Business Committee

The purpose of this report is to inform Members of the recent visit by the Business Committee to Washington DC on 7-14 March 2001 and to detail any findings and recommendations that would benefit the Northern Ireland Assembly.

4.3 The Assembly should maintain contact with the European Subcommittee of the House International Relations Committee to explore further areas of mutual co-operation between the Assembly and Congress.

5.3 The First Minister and Deputy First Minister should make arrangements for early communication with the State Department with a view to hosting a visit by Mr Richard Haass at the earliest opportunity.

6.3 Ongoing liaison should be maintained and strengthened between the Assembly and the US Consulate in Belfast.

7.4 The Speaker, as Chairperson of the Business Committee, should write to National Democratic Institute and investigate how these proposals might best be taken forward in order to assist with in-service training of business managers.

8.3 Immediate contact should be made between the Director of Information and Research and the Congressional Research Service with a view to discussing matters of mutual interest and sharing of information.

10.3 Further liaison at Officer level is developed with those in the Congress responsible for delivering services to Members, and particularly, for promoting the work of Congress to the American public. The Committee believes that opportunities exist for the development of training modules for Clerks in procedural areas as well as in terms of how the Assembly generates and disseminates its published information.

12.2 There should be continued contact with Professor Weinstein and the Center for Democracy with a view to promoting the views of Assembly parties in Washington DC and developing further the understanding of business managers in the conduct of parliamentary business.

Introduction
Background
Objectives
Approach of the Committee
Meetings in the Capital
Meetings at National Security Council
Meeting at State Department
Other Political Contacts
Congressional Research Service
Trade and Commerce
Administration and Staffing
Conclusions
Appreciation
Summary of Recommendations
Annex A - Schedule of Meetings
Annex B - List of Contacts in US
Annex C - News Release
Annex D - List of Attendees

The Business Committee is a Standing Committee established in accordance with paragraph 10 of Strand One of the Belfast Agreement and under Northern Ireland Assembly Standing Order No.54. The Committee shall make arrangements for the business of the Assembly and perform such other duties as the Speaker may request or the Assembly determine. The Committee has 13 Members including the Speaker who shall be Chairperson of the Business Committee.

The procedures of the Business Committee shall be such as the Committee shall determine.

The membership of the Committee is as follows:

• The Speaker (Chairperson)


• Mr Ivan Davis


• Mr Nigel Dodds


• Mr David Ford


• Mr Billy Hutchinson


• Mr Alex Maskey


• Mr Conor Murphy


• Dr Alasdair McDonnell


• Mr Eddie McGrady MP


• Ms Monica McWilliams


• Mr Ian Paisley Jnr
• Mr Denis Watson
• Mr Jim Wilson

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1. Following a visit on Thursday 9 November 2000 to Parliament Buildings, Belfast by Professor Allen Weinstein, Chairman and Chief Executive, the Center for Democracy, Washington, DC, the Business Committee was invited to undertake a visit to Washington as part of its development of planning the delivery of Assembly business.

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2. The visit was planned to achieve two objectives. Firstly, to develop a clearer understanding of the operation of a party whip's office, to develop an understanding of the mechanics of communicating with elected Members, managing legislative business and exercising control over the arrangements for voting and of the 'party line' in any given situation. And, secondly, to make contact with the new American administration, to inform its decisions in respect of its relationship with Northern Ireland and to offer preliminary views on the current state of the political process in Northern Ireland from the perspective of parties in the Assembly.

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3. In the course of the weeklong visit the Committee undertook 20 meetings, attended two evening receptions, a breakfast briefing and the biannual Board meeting of the Center for Democracy. The Committee met with 8 Members of the House of Representatives, 5 Senators, the British and Irish Ambassadors to Washington and a series of Officials, some newly appointed, others awaiting confirmation as the new Administration begins to firm up on its staffing appointments. A copy of the Committee's schedule is attached at Annex A and an alphabetical list of the American politicians with whom meetings took place is included at Annex B.

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4.1 At the start of its visit the Committee met with the Subcommittee on Europe and outlined the interest of the Northern Ireland political parties in maintaining the level of interest by the US administration in the political scene in Northern Ireland. The Subcommittee reported on its recent presentation by the new Secretary of State, Secretary Colin Powell. The Subcommittee reported on its belief that the Bush Administration would place responsibility for US policy on Northern Ireland in the State Department (rather than at the National Security Council as had been the position under President Clinton). The Subcommittee further reported its belief that it was unlikely that the new Secretary of State would appoint a Special Envoy specifically for Northern Ireland. The Subcommittee offered to write to the Secretary of State to alert him to the importance of sustaining American involvement in Northern Ireland political life. It was suggested that an evolving role, to support the internal political developments in Northern Ireland, might be more appropriate to the prevailing circumstances than the approach taken by the Clinton administration. A copy of the Committee's subsequent Press Release is attached at Annex C.

