COMMITTEE OF THE CENTRE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS: MONDAY 4 JUNE 2001
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr Edwin Poots (Chairperson)
Mr Oliver Gibson (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs Jnr
Mrs Eileen Bell
Dr Esmond Birnie
Mrs Annie Courtney
Mr James Leslie
Ms Patricia Lewsley
Mr Conor Murphy
In Attendance: Mr Hugh Farren (Committee Clerk)
Ms Stella McArdle (Committee Clerk)
Mr John Conlan
Ms Laurie Roberts
Apologies: Mr David Ervine
Ms Michelle Gildernew
Mr Eugene McMenamin
Mr Ken Robinson
Mr Jim Shannon
The meeting opened at 11.34am in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are listed above.
2. Chairperson's Business
Mr Maskey and Mr Murphy joined the meeting at 11.36am.
Visit by Belgian Ambassador: The Chairperson informed Members that the Belgian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, His Excellency Mr Lode Willems will be visiting Northern Ireland as part of a series of briefings on the priorities of the Belgian Presidency of the European Union. Members agreed that the Committee should meet with the Ambassador on 25 June and the Clerk will proceed with the necessary arrangements. Action: Clerk
3. Approval of draft minutes from previous proceedings
The minutes from the previous meeting were agreed and signed by the Chairperson.
4. Matters arising
None.
11.40am - CLOSED SESSION
5. Draft Report on the Children's Commissioner Inquiry
The Committee deliberated.
The second draft report incorporating changes ordered by Members at their meetings on 23 May 2001 and 29 May 2001 was considered section by section.
Section 1 - agreement was confirmed.
Section 2 - agreement was confirmed.
Section 3 - agreement was confirmed.
Section 4 - paragraphs 4.1 to 4.2.6 agreement was confirmed.
Mrs Bell joined the meeting at 11.42am.
Section 4 - paragraphs 4.3.1 to 4.3.28 were agreed with minor amendments.
Section 4 - paragraphs 4.4.1 to 4.4.14 were agreed with minor amendments.
Mrs Courtney joined the meeting at 11.58am.
Section 4 - paragraphs 4.5.1 to 4.5.9 agreement was confirmed.
Mrs Courtney left the meeting at 12.01pm.
Mrs Courtney rejoined the meeting at 12.04pm.
Mr Gibson left the meeting at 12.05pm.
Section 4 - paragraphs 4.6.1 to 4.6.8 were agreed with minor amendments.
Dr Birnie left the meeting at 12.20pm.
Dr Birnie rejoined the meeting at 12.22pm.
Section 4 - paragraphs 4.7.1 to 4.7.11 were agreed with minor amendments.
Section 5 - paragraphs 5.1 to 5.5 were agreed.
Order Report to be printed.
Ms Lewsley proposed that the Report be printed. This was seconded by Mrs Bell.
Mr Murphy left the meeting at 12.25pm.
6. Draft Motion
The Committee agreed the following Motion:
"That this Assembly approves the Report of the Committee of the Centre on their inquiry into the proposal for a Commissioner for Children for Northern Ireland and calls on the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to take full account of the recommendations."
Action: Clerk
Mr Maskey left the meeting at 12.27pm.
7. Any other business
Members agreed that the Report recommendations should be copied to the Education Committee, the Health, Social Services & Public Safety Committee, and the Higher & Further Education, Training & Employment Committee for their comments. It was also agreed that the Chairperson will decide if any further amendments to the Report are necessary. Action: Clerk
8. Date and time of next meeting
The members agreed that the next meeting of the Committee would be held on Wednesday, 13 June 2001 at 2.00pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson concluded the meeting at 12.28pm by thanking Members and staff for their assistance in enabling the Report to be completed on time.
Councillor Edwin Poots
Chairperson, Committee of the Centre
13 June 2001