Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

No.01/07

MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS

TUESDAY 8 MAY 2007

The Assembly met at10.30 am, the Speaker in the Chair

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. The Speaker’s Business

The Speaker announced the death of Mr George Dawson MLA,
a Member for the East Antrim Constituency.

The sitting was, by leave, suspended at 10.33 am as a mark of respect to the late Mr Dawson.

The sitting resumed at 11.00 am.

2.2 The Speaker announced that she had received a letter from the Secretary of State advising that a restoration order had been made, under section 2(2) of the Northern Ireland (St. Andrews Agreement) Act 2006.

2.3 The Speaker announced that she had also received a letter from the Secretary of State advising that he had amended the Standing Orders for the Transitional Assembly relating to the signing of the Roll of Membership.

2.4 The Speaker informed Members that Mr Trevor Lunn, having signed the Roll of Membership in the presence of the Speaker and the Clerk to the Assembly, had taken his seat in accordance with the amended Standing Orders and that he had been deemed to have designated as ‘other’. All Members had, therefore, taken their seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly in accordance with the legislation.

2.5 The Speaker reminded Members that Standing Orders prepared by the Secretary of State had, in accordance with legislation, become the Standing Orders of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

3. Election of Speaker

3.1 The Speaker outlined the procedure for the election of a Speaker under Standing Order 4.

3.2 The Rt Hon Dr Ian Paisley nominated Mr William Hay as a candidate for the Office of Speaker of the Assembly. Mr Jeffrey Donaldson seconded the nomination. Mr Hay indicated his agreement to accept the nomination.

The Question being put that Mr William Hay be Speaker of the Assembly, the Motion was carried on a cross-community basis nemine contradicente.

The new Speaker in the chair.

4. Election of Deputy Speakers

4.1 The Speaker informed the House that the procedure would be the same as that adopted for the election of Speaker.

4.2 Mr Gerry Adams nominated Mr Francie Molloy as deputy Speaker of the Assembly. Ms Carál Ní Chuilín seconded the nomination. Mr Molloy indicated his agreement to accept the nomination.

The Question being put that Mr Francie Molloy be deputy Speaker of the Assembly, the Motion was carried on a cross-community basis nemine contradicente.

4.2 Sir Reg Empey nominated Mr David McClarty as deputy Speaker of the Assembly. Mr Danny Kennedy seconded the nomination. Mr McClarty indicated his agreement to accept the nomination.

The Question being put that Mr David McClarty be deputy Speaker of the Assembly, the Motion was carried on a cross-community basis nemine contradicente.

4.3 Mr Mark Durkan nominated Mr John Dallat as deputy Speaker of the Assembly. Mr Alban Maginness seconded the nomination. Mr Dallat indicated his agreement to accept the nomination.

The Question being put that Mr John Dallat be deputy Speaker of the Assembly, the Motion was carried on a cross-community basis nemine contradicente.

5. Affirmation of the terms of the Pledge of Office – First Minister Designate and Deputy First Minister Designate

5.1 The Speaker announced that the Secretary of State had written to the former Speaker advising that he had received official confirmation from both Dr Paisley and Mr McGuinness that they had accepted their parties’ nominations to be First Minster and deputy First Minister respectively.

5.2 The Pledge of Office contained in Schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998 was read into the record.

5.3 The First Minister (Designate) and deputy First Minister (Designate) each affirmed the terms of the Pledge of Office as required by Schedule 2 to the Northern Ireland (St. Andrews Agreement) Act 2006.

5.4 The Speaker confirmed that the Rt Hon Dr Ian Paisley and Mr Martin McGuinness had taken up office as First Minister and deputy First Minister respectively.

6. Appointment of Ministers

6.1 The Rt Hon Dr Ian Paisley, the nominating officer for the Democratic Unionist Party, nominated Mr Peter Robinson to be Minister of Finance and Personnel.

Mr Peter Robinson affirmed the terms of the Pledge of Office as set out in Schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998. The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Mr Peter Robinson as Minister of Finance and Personnel.

