COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY
FIRST MINISTER
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr Danny Kennedy (Chairperson)
Ms Martina Anderson
Mr Alex Attwood
Mr Tom Elliott
Mr Francie Molloy
Mr Jim Shannon
Mr Jimmy Spratt
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: Mrs Naomi Long
Mr Barry McElduff
Mr George Robinson
The meeting opened in public session at 2.05 p.m.
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.
Evidence Session with the Commissioners for Victims and Survivors
Agreed: The Committee agreed to a request from PA News to take photographs of the Committee and the Commissioners during their evidence session.
Meeting with First Minister and deputy First Minister
The Chairperson advised Members that he and the Clerk met with the First Minister and deputy First Minister to discuss the role of the Committee in relation to the Hillsborough Castle Agreement and in particular a Parades Bill. The Chairperson advised Members that it was agreed that the Committee will receive the draft Bill for consideration before public consultation and will receive responses to the consultation as they are received by the Department.
Assembly and Executive Review Committee
The Committee noted a letter from the Chairperson of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee to the First Minister and deputy First Minister concerning the devolution of policing and justice matters.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 10 February 2010
Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 10 February 2010 were agreed by the Committee.
4. Child Poverty Update
Junior Minister Kelly, Junior Minister Newton and Departmental officials Dr Gerry Mulligan and Ms Patricia Carey joined the meeting at 2.09 p.m.
Junior Minister Kelly and Junior Minister Newton provided the Committee with an update on the work of the Department and the Executive in relation to child poverty. A question and answer session followed. Junior Ministers undertook to provide further information to the Committee on targets and the work of the Executive Sub-Committee on poverty and social inclusion.
Mr Molloy left the meeting at 2.30 p.m.
Mr Shannon joined the meeting at 2.35 p.m.
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 2.45 p.m.
Mr Elliott joined the meeting at 2.57 p.m.
Junior Minister Kelly, Junior Minister Newton and Departmental officials Dr Gerry Mulligan and Ms Patricia Carey left the meeting at 3.07 p.m.
6. Matters arising
Za Chlebem Report
The Committee noted a response from the Department to the Za Chlebem report on the impact of the economic downturn on the Polish community in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the response to the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities.
Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a response from the Department providing its view on the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill to the Committee for the Environment.
Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment
The Committee considered a response from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment concerning Credit Unions and Debt Advice.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the response to the junior Ministers for their information.
7. Correspondence
Committee for Social Development
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a letter from the Committee for Social Development seeking further information on the draft Childcare Strategy to the Department.
Committee for Employment and Learning
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a letter from the Committee for Employment and Learning concerning automated communications systems to the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
8. Any other Business
Visit to the Strategic Investment Board
Agreed: Members agreed to advise the Committee Secretariat of their intention to attend the visit to the Strategic Investment Board to receive a presentation on the Investment Strategy Delivery Tracking System. Members agreed to make their own way to the Strategic Investment Board headquarters. The Committee also agreed to request that the presentation includes a breakdown of schemes by constituency.
Forward Work Programme
The Committee considered when would be the most suitable time for the Northern Ireland MEPs to brief the Committee on European issues.
Agreed: Members agreed that a Monday morning would be the most suitable time for the MEPs to brief the Committee.
Invitation from the National Assembly for Wales European and External Relations Committee
The Committee considered an invitation from the European and External Relations Committee of the National Assembly for Wales to attend a meeting it is holding in Brussels on 1 March 2010.
Agreed: Members agreed to write to the Chair of the Committee to thank him for the invitation and to request a copy of the verbatim record of the meeting.
Balmoral Show
The Committee noted the offer from the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development to participate at its stand at the Balmoral Show on 12-14 May 2010.
5. Victims and Survivors Commission
The Commissioners for Victims and Survivors, Mr Brendan McAlister, Ms Patricia MacBride and Mrs Bertha McDougal joined the meeting at 3.15 p.m.
The Commissioners for Victims and Survivors briefed the Committee on its views in relation to the Consultation on the Victims and Survivors Service. The Commissioners also provided an update on its Corporate and Work Programme and the work of the Forum. A question and answer session followed.
Mr Shannon re-joined the meeting at 3.20 p.m.
Mr Molloy re-joined the meeting at 3.25 p.m.
Mr Spratt left the meeting at 4.06 p.m.
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 4.10 p.m.
The Commissioners for Victims and Survivors, Mr Brendan McAlister, Ms Patricia MacBride and Mrs Bertha McDougal joined the meeting at 4.15 p.m.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider the responses to the Consultation on the Victims and Survivors Service in detail at next week’s meeting.
9. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held in Room 30 on Wednesday 24 February 2010 at 2 p.m.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.16 p.m.