COMMITTEE OF THE CENTRE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS:
WEDNESDAY 7 MARCH 2001.
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
1.Apologies
2. Chairperson's Business
3. Matters Arising
4. Approval of Draft Miniutes
5. Correspondence
6. Evidence from Junior Ministers on Children's Commissioner
7. Evidence on Corporate and Business Plans
8. Any Other Business
9. Date and Time of Next Meeting
Present: Mr Edwin Poots (Chairperson)
Mr Oliver Gibson (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs Jnr
Dr Esmond Birnie
Mr Fred Cobain
Mrs Annie Courtney
Mr David Ervine
Ms Michelle Gildernew
Ms Patricia Lewsley
Mr Conor Murphy
Mr Ken Robinson
Mr Jim Shannon
In Attendance: Mr Hugh Farren (Committee Clerk)
Ms Stella McArdle (Committee Clerk)
Mr John Conlan
Ms Laurie Roberts
Mr Tim Moore
Apologies: Mrs Eileen Bell
Mr James Leslie
Mr Alex Maskey
Mr Eugene McMenamin
Dr Alasdair McDonnell
The meeting commenced at 2.07pm in public session with the Deputy Chairperson in the Chair.
1. Apologies
The apologies are listed above.
Ms Gildernew joined the meeting at 2.10pm and left at 2.11pm.
Ms Lewsley joined the meeting at 2.11pm.
2. Chairperson's business
Members discussed the future timings of meetings. It was agreed the Committee would retain the starting time of 2.00pm.
3. Matters arising
The Committee considered the paper on the Equality Scheme Screening Exercise and agreed to invite officials from the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to explain the exclusion of 4 Business Units from the Equality Scheme. Action: Clerk
An issue about the description of the role of the NI Bureau in Washington in relation to educational information was noted and will be raised at next week's evidence session.
4. Approval of draft minutes from previous proceedings
The minutes from the previous meeting were agreed and signed by the Chairperson.
5. Correspondence
- Letter from Committee on Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment: The Committee noted the Terms of Reference for the Inquiry into 'Education and Training for Industry'.
- Part II, Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 - Consultation on Subordinate Legislation: The Committee noted the consultation document about proposals to make subordinate legislation under Part II of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and agreed that Committee staff would analyse the document and submit a paper to the Committee. It was also agreed to invite officials from the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to brief the Committee on the document. Action: Clerk
Ms Gildernew rejoined the meeting at 2.16pm.
- Public Service Agreements: The Committee noted certain amendments had been made and members had no further comments.
The Chairperson joined the meeting at 2.17pm and took the Chair.
6. Evidence from Junior Ministers on Children's Commissioner
The evidence session started at 2.18pm. Evidence on proposals for a Children's Commissioner was taken from Mr Denis Haughey and Mr Dermot Nesbitt from the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.
Mr Shannon joined the meeting at 2.21pm.
Mrs Courtney joined the meeting at 2.24pm.
Mr Cobain joined the meeting at 2.25pm.
Mr Ervine joined the meeting at 2.48pm.
The Junior Ministers left the meeting at 3.18pm.
Work Programme: The Committee considered a work programme on the issue of a Commissioner for Children. It was agreed to refine the work programme and to consider inviting evidence from Barnardos NI, the Children's Law Centre, the NSPCC and ethnic minority groups. It was also agreed that Committee staff would explore taking evidence from organisations outside Parliament Buildings and a report should be completed by 6 June 2001. Action: Clerk
Ms Lewsley declared an interest as Chairperson of the Cross Party Group: Commissioner for Children.
The Committee agreed the following Terms of Reference:
'To examine the proposal by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to appoint an independent Commissioner for Children for Northern Ireland and to make recommendations on the role and remit of a Commissioner'.
Mr Ervine left the meeting at 3.27pm.
7. Evidence on Corporate and Business Plans
The evidence session began at 3.25pm. Evidence on the Corporate and Business Plans for the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister was taken from Mr Gerry Loughran, Head of the Civil Service, Mr Dick Mackenzie, Joint Secretary to the North South Ministerial Council, and Mrs Mary Bunting, Deputy Secretary, Equality and Community Relations from the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.
Mr Murphy left the meeting at 3.41pm.
Mr Cobain left the meeting at 3.52pm.
Ms Lewsley left the meeting at 3.53pm.
Dr Birnie left the meeting at 3.59.
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 4.02pm.
It was agreed that the Committee staff would provide a paper for consideration at the next meeting. Action: Clerk
The Head of the Civil Service and other Officials left the meeting at 4.08pm.
8. Any other business
None.
9. Date and time of next meeting
It was agreed that the next meeting of the Committee would, as usual, be on Wednesday, 14 March 2001 at 2.00pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 4.11pm.
Councillor Edwin Poots MLA
Chairperson, Committee of the Centre
14 March 2001
28 February 2001 / Menu / 14 March 2001