I affirm the Pledge of Office as set out under schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

Mr Sam Foster is now Minister (Designate) of the Environment.

I call Mr John Hume, as nominating officer of the political party for which the formula laid down in Standing Orders gives the next highest figure, to select a ministerial portfolio and to nominate a person to hold it who is a member of the Social Democratic and Labour Party and of the Assembly.

Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment - Mr Sean Farren.

Will Mr Farren confirm that he is willing to take up the office?

Glacaim leis an Oifig agus deimhním Gealltanas na hOifige mar atá leagtha amach i sceideal 4 d'Acht Thuaisceart Éireann 1998. I affirm the Pledge of Office as laid out in schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

Mr Sean Farren is now Minister (Designate) of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment.

I call on Rev Dr Paisley, as the nominating officer of the political party for which the formula laid down in Standing Orders gives the next highest figure, to select the ministerial portfolio and to nominate a person to hold it who is a member of the Democratic Unionist Party and of the Assembly.

I ask for a break of 15 minutes, as permitted.

Dr Paisley, will you select a portfolio and nominate a Minister?

I select the Social Development portfolio and nominate Nigel Dodds.

Will Mr Nigel Dodds confirm that he is willing to take up office?

I refer to the statement that was made a few moments ago by my Colleague Mr Peter Robinson, the Member for East Belfast, the Minister (Designate) for Regional Development. I subscribe totally and fully to that statement, and, having done so, I accept the nomination and affirm the Pledge of Office as set out in schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

Mr Nigel Dodds is now Minister (Designate) for Social Development.

I call on Mr Trimble, as nominating officer of the political party for which the formula laid down in Standing Orders gives the next highest figure, to select a ministerial portfolio and to nominate a person to hold it who is a member of the Ulster Unionist Party and of the Assembly.

I select Culture, Arts and Leisure and nominate Mr Michael McGimpsey.

Will Mr McGimpsey confirm that he is willing to take office?

I confirm that I am willing to take office, and I affirm the Pledge of Office as set out in schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

Mr Michael McGimpsey is now appointed Minister (Designate) of Culture, Arts and Leisure.

I call on Mr Adams, as nominating officer of the political party for which the formula laid down in Standing Orders gives the next highest figure, to select a ministerial portfolio and to nominate a person to hold it who is a member of Sinn Féin and of the Assembly.

I would like a brief suspension please.

Order.

I have been amazingly tolerant of the latchcos in the Gallery.

I thought Mr McCartney was going to leave. [Interruption]

Order.

I am quite prepared to continue to be tolerant, but I look to the Chair to ensure that I am able to speak without that nonsense.

I would like the brief suspension to which we are entitled.

Mr Adams, will you select a portfolio and nominate a Member to hold it?

Ainmním Bairbre de Brún mar Aire Sláinte, Seirbhísí Sóisialta agus Sábháilteachta Pobail. I nominate Bairbre de Brún as Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

Will Bairbre de Brún confirm that she is willing to take up office?

Cinntím sin agus dearbhaím Gealltanais na hOifige mar atá siad leagtha amach i sceideal 4 d'Acht Thuaisceart na hÉireann 1998. I affirm the Pledge of Office set out in schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

Ms Bairbre de Brún is now Minister (Designate) for Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

I call on Mr Hume, as nominating officer of the political party for which the formula laid down in Standing Orders gives the next highest figure, to select the remaining ministerial portfolio and to nominate a person to hold it who is a member of the Social Democratic and Labour Party and of the Assembly.

I nominate Brid Rodgers as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Will Ms Rodgers confirm that she is willing to take up office?

Glacaim leis an Oifig agus deimhním Gealltanas na hOifige mar atá sé leagtha amach i sceideal 4 d'Acht Thuaisceart na hÉireann 1998. I accept the office, and I affirm the Pledge of Office as set out in schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

Ms Rodgers is Minister (Designate) of Agriculture and Rural Development.

That concludes the process for the appointment of Ministers (Designate). I said that if party leaders were keen to speak at this point I would allow a little time for that. However, as there have been no requests to speak I shall proceed.

