COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY
FIRST MINISTER
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 10 JUNE 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 Francie Molloy
Mr Stephen Moutray
Mr Jim Shannon
Mr Jimmy Spratt
In Attendance:
Ms Cathie White (Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Linda Gregg (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Colin Wilson (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Stephen Magee (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Marion Johnson (Clerical Officer)
2.06 p.m. The meeting opened in public session.
1. Apologies
Mr Barry McElduff
2. Chairperson’s Business
Agreed: The Committee agreed to send a letter of condolence to Mr Barry McElduff on the death of his Mother
The Chairperson congratulated the deputy Chairperson Mrs Naomi Long on her election to the post of Lord Mayor of Belfast.
The Chairperson advised members that he and the Clerk attended a meeting of the EC-UK Forum in the National Assembly for Wales in Cardiff on Monday 8 June 2009 and that papers had been issued to members.
The Chairperson advised members that the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society have requested the opportunity to make a short presentation to the Committee on their position following the announcement not to proceed with the proposed national stadium at the Maze/Long Kesh site.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society to invite them to brief the Committee.
The Chairperson advised members that Action for Children have invited members to a seminar on how Family Support can help break the cycle of child poverty, to be held on Tuesday 16 June 2009 at 12.30 p.m. in the Long Gallery in Parliament Buildings.
2.10 p.m. Mr Shannon joined the meeting
The Chairperson advised members that he, Mrs Naomi Long and the Clerk met with the First Minister and deputy First Minister on 9 June 2009 regarding progress on a number of issues. The Chairperson stated that the Committee could expect to see progress on a number of issues in the coming weeks.
The Chairperson advised members that he, Mrs Naomi Long and the Clerk met with representatives from the Prince’s Trust prior to the Committee meeting and had received an overview of the work of the Prince’s Trust and discussed the challenges facing the Trust.
3. Draft minutes of the meetings held on 13 and 27 May 2009
Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 13 and 27 May 2009 were agreed by the Committee.
4. Autism NI Briefing
2.14 p.m. Ms A Cassidy from Autism NI and Mr K McCarthy joined the meeting.
Mr McCrea declared an interest as a member of the All Party Assembly Group on Autism
2.14 p.m. Mr Kennedy left the meeting, Mrs Long took over as Chairperson
2.14 p.m. Mrs Kelly joined the meeting
Ms A Cassidy and Mr K McCarthy briefed the Committee on research papers on services for people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. This was followed by a question and answer session.
2.18 p.m. Mr Spratt joined the meeting.
2.50 p.m. Mr Kennedy joined the meeting.
2.52 p.m. Mrs Kelly left the meeting
2.53 p.m. Ms A Cassidy from Autism NI and Mr K McCarthy left the meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the Abstract document to the Department for comments.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the Abstract document to the relevant Statutory Committees.
2.54 p.m. Mr Kennedy resumed the role of Chairperson
5. Consideration of European Issues
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request an update on the recommendations from the Committee of the Centre’s original EU inquiry
2.54 p.m. Mr P Colgan, Chief Executive of the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) joined the meeting.
Mrs Long declared an interest as Chairperson of the Good Relations Steering Panel within Belfast City Council
3.00 p.m. Mrs Kelly joined the meeting
Mr P Colgan of the SEUPB briefed the Committee on European issues. This was followed by a question and answer session.
3.23 p.m. Mr Spratt left the meeting.
3.32 p.m. Mr P Colgan, Chief Executive of the SEUPB left the meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request an update report on the uptake of the current Interreg Programme and details of organisations that SEUPB provide policy advice and funding.
3.34 p.m. Mr A McCulla, Chief Executive of the Anglo North Irish Fish Producers Association (ANIFPO) joined the meeting.
Mr A McCulla of ANIFPO briefed the Committee on European issues. This was followed by a question and answer session.
3.48 p.m. Mr Moutray left the meeting.
3.49 p.m. Mrs Kelly left the meeting
4.08 p.m. Mr A McCulla, Chief Executive of ANIFPO left the meeting.
6. Matters arising
Maze/Long Kesh and Post Project Evaluations .
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the response from the Department pending a revised oral briefing.
British Irish Council Statement – Shortage of Nursery Places.
The Committee noted the response from the Department regarding the British Irish Council statement regarding nursery provision for Standing Secretariat staff.
