Commonwealth Parliamentary Association - Northern Ireland Assembly Branch - Executive Committee
Tuesday 20 May 2025
Present:
Mr Jonathan Buckley MLA, Chair
Mr Paul Frew MLA
Miss Michelle McIlveen MLA
Apologies:
Dr Steve Aiken MLA
Mr Keith Buchanan MLA
Mr Trevor Clarke MLA
Mr Stewart Dickson MLA
Also In attendance:
Mrs Lesley Hogg, Clerk/Chief Executive
Ms Stephanie Mallon, Branch Secretary
Mrs Caroline Moore, Participation & Outreach Manager
Mrs Nicola Crawford, Parliamentary Engagement Co-ordinator (minutes)
1. WELCOME
The Chair welcomed Executive Committee Members of the CPA NI Assembly Branch to the meeting.
2. APOLOGIES
Apologies were received from the following:
- Dr Steve Aiken MLA
- Mr Keith Buchanan MLA
- Mr Trevor Clarke MLA
- Mr Stewart Dickson MLA
3. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
The minutes were agreed.
Proposed by: Mr Paul Frew MLA
Seconded by: Mr Jonathan Buckley MLA
The Chair took the opportunity to advise Members that he had attended the William Massey event and made a speech in his position as Chair of the CPA NI Assembly Branch. A copy of the speech is at Annex A.
He stated that it had been a fantastic event attend by the Massey family with a fascinating lecture and a reading from the original Hansard from the time.
4. CPA CONFERENCES/SEMINARS/WEBINARS
Election Observation Training, Virtual, 6-7 May 2025
The Chair advised Members that Doug Beattie MLA, Diane Dodds MLA and Michelle McIlveen MLA had participated in a virtual Election Observation training course from 6 - 7 May and that the training allows them to partake in any future Election Observation missions.
CPA British Islands and Mediterranean Region Conference, Cardiff, 17-19 June 2025
The Chair advised that the annual BIMR Conference will take place in Cardiff from 17 - 19 June. The theme of the conference is "Addressing the Needs of a Modern Parliament ".
He stated that Steve Aiken MLA, Jonathan Buckley MLA, Paul Frew MLA and Michelle McIlveen MLA will represent the Assembly at the conference. They will be accompanied by Nicola Crawford from the Engagement Office who will provide secretarial support to the delegation.
A full report will be provided and a briefing to the Executive Committee at a future meeting.
Parliamentary Caucus at the Athens Democracy Forum, 1 - 3 October 2025
The Chair advised Members that an invitation has been received from the Democracy and Culture Foundation for CPA Members to participate in the Athens Democracy Forum (ADF), taking place from 1 to 3 October 2025 in Athens, Greece.
He stated that officials will find out more details about the Forum from the organisers which will then be passed on to Members.
Election Observation Mission, Falkland Islands, 26 October - 12 November 2025
The Chair advised Members that an Election Observation Mission will take place in the Falkland Islands, from 26 October to 12 November, for their General Election.
He stated that applications were requested from trained Members to attend the mission and one application was received from Steve Aiken MLA. The Chair stated that we await the next steps of the application process.
5. PARTNERSHIP COUNTRY
The Chair advised Members that a RaISe paper has been commissioned to examine areas in which the Assembly and Ontario legislature could partner and this will be shared with Members once it has been received.
A reciprocal visit by the new Ontario Speaker will also be arranged now that the new Speaker is in post.
The Chair suggested that a letter be sent to the new Ontario Speaker congratulating her on her new role. Members agreed.
ACTION: Letter to be drafted for the new Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
6. MEETINGS WITH CPA-UK BRANCHES
The Chair stated that, at the last meeting, Members agreed to him writing to the CPA Executive Committee Chairpersons within the BIMR region in order to convene a remote meeting.
This letter has now been issued to all Chairs of the UK and British Isles branches and we are waiting on their responses.
7. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
CWP GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE TOOLKIT
The Chair advised Members that the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Network is currently planning to develop a practical toolkit to support parliaments across the Commonwealth to tackle Gender-Based Violence.
This toolkit will form part of the Network's activity and was an outcome from a request made by delegates who attended the CWP workshop on 'A Parliamentary Response to Combatting Gender-Based Violence and Ensuring Gender Justice' held in Abuja, Nigeria in August 2024.