At this point we could suspend the sitting until tomorrow.

Mr Presiding Officer, you said that we could applaud at the end of this procedure. [Applause]

I call Members to order after that display of exuberance. We could suspend the sitting until tomorrow, as agreed by the Committee to Advise the Presiding Officer. However, we have made such progress with the business that it has been suggested that we proceed this evening to the nomination of Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen. That might be advantageous. As we have been working all afternoon I shall suspend the sitting for one hour so that Members may have some sustenance.

Immediately upon suspension I shall want to have a meeting with all the Chief Whips in Room 21 to ensure that we have agreement among the parties to move to the next stage, which is the nomination of Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen. We will resume in one hour's time, and if there is not agreement I shall inform the House.

On a point of order, Mr Initial Presiding Officer. There will be a debate in the House of Commons tomorrow on what we are doing here today. It is right that Members of Parliament who are also Members of this House should have an opportunity to attend the Commons to defend their actions here. The programme suggested that we would sit through the night, but as it is still early the Assembly should go ahead with the other nominations. We have time tonight, and we should use it to deal at least with the question of the Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen, which will not take up very much time. I wish to put that on the record for the Whips.

Knowing your Whip, I have no doubt that he will convey that very robustly at the meeting which will take place immediately while other Members start dinner.

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Assembly: Shadow Statutory Committees

It was agreed during the suspension that we would proceed through the motion establishing Shadow Statutory Departmental Committees to the appointment of Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen.

Before we move to item 6 on the Order Paper I want to point out two things. First, for those Committee Chairpersons who are appointed this evening there will be a briefing in Room 21, if they so wish, at the end of this sitting. Others can get briefing at their leisure tomorrow or the day after. The Clerk of Committees will be available in Room 21 to give them their briefing and introduce them to their Committee Clerks.

Secondly, this is a more complex procedure than the d'Hondt for Ministers because of the requirement that nominating officers shall not nominate someone to be a Chairman or Deputy Chairman of a Committee in which their party has an interest, in whose Department it has a Minister. This may mean that parties will sometimes need to avail of the opportunity for a short recess. We should try to be economical with time. Although parties have the right to ask for a recess of up to 15 minutes, they do not have to take 15 minutes every time. I would like them to indicate whether they want five minutes, 10 minutes or 15 minutes, as the number of appointments to be made is substantial.

I am now required to supervise the appointment of a Chairman and a Deputy Chairman of each Statutory Committee. I wish to remind Members of the requirements set out in Initial Standing Orders. I shall ask the nominating officer of each political party, in the order required by the formula contained in Initial Standing Orders, to select an available Shadow Statutory Committee and to nominate a person who is a member of his party and of the Assembly to be the Chairman or Deputy Chairman of it.

A nominating officer, if unable to be present, can indicate in writing that someone else will nominate. I have already received one message, and I may receive others, in regard to that. Also Mr McCartney has advised me that he will not be making any nominations and that he has not authorised anyone else to make nominations on his behalf. When we come to that point I will remind the House, but since he has formally advised me of the fact, it will not be necessary to wait for his nominations, which will clearly not be forthcoming. Should a nominating officer require further time to consider a selection or nomination, it is open to me to permit a brief suspension. I would ask that you specify five, 10 or 15 minutes. If no such request is made, and the nominating officer does not make the selection or nomination required, or the nominee does not take up the selected Committee office within five minutes, I am required to pass on to the nominating officer next in line.

There are three key matters which nominating officers must bear in mind. A Minister (Designate) or junior Minister (Designate) - that does not apply at present - may not be the Chairman or Deputy Chairman of a Shadow Statutory Committee. No Member may be nominated to serve as a Chairman or Deputy Chairman of a Shadow Statutory Committee if he is the Chairman or Deputy Chairman of another Committee. In making nominations, nominating officers shall prefer Committees in which they do not have a party interest. A nominating officer has a party interest in a Committee if it is established to advise a Minister (Designate) who is a member of his party.

