COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY
FIRST MINISTER

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 20 OCTOBER 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr Danny Kennedy (Chairperson)
Mr Stephen Farry (Deputy Chairperson)
Ms Martina Anderson
Mr Alan Bresland
Mr Tom Elliott
Mr William Humphrey
Mr Barry McElduff
Mr Francie Molloy
Mr George Robinson
Mr Jimmy Spratt

Apologies:
Mrs Dolores Kelly

In Attendance:
Mrs Cathie White (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Stephen Magee (Clerical Supervisor)
Miss Tara McKee (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Marion Johnson (Clerical Officer)

The meeting opened in public session at 2.00 p.m.

1. Apologies

As 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.

The Chairperson informed Members of the death of Keith McBride’s father suddenly yesterday morning.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson would write to Keith on behalf of the Committee offering their sympathy and condolences on the death of his father.

Ms Anderson joined the meeting at 2.01 p.m.

Mr Molloy joined the meeting at 2.03 p.m.
Mr Farry joined the meeting at 2.03 p.m.

Visit to Grove Well-Being Centre

The Chairperson informed Members that three Members attended the visit at the Grove Well-Being Centre last week.

Mr Humphrey declared the following interest.

Member of Belfast City Council.

NICVA

The Committee considered a briefing paper from NICVA following a briefing with the chairperson and Deputy Chairperson. NICVA are facilitating an afternoon of evidence gathering with the Committee for Social Development and they offered to arrange a similar session for this Committee.

Mr McElduff joined the meeting at 2.06 p.m.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk would liaise with the Clerk to the Committee for Social Development to request that they invite Members from this Committee to attend their event.

Armed Forces and Veterans Bill

The Committee considered a letter from the Speaker concerning the Committee Stage of the Armed Forces and Veterans Bill.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would take the lead in this Bill.

Agreed: The Committee agreed a Public Notice requesting written evidence, which is to be placed in the local newspapers. The Committee also agreed to write to a number of stakeholders provided by the Assembly’s Research and Library Service.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to all Statutory Committees seeking their views on the Bill.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department seeking their views on the Bill.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that that the Chairperson would write to the Speaker advising that the Chairperson of the Finance and Personnel Committee and he had agreed for this Committee to take the lead in this Bill.

Agreed The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for Finance and Personnel asking them to inform their Department of the Committee’s decision to invite officials from the Department of Finance and Personnel to brief the Committee on the Bill.

Commissioner for Older People

The Committee considered a previous decision to issue a press release concerning the Commissioner for Older People Bill.

Agreed The Committee agreed to rescind the decision to issue the press release now and to re-consider issuing it when consideration stage t akes place.

3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 6 October 2010

Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 6 October 2010 were agreed by the Committee.

4. Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People

The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, Ms Patricia Lewsley, Mr Gerry Campbell and Mr Jonathan Trainer joined the meeting at 2.13 p.m.

The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, Ms Patricia Lewsley, Mr Gerry Campbell and Mr Jonathan Trainer briefed the Committee on the work of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People. A question and answer session followed.

Mr Spratt left the meeting at 2.30 p.m.
Mr Elliott joined the meeting at 2.45 p.m.

The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, Ms Patricia Lewsley, Mr Gerry Campbell and Mr Jonathan Trainer left the meeting at 2.55 p.m.

5. Office of the Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels

Departmental officials joined the meeting at 2.56 p.m.

Departmental officials Dr Gerry Mulligan and Mr Alan Boyd briefed the Committee on the work of the Office of the Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels and on the review of the Department’s European Division. A question and answer session followed.

Mr Elliott left the meeting at 3.15 p.m.
Mr McElduff left the meeting at 3.26 p.m.
Mr Robinson left the meeting at 3.29 p.m.
Departmental officials left the meeting at 3.31 p.m.
Mr Robinson rejoined the meeting at 3.34 p.m.
Mr Elliott rejoined the meeting at 3.35 p.m.
Dr Farry left the meeting at 3.35 p.m.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to check if there are any recent examples of work with Eurocities and to ascertain if there are any plans to work with Eurocities in the future.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Northern Ireland Assembly’s Director of Engagement to request an update on what action has been taken to date on implementing Recommendation 5 from the Committee’s “Consideration of European Issues” Report and specifically what awareness raising training is envisaged for MLAs.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department requesting details of programme for the visit by Commissioner Marie Geoghegan-Quinn.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson should attend the official opening of the Office of the Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels.