Gender Equality.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department asking why there were no local references in Parts 9, 10 and 11 in the Northern Ireland input to the UK questionnaire for the United Nations Beijing +15 Report.
Update Report on Implementation of the Investment Strategy.
The Committee noted the quarterly report on the implementation of the Investment Strategy from the Department.
Web-Based Portal for European Information
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the Department’s response but will consider as part of the EU inquiry.
Play and Leisure Policy
Agreed: The Committee agreed to await further discussion with the Department on implementation plans after the summer recess.
Ministerial Visits to Europe
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the list of Ministerial visits to Europe to the Ulster Farmers Union.
Teachers’ Exemption in Fair Employment Legislation
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the Department’s response but will follow up in 6 months time.
Children and Young People’s Action Plan
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request a two week extension to the deadline.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the Action Plan to other Statutory Committee’s for their comments.
UK Child Poverty Legislation.
The Committee noted the further letter from Stephen Timms MP and the subsequent response from the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
Committee for the Environment Letter – PFG PSA Commitments and Climate Change
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the Department’s response on PFG PSA Commitments and climate change to the Committee for the Environment.
Tribunal Reform – Request from Committee for Finance and Personnel
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the Committee for Finance and Personnel’s request for clarification on a number of issues to the Department.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to the Committee for Finance and Personnel’s request for an extension to the deadline to enable them to consider their response.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that on receipt of the Department’s response the Clerk will issue the response to the Committee for Finance and Personnel.
Letter from the Commission for Victims and Survivors
The Committee noted the letter from the Victims and Survivors Commission regarding their Corporate Plan and Business Plan.
Financial Impact of Devolution of Policing and Justice Matters.
The Committee noted the letter from the Assembly and Executive Review Committee to the First Minister and deputy First Minister inviting them to a meeting.
Written Submission from the National Assembly for Wales – European and External Affairs Committee
Agreed: The Committee noted the response from the European and External Affairs Committee of the National Assembly for Wales and agreed that the document will be added to the Committee’s EU inquiry.
Report on video conference with the National Assembly of Wales – European and External Affairs Committee
Agreed: The Committee noted the report of the video conference with the European and External Affairs Committee of the National Assembly for Wales and agreed to add the report to the Committee’s EU inquiry.
Response from Houses of the Oireachtas – Joint Committee on European Affairs
Agreed: The Committee noted the response from the Joint Committee on European Affairs of the Houses of the Oireachtas and agreed that the document will be added to the Committee’s EU inquiry.
Response from UK Border Agency
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the UK Border Agency to request a visit to one of the premises currently used in Northern Ireland to detain asylum seekers.
Forward Work Plan.
The Committee noted the revised Forward Work Plan.
7. Correspondence
Northern Ireland Assembly’s Code of Conduct and the Guide to the Rules Relating to the Conduct of Members
The Committee noted the letter from the Committee on Standards and Privileges regarding the current review of the Assembly’s Code of Conduct and the Guide to the Rules Relating to the Conduct of Members.
Debt Relief Orders.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence regarding Debt Relief Orders to the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a research paper on the Debt Relief Orders for England and Wales..
Committee for the Environment Letter – Sustainable Development Strategy
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a letter from the Committee for the Environment to the Department requesting an update on the Sustainable Development Strategy and Action Plan.
Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment – Matrix of Business Support
The Committee noted the letter from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment providing details of a matrix of types of financial support available to Northern Ireland’s Small Medium sized Enterprises (SME’s) to help them through the current economic downturn.
Committee for Finance and Personnel – Letter re Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a copy of the report on the annual review of the Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland as soon as it becomes available and will forward on to the Committee for Finance and Personnel.
Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment – Letter re Scrutiny of Economic Downturn
Agreed: The Committee agreed to provide a brief synopsis of views relating to the economic downturn to the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment.
Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure – Invite to Seminar on Townland Names
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward an invitation from the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure regarding an event on townland names to the relevant Departmental official
Seminar on the Economic Benefits of Investment in Early Intervention
The Committee noted an invitation from the Department to an awareness seminar on the Economic Benefits of Investment in Early Intervention regarding Children and Young People
8. Any other Business
The Committee noted that a Supply Resolution debate is scheduled to be heard in the House on 15 June 2009.
9. Date of next meeting
The next meeting will be held in Room 144 on Wednesday 17 June 2009.
4.25 p.m. The Chairperson adjourned the meeting.