Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2010/2011
Date: 14 December 2010
Venue: Room 21
The meeting opened at 11.08am in private session.
The Chair declared the meeting open and pointed out that the meeting was being covered by Hansard.
1. Apologies
Mr Conall McDevitt
Mr Alan McFarland (Observer)
The Chairperson welcomed Mr Pat Sheehan, who replaced Mr John O’Dowd, to his first Committee meeting.
Agreed: Members agreed to send a letter to Mr O’Dowd acknowledging his valuable contribution to the Committee and wishing him well in the future.
2. Minutes of Proceedings of meeting held on 7 December 2010
Members agreed the Minutes of Proceedings of the meeting held on 7 December 2010.
3. Matters arising
Consideration of the operation of sections 16A to 16C of the Northern Ireland Act 1998
The Chairperson explained why it was necessary to rescind the proposal that had been passed at the Committee meeting on 7 th December 2010.
11.11am Alex Maskey joined the meeting.
On a proposal from Mr Hamilton that:
“The Committee rescinds its decision made at its meeting of the 7 th December
2010 to write to the Secretary of State for the removal of section 16C from the
Northern Ireland Act 1998.”
Question put: “The Committee rescinds its decision made at its meeting of the
7 th December 2010 to write to the Secretary of State for the removal of section 16C from the Northern Ireland Act 1998.”
The proposal was agreed by consensus.
On a proposal from Mr Hamilton that:
“The Committee agrees to write to the Secretary of State for the removal of
section 16C(6) from the Northern Ireland Act 1998.”
Question put: The Committee agrees to write to the Secretary of State for the removal of section 16C(6) from the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
The Committee divided. Ayes 6; Noes 3; Abstentions 1.
Ayes
Jonathan Bell
Fred Cobain
Tom Elliott
Paul Givan
Simon Hamilton
Jimmy Spratt
Noes
Alex Maskey
Raymond McCartney
Pat Sheehan
Abstentions
Declan O’Loan
The proposal accordingly passed.
The Committee considered a draft letter to the Secretary of State.
Agreed: It was agreed that the letter should be amended to indicate how Members had voted, and that the letter should then be sent to the Secretary of State.
4. Any other Business
None.
5. Date, time and place of next meeting
It was agreed that the next meeting of the Committee would take place on
11 th January 2011, at 11.00am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11.22am.
