PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE PREPARATION FOR GOVERNMENT

Minutes of the meeting held on Monday, 18 September 2006 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

In the Chair: Jim Wells

Present: P J Bradley
Dr Sean Farren
Danny Kennedy
Naomi Long
Kieran McCarthy
Dr William McCrea MP
Alan McFarland
Conor Murphy MP
John O’Dowd
Ian Paisley Jnr
Peter Robinson MP

In Attendance: Nuala Dunwoody (Clerk Assistant)
John Torney (Principal Clerk)
Jim Beatty (Assistant Clerk)
Gillian Lyness (Assistant Clerk)
Elaine Farrell (Clerical Supervisor)

Observing: Francie Molloy (Chairperson)
Richard Bullick (DUP researcher)

The meeting commenced at 2.33pm.

1. Apologies

Mark Durkan MP (Mr Bradley attended the meeting as SDLP representative in place of Mr Durkan MP)

David Ford (Mr McCarthy attended the meeting as the Alliance representative in place of Mr Ford.)

Michelle Gildernew MP (Mr O’Dowd attended the meeting as SF representative in place of Ms Gildernew MP)

Dr Alasdair McDonnell MP

David McNarry

Martin McGuinness MP

Lord Morrow (Mr Robinson MP attended the meeting as DUP
representative in place of Lord Morrow)

2. Previous Minutes

The minutes of the meeting of 13 September 2006 were agreed, subject to the following change:-

Amend references to the ‘UUPAG’ to ‘UUP.’

3. Consideration of the PfG draft report on institutional issues

It was agreed that the Committee’s deliberations on the draft report would not be included in Hansard.

Mr Robinson left the meeting at 2.57pm.

Ms Long proposed that the Committee read and amend the draft in order to produce a final draft. The proposal was agreed.

Mr Robinson rejoined the meeting at 4.21pm.
Dr McCrea left the meeting at 4.30pm.
Mr Bradley left the meeting at 4.46pm.
Mr Kennedy left the meeting at 4.55pm.

The meeting was suspended at 16.55pm.
The meeting reconvened at 5.06pm.

Discussion of the draft concluded at 5.52pm and Hansard staff rejoined the meeting.

4. Any Other Business

(a) Letter from the sub-group on Economic Challenges

It was agreed to accede to a request from the sub-group to change the quorum requirements for the sub-group from 7, excluding the Chairperson, to 5 with the proviso that “a” or “one” representative from each party is present.

(b) Letter from the Speaker

The Committee considered a letter from the Speaker which asked it to bring forward plans to allow the Assembly to debate budgetary issues at an early date. The Committee noted the content of the letter and concluded that the matter raised did not require further clarification by the Committee.

(c) Minutes of the PfG Committee (Human Rights, Equality, Safeguards and Victims) meeting of 15 September 2006

The Committee was asked to agree the Minutes. It was agreed to defer consideration until the next meeting of the Committee.

5. Next Meeting

The next meeting dealing with institutional issues will be held on Monday, 25 September 2006 at 2.00pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting adjourned at 6.01pm