The Northern Ireland Assembly - PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE TO ADVISE THE PRESIDING OFFICER

Item 6 - Remembrance Day: to be amended to read "After discussion the Committee agreed the service should continue in its usual format at least for this year and that members could attend if they wish".

MATTERS ARISING

Party Seating in the Chamber: the drawings requested from DOE have not yet been received.

Security: the Initial Presiding Officer reported that he had looked into the query from Mr Maskey regarding the security presence in the building during the last plenary meeting of the Assembly. There were 2 uniformed RUC officers in the building during the afternoon plus a number of Close Protection Unit (CPU) personnel and Lisburn Security staff. The Initial Presiding Officer said that he would be meeting with Assistant Chief Constable Lewis regarding security matters and to establish the needs of CPU personnel within the building. Mr C Wilson asked that his observation be recorded that "no members have difficulties with the RUC presence except Sinn Fein" and he hoped that the Committee would not be faced with questions being raised every time the RUC is in the building. Mr C Wilson also said that the Shadow Assembly Commission should more appropriately deal with the issue of security. Mr J Wilson said that he had no concerns about RUC activity and he would not want it conveyed to Assistant Chief Constable Lewis that CAPO has concerns about the movement of CPU within the building, that this was for the RUC to determine and CAPO should not be involved. Mr Robinson endorsed Mr J Wilson's comments.

Accommodation: the Initial Presiding Officer reported on the outcome of the Shadow Assembly Commission's discussions with representatives from DFP and DOE. Miss Taylor from DFP had indicated that the department is keen to vacate the building. DOE has been asked to revise the timetable by Friday 9^th October and will be required to stick to it.

It has been agreed to allocate rooms on the 3^rd floor in blocks to parties rather than to individual members, parties can then allocate rooms as required. As both the NIWC and PUP already have rooms for their members the Shadow Assembly Commission agreed not to allocate them more rooms on the 3^rd floor but to try to bring their current allocations closer together. The UUAP are to be provided with one additional room on the 3^rd floor. Mr Hutchinson indicated that the PUP are content with the current arrangements.

Each member will be provided with office furnishings a PC and a television. Parties will be asked to advise Mr Allan Black of their members IT training requirements. Professor McWilliams said that the NIWC do not want existing hardware replaced but would require the software upgraded as soon as possible, the Initial Presiding Officer agreed to raise the matter with Mr Black.

Mr J Wilson asked for it to be placed on record that from the outset the accommodation arrangements have been shoddy. He also noted that he had raised the matter of IT training with Mr Cosgrave a few weeks ago but that nothing had been done and that he has not been provided with a printer for his room. The Initial Presiding Officer pointed out that it was not possible to make decisions on IT requirements before parties were consulted, however he would mention the printer to Mr Black.

Mr Ford asked when access to the Intranet would be possible. The Initial Presiding Officer reported that it is possible to connect to the Intranet on an individual basis and that a development of the Intranet service is being looked into.

The Initial Presiding Officer also reported that the Shadow Assembly Commission is also looking into the provision of a research service for members.

Headed Notepaper: coloured copies of the headed notepaper were circulated. The Initial Presiding Officer reported that envelopes with the logo printed on the back would also be made available, also that there have been delays with the Royal Mail over arranging prepaid envelopes. He noted that some requests regarding the wording on business cards and compliment slips were not acceptable as they contravened regulations for public funding. It has not yet been established if the compliment slips and business cards will be paid for out of Office Costs Allowances or the Assembly account. It was agreed the artwork plus specification could be provided to members.

FUTURE PLENARY MEETINGS

The Initial Presiding Officer asked the Committee for their views regarding future plenary meetings. Mr J Wilson said the UUP were in favour of plenary meetings only if there was a need to debate an Assembly Report, a Ministers Report or under a special circumstance such as to debate the Spending Review or the Report on Electoral Fraud. Mr McGrady said the SDLP felt plenary meetings should be more substantive but less frequent. Mr Maskey preferred to meet only on dates already set unless something urgent arises, and noted he had no difficulty in debating contentious issues. Mr Ford commented that the Assembly should not meet in plenary unless there is something substantive to debate and that he felt the format of the adjournment debate did not work. Mr Hutchinson said there was a feeling Ministers were rushing decisions through prior to devolution and that there was a need to debate matters and possibly to question Ministers on them. Mr C Wilson asked for it to be put on record that the he had asked for a motion, supplied by the UKUP, on decommissioning and cross border bodies to be debated on 12 October. Mr Robinson suggested setting up an ad hoc committee to look at the spending review in more depth he also pointed out that the Initial Presiding Officer had previously indicated that he would find it difficult to refuse a motion which covered issues raised in the Agreement. The Initial Presiding Officer said that as a divergence of views remained it was clear the majority were not in favour of meeting again until 26 October unless something urgent arose. The issue of the adjournment debate will be discussed at a future meeting. The Initial Presiding Officer said that following his decision to consider CAPO as an embryo Business Committee it would be for CAPO to decide when particular motions were debated.

CIRCULATION OF PAPERS TO MEMBERS

The matter was not discussed.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Visit by the President of the Czech Republic: the Initial Presiding Officer reported that President Vaclav Havel will be in the province on 20 October and asked the advice of the Committee regarding arranging a meeting with Mr Havel. He suggested arranging a smaller gathering than that arranged for the President Clinton visit. Agreed.

Medical Facilities: Mr C Wilson asked what medical facilities were available in Parliament Buildings. The Initial Presiding Officer said that first aid facilities are available and that doorkeepers were being given training.

Locker Facilities: Mr Hutchinson reported that a locker has not yet been provided for his use. To be looked into.

Hosting Meetings: Professor McWilliams asked that some mechanism be set up to inform members when groups/individuals are coming to the building so that members, if they wished, might be involved. The Initial Presiding Officer said this could be done through the All-Party Notices but only if those involved consented.

Minutes of the Shadow Assembly Commission: Mr Hutchinson noted that his researcher had been refused a copy of the proceedings of the Shadow Assembly Commission by the Library staff. The Initial Presiding Officer said he would speak with the Library staff to ensure that researchers would be given such copies upon request.

Print Order for Headed Notepaper: it was reported that because of the amount of headed notepaper required that the order may have to go out to tender causing a delay in delivery. To be looked into by the Initial Presiding Officer.

DATE, TIME AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will be on Monday 12 October 1998 at 10.00 am.

AUDREY MOORE
5 October 1998 / Menu / 12 October 1998