as amended at the General Meeting on March
24, 2015
Larry Miller, M.P.
Chair
1. NAME:
The
Canada-Ireland Interparliamentary Group is hereby created. Its purpose,
composition and operation shall be explained in detail in the present statutes.
2. PURPOSE:
The
Canada-Ireland Interparliamentary Group shall promote exchanges between Irish
and Canadian parliamentarians, propose initiatives likely to lead to a better
mutual understanding of national and international problems and work to develop
cooperation between the two countries in all the fields of human activity.
3. MEMBERSHIP:
The
Interparliamentary Group shall be composed of members of the Senate and House of Commons
who have expressed the intention of joining the Group and have paid the annual
dues.
4. WORKING YEAR:
The
working year of the Interparliamentary Group shall correspond to the fiscal
year, that is, April 1 to March 31.
5. THE INTERPARLIAMENTARY GROUP:
The
Interparliamentary Group shall function through the General Assembly and the
Executive Committee.
6. GENERAL ASSEMBLY:
The
General Assembly of the Interparliamentary Group shall meet at least once every
fiscal year. The Executive Committee, or a third of the members of the Interparliamentary
Group, may call a meeting of the General Assembly upon giving one week’s notice
in writing to all members. Ten members shall constitute Quorum at an Annual
General Meeting.
7. FUNCTIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY:
The functions of the General Assembly
shall be the following:
a)to elect the members of the Executive Committee;
b)to debate and ratify draft programs proposed by the Executive
Committee;
c)to debate and ratify financial and administrative reports prepared
by the Interparliamentary Group;
d)to amend, where necessary, the Group statutes by a two‑thirds
majority vote of the members present;
e)to make suggestions and adopt resolutions in accordance with the
aims of the Group;
f)to dissolve the Group if necessary, by a two-thirds majority of the
members present.
8. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
a)The Executive Committee is composed of a Chair, two Vice‑Chairs
(1 Senator, 1 M.P.), 7 members (of who at least two are Senators).
The past Chair is an ex‑officio member of the Executive. The elected
members total 10: they are elected for two years by the members of the
Group at an Annual General Meeting. If a majority of the members present at the
election meeting agree, the number of Directors may be increased from 7
but shall not exceed 14.
b)Both a Parliamentary Secretary and Treasurer shall be selected by
the Executive Committee from among its members.
c)The Speakers of the Senate and House of Commons shall be ex‑officio
Honorary Chairmen of the Interparliamentary Group;
d)Calling of meetings: Either the Chair
or an absolute majority of the Executive Committee members may call a meeting
of the Executive;
e)Quorum: The presence of the five (5)
Executive Committee members at Executive Committee meetings shall constitute a
quorum.
9. COMMITTEE TO NOMINATE CANDIDATES FOR THE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
a)At the end of the Executive’s term, the Group Chair and three (3)
members of the outgoing Executive representing as much as possible the
recognized parties, shall form a Nominations Committee;
b)The Nominations Committee shall invite Group members to stand for
the Executive Committee and shall submit a list of candidates to the General
Assembly, which will elect members of the Executive Committee. If the number
of candidates is not sufficient to fill all positions, the General Assembly
shall fill these positions from among its members;
c)The General Assembly, in its choice, shall take into account the
representative nature of the recognized parties of both Houses.
10. FUNCTIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
a)Day to day administration:
To ensure
management of the Group by directing activities and implementing the decisions
of the General Assembly.
b)Planning:
To establish the
agenda for Group meetings in accordance with the Association’s aims.
c)Meetings :
To convene and
ensure the smooth running Group meetings.
d)Liaison:
To maintain
relations with Irish counterparts.
e)Organization:
To prepare and
coordinate the activities of the Canada‑Ireland Interparliamentary Group,
namely: draft agendas, selection and number of delegates; tour schedules and
meeting places.
f)Replacement:
In case of death,
inability to act, loss of parliamentary status or resignation of an Executive
Committee member, to appoint a replacement who shall remain in office until the
expiration of his/her predecessor’s term.
g)Budget:
(i)to establish the budget needed to carry out the annual program of
the Group;
(ii)to manage the budget as approved by the General Assembly.
h)Activity and financial reports: To table
activity and financial reports at least once every working year before the
General Assembly for discussion and approval.
i)To inform Parliament of the Group’s activities
in accordance with prevailing practices.
j)The Executive Committee shall take any other initiative in
accordance with the Group’s aims.
11. FORMATION OF DELEGATIONS:
The Executive Committee shall inform
the members of activities and, in Consultation with the Party Whips of their
designated representatives, shall select the delegation leaders and the
delegates who will attend international meetings of the Canada‑Ireland
Interparliamentary Group, taking into account the following:
a)Candidates: Candidates shall be
selected on the basis of their interest in areas affecting relations between
Canada and Ireland, as expressed through active participation in parliamentary
committees or study groups dealing with these issues.
b)Participation: Participation shall
allow for familiarity with the relevant ideas and policies. Candidates shall
agree beforehand to participate in information sessions and to prepare
themselves during these meetings.
c)Representation: As far as possible, the
recognized parties shall be fairly represented within the delegations.