Lord John Alderdice: Yes, there will have to be some such arrangement. To find the best course, I shall discuss the matter with all three Independents. I shall also have consultations with the Chief Whips.
Lord John Alderdice: Decisions about location are entirely for the Secretary of State. She has indicated that some practical arrangements are proceeding apace, but I cannot give more concrete information. I hope I am correct in assuming that any instructions from the Secretary of State will be communicated rapidly to this Committee. Perhaps within the next few days there will be some indication about the...
Lord John Alderdice: Not least because this unanimity is your doing. I am sorry: that was unkind and uncalled for. Question put and agreed to. Resolved: That a Committee be established in accordance with paragraph 16 of the Initial Standing Orders. Motion made: That this Assembly do now adjourn. — [The Initial Presiding Officer]
Lord John Alderdice: I want to remind Members of the practice concerning mobile telephones, tape recorders, pagers and the like. We are beginning to stray a little from proper procedure because I do not have a list of Members for the debate. We have slid from points of order. I am quite happy for us to move into a debate if that is necessary.
Lord John Alderdice: It probably is in order, and I get a sense that such a course might be very acceptable. I will therefore now put the Question. I indicated that today, to avoid confusion or uncertainty, I would arrange for all votes to be by roll-call.
Lord John Alderdice: The problem is that there is not a single name on my list, although I asked the Whips for names. That is why I thought it reasonable to go to the vote.
Lord John Alderdice: The vote will be taken in three minutes.
Lord John Alderdice: At the beginning I gave an undertaking that today all votes would be recorded. I accept that it is a little tedious, but an undertaking is an undertaking. Question put. The Assembly divided: Ayes 72; Noes 27. AYES Gerry Adams, Ian Adamson, Pauline Armitage, Billy Armstrong, Alex Attwood, Roy Beggs, Billy Bell, Tom Benson, Esmond Birnie, P J Bradley, Joe Byrne, Joan Carson, Seamus Close,...
Lord John Alderdice: I am aware that not every Member’s name is listed as he or she wishes. In some cases it is spelt wrongly; in some cases I am pronouncing it wrongly; and in some cases I get a title wrong. Members should tell officials how they wish their names to appear on the voting list. I apologise to anyone whom I have referred to or addressed incorrectly.
Lord John Alderdice: In the absence of agreement by the Whips on someone to move the next motion, it will be moved in my name. Motion made: That the Assembly invites the First Minister (Designate) and Deputy First Minister (Designate) to consider and, after consultation, make proposals regarding the matters referred to the Assembly under section 1(2) of the Northern Ireland (Elections) Act 1998 and any other...
Lord John Alderdice: I hesitate to give the impression that such an explanation is the function of the Initial Presiding Officer, but the question that you raise is perfectly legitimate. My understanding is that this is a mechanism to enable the First Minister (Designate) and the Deputy First Minister (Designate) to consider the various matters and bring them to the Assembly for decision. The deadline is 14...
Lord John Alderdice: The invitation is to consider and make proposals. The two gentlemen are not empowered to make decisions about anything. They may make proposals about any other matter and bring them to the Assembly. The phrase "any other matter" is fairly wide, but these are only proposals, which will be brought to the Assembly for debate. There were two reasons for proposing 14 September. First, it is...
Lord John Alderdice: It means the wide range of matters to be referred to the Assembly under Section 1(2). There are some matters which, under the terms of the Agreement, will not be referred to the Assembly at this time — for example, policing and justice, prisons and taxation — though they could be referred later. Any other matters connected with the future business of the Assembly are, I believe, those...
Lord John Alderdice: So do I, though I am willing to hear whether that is a correct interpretation of how the First Minister (Designate) and the Deputy First Minister (Designate) would act if this motion were passed.
Lord John Alderdice: Can Mr Trimble tell us?
Lord John Alderdice: I appreciate that, and I am sorry to bounce this on you. The motion asks the First Minister (Designate) and the Deputy First Minister (Designate) to consider and, after consultation, make proposals. Mr Maskey has asked if the consultation will include all parties.
Lord John Alderdice: Would the Deputy First Minister (Designate) like to comment?
Lord John Alderdice: We have come to the end of this debate, and all Members had an opportunity to express their views. To be adopted, the proposal requires simple-majority assent. If it is voted down, the Assembly will have to decide what other course to take.
Lord John Alderdice: I have dealt with that matter. Another motion would require the leave of the Assembly, and that means unanimity. Perhaps I am not being entirely objective about the matter, but I did not get an impression of unanimity. Therefore I see no option but to proceed with the vote. All today’s votes will be on a roll call. There will be an interval of three minutes. We do not have a Division bell,...
Lord John Alderdice: Yes, as in the case of the last vote. Question put. The Assembly divided: Ayes 76; Noes 27. AYES Gerry Adams, Ian Adamson, Pauline Armitage, Billy Armstrong, Alex Attwood, Roy Beggs, Billy Bell, Eileen Bell, Tom Benson, Esmond Birnie, P J Bradley, Joe Byrne, Joan Carson, Seamus Close, Fred Cobain, Robert Coulter, John Dallat, Duncan Shipley Dalton, Ivan Davis, Bairbre de Brún,...