COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
SIXTH MEETING
THURSDAY, 27 JANUARY 2000
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Members Present:
Mr Francie Molloy (Chair)
Mr James Leslie (Deputy Chair)
Mr Alex Attwood
Mr William Bell
Mr Seamus Close
Mr Derek Hussey
Mr Gardiner Kane
Mr Donovan McCelland
Mr Alex Maskey
Mr Peter Weir

In Attendance:
Mr Martin Wilson (Committee Clerk)
Mr Peter Hughes (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Ms Sharon Bowman (Administrative Support)

The meeting opened at 2.00 pm in closed session.

AGENDA

1. Apologies.

1.1 Mr Oliver Gibson.

2. Consideration of Bills

2.1 Briefing to Members

2.1.1 The arrangements for considering the Allowances to Members and Offices Holders Bill and the Assembly Members' Pensions Bill were discussed.

The session was open from 2.30 pm.

2.2 Allowances to Members and Office Holders Bill (NIA Bill 2/99)

2.2.1 The sponsor of the Bill, Mr John Fee made an opening statement. He was supported by Mr Tom Evans, Clerk to the Commission, Mr Dennis Millar, Director of Finance and Personnel, Mr Jim Hamilton, DFP. Members questioned Mr Fee on the Bill.

2.2.2 Mr Fee explained that the Commission had made a comparison between equal opportunities legislation in Northern Ireland and Great Britain and had sought legal advice. The Commission believed that the Bill did not discriminate against anyone on the grounds of sex, marital status, race, religious belief/political opinion, or disability.

2.2.3 Mr Fee accepted the Committee's concern about the intent of Clause 3 (1) (a) - 'Allowances to persons ceasing to hold certain offices'. The Commission had agreed with the Committee that the fixed period of three weeks was insufficient in relation to chairpersons and deputy chairpersons at a time of dissolution of the Assembly. Mr Fee suggested two amendments to Clause 3.

2.2.4 Agreed: The Committee agreed to recommend to the Assembly that the following motion be adopted:

"The Committee considers that Clause 3 of the Allowances to Members of the Assembly and Office Holders Bill (NIA Bill 2/99) be amended as follows:

Clause 3, page 2, line 33, leave out 'three' and insert 'six'

Clause 3, page 3, line 3, at end insert -

'(5) In reckoning the period of six weeks referred to in subsection (1)(b), no account shall be taken of any time during which the Assembly is dissolved.' "

2.2.5 The Committee went on to consider whether Clause 3 (which states that Members who cease to be office holders should receive an additional allowance) should be omitted from the Bill.

2.2.6Agreed: The Committee agreed to recommend to the Assembly that the following motion be adopted:

"The Committee recommends that, when considering the Allowances to Members of the Assembly and Office Holders Bill (NIA Bill 2/99), the Assembly should not agree that Clause 3, as amended, stand part of the Bill."

2.2.7 Mr Maskey informed Members that he was concerned about Clause 1 and that he would personally be putting an amendment to the Assembly. He also considered that entitlement to the winding up allowance in Clause 4 needed to be tightened and that he would consider an amendment and bring it to the Committee at the next meeting.

2.3 Assembly Members' Pensions Bill (NIA Bill 1/99) - Item

2.3.1 The sponsor of the Bill, Rev Robert Coulter MLA made an opening statement. He was supported by Mr Dennis Watson MLA, Chairman of the Northern Ireland Assembly Pensions Trustees, Mr Tom Evans, Clerk to the NI Assembly Commission, Mr Dennis Millar, NI Assembly Director of Finance and Personnel, Mr Jim Hamilton, Department of Finance and Personnel and Mr Grant Ballintine, Government Actuary Department. The Committee questioned the witnesses.

2.3.2 The Committee considered Clauses 1 to 4 and the Schedule, Parts A to C. The Committee asked for further clarification on two issues i.e.:

• At B2 (2)(c), Members asked whether it would be better if this clause ensured that steps would be taken within a set time to replace a Trustee who was no longer a Member of the Assembly.
• At B2 (7), Members asked whether the clause should make it clear that expenses to be defrayed out of the fund would be restricted to expenses arising directly as a consequence of the operation of the scheme.

2.3.3 Agreed: Rev. Coulter agreed to appear before the Committee again to clarify these issues and to deal with further parts of the Bill.

3. Date of Next Meeting

3.1 Agreed: The Committee agreed to reconvene to continue its consideration of the Assembly Members' Pensions Bill on Thursday, 3 February at 2.00 pm.

The meeting closed at 17.00 pm.

26 January 2000/ Menu/2 February 2000