MARSHALLED LIST OF AMENDMENTS

Item 3: Order Paper 16/06 (T.A.) – 20 March 2007

Motion: Draft Ministerial Code

Amendment 1:

Proposed: In paragraph 2.14 leave out from after the first ‘meeting’ to end of paragraph and insert:

‘the responsible minister, or ministers in the case of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, should as far as practicable set out in writing to all ministers and the Secretary to the Executive –

1. the decision to be taken;
2. the background to the issue;
3. the views of any other ministers with a relevant interest;
4. the position of any other interested administrations; and
5. the consequences of deferring the decision in question pending the next Executive Committee meeting and of not taking it at all.

A matter dealt with in this way will be deemed to have been dealt with in accordance with paragraph 2.4 of this Code. Ministers should communicate their responses to the Secretary to the Executive within the time limit specified by him – and failure to do so will be taken as assent. Decision making under this written procedure shall be as under paragraph 2.12 and the Secretary to the Executive shall notify the responsible minister of the outcome.

Where it is not practicable for reasons of genuine urgency to follow the procedure above, the responsible minister, or ministers in the case of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, should notify the Secretary to the Executive of the decision taken and, so far as practicable, the matters set out at 2. to 5. above. A matter dealt with in this way will be deemed to have been dealt with in accordance with paragraph 2.4 of this code.’

[Mr A Attwood]
[Ms M Ritchie]
[20 March 2007]

Motion: Draft Ministerial Code

Amendment 2:

Proposed: Leave out paragraph 2.15 and insert:

‘Where, by virtue of paragraph 2.4 of the Code, a Minister, including the First and Deputy First Minister acting jointly, or junior Minister, is required to bring to the attention of the Executive Committee any matter which ought by virtue of section 20(3) or 20(4) of the Act to be considered by the Executive Committee, the Executive Committee may, subsequent to a decision being taken, nonetheless determine that the decision has been taken in accordance with paragraph 2.4 of the Code.’

[Lord Morrow]
[Mr P Robinson]
[20 March 2007]

Motion: Draft Ministerial Code

Amendment 3:

Proposed: Insert a new paragraph after 2.15:

‘The Executive Committee may make additional provision to enable the duty set out in paragraph 2.4 of the Code to be satisfied.’

[Lord Morrow]
[Mr P Robinson]
[20 March 2007]

Motion: Draft Ministerial Code

Amendment 4:

Proposed: Leave out ‘takes note of’ and insert ‘approves’.

[Lord Morrow]
[Mr P Robinson]
[20 March 2007]

Motion: Draft Standing Orders

Amendment 1:

Proposed: In Standing Order 50 (6) leave out all after the second ‘party.’

[Mr R Beggs]
[20 March 2007]