COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY
FIRST MINISTER
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 24 JUNE 2009
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Danny Kennedy (Chairperson)
Mrs Naomi Long (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Tom Elliott
Mrs Dolores Kelly
Mr Barry McElduff
In Attendance:
Ms Cathie White (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Colin Wilson (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Stephen Magee (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Marion Johnson (Clerical Officer)
The meeting opened at 2.13 p.m. in public session
1. Apologies
Ms Martina Anderson, Mr Ian McCrea, Mr Francie Molloy, Mr Stephen Moutray, Mr Jim Shannon and Mr Jimmy Spratt.
2.15 p.m. Mrs Kelly joined the meeting
2. Chairperson’s Business
Meeting with Welsh and Scottish Equality Committees’
The Chairperson advised members that a meeting with the Scottish and Welsh Equality Committees’ had been rescheduled for Monday 28 September 2009.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 17 June 2009
Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 17 June 2009 were agreed by the Committee.
4. Evidence Sessions
Briefing on a Centre of Rural Excellence at Maze/Long Kesh Site
2.17 p.m. Mr C McDonald, Mr C Millar and Mr J Kelly from the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society joined the meeting.
Mr Elliott declared an interest as a member of the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society
Mr C McDonald Mr C Millar and Mr J Kelly briefed the Committee on the proposal for a Centre of Rural Excellence incorporating an International Exhibition Facility. This was followed by a question and answer session.
2.43 p.m. Mr C McDonald, Mr C Millar and Mr J Kelly from the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society left the meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request an update briefing on the Maze/Long Kesh site and to request information on possible timelines and updates regarding the infrastructure for any future projects at the Maze/Long Kesh site.
Briefing from Victims and Survivors Commissioners
2.49 p.m. Mr M Nesbitt, Mrs B McDougall and Mr B McAllister from the Victims and Survivors Commission joined the meeting.
Mr M Nesbitt, Mrs B McDougall and Mr B McAllister from the Victims and Survivors Commission briefed the Committee regarding the work of the organisation. This was followed by a question and answer session.
3.38 p.m. Mr M Nesbitt, Mrs B McDougall and Mr B McAllister from the Victims and Survivors Commission left the meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to seek an urgent meeting with the First Minister and deputy First Minister on the Victims and Survivors Service Proposals.
5.Removal of Exemption from Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request that this legislation is implemented as soon as possible.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Omnibus Partnership to update them of developments.
6. UK Child Poverty Legislation
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a research paper in respect of the Child Poverty Bill.
7. Matters arising
Children and Young People’s Action Plan – Draft response .
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward to the Department a summary of responses received which reflect the views of the Committee.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request an update o n the Play and Leisure Policy.
Tribunal Reform.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that they were content with the proposals.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the comments on Tribunal Reform from the Committee for Finance and Personnel, the Committee for Education and the Committee for Social Development to the Department.
Cross Sector Advisory Forum – Departmental response.
The Committee noted the response from the Department regarding the inclusion of the Social Economy Network to the Cross Sector Advisory Forum sub-group on Hardship, Poverty, Debt and Energy.
Forward Work Programme.
The Committee noted the response from the Department pr oviding an update on the Forward Work Programme .
Devolution of Policing and Justice.
The Committee noted the correspondence from t he Assembly and Executive Review Committee requesting Ministerial attendance at a meeting on the devolution of policing and justice.
UK Border Agency Response re Visit to Holding Facilities.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a visit to the new UK Border Agency premises at Castlereagh after the summer recess.
Federation of Small Businesses – Further Information in EU Issues.
The Committee noted the further information on the Small Business Act and the Supply Chain Network supplied by the Federation for Small Businesses.
Departmental Response – Attendance of Official at EU Inquiry.
The Committee noted the response from the Department on the non-attendance of an official at the Committee meeting of 17 June 2009 and noted that the official will now appear before the Committee on 1 July 2009 .
8. Correspondence
Draft EU Anti-Discrimination Directive – Consultation.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department regarding how it will address gaps identified in the Equality Bill.
Children In Northern Ireland – Recommendations for a Childcare Strategy.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson would meet with representatives from CINI.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department regarding overall responsibility for after school childcare.
Prompt Payment of Government Invoices.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department for comments on their prompt payment statistics.
9. Any other Business
The Chairperson advised members that Mrs Kelly would be leaving the Committee to take on the role of Chairperson of the Environment Committee, the Chairperson thanked Mrs Kelly for her contribution to the work of the Committee and wished her well in her new post.
The Meeting moved into Closed Session(4.00 p.m.)
Update on Situation of Displaced Roma
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department expressing their concerns over the sensitivity of some of the information contained within the Ministers’ letter.
10. Date of next meeting
The next meeting will be held in Room 144 on Wednesday 1 July 2009.
4.10 p.m. The Chairperson adjourned the meeting.