6.2 Mr Gerry Adams, the nominating officer for Sinn Féin, nominated Ms Caitriona Ruane to be Minister of Education.

Ms Caitríona Ruane affirmed the terms of the Pledge of Office as set out in Schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998. The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Ms Caitríona Ruane as Minister of Education.

6.3 The Rt Hon Dr Ian Paisley, the nominating officer for the Democratic Unionist Party, nominated Mr Nigel Dodds to be Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

Mr Nigel Dodds affirmed the terms of the Pledge of Office as set out in Schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998. The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Mr Nigel Dodds as Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

6.4 Sir Reg Empey, the nominating officer for the Ulster Unionist Party, nominated Mr Michael McGimpsey to be Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

Mr Michael McGimpsey affirmed the terms of the Pledge of Office as set out in Schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998. The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Mr Michael McGimpsey as Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

6.5 Mr Mark Durkan, the nominating officer for the Social Democratic and Labour Party, nominated Ms Margaret Ritchie to be Minister for Social Development.

Ms Margaret Ritchie affirmed the terms of the Pledge of Office as set out in Schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998. The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Ms Margaret Ritchie as Minister for Social Development.

6.6 Mr Gerry Adams, the nominating officer for Sinn Féin, nominated Mr Conor Murphy to be Minister for Regional Development.

Mr Conor Murphy affirmed the terms of the Pledge of Office as set out in Schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998. The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Mr Conor Murphy as Minister for Regional Development.

6.7 The Rt Hon Dr Ian Paisley, the nominating officer for the Democratic Unionist Party, nominated Mrs Arlene Foster to be Minister of the Environment.

Mrs Arlene Foster affirmed the terms of the Pledge of Office as set out in Schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998. The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Mrs Arlene Foster as Minister of the Environment.

6.8 Mr Gerry Adams, the nominating officer for Sinn Féin, nominated Ms Michelle Gildernew to be Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Ms Michelle Gildernew affirmed the terms of the Pledge of Office as set out in Schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998. The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Ms Michelle Gildernew as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

6.9 The Rt Hon Dr Ian Paisley, the nominating officer for the Democratic Unionist Party, nominated Mr Edwin Poots to be Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure.

Mr Edwin Poots affirmed the terms of the Pledge of Office as set out in Schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998. The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Mr Edwin Poots as Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure.

6.10 Sir Reg Empey, the nominating officer for the Ulster Unionist Party, nominated himself to be Minister for Employment and Learning.

Sir Reg Empey affirmed the terms of the Pledge of Office as set out in Schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998. The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Sir Reg Empey as Minister for Employment and Learning.

6.11 The Speaker informed the House that he had received correspondence from the First Minister and the deputy First Minister advising that, pursuant to the procedure for the appointment of Junior Ministers specified in paragraph 3(1) of the former First Minister and deputy First Ministers’ determination of 8 December 1999, as approved by the Assembly on 14 December 1999, the First Minister and deputy First Minister had appointed Mr Ian Paisley Junior MLA and Mr Gerry Kelly MLA to the post of Junior Minister.

Mr Ian Paisley Junior and Mr Gerry Kelly each affirmed the terms of the Pledge of Office as set out in Schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998. The Speaker confirmed the appointment of Mr Ian Paisley Junior and Mr Gerry Kelly as Junior Ministers.

7. Committee Business

Motion – Business Committee Membership

Proposed: That the Business Committee shall consist of:

The Speaker (Ex officio)
Mr Billy Armstrong
Mr PJ Bradley
Mr Paul Maskey
Mr Kieran McCarthy
Dr Alasdair McDonnell
Mr David McNarry
The Lord Morrow
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín
Mr Peter Weir

[The Speaker]

The Motion was carried without division.

8. Adjournment

8.1 Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn.

[The Speaker]

The Assembly adjourned at 11.45 am

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
8 May 2007