COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY
FIRST MINISTER
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 13 JANUARY 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr Danny Kennedy (Chairperson)
Mrs Naomi Long (Deputy Chairperson)
Ms Martina Anderson
Mr Alex Attwood
Mr Tom Elliott
Mr Barry McElduff
Mr Francie Molloy
Mr Stephen Moutray
Mr George Robinson
Mr Jim Shannon
In Attendance: Mrs Cathie White (Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Linda Gregg (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Keith McBride (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Stephen Magee (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Marion Johnson (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: Mr Jimmy Spratt
The meeting opened at 2.03 p.m. in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
Declaration of Interests
The Chairperson sought any declarations of interest from Members in relation to items of business being discussed. There were no disclosures.
Employers for Childcare
Agreed: The Committee agreed not to schedule a meeting with Employers for Childcare about its Childcare SOS Campaign following the announcement by Gordon Brown to retain the Childcare Voucher Scheme. The Committee agreed that it wished to be kept informed of future campaigns by Employers for Childcare.
Confederation of British Industry response
The Committee noted the response provided by the Confederation of British Industry confirming that its submission on the Programme for Government Delivery Report was largely positive.
Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities
The Chairperson advised Members that he, Mr McElduff and the Clerk met with the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities concerning its report into the affects of the economic downturn on the Polish community in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the Report to the Department, seeking its views on the recommendations relating to the Department in the Report.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 9 December 2009
Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 9 December 2009 were agreed by the Committee.
4. Promoting Social Inclusion Report on Disability
Ms Anderson joined the meeting at 2.08 p.m.
Departmental officials Dr Gerry Mulligan, Mrs Patricia Carey and Mrs Linsey Farrell joined the meeting at 2.09 p.m.
Mrs Long joined the meeting at 2.10 p.m.
Departmental officials briefed the Committee on the Promoting Social Inclusion Report on Disability. A question and answer session followed. Departmental officials undertook to provide further information on a number of issues raised.
The officials left the meeting at 2.55 p.m.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the Report to all statutory committees advising that they may wish to raise it with their respective departments.
5. Responses to the Victims and Survivors Service Consultation
Departmental officials Mr Colin Jack, Mrs Lisa-Jane Kerr and Mrs Kellie Service joined the meeting at 2.56 p.m.
Departmental officials briefed the Committee on the responses to its consultation on the Victims and Survivors Service. A question and answer session followed. Officials agreed to provide the Committee with further information on the consultation events and the Community Relations Council Conference which were held.
Mr McElduff left the meeting at 3.20 p.m.
Mr Moutray left the meeting at 3.21 p.m.
Mrs Long left the meeting at 3.31 p.m.
The officials left the meeting at 3.42 p.m.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider this again at next week’s meeting following receipt of the information requested.
6. Membership of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions
The Committee considered a letter from the Department concerning Northern Ireland’s membership of the Conference of the Peripheral Maritime Regions.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request briefings on the work of the Conference of the Peripheral Maritime Regions.
7. Matters arising
Lifelong Learning for Older People Event
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a response from Junior Ministers to the Chairperson of the Committee for Employment and Learning concerning their attendance at the Lifelong Learning for Older People Event.
Mr Attwood left the meeting at 3.47 p.m.
Monitoring of Departmental Delivery Plans
The Committee noted the response from the Department providing further information on the monitoring of Departmental Efficiency Delivery Plans and the consequences on staffing levels in the Department.
Strategies for Bio-fuels, Bio-gas and Bio-mass
The Committee noted the response from the Department advising that there were no strategies for bio-fuels, bio-gas and bio-mass.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to express its concern that there was no co-ordinated strategy for bio-fuels. The Committee also agreed to raise this issue when it considers the Sustainable Development Strategy.
Mr Moutray rejoined the meeting at 3.50 p.m.
Take Note Debate on Programme for Government Delivery Report
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a letter from the First Minister and deputy First Minister concerning the date of the Take Note debate on the Programme for Government Delivery Report to the Chairperson of the Committee for the Environment.