4.2 The Committee was agreed that the meeting with the Subcommittee established an important benchmark against which to judge the effectiveness of its visit. The Subcommittee clearly demonstrated detailed knowledge and commitment to supporting further progress in the Northern Ireland political process. The Business Committee welcomed the interest from this important Congressional body.

4.3 The Business Committee recommends that the Assembly should maintain contact with the European Subcommittee of the House International Relations Committee to explore further areas of mutual co-operation between the Assembly and Congress.

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5.1 The Committee met with Mr Richard Norland, Director of European Affairs at the National Security Council. Mr Norland had previously served in the US Embassy in Dublin (1995-98). Many of the messages from the NSC echoed the discussions within the European Subcommittee. Mr Norland confirmed that the appointment of a Special Envoy was unlikely but that the Administration was likely to appoint a 'Point Person' to maintain a watching brief on developments in Northern Ireland. He reported on the historic context within which the decision of the Administration to manage policy on Northern Ireland from the State Department reflected the approach of previous Republican administrations under Presidents Reagan (1980-88) and Bush (1988-92). The Administration subsequently announced the appointment of Mr Richard Haass to maintain a brief on developments in Northern Ireland.

5.2 The Committee was grateful for the lucid explanation of the modified focus likely to be delivered by the incoming Bush Administration. It was apparent that a number of further key personnel changes were imminent and that the wider picture was unlikely to become settled until the Autumn.

5.3 The Business Committee recommends that the First Minister and Deputy First Minister should make arrangements for early communication with the State Department with a view to hosting a visit by Mr Richard Haass at the earliest opportunity.

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6.1 The Committee met with Mr Charles Ries in the US State Department. Mr Ries focussed on the differences likely to become apparent in the approach of the new Administration. President Bush would focus on objective-driven outcomes rather than the operational management of process. Whilst it was still early in the life of the new Administration, Mr Ries argued that clear messages of style and substance were already evident. He recognised that the approach of the United States was still hampered by the period of transition between presidential administrations which had been exaggerated because of the uncertainty of the election outcome, nevertheless the 'growing maturity' of the political situation in Northern Ireland was being recognised by the revised approach. The US involvement in Northern Ireland was recognised by the incoming administration as one of the successes (possibly even the singular success) of the Clinton presidency. Mr Ries confirmed the likelihood of the appointment of a senior individual with policy responsibility and direct access to Secretary Powell. Whilst there was no indication of a forthcoming visit to Northern Ireland, by a senior official from the State Department, the importance to the Northern Ireland parties of such involvement was noted. Recognition was given to the role of the current Consul, Jane Fort and Deputy Consul Eric Green and the potential for an increased importance in the role of the US Consulate in Belfast in assisting political dialogue within Northern Ireland. There was some concern about the distraction of the forthcoming election campaigns to the wider political process.

6.2 The Business Committee found that the State Department regarded the deployment of a key policy official to be an important strategic and political decision on the part of the Bush Administration. This decision reflected a desire both to build on the success of the US involvement in Northern Ireland under President Clinton as well as positioning responsibility for this issue firmly in the context of wider American foreign policy considerations.

6.3 The Business Committee recommends that ongoing liaison should be maintained and strengthened between the Assembly and the US Consulate in Belfast.

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7.1 The Committee spoke at length to Senator George Mitchell in a telephone conference call. Senator Mitchell stressed his continued interest in the work of the Assembly and in the importance of continuing political progress in the wider context of the three stranded approach as defined in the Belfast Agreement. The Committee also met with Senator Edward Kennedy, Congressman Jim McDermott and with Senator Trent Lott (Senate Majority Leader). The Committee met with Jim Nicholson the retiring Chairman of the Republican National Committee (and Ambassador designate to the Vatican City), Ana Gamonal, Republican National Committee and Terry McAuliffe, Chair, Democratic National Committee.

7.2 The Committee also met with Congressman Roy Blunt (Chief Deputy Majority Whip) and discussed arrangements for managing the work of Congress and the role of elected Members in delivering the Government's programme of legislation. The Committee met with former Secretary Madeleine Albright in her new role as Chairperson of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs and discussed the role of the Institute in promoting democracy in evolving political situations. Secretary Albright was accompanied by Kenneth Wollack, President of NDI and by Jim O'Brien (the former Special Envoy to the Balkans). There was some initial speculation about employing the lessons of Northern Ireland for the benefit of political situations elsewhere in the world. It was suggested that Northern Ireland provided a valuable context in which to establish a framework for the resolution of political conflicts in other countries. Several Members of the delegation offered to assist the Institute where the opportunity presented itself. In return the NDI offered to make available a middle-ranking US official to facilitate workshops between Northern Ireland political party managers.

