Hain appoints Committee chairs

The Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Peter Hain, has issued a direction to the Presiding Officer of the Assembly calling a meeting of the Preparation for Government Committee later today.

After several failed meetings between the parties to determine a chair for the Committee, the Secretary of State has taken the decision upon himself and has directed that the Committee will be chaired alternately by the Deputy Presiding Officers, Jim Wells of the DUP and Sinn Fein's Francie Molloy.

Mr Wells and Mr Molloy will chair the meetings in their role as impartial Deputy Presiding Officers and not as party representatives.

Speaking earlier, Mr Hain said: “I would have preferred not to have had to issue a direction on this procedural matter. But all the parties have now accepted that deadlock must not be allowed to stand in the way of the important work that needs to be done to prepare for the return of locally accountable government.

“With the two Prime Ministers due at the end of the month and the clock ticking towards the November deadline it is imperative that progress is made."

The Secretary of State continued: “The Committees initial task is to identify the issues that need to be addressed to prepare for government and to refer appropriate topics that need to be publicly aired and debated in the Assembly as part of the preparation process.

“The MLA's have now been given the opportunity to truly represent the people of Northern Ireland’s best interests and get down to the serious business of preparing for government.”

(EF/SP)