COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 10 September 2008
Room 144, PARLIAMENT bUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Danny Kennedy (Chairperson)
Mrs Naomi Long (Deputy Chairperson)
Ms Martina Anderson
Mrs Dolores Kelly
Mr Stephen Moutray
Mr Jim Shannon
Mr Jimmy Spratt
Mr Jim Wells
In Attendance:
Mrs Cathie White (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Keith McBride (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Marion Johnson (Clerical Officer)
Ms Helena Maginness (Clerical Officer)
2.35 p.m. The meeting opened in public session
1. Apologies
Mr Barry McElduff.
2. Chairperson’s Business
Meeting with the UK Rapporteur for the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
The Chairperson advised Members that he met, along with Jim Wells and the Clerk, Professor Lucy Smith - UK Rapporteur of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Mrs Patricia Lewsley - Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children, Mrs Paddy Kelly - Director of the NI Children’s Law Centre and Mrs Sheri Chamberlain – Director of Save the Children on Friday 5 September. Discussions centred on a variety of issues which face Children in Northern Ireland and the UN Committee process.
Meeting with the Hon Kayee Griffin MLC, New South Wales Parliament
The Chairperson advised Members that he met, along with the Clerk, Hon Kayee Griffin MLC, on Monday 8 September. Discussions took place on issues relating to children and young people.
Non receipt of Departmental papers
The Chairperson advised Members that the Committee has not received papers for the September Monitoring Round and the Response to the Barroso Taskforce. The Chairperson advised that the Clerk is meeting with the Departmental Assembly Liaison Officer to discuss the Committee’s Forward Work Programme and will brief the Committee next week. Members agreed the Chairperson should write to the First Minister and deputy First Minister expressing the Committee’s dissatisfaction in not receiving papers on time.
Committee Secretariat
The Chairperson introduced Ms Helena Maginness to the Committee. The Chairperson thanked Mrs Marion Johnson for her work and wished her well in her new position.
Thanks to Mr Jim Wells
The Chairperson thanked Mr Jim Wells for his contribution to the Committee and wished him well in his new position as a member of the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 3 September 2008
Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings as amended were agreed by the Committee.
4. Matters Arising
Northern Ireland Women’s European Platform
Members noted a request from the Northern Ireland Women’s European Platform (NIWEP), to brief Members on their recent presentation to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women Committee (CEDAW) in New York and to report back on the concluding observations. Members agreed the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson should meet with NIWEP and report back to the Committee.
Sex Discrimination Order 1976 (Amendment) Regulations 2008
Members noted the response from OFMDFM, which advises that it does not believe that a review of the provision, which restricts an employer’s liability until after the second occasion of harassment, is necessary at this time. The response also advises that the Equality Commission is not seeking any amendments at this time.
5. The Salaries (Assembly Ombudsman and Commissioner for Complaints) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008
Agreed: The Committee considered the Salaries (Assembly Ombudsman and Commissioner for Complaints) Order. Members confirmed they had no objections to the rule, subject to the Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules.
6. The Office of the first Minister and Deputy First Minister’s Disability Action Plan
2.50 p.m. Officials joined the meeting
3.02 p.m. Mrs Dolores Kelly joined the meeting
3.03 p.m. Mr Jim Wells joined the meeting
Dr Gerry Mulligan, Mrs Deirdre Kenny and Mrs Liz Elliott briefed Members on the Department’s Disability Action Plan. Officials apologised to the Committee for not consulting with the Committee earlier and stressed that this was a working document and could be amended. Officials also advised that OFMDFM had issued the document for a targeted consultation. A question and answer session followed.
3.15 p.m. Officials left the meeting
7. Correspondence
Strategic Investment Board – Annual Review and Financial Statements 2007/08
Members noted the Strategic Investment Board’s Annual Review and Financial Statements 2007/08.
Reply to the Committee for Social Development
Members noted the correspondence from OFMDFM to the Committee for Social Development concerning the voluntary and community sector.
8. Any other business
The Deputy Chairperson advised the Committee of an event being organised by Barnardo’s and the Tullycarnet Family Project, which is being held in the Long Gallery on Monday 15 September at 3.15 p.m.
9. Date of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 17 September 2008 at 2.00 p.m. in Room 144.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.20 p.m.