Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Minutes of Proceedings - 23 February 2021

Northern Ireland Assembly Branch - Executive Committee

Present:

Mr William Humphrey MLA, Chair
Ms Michelle McIlveen MLA
Mr Stewart Dickson MLA
Mr Mervyn Storey MLA
Dr Steve Aiken MLA

Apologies:

Mr Jonathan Buckley MLA
Mr Robin Newton MLA

Also In attendance:

Ms Moira Loughran, Head of Northern Irish Connections
Mr Simon Burrowes, CPA Branch Secretary
Ms Louise Close, Engagement Manager
Ms Nicola Crawford, Parliamentary Engagement Co-ordinator (Minutes)

1. WELCOME

The Chair welcomed Members of the CPA NI Executive Branch to the meeting.

2. APOLOGIES

Mr Jonathan Buckley MLA and Mr Robin Newton MLA were unable to attend.

MEETING WITH MS MOIRA LOUGHRAN, HEAD OF NORTHERN IRISH CONNECTIONS

The Chair introduced Ms Loughran to the members and thanked her for attending the meeting. The Chair then asked Ms Loughran to discuss the work of NI Connections.

Ms Loughran advised members that NI Connections was developed by Invest Northern Ireland and provides a network for people from all walks of life. They connect the diverse strands of the Northern Irish community abroad and help them engage with each other across the world. They have approximately 10 million members and 24 offices worldwide.

Members asked Ms Loughran questions regarding the reach of NI Connections how it reaches people outside education, trade and business. Ms Loughran advised that its reach is global and that they commission research in order to find people who would fall outside specific areas such as trade and business.

The Deputy Secretary asked about the possibility of linking up with events that NI Connections holds. Ms Loughran stated that the Branch could link with suitable events. The Chair advised Ms Loughran that the Branch is planning to hold an event in London and we may be able to work together on it.

3. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes were agreed.

4. MARKETING STRATEGY

The Deputy Secretary presented a Communications Options Paper to the Members and discussed it with them. Members agreed that a Facebook group and Twitter account would be created and trialled for six months to ensure the right level and quality of content.

ACTION: Set up Facebook Group and Twitter account.

The Deputy Secretary advised that the Chair would be interviewed on camera after each monthly meeting (with the first one after the meeting) and this would be hosted on the Assembly website. She advised Members that the CPA pages on the Assembly website have been updated and showed them the pages.

5. PARTNER COUNTRIES

The Chair advised that a response had been received from the Canadian Parliament thanking them for the partnership offer but regretfully turning it down due to them having existing partnerships. Dr Aiken suggested trying the Legislative Assembly of Ontario about a possible partnership. Members agreed that the Branch should try Ontario.

ACTIONS:

Issue partnership letter to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

6. BIMR CONFERENCE

The Chair advised Members that the first meeting of the Conference Working Group had been held and they had decided to postpone the conference until late September to ensure that it could go ahead in person. The Working Group also decided that the theme of the Conference would focus on COVID Recovery.

The Deputy Secretary advised that she would be visiting Hillsborough Castle as possible venue for the Conference's gala dinner. She also advised that rather than the secretariat contacting organisers of the Balmoral Show it may be more appropriate for an MLA to make the approach to the Chief Executive of the RUAS.

ACTIONS:

Michelle McIlveen to contact the Chief Executive of the RUAS.

7. COMMONWEALTH DAY

The Chair advised Members that Commonwealth Day will take place on Monday 8th March and that it will be 'A Conversation with the CPA' with the Speaker and MLAs talking to young people from the Commonwealth.

8. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Meeting Quorum:

It was agreed that the meeting quorum will be reduced from the Chair plus three to the Chair plus two. The Chair advised that this will have to be passed at the AGM in June. Members were content with this.