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Section 3(5).
1 (1) There shall be a chairman of the forum.
(2) The chairman shall be elected by the members, but until the first election has taken place he shall be a member nominated by the Secretary of State.
2 (1) The first meeting of the forum shall be at a time decided by the Secretary of State.
(2) The time decided under sub-paragraph (1) shall be—
(a) after the commencement of negotiations within section 2, and
(b) within, or as soon as possible after the expiry of, the period of four weeks beginning with the date of the poll in the elections.
(3) Subsequent meetings shall be at times determined by the members of the forum.
(4) But the forum shall not meet at any time notified by the Secretary of State to the chairman as being a time when, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, it would not be appropriate for the forum to meet because negotiations within section 2 are intended to take place; but the Secretary of State shall not prevent the holding of a meeting for more than four consecutive weeks.
3 (1) Subject to the provisions of this Schedule, the proceedings of the forum (and of any committee it may establish) shall be conducted in accordance with rules of procedure determined by the members of the forum and approved by the Secretary of State.
(2) The rules of procedure of the forum shall include provision for a quorum.
(3) Until rules of procedure have been determined and approved under sub-paragraph (1) proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with rules determined by the Secretary of State and notified by him to the chairman.
(4) In exercising his functions under sub-paragraphs (1) and (3) above, the Secretary of State shall make every effort to secure that the rules of procedure of the forum facilitate the promotion of dialogue, understanding and consensus across the communities of Northern Ireland.
4 A decision on the election or removal of a chairman or the adoption or alteration of rules of procedure shall not be regarded as taken by the members unless—
(a) no member present has objected to it, or
(b) it is approved on a vote by at least 75 per cent. of those voting.
5 A written or oral statement made by a member of the forum in or for the purposes of the forum (or any committee it may establish) shall be privileged from action for defamation unless it is proved to have been made with malice.
6 The Secretary of State shall provide for the forum the services of such staff, the use of such premises and such other facilities as he thinks appropriate.
Northern Ireland (Entry To Negotiations, Etc) Act 1996