PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE PROGRAMME FOR GOVERNMENT
Minutes of the meeting held on Monday, 4 December 2006 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings
In the Chair: Francie Molloy
Present: Gerry Adams MP
Alex Attwood
Jeffrey Donaldson MP
Sir Reg Empey
Michelle Gildernew MP
Martin McGuinness MP
Conor Murphy MP
John O’Dowd
Edwin Poots
Margaret Ritchie
Peter Robinson MP
In Attendance: Debbie Pritchard (Principal Clerk)
Damien Martin (Assembly Clerk)
John Power (Head of Research and Library Services)
Jim Beatty (Assistant Clerk)
Pauline Hunter (Clerical Officer)
Observing: Brian Barrington (SDLP Researcher)
Richard Bullick (DUP Researcher)
Aidan McAteer (SF Researcher)
Mark Neale (UUP Researcher)
Dara O’Hagan (SF Researcher)
The meeting commenced at 1.11pm.
1. Apologies
Mark Durkan MP (Mr Attwood attended the meeting as SDLP representative in place of Mr Durkan MP.)
David McClarty
Ian Paisley Jnr (Mr Poots attended the meeting as DUP representative in place of Mr Paisley.)
2. Previous Minutes
The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting of 27 November 2006.
3. Matters Arising
(a) Response from the Secretary of State
The Committee considered the response of 28 November 2006 from the Secretary of State to its letter of 22 November 2006. In his response, the Secretary of State emphasised his intention to proceed with the draft Water and Sewerage Services (NI) Order 2006.
Ms Ritchie proposed that the Committee should write again to the Secretary of State to express its disappointment with his response and to repeat its view that the legislation should be deferred. There was consensus and the proposal was agreed.
The Chairperson proposed that a copy of the correspondence from the Secretary of State should be provided to the sub-groups considering Comprehensive Spending Review, Programme for Government, Water Reform and Rates Charging and Economic Issues. There was consensus and the proposal was agreed.
(b) Arrangements for Chairing the Committee
In response to a proposal from Sinn Fein at the previous meeting of the Committee, Mr Robinson advised that the DUP would not agree to the proposal that the Committee should be co-chaired by Sinn Fein and the DUP. Following discussion, it was agreed that the Committee would continue to be chaired by the Deputy Speakers.
(c) Committee Papers
Sir Reg Empey proposed that a recording should be taken during evidence sessions to enable the Clerk to provide members of the Committee with a note of the evidence session. There was consensus and the proposal was agreed.
(d) Arrangements for chairing the sub-groups
The Committee considered a range of options for the chairing of the sub-groups. Mr Robinson proposed that the four parties within the Committee should nominate one member each, who is not a member of a sub-group, to chair four of the sub-groups, with the two deputy speakers each chairing one sub-group. Mr McGuinness advised that he would wish to consult his party on the options for chairing sub-groups.
A decision was deferred for one week and the deputy speakers will chair the meetings of the sub-groups this week.
(e) Response from the Clerk in relation to attending meetings
The Committee agreed that the Clerk to the Assembly would be invited to any Committee meeting that it considers he should attend.
4. Briefing by OFMDFM officials on the Ministerial Code
Rosalie Flanagan, Stewart Johnston and Tom Watson, officials from the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, joined the meeting at 1.45pm and briefed the Committee on possible changes to the Ministerial Code.
Mr Adams MP left the meeting at 1.50pm.
Mr Robinson proposed that a draft Code, with the proposed changes highlighted, should be passed first to party advisers for consideration. There was consensus and the proposal was agreed. It was also agreed that a draft Code should be referred to the Committee for next week’s meeting. Officials will attend the meeting of 11 December 2006 to discuss the proposed changes.
Mr Poots left the meeting at 1.55pm.
Mr Murphy MP left the meeting at 1.55pm.
Ms Gildernew MP joined the meeting at 1.55pm.
The officials left the meeting at 1.57pm.
Mr O’Dowd joined the meeting at 1.58pm
Mr McGuinness MP left the meeting at 1.58pm.
5. Terms of Reference for the sub-groups.
The Committee agreed, as amended, the terms of reference for the following sub-groups.
- Comprehensive Spending Review; Programme for Government; Rates Charges and Water Reform
- Policing and Justice Matters
Mr Murphy MP rejoined the meeting at 2.15pm.
Mr O’Dowd left the meeting at 2.18pm.
- Review of Public Administration and Rural Planning
Mr Attwood left the meeting at 2.20pm.
- Workplace 2010 and Public Sector Job Location
Schools Admission Policy
The Committee agreed the draft terms of reference for the sub-group on Schools Admission Policy without amendment.
Mr Attwood rejoined the meeting at 2.24pm.
Economic Issues
The Committee agreed changes to the terms of reference of sub-group on Economic Issues which had been proposed by the sub-group.
6. Committee Work Programme
The Committee agreed the draft work programme for the coming weeks and that officials should be invited to brief the Committee on Victims Issues at the next meeting and on the Anti-Poverty Strategy on Monday 18, December 2006.
7. Press Statement
The Committee considered and agreed to release a draft press statement.
8. Next Meeting
The Committee will next meet at 1.00pm on Monday, 11 December 2006 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings. Lunch will be available from 12.45pm.