Parliament Buildings

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Parliament Buildings
Home of the Northern Ireland Assembly http//www.n
iassembly.gov.uk
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Devolution

• The transfer of certain powers from a central
  government to a regional government.

• Allows decisions to be made at a level closer to
  the people they affect.
• Central government retains power over certain
  areas.
• Northern Ireland continues to elect MPs to House
  of Commons
• The Secretary of State continues to represent
  NIs interests in Cabinet.

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The Governance of Northern Ireland
Assembly
Executive Committee Cabinet
108 Elected Members including Speaker Deputy
Speakers
First and Deputy First Ministers
10 Executive Department Ministers
The Committee System
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The Executive Committee

• Headed by a First Minister and Deputy First
  Minister jointly!

• A multi-party Executive.
• Ten Ministers each have full ministerial
  responsibility.
• Appointed using a mathematical system (dHondt)
• Discusses issues which cut across the
  responsibilities of 2 or more Ministers.
• Prioritises government proposals and plans,
  producing budget and Programme for Government.

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Executive Departments

• Agriculture and Rural Development
• Culture, Arts Leisure
• Education
• Employment Learning
• Enterprise, Trade and Investment
• Environment
• Health, Social Services and Public Safety
• Finance Personnel
• Regional Development
• Social Development
• The Office of First Minister and Deputy First
  Minister (11th department)

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The Speaker

• Elected by the House to preside over meetings of
  the NI Assembly
• Maintains a politically neutral stance has no
  vote.
• Ensures that procedures are followed and order is
  maintained in the Chamber.
• 3 Deputy Speakers
• John Dallat SDLP
• Francie Molloy SF
• David McClarty UUP

Mr William Hay MLA
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Political Party Designations as of Mar 2007
Speaker
Unionist community
Nationalist community
Political parties
UUP
DUP
SDLP
SF
APNI
PUP
GP
Indep.
Others
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Whats happening now?

• A Draft Programme for Government is in
  preparation.
• Plenary debates on topics of interest to MLAs.
• Statutory Committees established each is being
  briefed by Depts and formulating forward work
  plans.
• Executive is considering legislative programme

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Sittings of the Assembly

• Monday and Tuesday
• Proceedings held in public
• Begin with prayers/private reflection
• Question Time on Mondays 2.30-4.00pm
• Adjournment debate possible at the end of sitting
• Committees can meet simultaneously but usually
  meet Wed/Thurs

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Assembly Questions

• Written and Oral
• Must seek information
• Written questions can be more detailed.
• Oral questions asked during Question Time
• 3 Departments questioned each week (30 mins
  each)
• OFMDFM, every fortnight
• Other Ministers, once every 4 weeks
• Departments have just under 2 weeks to prepare
  answers.

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The Legislative Process

• First Stage Introduction
• Second Stage debate on general principles
• Committee Stage more detailed investigation
• Consideration Stage Consideration of amendments
• Further Consideration Stage Tidying Up Stage
• Final Stage Passage or rejection of Bill
  (without further amendment)
• Royal Assent

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Committees

• Most of the day-to-day work of the Assembly is
  done in Committees.
• 3 types of Committees
• Statutory
• Standing
• Ad Hoc
• Membership of Committees broadly reflects party
  strength in the Assembly.
• Most Committees have 11 members.
• Meetings are usually held weekly and last 2 3
  hours.

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Statutory Committees

• Statutory Committees provide the main method of
  scrutinising the Executive.
• Each Committee shadows a Government Department
• Have been given wide-ranging roles and powers,
  eg,
• Advises on new policy
• Scrutinise legislation
• Scrutinise actions of Minister
• Can call for persons and papers
• Hold inquiries and publish reports
• Can introduce a Bill
• Have had considerable impact
• 76 of suggested amendments to bills accepted by
  the Assembly.
• 70 of Inquiry recommendations have been
  implemented or accepted by Ministers.

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Committee Inquiry Process

• Terms of Reference
• Written Evidence
• Oral Evidence
• Published Report

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Written Evidence

• Structured lay-out
• Electronic submission
• Memorandum brief with summary of key issues
• Marked confidential if necessary

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Oral Evidence

• Familiarisation before appearance
• Introduction of the witnesses
• Opening statement
• Answering questions

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Standing Committees
Standing Committees are mostly concerned with the
internal operation of the Assembly

• Business Committee - arranges plenary business
  (13)
• Procedures Committee reviews Standing Orders
  (11)
• Audit Committee scrutinises the expenditure and
  plans of the NI Audit Office. (5)
• Committee on Standards and Privileges (11)
• Public Accounts Committee (11)
• Assembly and Executive Review Committee - (11)
  will consider devolution of policing and justice
  (amongst other things)

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Coming Soon?

• Legislative programme 5 introduced before
  summer recess including Budget and Welfare Reform
• Maybe only 3/4 more before Christmas possibly
  RPA but also parity social security legislation
• Programme for Government
• New form of government in old format?
• Westminster General Election?

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Coming Soon?

• More modernity?
• Intensified scrutiny
• More boring politics
• Assembly and Executive Review Committee
• Relationship with local government?
• Relationship with other countries?

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Key Challenges?

• What Opposition?
• Executive Scrutiny?
• Relationship with the Media?
• How will the collective controls of St Andrews
  work in practice?

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Maximise your impact

• Questions oral and written
• Adjournment Debates
• Full debates in plenary
• Petitions
• Committee Inquiries
• Committee Visits

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Maximise your impact

• Get to know the MLAs
• Attend committee meetings
• Attend plenary business
• Ask an MLA to sponsor an event
• Invite MLAs to events, launches, celebrations
• Ask an MLA for a quote

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End of Presentation

• Contact NI Assembly Information 9052 1137
• www.niassembly.gov.uk
• Deputy Clerk Joe Reynolds 9052 1133
• joe.reynolds_at_niassembly.gov.uk
• Thanks for listening