I call Mr Trimble, as nominating officer of the political party for which the formula laid down in Standing Orders gives the highest figure, to select a Shadow Statutory Committee and to nominate a person who is a member of his party and of the Assembly to be Chairman or Deputy Chairman of it.

I assume that we are filling the chairmanships first and the deputy chairmanships afterwards.

I should have pointed out that it is entirely open to nominating officers to nominate a Chairman or a Deputy Chairman. It seems likely that they will choose Chairmen rather than Deputy Chairmen, but all are free to choose.

I select the education portfolio and nominate Mr Kennedy to be Chairman of that Committee.

Is Mr Kennedy willing to take up the office for which he has been nominated?

I accept the office.

I therefore announce the appointment of Mr Danny Kennedy as Chairman of the Education Committee. I shall now call on Mr Hume -

On a point of order, Mr Initial Presiding Officer.

I cannot take points of order during the procedure, just as I could not take them while Ministers were being nominated.

I call Mr Hume, as nominating officer of the political party for which the formula laid down in Standing Orders gives the next-highest figure, to select an available Shadow Statutory Committee and to nominate a person who is a member of his party and of the Assembly to be Chairman or Deputy Chairman of it.

I select the Regional Development Committee and nominate Denis Haughey.

Is Mr Haughey willing to accept the office for which he has been nominated?

Glacaim, a Chathaoirligh. I accept. Thank you.

I therefore announce the appointment of Mr Denis Haughey as Chairman of the Regional Development Committee.

I now call on Dr Paisley, as the nominating officer of the political party for which the formula laid down in Standing Orders gives the next-highest figure, to select an available Shadow Statutory Committee and to nominate a person who is a member of his party and of the Assembly to be Chairman or Deputy Chairman of it.

I select myself to be Chairman of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee.

Is the Member prepared to accept the office for which he has been nominated? [Laughter]

Yes.

I therefore announce the appointment of Dr Paisley as Chairman of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee.

I now call Mr Adams, as nominating officer - I apologise, I read the wrong name. I call Mr Pat Doherty, as nominating officer -

Mr McLaughlin rose.

I am sorry. It is my mistake. Mr Pat Doherty is the nominating officer of the party, but he has asked that Mr McLaughlin nominate on his behalf.

I call Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, standing as nominating officer of the political party for which the formula laid down in Standing Orders gives the next-highest figure, to select an available Shadow Statutory Committee and to nominate a person who is a member of his party and of the Assembly to be Chairman or Deputy Chairman of it.

Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh. I request a 10-minute suspension.

The Initial Presiding Officer:

I call Mr Mitchel McLaughlin to make a nomination.

Ainmním Pat Doherty mar Chathaoirleach an Choiste Fiontraíochta, Trádála agus Infheistíochta. I nominate Pat Doherty to be Chairman of the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee.

Is the Member willing to take up the office for which he has been nominated?

Tá. Yes, I accept.

I therefore announce the appointment of Mr Pat Doherty as Chairman of the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee.

I now call Mr Trimble, as the nominating officer of the political party for which the formula laid down in Standing Orders gives the next-highest figure, to select an available Shadow Statutory Committee and nominate a person who is a member of his party and of the Assembly to be Chairman or Deputy Chairman of it.

I nominate Mr Cobain to be Chairman of the Social Development Committee.

Is the Member willing to take up the office for which he has been nominated?

I accept the nomination.

I therefore announce the appointment of Mr Cobain as Chairman of the Social Development Committee.

I now call Mr John Hume, as the nominating officer of the political party for which the formula laid down in Standing Orders gives the next-highest figure, to select an available Shadow Statutory Committee and nominate a person who is a member of his party and of the Assembly to be Chairman or Deputy Chairman of it.

I nominate Dr Joe Hendron to be Chairman of the Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee.

Is the Member willing to take up the office for which he has been nominated?

Yes, I am willing.

I therefore announce the appointment of Dr Joe Hendron as Chairman of the Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee.

