No. 63-07/08
MINUTE OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 5 JUNE 2008
The Assembly met at 3.30 pm, the Speaker in the Chair
1. Personal Prayer or Meditation
Members observed two minutes’ silence.
2. The Speaker’s Business
2.1 The Speaker informed Members that he had received notice of the resignation of the Rt Hon Dr Ian Paisley as First Minister to take effect from 3.30 pm on 5 June 2008. The Rt Hon Dr Paisley made a statement and this was followed by comments from a representative of each of the following parties: DUP, Sinn Féin, UUP, SDLP, Alliance and PUP.
3. Filling of Vacancies in the Offices of First Minister and Deputy First Minister
3.1 The Rt Hon Dr Ian Paisley, the nominating officer for the Democratic Unionist Party, nominated the Rt Hon Peter Robinson to be First Minister. Mr Gerry Adams, the nominating officer for Sinn Féin, nominated Mr Martin McGuiness to be deputy First Minister.
3.2 The Rt Hon Peter Robinson affirmed the terms of the Pledge of Office as set out in Schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998. Mr Martin McGuinness affirmed the terms of the Pledge of Office as set out in Schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998. The Speaker confirmed the appointments of the Rt Hon Peter Robinson as First Minister and Mr Martin McGuinness as deputy First Minister.
3.3 The First Minister addressed the House and the deputy First Minister addressed the House. They were followed by comments from a representative of each of the following parties: UUP, SDLP, Alliance and PUP.
4. Adjournment
Proposed: That the Assembly do now adjourn.
[The Speaker]
The Assembly adjourned at 4.33 pm.