Appointment Of Ministers

– in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 11:30 am on 8 May 2007.

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Photo of William Hay William Hay Speaker 11:30, 8 May 2007

As we go through the processes, I am sure that all Members will co-operate. I wish to say to people in the Public Gallery that, with the day that is in it and with the death of a Member of the Assembly, applause would not be appropriate.

The next item of business is the appointment of Ministers. I will conduct the process for filling those offices in accordance with the procedure set out in section 18 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. I wish to remind Members of the requirements set out in the Act.

I shall ask the nominating officer of each political party in the order required by the formula contained in section 18(5) to select an available ministerial office and nominate a person to hold it who is a member of his party and a Member of the Assembly.

I therefore call on the Rt Hon Dr Ian Paisley, as nominating officer of the political party for which the formula laid down in section 18 gives the highest figure, to select a ministerial office and nominate a person to hold it who is a member of his party and a Member of the Assembly.

Photo of Ian Paisley Ian Paisley First Minister of Northern Ireland, Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party

I select the Finance and Personnel portfolio and nominate Mr Peter Robinson to hold it.

Photo of William Hay William Hay Speaker

Will Mr Peter Robinson confirm that he is willing to take up office and affirm the terms of the Pledge of Office?

Photo of Peter Robinson Peter Robinson DUP

Yes, Mr Speaker, I am willing to take up the office of Minister of Finance and Personnel, and I affirm the terms of the Pledge of Office as set out in schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

Mr Peter Robinson appointed Minister of Finance and Personnel.

Photo of William Hay William Hay Speaker

I now call on Mr Gerry Adams to select a ministerial office and nominate a person to hold it.

Photo of Gerry Adams Gerry Adams Sinn Féin

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Molaim Caitríona Ruane, ar bean as Maigh Eo í, mar Aire Oideachais.

I nominate Caitríona Ruane as Minister of Education.

Photo of William Hay William Hay Speaker

Will Ms Caitríona Ruane confirm that she is willing to take up office and affirm the terms of the Pledge of Office?

Photo of Caitriona Ruane Caitriona Ruane Sinn Féin

Tá mé toilteanach glacadh le hoifig an Aire Oideachais agus dearbhaím téarmaí an Ghealltanais Oifige mar atá siad leagtha amach i sceideal 4 den Acht Thuaisceart Éireann 1998.

Yes, I am willing to take up the office of Minster of Education, and I affirm the terms of the Pledge of Office as set out in schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

Ms Caitríona Ruane appointed Minister of Education.

Photo of William Hay William Hay Speaker

I now call on the Rt Hon Dr Ian Paisley to select a ministerial office and nominate a person to hold it.

Photo of Ian Paisley Ian Paisley First Minister of Northern Ireland, Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party

I select the Enterprise, Trade and Investment portfolio and nominate Mr Nigel Dodds to hold it.

Photo of William Hay William Hay Speaker

Will Mr Nigel Dodds confirm that he is willing to take up office and affirm the terms of the Pledge of Office?

Photo of Nigel Dodds Nigel Dodds Opposition Whip (Commons), Shadow Spokesperson (Work and Pensions), Shadow Spokesperson (Treasury)

Yes, I am willing to take up the office of Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, and I affirm the terms of the Pledge of Office as set out in schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

Mr Nigel Dodds appointed Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

Photo of William Hay William Hay Speaker

I now call on Sir Reg Empey to select a ministerial office and nominate a person to hold it.

Photo of Reg Empey Reg Empey UUP

I select the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, and I nominate Michael McGimpsey to hold the office of Minister.

Photo of William Hay William Hay Speaker

Will Mr Michael McGimpsey confirm that he is willing to take up office and affirm the terms of the Pledge of Office?

Photo of Michael McGimpsey Michael McGimpsey UUP

I confirm that I am willing to take up the office of Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, and I affirm the terms of the Pledge of Office as set out in schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

Mr Michael McGimpsey appointed Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

Photo of William Hay William Hay Speaker

I now call on Mr Mark Durkan to select a ministerial office and nominate a person to hold it.

