APN 11/01

ALL PARTY NOTICES

CAROL SERVICE - PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

A Carol Service will be held in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings at 1.00 pm on Wednesday 12 December 2001. The Service will last approximately 40 minutes. Members and staff are welcome to attend.

COMMEMORATION CEREMONY

Memorial inscriptions in memory of the late Senator Jack Barnhill and the late Senator Paddy Wilson will be unveiled in the Senate Rotunda on Wednesday 12 December 2001 at 11.00 am. Representatives from both the Barnhill and Wilson families will be in attendance.

All members are invited to attend.

TOUR REGULATIONS

The Assembly Commission has agreed certain revisions to regulations governing tours of Parliament Buildings. A full set of the revised regulations has been sent to each Member. Members' attention is drawn to the following changes in particular.

Size of Groups

The maximum size of tour group has been increased from 20 to 25.

Unofficial tours escorted by party staff

Members may now arrange for a pass-holding member of party staff to escort groups of 6 or less on tours without a permit. In this circumstance staff will have access up to the inner ropes in the Assembly and Senate Chambers.

Restaurant Facilities - Access by Large Groups

To ease congestion at peak times groups of guests greater than 6 in number may not use the Basement Restaurant between the hours of 12:30 and 14:00, Monday to Friday. The Visitors' Restaurant facility will continue to be available for booking from 10:00 to 16:00 for groups not exceeding 40.

Cancellations

Cancellation of tours should be notified to the Events Co-ordination Office giving at least 24 hours' notice. Where hospitality has been arranged written confirmation of the cancellation is also required. Failure to confirm a cancellation involving pre-arranged catering would render the sponsoring Member/Officer liable for the catering costs.

Queries concerning the above should be directed to the Events Co-ordinator, Dermot MacGreevy (Tel: 90 (5)21172).

PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
ACCESS OVER THE CHRISTMAS RECESS PERIOD

Opening Hours

The following arrangements will apply for the period 15 December 2001 to 6 January 2002.

Arrangements necessary to facilitate events and functions during the period will be applied.

West DoorAll times07.30 - 22.30
East DoorMonday - Friday07.30 - 19.00
Saturday/SundayClosed
Front DoorMonday - Friday07.45 - 19.00
Saturday/SundayClosed

In addition arrangements can be made for access, at any time, at the 'slope' entrance at the north side of the building.

Agreed Arrangements for Christmas Recess

1. Public Holidays 24, 25 and 26 December 2001 and 1 January 2002Building closed
2. Saturday 22 December and Sunday 23 December 2001Building closed
3. Saturday 29 December and Sunday 30 December 2001Building closed

Catering Arrangements

Basement Restaurant08.00 - 17.00
Shop & Post Office09.30 - 15.00
Members' Dining Room12.00 - 14.30
Brasserie12.00 - 14.30
Members' Coffee LoungeClosed
Members' Bar*09.00 - 19.00 (15 December - 21 December 2001)

09.00 - 17.00 (27 December - 7 January 2002)

Press Bar*09.00 - 19.00

*Alcohol served from 11.30 - 19.00

PRESS BAR will close on Friday 21 December 2001 and due to the refurbishment plans the date of reopening will be confirmed in late January 2002.

The arrangements will be monitored throughout the recess period and subject to demand may be adjusted.

SHUTTLE SERVICE

Due to Finance and Personnel Directorate being located in Annexe C, Dundonald House a 'Shuttle Service - People Carrier' will operate between Parliament Buildings and Annexe C daily (Monday-Friday) commencing on Monday, 10 December 2001.

The Shuttle Service is for MLAs and Secretariat staff between Parliament Buildings and Annexe C, Dundonald House only. Shuttle Service to any other location whether inside or outside the Stormont Estate is not permitted.

MLAs will be given priority in seat allocation at all times.

The Shuttle Service will operate from Monday to Friday between 09.15 and 18.30 hours.

The Shuttle Service will depart each morning from the East Door of Parliament Buildings, at 09.15 hours. The service throughout the day will be '15 minutes past the hour' from the East Door of Parliament Buildings and '15 minutes to the hour' from Annexe C. The last service from Annexe C will be at 18.20 hours each day.

Between scheduled service times MLAs and Secretariat staff from Deputy Principal and above may request URGENT additional Shuttle services between Parliament Buildings and Annexe C.