COMMITTEE OF THE CENTRE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 30 MAY 2007
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Danny Kennedy (Chairperson)
Naomi Long (Deputy Chairperson)
Tom Elliott
Dolores Kelly
Barry McElduff
Francie Molloy
Stephen Moutray
Jim Shannon
Jimmy Spratt
Jim Wells
In Attendance: Debbie Pritchard (Principal Clerk)
Damien Martin (Assembly Clerk)
Joe Sloan (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Antonia Hoskins (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Lynda Mulholland (Clerical Supervisor)
Marion Johnson (Clerical Officer)
The meeting opened at 2.07 p.m. in public session.
1. Apologies
Martina Anderson
2. Declaration of Interests
An updated list of Committee Members’ interests was circulated for the Committee’s consideration. The Chairperson asked members to declare if they had any additional interests to record on the list of Committee Members’ interests. No additional interests were declared. A list of Committee Members’ interests is appended to these minutes.
3. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson briefed the Committee on a meeting that he had held with the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The Committee agreed to write to the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to ask for the scope of proposed legislation to consolidate and strengthen controls on public appointments and a timetable for bringing it forward and for details of steps being taken to ensure adequate resourcing of the Commissioner’s office.
Mrs Kelly joined the meeting at 2.10 p.m.
4. Draft Minutes of the meeting held on 24 May 2007
The draft minutes of proceedings for Wednesday, 24 May 2007 were agreed by the Committee.
5. Matters Arising
The members were advised that a formal response to its invitation to the First Minister and deputy First Minister to attend an early meeting of the Committee had not yet been received but it was anticipated that Ministers would attend the Committee’s meeting on 20 June 2007.
Members were advised that responses to a number of queries made by Committee at its meeting with OFMDFM officials on 24 May 2007 were expected for consideration at the Committee’s next meeting on 6 June 2007.
Mr Wells joined the meeting at 2.13 p.m.
6. Formal naming of the Committee
The Committee discussed a change to the name of Committee of the Centre, given its new status as a Statutory Committee. The Committee agreed that the name of the Committee should be changed, subject to approval by the Assembly, to “The Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister”.
Mr Shannon joined the meeting at 2.16 p.m. and Mr Mc Elduff joined the meeting at 2.17p.m.
7. Briefing from the Executive Services Directorate and North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) Secretariat
Departmental Officials, Rosalie Flanagan and Mary Bunting provided an overview of the structures and responsibilities of the Executive Services Directorate and North/South Ministerial Council Secretariat and outlined areas of potential Committee interest.
Mr Moutray joined the meeting at 2.32 p.m.
Members questioned the officials on aspects of the work of the Directorate and on the position on a range of areas. The officials gave an undertaking that the Committee will be consulted on the terms of reference for a review of the Civic Forum, agreed to provide a list of members of the Civic Forum and to provide regular updates on the work of the British Irish Council. Officials also agreed to provide a memorandum on the scrutiny role of the Committee in relation to the NSMC and additional details on the implementation of recommendations on removing obstacles to cross-border mobility.
Mrs Kelly left the meeting at 3.17 p.m. Mr Wells left the meeting at 3.30 p.m.
8. Briefing from the Equality Directorate
Departmental Officials, Cynthia Smith, Dr Gerry Mulligan and Billy Gamble provided an overview of the structures and responsibilities of the Equality Directorate and on areas of potential Committee interest.
Members questioned the officials on aspects of the work of the Equality Directorate and on progress in a range of policy and legislation development areas.
Mr Moutray left the meeting at 4.00 p.m. Mrs Kelly returned to the meeting at 4.10 p.m.
Officials undertook to provide a briefing paper to the Committee on proposals for comprehensively addressing victims and survivors issues, to make available to the Committee detailed information on spending in relation to victims and survivors issues and to discuss with the Committee the recently produced research report on the cost of divisions in Northern Ireland.
Mr Molloy left the meeting at 4.30 p.m. Mr Shannon left the meeting at 4.31 p.m.
9. Any Other Business
The Committee agreed to schedule an item of business before recess to identify and decide on possible inquiries that it may wish to undertake in the autumn session, including a proposal from the Chairperson in relation to dealing with the past.
10. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 6 June 2007 at 2.00 p.m. in Room 144 Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.35 p.m.
Mr Danny Kennedy
Chairperson, Committee of the Centre
6 June 2007
COMMITTEE OF THE CENTRE
Declaration of Interests
Updated 24th May 2007
Danny Kennedy
Member, Newry and Mourne District Council.
