PRESS NOTICE

COMMITTEE ON THE PROGRAMME FOR GOVERNMENT

11 December 2006	PN 03/06

COMMITTEE QUESTIONS OFFICIALS ON RANGE OF ISSUES

The Programme For Government Committee met today in Parliament Buildings and continued its work on priorities for a restored Executive and preparations for restoration.

The Committee received a substantial briefing on Victims Issues from officials of the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister and put a number of questions to the officials. The Committee agreed to consider this very important issue at further meetings.

Francie Molloy, who chaired today’s meeting, said ‘this has been a very intensive meeting and some issues, vital to a restored Assembly, have been progressed. More does need to be done on a range of issues and the next weeks will require hard work from both this Committee and its sub-groups.’

NOTES TO THE EDITOR:

On 24 November 2006, following a direction from the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Rt Hon Peter Hain MP, the Business Committee established a Programme for Government Committee to consider the priorities for a new Executive and to make preparations for restoration. The Secretary of State directed that the Committee should, initially, be chaired by the deputy presiding officers, Mr Jim Wells and Mr Francie Molloy.

At the meeting on 27 November, the Committee agreed a work programme up to 30 January 2007. This included the setting up of a number of sub-groups to consider:-

(a) Economic Issues
(b) Review of Public Administration and Rural Planning
(c) Schools Admission Policy
(d) Policing and Justice
(e) Workplace 2010 and Public Sector Jobs Location
(f) Comprehensive Spending Review; Programme for Government; Rates Charges and Water Reform

Each sub-group will report back to the Committee during the next few weeks.

Information about today’s meeting can be obtained from the
the Information Officer -

Mr Paddy Price
Information Office
Room B2
Parliament Buildings
Belfast
028 90 521137