COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY BRANCH – EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
1st Meeting on Wednesday 7 November 2007 in the Commonwealth Room, Parliament Buildings
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Present:
The President, Mr William Hay MLA
Rev Robert Coulter MLA
Mr Simon Hamilton MLA
Mr David McClarty MLA
Mr Stephen Moutray MLA
Mr Sean Neeson MLA
Mr Peter Gregg, Head of External Liaison Unit
Mrs Judith Murdoch, External Liaison Unit
Apologies:
Mr Nelson McCausland MLA
Ms Dawn Purvis MLA
Also In attendance:
Ms Frances Leneghan, PS/Speaker
1. Welcome & Introductions
The President welcomed members to the 1 st CPA Executive Committee meeting and agreed that apologies received would be reflected in the minutes of the meeting.
2. Scotland Branch Executive Committee Visit
The President explained that a visit by the Scotland Branch Executive Committee which had been arranged for Tuesday 13 November 2007 has been cancelled due to Parliamentary business in Scotland. The visit will be rescheduled later in the year.
3. Vice President Position
The President explained that only the First Minister had accepted the position of Vice President of the NI Branch CPA and that the other Vice President position remained vacant, he sought Members agreement on how this matter should be taken forward. After a brief discussion Members agreed that they were content to leave the position vacant at present and that the situation could be reviewed again in the future
Agreed: Members agreed to leave the second Vice President position vacant at present .
4. NI Branch CPA Budget
The President referred members to a brief report on the NI Branch budget 2007/2008. Members agreed that a similar report should be presented at subsequent meetings of the Executive Committee and Branch.
Agreed: Members agreed that a brief budget report should be presented at subsequent meetings of the Executive Committee and Branch.
5. Reports on Conferences/Seminars
53rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in New Delhi, India 22- 30 September 2007
The President referred Members to copies of the CPA Conference in New Delhi and visit to the Asha Project in New Delhi. At the request of The President, Rev Coulter and Mr Moutray who attended the Conference gave a brief report to the meeting. Mr Moutray requested to put on record his thanks to Mr Joe Reynolds who accompanied Members to the Conference for the help he provided during their visit to New Delhi.
A copy of the Conference report will be circulated to all Members at the next Branch meeting.
6th Session of the Canadian Parliamentary Seminar in Ottawa, Canada 21-27 October 2007
At the request of The President, Mr David McClarty, who had attended this seminar, gave a brief report to the meeting. Mr McClarty agreed to present a written report on the Seminar in due course.
19th Commonwealth Parliamentary Seminar in Edinburgh 28 October – 3 November 2007
The President reported that Mr Nelson McCausland attended the Seminar on Wednesday 31 October 2007 and he would be asked to give a short verbal report at the next branch meeting.
6. Selection of Members for Conferences/Seminars
After a short discussion Members agreed that the External Liaison Unit should present a draft protocol for consideration at the next Executive Committee meeting.
Agreed: Members agreed that the ELU should present a draft protocol on the Selection of members for Conferences, Seminars and visits for consideration at the next Executive Committee meeting and a list of regular CPA conferences.
Action: ELU to prepare draft protocol and a list of regular CPA conferences/seminars.
7. Branch / Executive Meetings
Members discussed the frequency of branch and Executive Committee meetings and agreed that the Branch should meet quarterly and the Executive Committee should meet on an ad hoc basis as required.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Branch would meet quarterly and the Executive Committee would meet as required on an ad hoc basis.
8. Any other Business
Rev Coulter explained that he had received an official photograph from the 53 rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in New Delhi and wished to present it to the Branch.
9. Date and time of next meeting
The next Executive Committee Meeting will be held on Tuesday 22 January 2008 at 5.00pm in the Commonwealth Room (Room 29).