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NORTHERN IRELAND tackling the challenges of economic recovery and pandemic flu. We will continue to work together in ASSEMBLY decision-making regarding contingency planning. The discussion on the economy re-emphasised the need for continued co-operation and the sharing of Tuesday 29 September 2009 economic information. It was agreed that co-operation between Her Majesty’s Government and the devolved The Assembly met at 10.30 am (Mr Deputy Speaker Administrations in tackling the recession and preparing [Mr McClarty] in the Chair). for the economic recovery through the JMC and the economic summits in Wales and Scotland had worked Members observed two minutes’ silence. well and would continue. A number of issues relating to finance were raised, including further public sector capital acceleration; MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS difficulties over bank lending, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises; and funding to deal Joint Ministerial Committee with swine flu. Those will be discussed further over the coming weeks and at the next meeting of the Plenary Meeting Finance Ministers’ quadrilateral, which is scheduled to take place in December 2009. Mr Deputy Speaker: I would like to inform Members that I have received notice from the Office of In the discussion on the state of relations, the the First Minister and deputy First Minister that the positive developments since the last plenary session, First Minister wishes to make a statement regarding particularly in the development of a new subcommittee, JMC(D), to deal with domestic matters, was noted. the Joint Ministerial Committee plenary meeting. The subcommittee has held two successful meetings to The First Minister (Mr P Robinson): I wish to date and plans to meet again in the coming months. make a statement on a meeting of the Joint Ministerial Recent recommendations on inter-Administration Committee (JMC) in plenary format, held in London relations emanating from independent reports on the on 16 September, which the deputy First Minister and I workings of devolution were raised, and it was agreed attended. that a more detailed discussion to agree any The meeting was chaired by the Rt Hon Jack Straw improvements should be held at the forthcoming JMC MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, (Domestic) meeting. It was also noted that the on behalf of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister Secretary of State for Scotland stated that HM joined us for the latter part of the meeting. The other Government would publish a formal response to the participants were: the Rt Hon Alex Salmond MP MSP, Calman Commission report before the end of 2009. the First Minister of Scotland; Michael Russell MSP, Rounding off the meeting, the Prime Minister the Scottish Minister for Culture, External Affairs and opened a discussion on preparations for the G20 the Constitution; the Rt Hon Rhodri Morgan AM, the summit in Pittsburgh. He spoke of progress since April First Minister for Wales; and Ieuan Wyn Jones AM, the in implementing the London G20 conclusions and of deputy First Minister for Wales. the continuing need to ensure sustained international The Rt Hon Jim Murphy MP, the Rt Hon Peter Hain co-operation as the world economy moved to the next MP and the Rt Hon Shaun Woodward MP, the phase. Each of the devolved Administrations took the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern opportunity to reinforce the message about the severe Ireland respectively, also participated. budgetary pressures being faced. We also underlined The Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP, the Chief Secretary to the importance of banks beginning to lend again and of the Treasury, attended for part of the meeting to lead a the central Government tempering any easing of fiscal discussion on the economy, with Ian Pearson MP, the stimuli in recognition that businesses need working Economic Secretary, replacing him for the remainder capital to avail themselves of an economic upturn. of the meeting. Mr Moutray: I thank the First Minister for his We discussed issues of common interest, most statement. Can he outline how he sees the Joint notably the economy and inter-Administration relations. Ministerial Committee developing in a devolved We all committed ourselves to regular engagement United Kingdom? between the Administrations and agreed the need to The First Minister: Over the past years, the JMC maintain and build on successful co-operation in has extended its remit quite considerably. From having 339 Ministerial Statement: Tuesday 29 September 2009 Joint Ministerial Committee Plenary Meeting a JMC plenary, known as the JMC(P), we have which to persuade and influence Her Majesty’s developed a JMC(E), which deals with European Government on key issues, and it allows us to have an matters. I think that the JMC plenary has met on two input on matters to which the devolved institutions occasions; the JMC(E) has met on nine. We now have might not normally have an input, such as the G20 the JMC(D), which will look at domestic issues and is summit. due to meet soon. The Calman Commission report Mr McCallister: I welcome the First Minister’s recommends the establishment of a JMC(F) to deal statement. A lot of issues that are of importance to a with finance, and a JMC(O), in which officials would great many people in Northern Ireland, such as meet together. Mr Deputy Speaker, we still have increased bank lending, were discussed at the meeting. another 21 or so letters in the alphabet to go through to The First Minister spoke about the pressures and the add a few extra. budgetary positions of the devolved Administrations. If we deal with the issues that we have, we have Did he get any agreement or reassurance from Her considerably extended inter-relations within the United Majesty’s Government about increased funding to deal Kingdom. It is a useful setting for us to consider with the swine flu pandemic? matters of mutual interest. Each Administration will, of The First Minister: That is an issue that, separately course, want to look at issues themselves; they will and collectively, we have raised with the Treasury and have their own take on events. However, there will be with the Prime Minister. The short answer is that it is matters for which there can be mutual support and on still under discussion. However, I think that we all which there can be agreement and a benefit in acting recognise that if there is a reserve contingency fund, it together; that is what the JMC in its various formats would be hard to think of any issue that would have a will do. greater call on it than the likes of a pandemic. Mr McElduff: Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Therefore we think that there is a strong case for a call Comhairle. Tá ceist agam don Chéad Aire. Can the to be made to the reserve for assistance. Some health- First Minister speak a bit more clearly about the status, related matters can be planned for, and some cannot. purpose and remit of the Joint Ministerial Committee? The Health Minister could plan to have injection Where does it fit in the overall architecture of governance needles or masks and gloves available, but he cannot east-west and North/South? What is the specific role of plan to have a specific vaccine in place. Therefore the Joint Ministerial Committee? Who provides the there was a strong call for the Government to take secretariat and who is entitled to attend? responsibility for the cost of the vaccine. The First Minister: There are various formats. The Mrs D Kelly: I thank the First Minister for his Prime Minister, or someone deputed by the Prime statement and for the focus that was put on the Minister, will chair the plenary session of the JMC. On economy. He said that issues of joint concern were this occasion, it was chaired by Jack Straw, though the discussed. One such issue is the impact of climate Prime Minister himself attended, which shows change and the working together of Administrations in something of the status of the event. looking at best practice in meeting targets relating to gas emissions. Were there discussions on the green The meetings are held in various places, but most of economy and the jobs that could arise as a the meetings take place before a British-Irish meeting consequence of that? or at Westminster. The most recent meeting was held in London in the precincts of the Houses of Parliament. The First Minister: Climate change was not on the Each of the devolved Administrations sends a team agenda for this meeting of the JMC, though it was on along. In most cases, it will be the First Minister and the agenda of the previous meeting at which our deputy First Minister, but if there is business on the Administration confirmed that we would play our full agenda which relates to a specific Department, it is part in assisting in the process of meeting UK targets, possible and likely that the devolved Administration and that remains the position of the Executive. will bring the Minister who has that particular References were made by various Administrations responsibility. to the potential value in the green economy, but there The JMC does not have a decision-making role; it was no specific discussion on it. cannot make decisions for the whole of the United Mr Ford: I thank the First Minister for his Kingdom. However, if the three devolved statement. Following up on what Dolores Kelly has Administrations put forward a powerful case, as we just said, and at the risk of creating JMC (C), may I have done on a number of issues, it becomes difficult ask the First Minister whether joint action is being for the central Government to resist.