6. Play and Leisure Policy Implementation Plan

Departmental officials joined the meeting at 3.35 p.m.

Departmental officials Ms Martina Campbell and Ms Orla Heatley briefed the committee on the Play and Leisure Policy draft Implementation Plan. A question and answer session followed.

Mr Molloy declared the following interest.

Member of Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council.

Mr Robinson declared the following interest.

Member of Limavady Borough Council.

Mr Humphrey left the meeting at 3.49 p.m.
Departmental officials left the meeting at 3.59 p.m.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to ask what are local councils views on private developers incorporating access to play areas which may then pass to councils to maintain.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the Hansard from today’s meeting to the Department as its interim response to the plan.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of Play and Leisure Policy draft Implementation Plan to all statutory committees for comment.

7. Child Poverty Strategy

The Committee considered a letter from the Department concerning the Child Poverty Strategy. The letter advised that there has been a delay in receiving departmental inputs and that the draft strategy is not ready for issue to the Committee or for public consultation.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request information on which Departments had yet to submit their input to the Strategy. .

8. End of Session Report 2009-2010

The Committee considered the Committee’s draft End of Session Report 2009-2010.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the End of Session Report 2009-2010 to be published.

9. Matters Arising

Gender Pay Gap Measurement in Northern Ireland

The Committee noted papers from the Department on Gender Pay Gap Measurement in Northern Ireland.

Redeployment of Planning Service Staff

The Committee considered a response from the Department in relation to the redeployment of Planning Service staff.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the response to the Committee for the Environment.

Budget 2010

The Committee noted a response from the Department concerning issues raised by the Committee in a briefing session on Budget 2010.

Effectiveness of the ISNI Website Initiative

The Committee noted a response from the Department providing information in relation to the effectiveness of the ISNI Website Initiative.

Victims and Survivors Service

The Committee noted a response from the Department concerning funding arrangements for the victims sector.

Fair-trade

The Committee noted a copy of a response from the Department to the Chair of the Belfast Fair-trade Committee.

10. Correspondence

Committee for Education

The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Education concerning the Childcare Strategy.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department seeking the information requested by the Committee for Education. And to seek an update on the economic appraisal on a range of options for the future delivery of childcare.

Committee for Employment and Learning

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a letter from the Committee for Employment and Learning to the Department concerning the work of the Office of the Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels. The Committee also agreed to forward a copy of the Hansard from today’s briefing session to the Committee for Employment and Learning.

European and External Affairs Committee

The Committee noted correspondence from the National Assembly for Wales’ European and External affairs Committee advising that it is conducting an inquiry into Welsh participation in EU research, innovation and lifelong learning programmes.

Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration

The Committee noted copies of the submissions to the Department’s consultation on the Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration from the All Party Assembly Group on Ethnic Minority Communities and from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Advice NI

The Committee noted a press release and response from Advice NI, in relation to Northern Ireland homeowners facing mortgage repayment crisis.

Citizens Advice

The Committee noted correspondence from Citizens Advice concerning its Dealing with Debt Service.

Northern Ireland Childminding Association

The Committee considered a request from the Northern Ireland Childminding Association to brief the Committee on the Childcare Strategy.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and any interested Members would meet with the Northern Ireland Childminders Association.

Committee for the Environment

The Committee noted copies of the submissions by the Committee for the Environment to the Department’s consultations on the Sustainable Development Implementation Plan and the Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration.

11. Any Other Business

The Chairperson advised Members that there would be no papers for the meeting with MEPs on Monday 1 November 2010 and that the Committee papers for the meeting of 3 November 2010 would be issued to Members rooms on Monday 1 November 2010.

12. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held in Room 30 on Monday 1 November 2010 at 11.15 a.m.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.08 p.m.

Mr Tom Elliott
Chairperson,
Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister

06 October 10  / Menu