Go raibh maith agat. Ainmním Michelle Gildernew mar leasChaothairleach Social Development. I nominate Michelle Gildernew to be a Deputy Chairman of the Social Development Committee.

Is the Member willing to take up the office for which she has been nominated?

Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh. Yes, I accept the nomination.

I therefore announce the appointment of Ms Gildernew as Deputy Chairman of the Social Development Committee.

I call Mr Mallon, as nominating officer of the political party for which the formula laid down in Standing Orders gives the next-highest figure, to select an available Shadow Statutory Committee and nominate a person who is a member of his party and of the Assembly to be Deputy Chairman of it.

I beg your indulgence, Mr Initial Presiding Officer, and that of the House. I reluctantly ask for a 10-minute suspension.

Things are becoming increasingly complicated, but I call Mr Mallon to make his nomination.

I choose the Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee and nominate Mr Tommy Gallagher. [Interruption]

I cannot take any points of order, but I sense some uncertainty about procedures. Let me try to refresh your minds and give you the benefit of my understanding. The Initial Standing Orders and, as far as we can determine, the substantive Standing Orders insist that one shall prefer the chairmanship or the deputy chairmanship where there is no party involvement at ministerial level.

For that reason - and as far as I can ascertain, there is no bar to this - we are going to have parties with a Chairman and a Deputy Chairman of the same Committee. I appreciate that it is becoming more complicated for the parties to work out their arrangements, but the situation is different from that for the selection of Ministers.

I call Mr Trimble, as nominating officer of the political party for which -

We have been under a misapprehension. We nominated people to certain positions because we thought that we could not have a Chairman and a Deputy Chairman on the same Committee. However, our cause is lost now.

I appreciate that people may not understand the procedures. You have my apologies for that, but I cannot take responsibility for it.

You cannot move on until the Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee position has been accepted.

You are correct. Will Mr Gallagher indicate that he is willing to accept the nomination?

Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh. I accept.

I therefore announce the appointment of Mr Gallagher as Deputy Chairman of the Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee.

I call Mr Trimble, as nominating officer of the political party for which the formula laid down in Standing Orders gives the next-highest figure, to select an available Shadow Statutory Committee and to nominate a person who is a member of his party and of the Assembly to be Deputy Chairman of it.

I choose the Regional Development Committee, and nominate Mr Alan McFarland.

Is the Member willing to accept the office for which he has been nominated?

I accept the nomination.

I therefore announce the appointment of Mr McFarland as Deputy Chairman of the Regional Development Committee.

I call Dr Paisley, as nominating officer of the political party for which the formula laid down in Standing Orders gives the next-highest figure, to select an available Shadow Statutory Committee and to nominate a person who is a member of his party and of the Assembly to be Deputy Chairman of it.

I select the Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment Committee, and nominate Mr Mervyn Carrick to be its Deputy Chairman.

Is the Member willing to accept the office for which he has been nominated?

I accept the nomination.

I therefore announce the appointment of Mr Mervyn Carrick as Deputy Chairman of the Shadow Statutory Committee on Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment.

At this point I should be calling Mr McCartney as the nominating officer of the next political party. However, as I said earlier, the Member advised me that he would not be here. He also indicated to me formally that he did not wish to make a nomination and that he had not authorised anyone to make any nominations on his behalf.

I therefore call Mr Mallon, as nominating officer of the political party for which the formula laid down in Standing Orders gives the next-highest figure, to select an available Shadow Statutory Committee and to nominate a person who is a member of his party and of the Assembly to be Deputy Chairman of it.

I have to confess that I am becoming very confused. I apologise to everyone, but may I beg the indulgence of the Assembly for five minutes while I consult with colleagues?

A little uncertainty about the procedures at this point is entirely understandable.

I ask Mr Mallon to make his nomination.

I select the Environment Committee and nominate Carmel Hanna to be its Deputy Chairman.

Is the Member nominated for this position willing to accept it?

Thank you. I accept the nomination.

I therefore announce the appointment of Ms Hanna as Deputy Chairman of the Environment Committee.

I now call Mr David Trimble, as nominating officer of the political party for which the formula laid down in Standing Orders gives the next-highest figure, to select an available Shadow Statutory Committee and to nominate a person who is a member of his party and of the Assembly to be its Deputy Chairman.

I select the Finance and Personnel Committee and nominate Mr James Leslie.

Is the Member nominated for this position willing to accept it?

I accept the office.

I therefore announce the appointment of Mr Leslie as Deputy Chairman of the Finance and Personnel Committee.

I now call Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, as nominating officer of the political party for which the formula laid down in Standing Orders gives the next-highest figure, to select the only remaining Shadow Statutory Committee and to nominate a person who is a member of his party and of the Assembly to be its Deputy Chairman.

Ainnním Mary Nelis mar leis chathaoirleach Choiste Cultúir, Ealaíon agus Fóillíochta. Go raibh maith agat. I nominate Mary Nelis for the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee.

Is the Member who has been nominated for this office willing to accept it?

Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh. Tá. May I be called Deputy Chairperson instead of Deputy Chairman? It is important that we get the gender terminology correct. I accept.

I therefore announce the appointment of Mrs Nelis as Deputy Chairperson of the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee.

This brings to a conclusion the procedure for the appointment of Chairmen and Deputy Chairman of the Shadow Statutory Committees. A complete list of the names of those who have become Ministers, Chairmen or Deputy Chairmen should be available in the Printed Paper Office in about 15 minutes' time.

The sitting will now be suspended, to be resumed at 10.30 am tomorrow, when I will seek an early suspension to enable the Chief Whips to decide on Committee memberships, which will be formally announced later in the day. There will then be a final brief item of business.

Can you confirm that the refusal of Mr McCartney to nominate allowed Sinn Féin to gain that position?

I am astonished that there should be any lack of clarity about the matter, but I do so confirm. I recommend that Mr Hussey obtain the list that will be available in 15 minutes in the Printed Paper Office.

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