COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2009
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT bUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Danny Kennedy (Chairperson)
Mrs Naomi Long (Deputy Chairperson)
Ms Martina Anderson
Mr Tom Elliott
Mrs Dolores Kelly
Mr Ian McCrea
Mr Barry McElduff
Mr Stephen Moutray
Mr Jim Shannon
Mr Jimmy Spratt
In Attendance:
Ms Nuala Dunwoody (Clerk Assistant)
Ms Aoibhinn Treanor (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Colin Wilson (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Linda Gregg (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Ms Helena Maginness (Clerical Officer)
2.05 p.m. The meeting opened in public session.
1. Apologies
None.
2. Chairperson’s Business
Clerking Duties
The Chairperson welcomed Ms Aoibhinn Treanor as Clerk to the Committee in the absence of Mrs Cathie White. He also welcomed Mr Colin Wilson as Assistant Clerk in place of Mr Keith McBride and wished to place on record his thanks for all the work Keith had put in during his time with the Committee.
Visit to Scottish European and External Relations Committee
The Chairperson thanked Mr Jimmy Spratt, who part led the delegation to Edinburgh. Mr Jim Shannon wished to place on record his thanks to the staff who helped ensure the visit went smoothly.
Briefing Session on the Budget and Monitoring Process
Agreed: The Committee agreed that a member of Committee staff could attend the closed briefing session on the budget and monitoring process scheduled for Wednesday 25 February 2009 as a development opportunity.
Events and Invitations
The Chairperson reminded members of the launch of a review of Children’s Rights by the Office of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People on 17 February 2009.
The Chairperson informed members that he had been invited to speak about integrating policy for children by the Centre for Public Policy Seminars on 13 March 2009 at the Stormont Hotel. As the Chairperson is not available on that date, he has offered the Deputy Chairperson the opportunity and if she is not available he will offer the opportunity to another member of the Committee.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 28 January 2009
Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 28 January 2009 were agreed by the Committee.
4. Consideration of European Issues
Visits
The Chairperson asked members to confirm their availability for the Westminster visit scheduled for 4 March 2009.
Agreed: M embers agreed that the visit would not require an overnight stay.
The Chairperson advised members that it was proving difficult to arrange a visit to the Welsh Assembly, so the Committee team is going to investigate options including video conferencing.
The Chairperson advised members that the provisional date of 23 April for the visit to the Catalan Parliament clashes with Catalonia’s patron saint’s day — St Jordi’s Day, a busy day in the calendar.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Committee team plan the visit for the first week of May.
Evidence Session: Mr Poots
2.15 p.m. Mr Edwin Poots joined the meeting.
Mr Edwin Poots, MLA and Member of the Committee of the Regions, briefed the Committee on the work of the Committee of the Regions. This was followed by a question and answer session.
2.24 p.m. Mr Jimmy Spratt joined the meeting.
2.42 p.m. Mr Edwin Poots left the meeting.
Evidence Session: Executive Response to Barroso report
2.43 p.m. Officials from OFMDFM joined the meeting.
Evelyn Cummins, Paul Geddis and John McMillen briefed the Committee on the Executive’s response to the Barroso report. This was followed by a question and answer session.
2.44 p.m. Mr Ian McCrea left the meeting.
2.55 p.m. Mrs Dolores Kelly left the meeting.
3.11 p.m. Mr Barry McElduff left the meeting.
3.19 p.m. Officials from OFMDFM left the meeting
3.20 p.m. Mr Stephen Moutray left the meeting.
5. Gender Equality
3.21 p.m. Officials from OFMDFM joined the meeting.
Gerry Mulligan, Patricia Carey and Eileen Sung briefed the Committee on the progress of the gender equality strategy. This was followed by a question and answer session.
3.46 p.m. Officials from OFMDFM left the meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department requesting further information on affirmative actions in the Gender Action Plans, members also agreed to request baseline figures for comparison at mid-term review.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department of Employment and Learning and the Department of Education requesting a gender equality progress report.
6. Education Bill
The Committee noted that the Committee for Education was opening its consultation on the Education Bill.
7. Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation: Consultation on Social Action Plan 2009-2014
Agreed: The Committee agreed to respond by referring the Regulator to the fuel poverty recommendation in the Committee’s report on Child Poverty. It was further agreed that the Committee would request a copy of the responses from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment and the Committee for Regional Development.
3.48 p.m. Mr Barry McElduff joined the meeting.
8. Equality Commission Report
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the statutory Committees with responsibility for these public bodies to bring the matter to their attention. The Committee further agreed to write to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland asking about duplication in the list of designated public bodies required to produce Disability Action Plans.
9. Matters arising
Civic Forum Review
The Committee noted the correspondence from the Department detailing the responses to the consultation phase of the Civic Forum Review.
Delays with Ebrington and Ilex capital projects
The Committee noted the response from the Department that Ilex anticipates righting the slippages in the first quarter of 2009/10.
Inquiry into Public Procurement in Northern Ireland
The Committee noted the response from the Committee for Finance and Personnel agreeing to the two-week extension requested on 28 January.
Industrial Sickness Rates in the Northern Ireland Civil Service
The Committee noted the response from the Department of Finance and Personnel regarding industrial sickness rates in the Northern Ireland Civil Service.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department of Finance and Personnel requesting clarification on a number of issues.
Financial Assistance Bill – Determination and Designation
The Committee noted that the Department is to bring forward a household fuel payment scheme under the Financial Assistance Act.
10. Correspondence
Letter from a member of the Public
Agreed: The Committee agreed to refer the letter to the Department.
Committee for Employment and Learning
Agreed: The Committee agreed to endorse the letter to the Minister for Employment and Learning and to ask to be kept informed. The Committee will also write to the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister on the matter.
Cedar Foundation
Agreed: The Committee agreed to refer the letter to the Department.
Conor Murphy
The Committee noted the letter from Conor Murphy declining an invitation to give evidence to the Committee’s European inquiry as he had held a European office for a very short time.
Inquiry into Funding of the Arts in Northern Ireland
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward correspondence from the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure to the Department seeking comments on an inquiry into funding for the Arts in Northern Ireland.
Independent Review of Economic Policy
The Committee considered the letter received from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment on its review of economic policy.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that any members who wished to make a submission should forward their views to the Committee team by Thursday 19 February to allow time to compile a composite reply by the deadline of 27 February.
11. Any Other Business
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider the Forward Work Plan for March at the next meeting.
12. Date of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 18 February 2009 at 2.00 p.m. in Room 144.
4.00 p.m. The Chairperson adjourned the meeting.