PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUB-GROUP ON REVIEW OF PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATION AND RURAL PLANNING
Minutes of the meeting held on Friday, 08 December 2006 in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
In the Chair: Francie Molloy
Present: Dominic Bradley
Tommy Gallagher
Alex Maskey
Philip McGuigan
Edwin Poots
Peter Weir
Jim Wilson
In Attendance: Martin Wilson (Principal Clerk)
Michael Rickard (Assembly Clerk)
Roisin Fleetham (Assistant Clerk)
Elaine Farrell (Clerical Supervisor)
Tim Moore (Senior Researcher)
Observing: Damian McGinity (SF Researcher)
Clive McFarland (DUP Researcher)
Mark Neale (UUP Researcher)
Nuala O’Neill (SDLP Researcher)
The meeting commenced at 1.43pm.
1. Apologies
Mr Storey (Mr Weir attended as DUP representative in place of Mr Storey).
2. Introductions
Members noted details of secretariat support staff and sub-group membership.
3. Terms of Reference for the Sub-Group
Members noted the Terms of Reference for the sub-group, as approved by the Programme for Government Committee.
4. Sub-Group Procedures
Members agreed the procedures for the sub-group, as provided by the Programme for Government Committee.
The Chairperson proposed the following:
i. meetings would be held in closed session;
ii. proceedings would not be recorded by Hansard, except during witness sessions.
There was consensus and the proposal was agreed.
The Chairperson proposed that a tape recording of the discussions would be taken for use exclusively by Committee staff. There was consensus and the proposal was agreed.
5. Declaration of interests
The Chairperson reminded members that in relation to Members' Interests, the Transitional Assembly's Standing Orders 29(f) state that 'before taking part in any debate or proceeding of the Assembly, a Member shall declare any interest, financial or otherwise, which is relevant to that debate or proceeding, where such interest is held by the Member or an immediate relative.'
Members were advised that ‘proceeding’ of the Assembly includes meetings of the sub-group.
The following interests were declared:
Alex Maskey – Member of Belfast City Council;
Philip McGuigan – Member of Ballymoney Borough Council;
Edwin Poots – Member of Lisburn City Council;
Peter Weir – Member of North Down Borough Council, Vice Chair NILGA and SEELB member.
6. Transitional Assembly Privilege
The Chairperson advised members that under Paragraph 8 of Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006 states that ‘a written or oral statement made by a member in or for the purposes of the Transitional Assembly is to be privileged from action for defamation unless it is proved to have been made with malice.’ In other words in the Transitional Assembly statements made by Members are not granted absolute privilege by the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006 but they are granted qualified privilege.
The term ‘for the purposes of the Transitional Assembly’ includes written or oral statements made by members during meetings of Transitional Assembly Committees and sub-groups and press notices issued on their behalf.
Members were advised that privilege does not extend to press conferences or statements made to the press (i.e. statements/ interviews/ comments which members or parties may make to the press).
The Chair advised the members that Standing Orders do not extend privilege to witnesses giving evidence to the sub-group.
7. Review of Public Administration
Officials from the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister and Department of Environment joined the meeting at 1.55pm.
Officials gave a presentation on the current position in relation to the RPA. Officials in attendance were: -
Damian Prince - RPA Central Unit
Jim McKeown - RPA Central Unit
Laura Hague - RPA Central Unit
Ian Maye - DOENI
Mr Bradley left the meeting at 2.00pm
Mr Gallagher joined the meeting at 2.01pm
Mr Poots joined the meeting at 2.05pm
A question and answer session ensued. Departmental Officials agreed to provide further information in response to members’ questions.
Departmental Officials left the meeting at 2.46
8. Rural Planning
Officials from the Department for Regional Development gave a presentation at 2.48pm on the current position in relation to Rural Planning (PPS 14). Officials in attendance were: -
Mike Thompson - DRD
Tom Mathews – DRD
A question and answer session ensued. Mr Thompson agreed to provide further information in response to members’ questions.
Mr Weir left the meeting at 3.06pm
Mr Maskey left the meeting at 3.13pm
Mr Maskey joined the meeting at 3.15pm
Departmental Officials left the meeting at 3.40pm
9. Draft Work Programme
Members considered a draft work programme. The Chairperson proposed that the sub-group meet all day Wednesday 13 December and report to the Programme for Government Committee by 18th January 2006. There was consensus and the proposal was agreed.
The Chairperson proposed that the sub-group invite Permanent Secretaries from DOENI, DENI and DHSSPS to provide a strategic overview of the RPA at the next meeting. The Chairperson also proposed that the Local Government Boundaries Commissioner, Mr Mackenzie be invited to inform members of the work he is undertaking. There was consensus and the proposals were agreed.
The Chairperson proposed that members submit a short paper identifying issues to be addressed in the sub-group report. There was consensus and the proposal was agreed.
10. Next Meeting
The sub-group will next meet at 10.00am 13 December 2006 in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting adjourned at 4.21 pm.