European and External Relations Committee

Meeting date: Thursday, April 3, 2014

Official Report 467KB pdf

---

Decision on Taking Business in Private

Good morning and welcome to the ninth meeting in 2014 of the European and External Relations Committee. As usual, I request that mobile phones be switched off. We have no apologies; everyone is present and correct.

Agenda item 1 is a decision on whether to take items 4 and 5 in private. Do members agree to do so?

Since the correspondence referred to under item 4 is in the public domain, is it necessary to take that item in private?

The usual procedure is to take correspondence in private to allow members to have a frank and open discussion. The correspondence does not answer any of the questions that we would—

Can we not have a frank and open discussion in public?

The usual procedure is to take any correspondence in private. We followed that procedure with the correspondence from the Deputy First Minister.

Okay. I was just making a point.

Although I was not at the previous meeting at which it was agreed to take item 6 in today’s meeting in private, I emphasise the fact that we are taking that item in private as well.

Absolutely. We are following usual procedure. Do members agree to take items 4, 5 and 6 in private?

Members indicated agreement.

Thank you very much.