7.3 The Committee found the experience of congressional management especially as described by Congressman Roy Blunt and Senator Trent Lott extremely interesting and useful. The Committee agreed that the offer by National Democratic Institute to make a middle ranking official available to facilitate workshops between business managers in Washington and Belfast would be most beneficial to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

7.4 The Business Committee recommends that the Speaker, as Chairperson of the Business Committee, should write to NDI and investigate how these proposals might best be taken forward in order to assist with in-service training of business managers.

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8.1 The Committee met with Karen Donfried, Specialist in European Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade Division. She outlined the role of the CRS in providing an independent source of research analysis to help Members understand the alternatives to issues being debated by Congress. Ms Donfried extended the CRS facilities to Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly as a means of sharing information and ideas. She welcomed individual party analysis of events in Northern Ireland.

8.2 The Committee agreed that there exist opportunities for the Northern Ireland Assembly Research Directorate to enhance its service to Members by using some of the facilities available through the Congressional Research Service.

8.3 The Business Committee recommends that immediate contact should be made between the Director of Information and Research and the Congressional Research Service with a view to discussing matters of mutual interest and sharing of information.

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9. As part of the work of Members of the Committee in promoting investment and reflecting the previous interest in their various constituencies, the delegation met with Mr Peter Hale, Acting Assistant Secretary for Market Compliance and with Catherine Novelli, Assistant Representative for Europe, US Trade Representative. There was considerable interest in the current trade dispute in regard to the importation quota for bananas. Ms Novelli indicated that the gap between the US and Europe had closed in respect of the specific issue but warned that without satisfactory resolution, the issue threatened wider EU/US trade relations. Mr Hale, on behalf of the Department of Commerce, indicated the priority that was being afforded to developing the Community Development Programme to support E-commerce in the border counties of Ireland, north and south.

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10.1 Members of the Committee met with Jeff Trandahl, Clerk of the House of Representatives, with Charles Johnson, Parliamentarian, House of Representatives, with Jay Eagen, Chief Administrative Officer, House of Representatives, and with Robert Mansker, Deputy Public Printer, US Government Printing Office. During these meetings the delegation explored the similarities in approaches between the Assembly and the Congress in securing staff and services for Members. Contact with the Government Printing Office established a basis for comparative lessons about the arrangements for meeting the printing needs of the Assembly. It was noted that the growth of the use of the internet had generated a 50% fall in the sale of published material by the Government Printing Office.

10.2 The Committee agreed that a number of practical ideas about the organisation and delivery of parliamentary business were generated during the visit. In many areas of administration and clerking the key principles of delivering parliamentary democracy were similar to the structures being developed for the Assembly. In respect of developing services to Members, negotiating contracts and disseminating information on the work of Congress, the Committee noted a number of approaches which were relevant to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

10.3 The Business Committee recommends that further liaison at Officer level is developed with those in the Congress responsible for delivering services to Members, and particularly, for promoting the work of Congress to the American public. The Committee believes that opportunities exist for the development of training modules for Clerks in procedural areas as well as in terms of how the Assembly generates and disseminates its published information.

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11.1 Many of those with whom the Committee met commented on the political maturity of the approach now being adopted by Northern Ireland political representatives in the United States. The representatives in the State Department, the National Security Council and particularly the European Subcommittee of the House International Relations Committee welcomed the diversity of the views presented by the Committee in the context of constructive political dialogue. The Americans were keen to underline the value of hearing political counterpoint presented in a rational and thoughtful manner, with a clear mutual respect being shown for each of the viewpoints. They suggested that this would encourage further collaboration on the part of the American political system.

11.2 Several of the commentators noted the different perspective that the Bush Administration would bring to bear in dealing with the Northern Ireland situation. It was suggested that Northern Ireland would be considered in the context of wider US interests rather than separately as had been the case under the Clinton administration. This departure would be marked by the appointment of a senior adviser to Secretary Powell with a brief for a number of foreign policy issues including Northern Ireland.

11.3 Repeatedly, the Americans stressed the importance of engaging in purposeful politics. The focus of exchanges regularly moved from issues of constitutional politics to detailed analysis of commercial or business interests on both sides of the Atlantic. The US administration repeated its interest in supporting the development of more meaningful relationships in both political and commercial terms. The Administration stressed its willingness to support the development of normal politics and to offer support for the development of stronger internal political mechanisms in Northern Ireland.