I now call Dr Paisley, as the nominating officer of the political party for which the formula laid down in Standing Orders gives the next-highest figure, to select an available Shadow Statutory Committee and to nominate a person who is a member of his party and of the Assembly to be Chairman or Deputy Chairman of it.

I have to ask for 15 minutes.

Dr Paisley, I ask you to make a nomination.

I select the Environment Committee and nominate Dr William McCrea to be its Chairman.

Is the Member willing to take up the office for which he has been nominated?

I am willing to take up the office.

I therefore announce the appointment of Rev Dr William McCrea as Chairman of the Environment Committee.

I now call Mr Trimble, as nominating officer of the political party for which the formula laid down in Standing Orders gives the next-highest figure, to select a Committee and to nominate a person who is a member of his party and a Member of the Assembly to be Chairman or Deputy Chairman of it.

I nominate Dr Esmond Birnie to be Chairman of the Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment Committee.

Is the Member willing to take up the office for which he has been nominated?

I accept.

I announce the appointment of Dr Birnie as Chairman of the Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment Committee.

I call Mr McLaughlin, as nominating officer of the political party for which the formula laid down in Standing Orders gives the next-highest figure, to select a Committee and nominate a person who is a member of his party and a Member of the Assembly to be Chairman or Deputy Chairman of it.

Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh. I would like a suspension of five minutes.

The sitting is suspended for five minutes.

I call on Mr Mitchel McLaughlin to make his nomination.

Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh. Ainmním Francie Molloy mar Chathaoirleach Choiste Airgeadais agus Pearsanra. I nominate Francie Molloy to be Chairman of the Finance and Personnel Committee.

Is the Member willing to accept the office for which he has been nominated?

Go raibh agat, a Chathaoirligh. Yes, I accept the nomination.

I therefore announce the appointment of Mr Molloy as Chairman of the Finance and Personnel Committee.

As Mr Hume has had to leave, I call on Mr Mallon, who is now the nominating officer of the SDLP, the party for which the formula laid down in Standing Orders gives the next-highest figure, to select an available Shadow Statutory Committee and to nominate a person who is a member of his party and of the Assembly to be its Chairman or Deputy Chairman.

I select Culture, Arts and Leisure and nominate Eamonn ONeill.

Is the Member willing to accept the office for which he has been nominated?

I am willing to accept the nomination.

I therefore announce the appointment of Mr Eamonn ONeill as Chairman of the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee.

I call on Mr Trimble, as the nominating officer of the political party for which the formula laid down in Standing Orders gives the next-highest figure, to select an available Shadow Statutory Committee and to nominate a person who is a member of his party and of the Assembly to be a Deputy Chairman of it, there being no chairmanships left.

I select the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee and nominate Mr George  Savage.

Is the Member willing to take up the office for which he has been nominated?

I am willing to take up that office.

I therefore announce the appointment of Mr George Savage as Deputy Chairman of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee.

I call Dr Paisley, as the nominating officer of the political party for which the formula laid down in Standing Orders gives the next-highest figure, to select an available Shadow Statutory Committee and to nominate a member of his party and of the Assembly to be a Deputy Chairman of it.

I select the Education Committee and nominate Mr Sammy Wilson to be Deputy Chairman of it.

Is Mr Wilson willing to accept the office to which he has been nominated?

I am.

I therefore announce the appointment of Mr Sammy Wilson as Deputy Chairman of the Education Committee.

I now call Mr Sean Neeson, as nominating officer of the political party for which the formula laid down in Standing Orders gives the next-highest figure, to select an available Shadow Statutory Committee and to nominate a person who is a member of his party and of the Assembly to be Deputy Chairman of it.

I nominate myself to be Deputy Chairman of the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee.

Am I correct in assuming that the Member who has been nominated for this office is willing to accept the nomination? [laughter]

You are.

I therefore announce the appointment of Mr Neeson as Deputy Chairman of the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee.

I now call Mr McLaughlin, as nominating officer of the political party for which the formula laid down in Standing Orders gives the next-highest figure, to select an available Shadow Statutory Committee and nominate a person who is a member of his party and of the Assembly to be Deputy Chairman of it.

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