Photo of William Hay William Hay Speaker

Will Ms Margaret Ritchie confirm that she is willing to take up office and affirm the terms of the Pledge of Office?

Photo of Margaret Ritchie Margaret Ritchie Social Democratic and Labour Party

Yes, I am willing to take up the office of Minister for Social Development, and I affirm the terms of the Pledge of Office as set out in schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

Ms Margaret Ritchie appointed Minister for Social Development.

Photo of William Hay William Hay Speaker

I now call on Mr Gerry Adams to select a ministerial office and nominate a person to hold it.

Photo of Gerry Adams Gerry Adams Sinn Féin

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Molaim Conor Murphy, ar fear as Ard Mhacha é, mar Aire Forbartha Réigiúnaí.

I nominate Conor Murphy as Minister for Regional Development.

Photo of William Hay William Hay Speaker

Will Mr Conor Murphy confirm that he is willing to take up office and affirm the terms of the Pledge of Office?

Photo of Conor Murphy Conor Murphy Sinn Féin

Tá mé toilteanach glacadh leis an oifig seo.

I am willing to take up the office of Minister for Regional Development, and I affirm the terms of the Pledge of Office as set out in schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

Mr Conor Murphy appointed Minister for Regional Development.

Photo of William Hay William Hay Speaker

I now call on the Rt Hon Dr Ian Paisley to select a ministerial office and nominate a person to hold it.

Photo of Ian Paisley Ian Paisley First Minister of Northern Ireland, Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party

I select the Environment portfolio and nominate Mrs Arlene Foster to hold it.

Photo of William Hay William Hay Speaker

Will Mrs Arlene Foster confirm that she is willing to take up office and affirm the terms of the Pledge of Office?

Photo of Arlene Foster Arlene Foster DUP

Yes, I am willing to take up the office of Minister of the Environment, and I affirm the terms of the Pledge of Office as set out in schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

Mrs Arlene Foster appointed Minister of the Environment.

Photo of William Hay William Hay Speaker

I call on Mr Gerry Adams to select a ministerial office and to nominate a person to hold it.

Photo of Gerry Adams Gerry Adams Sinn Féin

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Molaim Michelle Gildernew, ar bean as Tír Eoghain í — agus níl sí ina haonar — mar Aire Talmhaíochta agus Forbartha Tuaithe.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I nominate Ms Michelle Gildernew, a Tyrone woman — and she is not on her own in that respect — to hold the Agriculture and Rural Development portfolio.

Photo of William Hay William Hay Speaker

Will Ms Michelle Gildernew confirm that she is willing to take up office and affirm the terms of the Pledge of Office?

Photo of Michelle Gildernew Michelle Gildernew Sinn Féin

Tá mé toilteanach glacadh leis an oifig seo.

Yes, I am willing to take up the office of Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, and I affirm the terms of the Pledge of Office as set out in schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

Ms Michelle Gildernew appointed Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Photo of William Hay William Hay Speaker

I call on the Rt Hon Dr Ian Paisley to select a ministerial office and to nominate a person to hold it.

Photo of Ian Paisley Ian Paisley First Minister of Northern Ireland, Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party

I select the Culture, Arts and Leisure portfolio and nominate Mr Edwin Poots to hold it.

Photo of William Hay William Hay Speaker

Will Mr Edwin Poots confirm that he is willing to take up office and affirm the terms of the Pledge of Office?

Photo of Edwin Poots Edwin Poots DUP

I am willing to take up the office of Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, and I affirm the terms of the Pledge of Office as set out in schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

Mr Edwin Poots appointed Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure.

Photo of William Hay William Hay Speaker

I call on Sir Reg Empey to select a ministerial office and to nominate a person to hold it.

Photo of Reg Empey Reg Empey UUP

I select the Employment and Learning portfolio, and I nominate Reg Empey to hold it. I am prepared to accept the office, and I affirm the terms of the Pledge of Office as set out in schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

Sir Reg Empey appointed Minister for Employment and Learning.

Photo of William Hay William Hay Speaker

Thank you. That concludes the process for the appointment of Ministers to each of the Departments.