Official Report: Minutes of Evidence

The Chairperson (Mr Moutray): I now propose that we consider, for agreement, in the presence of Hansard, the final text of the draft report section by section.

Are members content with the covering pages, the executive summary and conclusions section of the report?

The Chairperson (Mr Moutray): Are members content with the summary of recommendations section of the report?

The Chairperson (Mr Moutray): Are members content with the introduction section of the report?

The Chairperson (Mr Moutray): Are members content with the Committee's approach to the review section of the report?

The Chairperson (Mr Moutray): Are members content with the Committee's scrutiny section of the report?

The Chairperson (Mr Moutray): Are members content with the Committee's consideration of key barriers and challenges section of the report?

The Chairperson (Mr Moutray): Are members content with the Committee's consideration of positive actions section of the report?

The Chairperson (Mr Moutray): Are members content with the conclusions and recommendations section of the report?

The Chairperson (Mr Moutray): Are members content with the glossary of terms section of the report?

The Chairperson (Mr Moutray): Are members content with appendix 1 to the report, the extract of minutes and proceedings?

The Chairperson (Mr Moutray): Are members content with appendix 2 to the report, the minutes of evidence?

The Chairperson (Mr Moutray): Are members content with appendix 3 to the report, the stakeholder submissions?

The Chairperson (Mr Moutray): Are members content with appendix 4 to the report, the correspondence and other papers relating to the review?

The Chairperson (Mr Moutray): Finally, are members content with appendix 5 to the report, the Assembly research papers?

The Chairperson (Mr Moutray): Thank you. I inform members that the report will be the sixth report of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee to the Assembly. The final version of the report will be proofread once more before it is ordered to be printed. Are members content for the Committee's secretariat to make any changes to typing errors and the format of the report where necessary? These will have no effect on the substance of the report and are purely for the purposes of formatting and the accuracy of the text. Are members agreed?

The Chairperson (Mr Moutray): The extract of minutes of proceedings and minutes of evidence from Hansard from today's meeting will have to be included in the report. Are members content for me, as the Chairperson of the Committee, to approve the extract of the minutes of proceedings from today's meeting for inclusion in the report?

The Chairperson (Mr Moutray): Are members content for the Hansard edition of this meeting to be included in the report as there is insufficient time for members to review the transcript before publication?

Ms Ruane: Sorry, say that one again.

The Chairperson (Mr Moutray): Are members content for the Hansard edition of this meeting to be included in the report as there is insufficient time for members to review the transcript before publication?

Ms Ruane: Yes, sorry.

The Chairperson (Mr Moutray): I propose that the Secretary of State, the First Minister, the deputy First Minister and the leaders of the political parties of the Assembly be forwarded a copy of the final embargoed report as soon as it is available. Are members agreed?

The Chairperson (Mr Moutray): Are members content for the Committee secretariat to forward an embargoed electronic version of the report with an appropriate covering letter from me, as the Chairperson, to the Secretary of State, the First Minister, the deputy First Minister and the leaders of the political parties of the Assembly?

The Chairperson (Mr Moutray): As the Committee is now in the position to formally agree that the report be printed and published, the Committee needs to decide if it wishes the report to be debated and noted in plenary or move straight to publication.

Ms Ruane: Debated.

Ms P Bradley: Debated.

Mr Lunn: Sorry, does that mean that it will be debated before or after publication?

The Chairperson (Mr Moutray): It means debated at all.

Mr Lunn: It must be after publication.

The Senior Assistant Assembly Clerk: The report would be embargoed until the debate in the Chamber.

The Chairperson (Mr Moutray): OK. Are members content that it is debated?

Ms Ruane: When is that likely to happen?

The Chairperson (Mr Moutray): I am coming to that now.

Ms Ruane: OK.

The Chairperson (Mr Moutray): We now move to consideration of the draft motion for the debate of the report in Assembly plenary, the text of which is in members' packs. Are members content with the wording of the draft motion for the debate of the report in the Assembly plenary and that the Committee requests Monday 9 March 2015, the day after International Women's Day, for the debate?

Ms Ruane: Perfect.

Ms P Bradley: Perfect.

The Chairperson (Mr Moutray): Are members agreed?

The Chairperson (Mr Moutray): Are members content that the Committee should order its report on the review of women in politics in the Northern Ireland Assembly to be printed following today's meeting and that hard copies be kept to a minimum in the interests of efficiency? I ask members whether they are content that a note be put in the Business Office today to signal that two embargoed manuscript copies of the report will be laid in the Business Office by close of business tomorrow. Are members agreed?

The Chairperson (Mr Moutray): I inform members that the report should be returned by the printer and distributed to all MLAs once printed. The report will, of course, be embargoed until the commencement of the plenary debate. Are members agreed?

Ms Ruane: Will all the witnesses get a printed copy?

The Senior Assistant Assembly Clerk: I will need to double-check that. There will be full copies and slim copies. I think that those who came to brief the Committee will receive a copy. As with all reports, it will, of course, also be available on the Committee's website, only after it has been debated in plenary.