McFarland welcomes publication of PFG Committee Minutes
Ulster Unionist Chief Negotiator Alan McFarland has welcomed the publication of Preparation for Government Committee minutes on the Northern Ireland assembly website.
The minutes of the meetings can be found at http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/theassembly/CPFG/cpfg_commpage.htm
In a statement, the North Down MLA said: “This is a welcome development. It is vitally important that the people of Northern Ireland are able to see for themselves what has been happening within this committee.
“Of course to-ing and fro-ing over chairmanships and so on will have done nothing to raise optimism that progress can be made. But I think if people look through the minutes of these meetings they will see that a significant level of engagement has been reached by all involved in the committee.
“All the political parties, under the joint chairmanship of Sinn Fein and DUP, deal with each other freely across a range of issues and the exchanges so far have been reasonably encouraging. The work of this committee will continue throughout the summer and I would urge anyone with internet access to read the minutes for themselves.”