue to make efforts to scope the work which needs to be done in preparation for government. The main Committee has been meeting 3 days per week and the Economic Challenges sub-group has been meeting twice per week and will report to the Committee on 25 August 2006. Members of the main Committee have been discussing Institutional issues, Law and Order issues, and Equality and Shared Future issues.

At its meeting today, chaired by Mr Jim Wells, the Committee discussed the obstacles relating to devolution of policing and justice, and policing issues generally.

The next meeting will be held on Friday 18 August.

Notes to the Editor:

Copies of the Official Report are placed on the website once they have been approved by the Committee. A copy of the latest approved Report is available in hard copy from the Press Office.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Committee on the Preparation for Government

Under the terms of the Northern Ireland Act 2006 the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Rt Hon Peter Hain MP, wrote to Mrs Eileen Bell, Speaker of the Assembly, on 26 May 2006 to direct that a Committee should be established to consider issues relating to the preparation for Government. On 12 June 2006, the Secretary of State directed that the Committee should be chaired by the deputy presiding officers, Mr Jim Wells and Mr Francie Molloy.

The Committee is made up of three representatives from each of the four largest parties in the Assembly and two representatives from the Alliance Party. The members attending the meeting on 16 August were -

Alex Attwood
Fred Cobain
Arlene Foster
Dolores Kelly
Gerry Kelly
Danny Kennedy
Naomi Long
Fra McCann
Alan McFarland
Sean Neeson
Peter Weir
Sammy Wilson MP

Information about the work of the Committee can be obtained from the Clerk to the Committee –

Ms Nuala Dunwoody
Clerk Assistant
Clerk to the Committee on the Preparation for Government 
Parliament Buildings
Belfast
028 90 418321