PSA Targets
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department concerning PSA 22 and its failure to produce the Sustainable Development Implementation Plan 2008-2011.
8. Correspondence
Committee for Regional Development
The Committee noted a letter from the Committee for Regional Development concerning accessible transport.
Committee for Finance and Personnel
The Committee noted a letter from the Committee for Finance and Personnel which provided information and a timeline for consideration of the revised Departmental Expenditure Plans 2010-2011.
Lough Neagh and Lower Bann Advisory Panel
Mr Molloy and Mr Moutray declared an interest in relation to this item.
The Committee considered a letter from the Lough Neagh and Lower Bann Advisory Panel concerning funding for the Panel.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the letter to the Committee for the Environment.
Mr Attwood rejoined the meeting at 3.57 p.m.
Committee for Education
The Committee noted an invitation from the Committee for Education to attend a Special Educational Needs and Inclusion Event on Monday 20 January 2010. Members will advise the Committee Secretariat if they wish to attend.
Committee for the Environment
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a letter from the Committee for the Environment concerning the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill to the Department.
9. Forward Work Programme
The Committee noted the Committee’s Forward Work Programme.
10. Any other Business
Committee’s role and remit
Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek legal advice from the Assembly’s Legal Services concerning its role in relation to the investigation carried out by the Department which was requested by Peter Robinson.
Mr Attwood left the meeting at 4.05 p.m.
The meeting moved into closed session at 4.05 p.m.
11. Consideration of draft European Report
The Committee considered and agreed paragraph 32 of the draft report.
The Committee considered and agreed paragraph 41 of the draft report.
The Committee considered and agreed paragraph 47 of the draft report.
The Committee considered and agreed Action 10 of the draft report.
The Committee considered and agreed Action 11 of the draft report.
The Committee considered and agreed paragraphs 53-54 of the draft report.
The Committee considered and agreed Action 12 of the draft report.
The Committee considered and agreed Recommendation 1 of the draft report.
The Committee considered and agreed Recommendation 2 of the draft report.
The Committee considered and agreed to put Recommendation 3 under a new heading of Recommendation for the Speaker.
The Committee considered and agreed to rescind its decision of 25 November 2009 regarding the wording of Recommendation 4 and agreed Recommendation 4 as amended of the draft report.
The Committee considered and agreed Recommendation 7 of the draft report.
The Committee considered and agreed paragraph 70 of the draft report.
The Committee considered and agreed Recommendation 9 of the draft report.
The Committee considered and agreed Recommendation 11 of the draft report.
The Committee considered and agreed Recommendation 12 of the draft report.
The Committee considered and agreed to rescind its decision of 25 November 2009 regarding the wording of paragraph 81 agreed paragraph 81 as amended of the report.
The Committee considered and agreed the Executive Summary as amended.
Mr Attwood rejoined the meeting at 4.23 p.m.
The Committee agreed to include the following appendices:
Appendix 1 – Minutes of Proceedings
Appendix 2 – Minutes of Evidence
Appendix 3 – Written Submissions to the Committee
Appendix 4 – List of Witnesses
Appendix 5 – Reports of visits and fact-finding meetings
Appendix 6 – Correspondence – Barroso Action Plan
Appendix 7 – Correspondence – Further information
Agreed: Members agreed that an extract from the Minutes of Proceedings of today’s meeting should be included in Appendix 1 of the report and are content that the Chairperson agrees the minutes to allow the extract to be included in the printed report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to produce the Executive Summary of the Report and the List of Recommendations in colour.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to order the Report to be printed.
Agreed: The Committee agreed a motion to debate the Report in plenary.
Agreed: The Committee agreed for a programme to be drawn up for a visit to Brussels before the end of this session.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to provide the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure with details of departments consideration of European issues.
12. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held in Room 30 on Wednesday 20 January at 2 p.m.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.37 p.m.