COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
EIGHTH MEETING
THURSDAY, 3 FEBRUARY 2000
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
1. Apologies
2. Minutes of Last Meeting
3. Consideration of Bills
4. Date of Next Meeting
Members Present:
| Mr Francie Molloy (Chair) Mr James Leslie (Deputy Chair) Mr Alex Attwood Mr William Bell Mr Seamus Close |
Mr Gardiner Kane Mr Donovan McCelland Mr Alex Maskey Mr Peter Weir |
In Attendance:
Mr Martin Wilson (Committee Clerk)
Mr Peter Hughes (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Ms Sharon Bowman (Administrative Support)
The Chairman declared the meeting open at 2.00 pm in closed session.
AGENDA
1.1 Mr Oliver Gibson.
top2.1 Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 3 February.
top3.1 Briefing to Members
3.1.1 Allowances to Members and Offices Holders Bill (NIA 2/99). Draft amendments to Clauses 1 and 4 of the Bill were issued to Members for consideration. Mr Maskey, the proposing Member, considered that Clause 1, which would provide a resettlement allowance to Members, should be dropped from the Bill, and that Clause 4 should be amended to restrict the range of payments made under the winding-up allowance.
3.1.2 Agreed: The Committee voted to reject the amendment to Clause 1 that 'Clause 1 does not stand part of the Bill'. Mr Maskey withdrew his proposed amendment to Clause 4 but would consider pursuing the matter when the Bill was debated in the Assembly.
3.1.3 Agreed: The draft report on the Allowances to Members and Office Holders Bill to the Northern Ireland Assembly was issued to members for consideration. The Committee agreed the draft report, subject to a number of amendments.
3.1.4 Assembly Members' Pensions Bill (NIA 1/99) Arrangements for considering the Bill were discussed.
The Chairman declared the meeting open from 2.30 pm.
3.2 Assembly Members' Pensions Bill (NIA Bill 1/99) - Item
3.2.1 The sponsor of the Bill, Rev Robert Coulter MLA made an opening statement. He was supported by Mr Dennis Watson MLA, Chairman of the Northern Ireland Assembly Pensions Trustees, Mr Tom Evans, Clerk to the NI Assembly Commission, Mr Dennis Millar, NI Assembly Director of Finance and Personnel, Mr Jim Hamilton, Department of Finance and Personnel and Mr Grant Ballintine, Government Actuary Department. The Committee questioned the witnesses.
3.2.2 The Committee considered the Bill. The Committee asked for further clarification on a number of issues arising from Part K, including the impact of European Union legislation on its provisions.
3.2.3 Agreed: Rev. Coulter agreed to clarify these issues and to deal with any further matters arising from the Bill.
top4.1 Agreed: The Committee agreed to reconvene in closed session to continue its consideration of the Assembly Members' Pensions Bill on Thursday, 10 February at 2.00 pm.
topThe Chairman declared the meeting closed at 17.00 pm.
02 February 2000/ Menu/9 February 2000>