COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY BRANCH – EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE - Tuesday 17 September 2024

Present:                                                                    

Mr Jonathan Buckley MLA, Chair                         

Dr Steve Aiken MLA                                                                

Mr Keith Buchanan MLA                                       

Mr Paul Frew MLA

Ms Michelle McIlveen MLA 

Apologies:

Mr Trevor Clarke MLA

Mr Stewart Dickson MLA 

Also In attendance:

Mrs Lesley Hogg, Clerk/Chief Executive

Ms Stephanie Mallon, Branch Secretary

Mrs Clare Maguire, Public Engagement Manager

Mrs Caroline Moore, Participation and Outreach Manager (minutes)

 

1. WELCOME

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

 

2. APOLOGIES

Apologies were received from Mr Trevor Clarke MLA and Mr Stewart Dickson MLA.

 

3. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes were agreed.

Proposed by: Dr Steve Aiken MLA

Seconded by: Mr Paul Frew MLA

 

4. FORTHCOMING CONFERENCES

The Chair briefed Members on a forthcoming conference which will take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 22-28 September 2024. The Chair provided an overview of the Advanced Parliamentary Residency Programme, designed to enable Members to be better performing legislators, representatives and scrutineers. The Chair advised Members that he will be attending the programme following an application process.

The Chair reminded Members that the annual CPA conference will take place in Sydney, Australia from the 3 – 8 November. The Chair advised Members that, following an application and selection process, he will attend the Conference on behalf of the NI Assembly and will be accompanied by Lesley Hogg, Clerk/Chief Executive.

Dr Steve Aiken noted that there had been an exchange and presentation of gifts between Branches at the recent BIMR conference in St Helena. He suggested that Members attending conferences should be provided with suitable gifts to present to the hosts. Ms Michelle McIlveen supported this idea.

ACTION:

  • Contact the Speaker’s Office to enquire about the provision of suitable gifts.

 

5. PARTNER COUNTRIES

The Chair announced that the Legislative Assembly of Ontario had agreed to a partnership with the Branch. Members were content for a virtual meeting with Speaker Arnott to be organised.

The Chair suggested that Members should discuss in advance of the meeting what the Branch could achieve from the partnership.

The Chair suggested a launch event to announce the partnership. He added that it would be beneficial to both Branches to establish historic connections between Canada and Northern Ireland, as well as promote tourism, shared interests and values.

Mr Paul Frew suggested that the strong ancestral and historic ties between Canada and Northern Ireland could be explored and encouraged.

Ms Michelle McIlveen added that she was keen to explore Ulster Scots links and connections through the partnership.

Dr Steve Aiken outlined the opportunity to foster economic and higher education links with the business communities and universities in Ontario.

The Chair thanked Members for their suggestions and agreed that the Branch should take the opportunity to capitalise on all of the opportunities presented.

Members were content with that approach.

 

6. VISIT BY THE CPA UK CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

The Chair reminded Members that it had been agreed at a previous meeting to invite Sarah Dickson OBE, the new Chief Executive Officer of CPA UK, to visit the Assembly. The Chair advised Members that Ms Dickson had accepted the Branch’s invitation to visit and suggested that she attend the next Branch meeting on Tuesday 15th October.

Members agreed.

Ms Michelle McIlveen suggested that a full programme could be developed for Sarah’s visit.

The Chair suggested that the Speaker may be interested in attending the next meeting to welcome Sarah Dickson OBE to the Assembly.

Actions:

  • Invitation to be issued to Sarah Dickson OBE to attend the next Branch meeting on Tuesday 15th October.
  • Contact the Speaker’s Office for the Speaker’s availability once Sarah Dickson’s visit is confirmed.
  • Discuss the development of a programme for Sarah Dickson’s visit with CPA UK.
  • A biography of Sarah Dickson OBE and an overview of recent key achievements of CPA UK to be circulated to Members in advance of her visit.

 

7. ELECTION OBSERVATION TRAINING

The Chair advised Members that CPA UK have no further Election Observation training planned for this year, but that parliamentarians who have taken part in election observation training elsewhere will be considered for missions.

Dr Steve Aiken asked if the Chair would make it clear, at the CPA conference in Kuala Lumpur, that Members in Northern Ireland are keen to get involved and avail of Election Observation training.

The Chair agreed and added that he’d like to see a wide-range of training opportunities available to build the capacity of all CPA Members, and particularly the Executive Committee.

 

8. MEETINGS WITH UK CPA BRANCHES

The Chair reminded Members that it had been agreed at a previous meeting to contact the UK Parliament CPA Branch and invite Branch Members to participate in a meeting between the four UK-based CPA Branches.

The Chair informed Members that once a response had been received, a meeting between the Branch Chairs will be arranged.

Members were content.

 

9. DRAFT BRANCH STRATEGY

The Chair advised Members that a draft strategy for the Branch had been developed and asked Members to review and feedback on the content. He added that an operational plan will follow once the strategy had been agreed.

The Secretary provided an overview of the Strategy and its three main objectives: to build connections; support professional development; and share best practice.

Referencing the ‘building connection’ objective, both the Chair and Michelle McIlveen suggested that in order to expand the membership of the CPA, it would be more appropriate to engage with MLAs on an individual basis, rather than on a political party basis. The Chair added that he would like the CPA NIA Branch to be a safe and non-political space, welcome and open to all Members.

In reference to the ‘supporting professional development’ objective, Dr Steve Aiken added that it would be useful to have a calendar of training opportunities and conferences well in advance to enable Members to plan ahead.

Mr Keith Buchanan enquired as to whether there had been a previous strategy. The Chair informed Mr Buchanan that it was the first time the Branch had developed a strategy and its aim was to recognise the ambition of the current Executive Committee.

The Secretary advised Members that a UK wide CPA magazine, ‘The Parliamentarian’ could be approached to feature an article on the Branch’s upcoming 50th meeting in February 2025. Members were in agreement. The Chair asked if an opportunity for an Executive Committee photograph could be arranged.

Actions:

  • Enquire with CPA UK for a calendar and timeline of training sessions.
  • Contact the editorial team at the Parliamentarian magazine
  • Arrange for the Executive Committee to have their photograph taken.

 

10. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

(i) BIMR Conference: Thank you letters

The Chair advised Members that letters of thanks to the hosts of the recent BIMR Conference in St. Helena had been drafted.

Members were content for the letters to be issued.

Action:

  • Issue letters

(ii) Visit by CPA Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg

The Chair informed Members that Engagement staff had recently met with Benite Dibateza, CPA Programmes Manager and CWP Coordinator, who suggested inviting the CPA Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg, to the Assembly to meet the Executive Committee. 

The Chair informed Members that Mr Twigg has carried out CPA roadshows at local schools, and asked whether Members would like to invite Mr Twigg to a future meeting, as well as explore a joint visit to a school during his visit. The Chair added that it would be important to look at a geographic spread for school visits, and that such visits would offer an important educational element. Members were content.

Actions:

  • Invite CPA Secretary-General Stephen Twigg to the Assembly.
  • Contact the CPA team for further information on what school visits involve
  • Explore a range of possible dates and venues for school visits. 

 

11. DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING

It was agreed that the next meeting would take place on Tuesday 15 October at 1.00pm in the Private Dining Room.

The Chair adjourned the meeting.