Member’ Newry and Mourne Local Strategy Partnership Board.
Member, Northern Ireland Policing Board, April 2006 - May 2007.
Member, Board of Governors - Newry High School.
Member, Board of Governors - Bessbrook Primary School.
Member, Community Convention and Development Company, Spectrum Centre.
Member, Orange Institution.
Member, Black Institution.
Member, Apprentice Boys of Derry.
Member, Tullyvallen Silver Band.
Member, Northern Ireland Policing Board delegation to Washington/New York, March 2007.
Naomi Long
Member, Victoria Ward Belfast City Council.
Member, Belfast District Policing Partnership.
Member, Belfast Education and Library Board.
Member, Board of Governors - Sydenham Infants School.
Graduate member, Institution of Civil Engineers.
Member, Congregational Committee.
Member, Girl Guiding Association and Adult Leader.
Husband owns a Dental Practice in Donaghadee.
Columnist for Newsletter.
Martina Anderson
Member, Northern Ireland Policing Board.
Tom Elliott
Director, Janard Properties Limited.
Director, Fermanagh Lakeland Tourism
Director, Magheracross Agricultural Group Limited.
Self-employed farmer.
Councillor, Fermanagh District Council.
Member, District Policing Partnership, Fermanagh.
Land and Property – Farm at Tullyrain, Ballinamallard, Co. Fermanagh.
Shareholder – Janard Properties.
Honorary Secretary, Fermanagh Unionist Association.
Trustee, Knockmanoul Orange Hall.
Member, Orange Institution.
Member, Royal Black Perceptory.
Member, Ulster Farmers Union.
Dolores Kelly
Member, Craigavon Borough Council.
Director, Lurgan Forward.
Director, East Border Region Partnership.
Member, Northern Ireland Policing Board.
Land and Property - Residential property (rented), Belfast.
Member, Northern Ireland Policing Board delegation to Washington/New York, March 2007.
Barry McElduff
Member, Omagh District Council.
Director, Rural Link.
Director, Fintona Regeneration Initiative.
Member, various community groups.
Member, Western Education and Library Board.
Francie Molloy
Member, Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council.
Executive Member, NILGA.
Director, Confederation of EU Councillors.
Member, National Association of Councillors (NAC).
Director, Lough Neagh Partnership.
Member, Board of Governors - Edendork Primary School.
Stephen Moutray
Director, Knockshane Enterprises.
Partner in William Moutray and Sons (Service Station).
Partner in S Moutray and Co. Supermarket.
Subpostmaster, Banbridge Road Post Office, Lurgan.
Member, Craigavon Borough Council.
Member, Craigavon District Policing Partnership.
Jim Shannon
Self-employed Pork Retailer
Councillor, Ards Borough Council.
Jimmy Spratt
Member, Castlereagh Borough Council.
Member, Castlereagh District Policing Partnership.
Member, South Eastern Education & Library Board, (no remuneration at present).
Land and Property - Rental property, Dundonald.
Land and Property - 38 acres of agricultural land, Comber.
Land and Property - Holiday property, Morocco.
Member, Board of Governors - Lisnasharragh High School.
Member, Board of Governors - Knockbreda High School.
Member, Board of Governors - Moneyreagh Primary School.
Assistant Secretary Church Committee (Gransha Presbyterian).
Jim Wells
Director, St. Patrick’s Centre, Downpatrick.
Director, The Schomberg Society, Kilkeel.
Director, Down Rural Partnership, Banbridge.
Director, Ballynahinch Regeneration Company.
Director, Down Local Strategy Partnership.
Councillor, Down District Council.
Town Planning Consultant (non practising).
Overseas visit - United States, July 1998, Seminar paid for by Kennedy School of Government.
Overseas visit – United States, February 2003, Seminar paid for by Kennedy School of Government.
Overseas visit – Kenya, 13-17 February 2005, political training, paid for by Westminster Foundation for Democracy (Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe).
Overseas visit – Kenya, 7-12 April 2006, political training, paid for by Westminster Foundation for Democracy (Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe).
Land and Property - Private dwelling, Kilkeel.
Shareholdings – Gartmore Japan Unit Trust.
Treasurer (unpaid), Chosen Northern Ireland.
Chairman (unpaid), Northern Ireland Raptor Study Group.
Member, Orange Institution.
Member, Royal Black Institution.
Member, Apprentice Boys – Londonderry.