There were sessions on:
- Combating harassment and violence in Parliaments including tech-facilitated gender-based violence.
- Combating Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
- The role of Parliamentarians in supporting efforts to combat GBV within their constituencies.
To assist with the development of the toolkit, the CWP network has begun engaging with possible experts that will lead in developing the document. However, due to the broad nature of the topic, there is a need to narrow down the scope and focus on a particular area of priority to ensure that the toolkit is as practical and relevant as possible.
Therefore, the Network is inviting branches to share their input to help define the specific focus areas for the toolkit.
For this research, with reference to the sessions discussed at the Workshop listed above, the CPA Headquarters Secretariat would like to know the following:
- Which area(s) of gender-based violence do you think Commonwealth parliaments and parliamentarians need support inaddressing? Please share any specific needs, challenges, or examples that could inform its content.
The Chair discussed this with Members and they felt that the most important areas was violence against women and online violence against elected representatives.
This will now be passed on to CPA HQ.
ACTION: Response submitted to CPA HQ.
8. DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will be the AGM which will take place on Tuesday 10 June at 1:15pm (plenary business permitting) in the Private Dining Room.
The next meeting of the Executive Committee will take place on Tuesday 16 September at 1.15pm in the Private Dining Room.
The Chair adjourned the meeting.
Annex A
William Massey Speech
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in the Northern Ireland recently reached an important milestone of holding its 50th meeting.
In doing so, it was a great opportunity to reflect on all that we have achieved during that time, including some key milestones. Since the Assembly's restoration, CPA NI Assembly Branch members have taken part in over 120 visits, conferences, seminars and training courses, hosted our first BIMR conference in 2007, and, in 2021, proudly welcomed delegates to Belfast for the 50th BIMR Conference.
As Chair, I am extremely heartened that the CPANI Board and Membership are pursuing their responsibilities with vigor, keenly aware of the power of international connections and the value that comes when elected representatives connect. We are all acutely aware of our role in contributing to parliamentary dialogue and supporting democracy through fair elections.
Having been accorded the honor of speaking at this event, I wanted to speak of those who have gone before us, taking the spirit and drive of this place to match the ingenuity and possibilities their new homes.
Politicians with local roots have held the highest offices in the US - from Andrew Jackson, James Polk and Andrew Johnson - the list is a long one. Similarly, in Canada, when I read of the ambitious men and women who left these shores and came to establish paper mills, lumber yards and mining companies, I am struck by how many, in the midst of forging a new life, took on civic roles in local councils, schools and churches that contributed to the life of their communities.
And of course, there is our New Zealand connection. John Ballance, the 14th premier of New Zealand, was born in Glenavey and served as an ironmonger before emigrating. He founded the Herald newspaper and, yet again, as is common amongst these pioneers, became increasingly involved in the affairs of his town, establishing a number of societies and associations.
Lynda Patterson, the first female dean of Christchurch Catedral when she held the position a decade ago, was born in my constituency and I am quite sure the values instilled by Bangor Academy were precisely those which placed her in her central role in the spiritual life of New Zealand.
But all of this is but scene setting for the legacy that William Ferguson Massey created.
Farmer Bill was a hard working man who supported rural communities. Again, Massey, like so many others who have made their mark around the world, had an unwavering sense of duty. This can be seen in his vigorous civic involvement in school boards, debating societies and farming associations. And that approach took him into politics, into leadership and into service as a war-time prime minister.
It is noteworthy that Prime Minister of Northern Ireland Sir James Craig rose in this House in 1925 to pay tribute to the late Prime Minister of New Zealand, William Massey.
Craig described Massey as 'the greatest living Ulsterman of his day', which is a reflection of the deep pride that Ulster took in one of its most distinguished sons. It is a matte of fact that we say Massey's name every single day as a key road to Parliament Buildings was named after him in tribute to his contribution.
Much of PM Massey's legacy has already been touched upon in the speeches this evening but, as Chair of CPANI, I wanted to close by noting that CPANI's ambitions to grow and connect are underpinned by our collective understanding of civic duty, of supporting one another, and of linking across societies. I see it in the example of William Massey and I hear it in our own intent. It is an approach which resonates within CPA and it is one I am keen to note and celebrate.
It only leaves me to thank everyone for attending and particular thanks for the informative contribution of our guest speakers. It has been a fascinating evening and I close by inviting all guests to enjoy the light refreshments provided.
