No.01/06 (T.A.)

MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS

FRIDAY 24 NOVEMBER 2006

The Assembly met at 10.30 am, the Speaker in the Chair

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. The Speaker’s Business

2.1 The Speaker announced that it was a requirement of the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006 that a meeting of the Transitional Assembly should be held on Friday, 24 November 2006.

2.2 The Speaker advised Members that the Secretary of State had directed, in accordance with Paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 1 to the Act, that the Transitional Assembly meet at 10.30am to consider business as it appeared on the Order Paper, and that he had also determined initial Standing Orders for the Transitional Assembly.

3. Indication of intention to nominate First Minister by the largest political party of the largest political designation and deputy First Minister by the largest political party of the second largest political designation

3.1 The Speaker confirmed that, since the Business Committee meeting earlier that morning, she had received a direction made by the Secretary of State under Paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006 in relation to the sitting, and that she would proceed in accordance with that direction.

3.2 The Speaker invited the nominating officer from the largest party of the largest designation to indicate his intention to honour his duty under the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006 in relation to the nomination of a First Minister designate after the Assembly election, subject to the outcome of that election and other necessary conditions being satisfied.

3.3 The nominating officer of the Democratic Unionist Party, Rev Dr Ian Paisley MP made a statement regarding his party’s intention in relation to the nomination of a First Minister designate.

3.4 The Speaker invited the nominating officer from the largest party of the second largest designation to indicate his intention to honour his duty under the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006 in relation to the nomination of a deputy First Minister designate after the Assembly election and subject to the outcome of that election and other necessary conditions being satisfied.

3.5 The nominating officer of Sinn Féin, Mr Gerry Adams MP, made a statement regarding his party’s intention in relation to the nomination of a deputy First Minister designate.

3.6 Mr Martin McGuinness MP made a statement.

3.7 The Speaker, in accordance with the direction made by the Secretary of State (referred to at paragraph 3.1 above), announced that it would be duly noted that the Rev Dr Ian Paisley MP and Mr Martin McGuinness MP had indicated, subject to the outcome of the election and other necessary conditions being satisfied, their intention to be nominated as First Minister designate and deputy First Minister designate after the Assembly elections.

4. Statements from leaders of other political parties in the Assembly

4.1 Statements were made by Sir Reg Empey and Mr Mark Durkan MP.

The Sitting was suspended at 11.09 am and Members evacuated the building as a result of a security incident.

The Sitting resumed at 10.30 am on Monday, 27 November 2006.

4.2 The Speaker made a statement on the security incident that had caused the sitting to be suspended on Friday, 24 November 2006.

4.3 Statements were made by Mr David Ford and Mr Robert McCartney.

5. Adjournment

5.1 Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn.

[The Speaker]

The Assembly adjourned at 10.53 am.

Mrs Eileen Bell
The Speaker
27 November 2006

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