11.4 The Committee agreed that the visit to the United States was valuable and contributed to its understanding of the operation of the new American administration. The Committee was introduced to a number of administrative and business management issues and learned a number of lessons about the management of political business. The visit provided individual Members with an opportunity to brief many in the Administration on the current state of thinking amongst parties in the Assembly. The visit provided a useful opportunity to discuss and observe the operation of the Republican and Democrat Parties in the early days of the new Government.

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12.1 The Committee was profoundly grateful to Professor Allen Weinstein and the Center for Democracy for their efforts to bring together such a valuable and diverse range of contacts in a concentrated programme. The programme was exceptionally well organised and fruitful, and this was largely due to the work of Professor Allen Weinstein who is clearly held in high esteem in the most senior circles in Washington DC. Professor Weinstein was ably assisted by Kevin Scott and Mathew Herzog.

12.2 The Business Committee recommends that there should be continued contact with Professor Weinstein and the Center for Democracy with a view to promoting the views of Assembly parties in Washington DC and developing further the understanding of business managers in the conduct of parliamentary business.

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4.3 The Assembly should maintain contact with the European Subcommittee of the House International Relations Committee to explore further areas of mutual co-operation between the Assembly and Congress.

5.3 The First Minister and Deputy First Minister should make arrangements for early communication with the State Department with a view to hosting a visit by Mr Richard Haass at the earliest opportunity.

6.3 Ongoing liaison should be maintained and strengthened between the Assembly and the US Consulate in Belfast.

7.4 The Speaker, as Chairperson of the Business Committee, should write to the National Democratic Institute and investigate how these proposals might best be taken forward in order to assist with in-service training of business managers.

8.3 Immediate contact should be made between the Director of Information and Research and the Congressional Research Service with a view to discussing matters of mutual interest and sharing of information.

10.3 Further liaison at Officer level is developed with those in the Congress responsible for delivering services to Members, and particularly, for promoting the work of Congress to the American public. The Committee believes that opportunities exist for the development of training modules for Clerks in procedural areas as well as in terms of how the Assembly generates and disseminates its published information.

12.2 There should be continued contact with Professor Weinstein and the Center for Democracy with a view to promoting the views of Assembly parties in Washington DC and developing further the understanding of business managers in the conduct of parliamentary business.

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Senate:

• Kay Bailey Hutchinson


• Edward Kennedy


• Trent Lott (Senate Majority Leader)


• Richard Lugar


• George Mitchell

Congress:

• Roy Blunt (Chief Deputy Majority Whip)


• Tom Delahunt


• Elton Gallegly (Chairman, Subcommittee on Europe)


• Ben Gilman


• Alcee Hastings (Ranking Member Subcommittee on Europe)


• Barbara Kennelly


• Bob Livingston


• Jim McDermott

Other Key Contacts:

• Dr Madeleine Albright


• Karen Donfried (Congressional Research Service)


• Jay Eagen (Chief Administrative Officer, House of Representatives)


• Charles Faulkner


• Ana Gamonal (Republican National Committee)


• Peter Hale (Assistant Secretary, US Department of Commerce)


• Charles W Johnson (Parliamentarian, House of Representatives)


• Robert Mansker (Deputy Public Printer, US Government Printing Office)


• Terry McAuliffe (Chair, Democratic National Committee)


• His Excellency Sir Christopher Myer (British Ambassador)


• Jim Nicholson (retiring Chairman, Republican National Committee)


• Richard Norland (Director of European Affairs)


• Catherine Novelli (Assistant Representative for Europe)


• Jim O'Brien


• His Excellency Séan O'hÚiginn (Irish Ambassador)


• Charles Ries (Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, European Affairs)


• Jeff Trandahl (Clerk of the House of Representatives)


• Ken Wollack (President, NDI)

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(WASHINGTON) - US Rep Gallegly (R-CA), chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe, urged US Secretary Colin Powell in letter dated Friday to "take a personal interest in the peace process" in Northern Ireland, and continue making it one of the State Department's top priorities.

In addition to Gallegly, the letter was signed by US Reps Alcee Hastings (D-EL), ranking Democrat on the Europe Subcommittee, Peter King (R-NY); William Delahunt (D-MA); Elliot L Engel (D-NY) and Jim Davis (D-FL).

• The Speaker


• Mrs Eileen Bell (alternate for Mr David Ford)


• Mr Ivan Davis


• Mr David Ervine*


• Mr Alex Maskey


• Dr Alasdair McDonnell


• Mr Pat McNamee (alternate for Mr Conor Murphy)


• Ms Monica McWilliams*


• Mr Denis Watson**


• Mr Jim Wilson


• Mr Joe Reynolds


• Mr John Ross

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