COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY
FIRST MINISTER
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 13 MAY 2009
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Danny Kennedy (Chairperson)
Mrs Naomi Long (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Tom Elliott
Mrs Dolores Kelly
Mr Ian McCrea
Mr Barry McElduff
Mr Jim Shannon
Mr Jimmy Spratt
In Attendance:
Mrs Cathie White (Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Linda Gregg (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Colin Wilson (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Stephen Magee (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr James Quinn (Clerical Officer)
2.12 p.m. The meeting opened in public session.
1. Apologies
Ms Martina Anderson
Mr Stephen Moutray
2. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson advised members that he, Mr Francie Molloy and the Clerk had met with representatives of the Saxony-Anhalt Parliament on Thursday 7 May 2009 and that a note of the meeting would issue in due course.
The Chairperson further advised that he, Mr Jimmy Spratt, Mr Francie Molloy and the Clerk attended the Europe Day Seminar in the Scottish Parliament on Friday 8 May 2009 and there had been a useful exchange of views. The Scottish Parliament will issue a note of the outcomes of the seminar in due course.
The Chairperson advised members that the European Committees’ of both the National Assembly for Wales and the Scottish Parliament have carried out some work on the European Economic Recovery Plan.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request an oral briefing on what the Department is doing on the European Economic Recovery Plan.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the European Economic Recovery Plan to the Committee for Finance and Personnel and also agreed to provide to that Committee an update on the work being carried out on the Plan when received.
2.14 p.m. Mr Jimmy Spratt joined the meeting
The Chairperson advised members that he and the Clerk had met with representatives from the Sustainable Development Commission and that he had agreed to co-sponsor an event being held in the Long Gallery on 10 June 2009.
The Chairperson advised members that he, Mrs Naomi Long and the Clerk met with Mr Barry Turley from ASITIS Consultants regarding the World Forum on Early Care and Education conference which is scheduled to take place from 16-19 June 2009. Mr Turley will forward details to members regarding the individual sessions at the conference. Members will be able to decide which sessions they wish to attend.
2.15 p.m. Mr Tom Elliott joined the meeting
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 6 May 2009
Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 6 May 2009 were agreed by the Committee.
4. Community Relations Council Briefing
2.16 p.m. Mr Tony McCusker(Chairman), Mr Duncan Morrow (Chief Executive), Mr Brian Mullan (Development Officer), and Ms Michaela Mackin (Programme Director),from the Community Relations Council (CRC) joined the meeting.
Mr Tony McCusker, Mr Duncan Morrow, Mr Brian Mullan and Ms Michaela Mackin of the CRC briefed the Committee on the Core Funding Scheme for Groups working with Victims and Survivors. This was followed by a question and answer session.
2.25 p.m. Mrs Dolores Kelly joined the meeting
2.37 p.m. Mr Tom Elliott left the meeting
3.02 p.m. Mr Tony McCusker, Mr Duncan Morrow, Mr Brian Mullan and Ms Michaela Mackin from the CRC left the meeting.
5. Consideration of European Issues
3.04 p.m. Ms Frances Dowds from the Northern Ireland Anti Poverty Network (NIAPN) joined the meeting.
Ms Frances Dowds Director from the NIAPN briefed the Committee on European issues. This was followed by a question and answer session.
3.28 p.m. Ms Frances Dowds from the NIAPN left the meeting.
6. Tribunal Reform
3.29 p.m. Mr Tony Canavan and Mr Geoffrey Simpson from OFMDFM and Ms Siobhan Broderick from the NI Court Service joined the meeting .
Mr Tony Canavan, Mr Geoffrey Simpson and Ms Siobhan Broderick briefed the Committee on the proposal for the transfer of responsibilities for administrative support for tribunals sponsored by NI departments to the NI Court Service as part of a reform of the NI tribunal system. This was followed by a question and answer session.
3.57 p.m. Mr Tony Canavan and Mr Geoffrey Simpson from OFMDFM and Ms Siobhan Broderick from the NI Court Service left the meeting .
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the relevant statutory Committees’ to request their views on Tribunal reform.
7. Matters arising
Victims and Survivors Strategy .
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the Hansard transcript to the Department to reflect the Committee’s views on the Victims and Survivors Strategy. The Committee further agreed to separately raise with the Department some of the issues raised by the Community Relations Council at its earlier briefing .
Shortfall of Funding for Lifestart Mid Ards.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the Department’s response to the Committee for Education.
AFASIC NI Post Primary Project.
The Committee noted the response from the Committee for Employment and Learning and will await the response from the Department of Education before proceeding.
Forward Work Plan.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request an update paper and oral briefing from Departmental officials in respect of the Maze/Long Kesh site.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson and deputy Chairperson should seek an urgent meeting with the First Minister and deputy First Minister to discuss progress on outstanding issues.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Special EU Programmes Body to request an updated briefing paper on the Peace III Programme.
Gender Equality Strategy.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request an update paper and oral briefing from Departmental officials on the finalised Gender Equality Strategy Action Plans and other proposals considered by the Gender Advisory Panel.
8. Correspondence
Devolution of Policing and Justice Matters.
The Committee noted the letter from the Assembly Executive and Review Committee to the First Minister and deputy First Minister inviting them to a future meeting.
4.13 p.m. Mrs Dolores Kelly left the meeting.
UK Child Poverty Legislation: Consultation Document – “Ending Child Poverty: Making it Happen.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department and ask to be kept up to date with developments on the UK Child Poverty Bill.
Employment Services Board.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the memo from the First Minister and deputy First Minister to the Committee for Employment and Learning.
Varney II Recommendations.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department and ask for their views on Strategic Economic issues in relation to Sir David Varney’s second report on the review of competitiveness of Northern Ireland.
Funding for Buddy Bear School
The Committee noted the letter from the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety to the First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding funding for the Buddy Bear School.
Committee of the Environment inquiry into Climate Change
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request an indication on how and to what extent each of the Public Service Agreements for which it has responsibility, contributes to Northern Ireland’s emission reduction target.
CLOSED SESSION (4.15 p.m.)
Financing Strategic Investment.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request when the review report on the first year of the Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland will be available.
9. Any other Business
None
10. Da te of next meeting
The next meeting will be held in Room 144 on Wednesday 27 May 2009.
4.16 p.m. The Chairperson adjourned the meeting.