Members, it is a requirement of the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006 that a meeting of the Transitional Assembly be held on Friday 24 November 2006. The Secretary of State has, in accordance with the Act, directed that the Assembly meet at 10.30 am to consider business as it appears on the Order Paper.

Proceedings of the Assembly shall be conducted in accordance with Standing Orders and any directions made by the Secretary of State.

Standing Orders have been determined initially by the Secretary of State and notified to me. Members have been issued with a copy of Standing Orders, and further copies are available in the Rotunda or from the Business Office.

I wish to confirm that, in accordance with paragraph 10 of schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006, each person who was a Member of the Assembly established under paragraph 1 of schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland Act 2006 shall be deemed to have signed the Roll of Membership and to have taken his or her seat in accordance with Standing Orders.

A Member’s designation of identity in the 2006 Assembly, immediately before schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006 came into force, shall be deemed to be that Member’s designation of identity for the purposes of this Assembly, except where a Member changes his or her designation in accordance with Standing Order 5.

Before proceeding with today’s business, I remind Members that the role of the Transitional Assembly is to take part in preparations for the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland in accordance with the St Andrews Agreement.