DRAFT SUMMARY RECORD OF OPENING PLENARY SESSION - WEDNESDAY 2 OCTOBER 1996 (12.11)
Independent Chairmen
Mr Holkeri
General de Chastelain
Government Teams
British Government
Irish Government
Parties
Alliance Party
Labour
Northern Ireland Women's Coalition
Progressive Unionist Party
Social Democratic and Labour Party
Ulster Democratic Party
Ulster Democratic Unionist Party
United Kingdom Unionist Party
Ulster Unionist Party
1. _The Chairman_ convened the meeting at 12.11. He reminded participants that the subject for discussion was the finalisation of the agenda for the remainder of the Opening Plenary session. _The Chairman_ added that after Tuesday's adjournment\, he had been informed that a series of bilateral talks were taking place on the basis of the British Government's revised proposal from the previous day. He believed it wise to allow these talks more time to continue through lunch. _The Chairman_ said he would therefore call a further adjournment\, but before doing so\, the British Government had a separate issue to raise.
2. _The British Government_ stated that an annual event would be taking place during week commencing 7 October which would result in Ministers being unavailable that week. Given the likelihood that the next subject for discussion in plenary would be decommissioning\, and that it would be appropriate for Ministers to lead on this\, the debate on decommissioning might best be prepared for by moving into a bilateral phase on 7 October. _The British Government_ apologised for this inconvenience but reiterated its view that a subject such as decommissioning required Ministers to be present. It therefore proposed that the plenary discussions on decommissioning be deferred until 14 October.
3. _The Chairman_ asked participants for their agreement to this remarking that\, in his view\, plenary sessions could not work as effectively with Ministers absent. _The DUP_ stated that it appreciated the British Government's difficulties. Both the DUP and the SDLP\, however\, also had difficulties in terms of European Parliament commitments. _The DUP_ said it wished to see the discussion on decommissioning taking place on 14 October and not the week after. The 21 October was a European Parliament week and if overall attendance at this body slipped below 50%\, the salaries of MEP staff were accordingly directly reduced.
4. _The UUP_ acknowledged the British Government's position and agreed with its comments in relation to avoiding a plenary session on decommissioning when Ministers were not present. _The British Government_ acknowledged the DUP's remarks and undertook to send a letter to the European authorities on behalf of those participants involved in both the talks process and that Parliament.
5. _The UKUP_ pointed to the fact that as a small party\, and with the start of Westminster business scheduled for 14 October\, it might only be able to field one representative at the plenary that week. It therefore had a certain amount of reservation about the British Government's proposal. Furthermore no case had been made to have both Government Ministers away throughout the talks days that week. It hoped\, therefore\, that the position of the minor parties would be taken into account by others.
6. _The SDLP_ indicated its acceptance of the British Government's proposal. _The DUP_ said that assumptions were being made that the issue of decommissioning would be reached in week commencing 7 October. What happened if discussions today on the agenda failed to reach agreement? It might be better not to rule out plenaries for the next week (7 October). _The UDP_ agreed with the DUP view. Following further references to the deduction of expenses by the European Parliament involving the PUP\, UKUP and DUP\, _the Chairman_ asked whether everyone was now clear on what was being proposed.
7. _The UDP_ recalled the earlier DUP point about planning plenaries for week commencing 7 October. _The British Government_ said that it was not asking for a blanket adjournment of the plenary. If a plenary was required that week on the issue of resolving the agenda\, then officials would be available for this.
8. _The SDLP_\, in referring to the Chairman's earlier remarks about adjourning the session\, proposed that it reconvene at 15.30. _The Chairman_ acknowledged this and referred to an earlier point that if no plenaries were required in week commencing 7 October\, he would encourage bilaterals. The Independent Chairmen's staff would be present all week. _The UUP_ asked whether\, on the basis of holding bilaterals\, a full complement of staff was actually needed. _The Chairman_ indicated that it was likely that not all staff would be required that week. In response to a query from the DUP\, _the Chairman_ stated that there could yet be a plenary in week commencing 7 October but this was dependent on progress in bilaterals. With this comment\, _the Chairman_ adjourned the session at 12.32 until 15.30.
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Independent Chairmen Notetakers
3 October 1996
OIC/PS18
