COMMITTEE OF THE CENTRE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS:
WEDNESDAY 24 APRIL 2002
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Edwin Poots MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Oliver Gibson MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs Jnr MLA
Mrs Eileen Bell MLA
Mr Duncan Shipley Dalton MLA
Mr David Ervine MLA
Mr Danny Kennedy MLA
Mr Alex Maskey MLA
Mr Eugene McMenamin MLA
Mr Conor Murphy MLA
Mr Ken Robinson MLA
Mr Jim Shannon MLA
Apologies:
Dr Esmond Birnie MLA
Mrs Annie Courtney MLA
Ms Patricia Lewsley MLA
Dr Alasdair McDonnell MLA
Mr Barry McElduff MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Hugh Farren (Committee Clerk)
Ms Stella McArdle (Committee Clerk)
Mr John Conlan
Ms Pauline Innes
Mrs Gillian Lewis
Ms Laurie Roberts
The meeting opened at 2.05 pm in public session. The Deputy Chairperson in the Chair.
1. Apologies
Apologies are listed above.
2. Chairperson's Business
(a)Staff Changes: The Deputy Chairperson advised members that the Assistant Clerk was returning to the Department of Environment on promotion. Members offered their congratulations, thanked him for his work with the Committee and wished him well in his new post.
(b)EU-UK Liaison Group Meeting: The Deputy Chairperson explained that the Chairperson attended a meeting of the Chairs responsible for EU matters on 22 April 2002 in London. The meeting focused on short presentations from each Committee Chair about inquiries, including the Committee of the Centre's recent EU Inquiry, and past and present work. Issues covered included the Convention on the Future of Europe, governance, enlargement and twinning.
Another issue raised by the Chairs was the mechanism on how Committees are briefed on the priorities for each new Presidency every 6 months. Following some discussion about this issue members agreed to invite the Danish Ambassador to Northern Ireland to brief the Committee about the Danish priorities for the Presidency starting in June 2002. Members also agreed to invite the First Minister and Deputy First to brief the Committee on those priorities.
Finally, the Deputy Chairperson explained that the Chairperson met with Ms Gisela Stuart MP and Rt Hon David Heathcoat-Armoy MP the two UK Parliamentary Representatives at the Convention on the Future of Europe and Lord Maclennon of Rogart, one of the two alternate representatives. Members agreed to invite the two UK Parliamentary Representatives to Northern Ireland to brief the Committee about the Convention.
Action:Clerk
3. Approval of draft minutes
The minutes from the previous meeting held on 17 April 2002 were agreed and signed by the Deputy Chairperson.
4. Matters arising
(a)OFMDFM Budget Proposals: Members considered and agreed their composite reply to the OFMDFM budget proposals in the Departmental Position Report.
Action: Clerk
(b)OFMDFM Paper on the Future of Europe: Members noted that OFMDFM is developing arrangements for a conference on the Convention on the Future of Europe for June 2002. The Committee requested a copy of OFMDFM's input to the UK position on the Future of Europe before it goes to the UK Government.
Action: Clerk
(c)Committee Forward Work Programme: The Committee noted and was content with the indicative timetable for the Forward Work Programme.
Referring to the Forward Work Programme, and in particular the administration of the Children's Fund, members noted and discussed recent OFMDFM press releases announcing that Ministers had already agreed proposals for the operation and management of the fund. Members expressed concerns about OFMDFM failure to give advance notice to the Committee about such announcements. The Committee agreed to write to OFMDFM highlighting these concerns.
Action: Clerk
5. Correspondence
(a)Correspondence from Dr Alex Wright, University of Dundee about Devolution, Westminster and the EU: Members noted the correspondence and agreed the information would be useful for the Sub-Committee on EU Affairs.
Action: Clerk
(b)Press release from OFMDFM about the development of a Children's Strategy: The Committee noted the press release.
(c)Response from the Education Committee on the proposed terms of reference for the Review of Public Administration: Members noted the response and agreed it would be forwarded to OFMDFM.
Action: Clerk
Mr Shannon joined the meeting at 2.16 pm.
(d)Correspondence about the OFMDFM Executive Programme Fund Bids: The Committee considered and debated correspondence about an application from OFMDFM for funding from the Infrastructure Fund of the Executive Programme Fund. Members expressed serious concerns about how the Committee of the Centre had been treated in relation to this bid. Members noted that similar problems were experienced by other Committees.
Mr Maskey joined the meeting at 2.20 pm.
Agreed:A strongly worded letter be forwarded to the First and Deputy First Minister expressing the Committee's dissatisfaction and seeking an explanation about the lack of appropriate consultation on the bid. If a satisfactory response was not received the Committee agreed to take this to the Floor of the House.
The issue should be raised with the First and Deputy First Ministers when they appear before the Committee in the near future.
The Chairperson should liaise with Chairpersons of other Committees with a view to addressing the problems on consultations and gaining a consensus on the way forward.
Mrs Bell joined the meeting at 2.25 pm.
(e)Information on EU issues: Members noted the information relating to various EU issues. This included a press release from OFMDFM highlighting that the Junior Ministers were in Brussels looking at different models of regional representation and building mutual beneficial relationships with other European regions - members particularly noted the Junior Minister's referral to "Northern Ireland's Brussels Office", the agenda for the Scottish EU Committee and the House of Lords Weekly Agenda (available from Committee office staff). The Committee agreed to write and ask for clarification on the name of the Brussels Office.
Action: Clerk
6. Review of Public Administration
Evidence from the University of Limerick
The evidence session began at 2.30 pm. Evidence on the forthcoming Review of Public Administration was taken from Mr John Stapleton, Senior Lecturer in Public Administration from the Department of Government and Society, University of Limerick. This involved an overview of public administration in the Republic of Ireland.
Mr Murphy left the meeting at 2.52 pm.
Mr Shipley Dalton left the meeting at 3.00 pm.
It was agreed Mr Stapleton would provide further information on public administration reports. The Minutes of Evidence will be published in due course.
Mr Stapleton left the meeting at 3.26 pm.
Mr Robinson and Mr McMenamin left the meeting at 3.26 pm.
7. Government Office Accommodation Review - Interim Report
Briefing from OFMDFM
The briefing session began at 3.27 pm. Briefing on the relevant extracts of the Government Office Accommodation Review - Interim Report relating to OFMDFM was taken from Mrs Dorothy Angus, Director, Corporate Services, Mrs Deirdre Kenny, Head of Central Services and Mrs Maureen Seville, Accommodation Officer.
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 3.28 pm.
Mr Ervine left the meeting at 3.29 pm.
Mr Shipley Dalton rejoined the meeting at 3.38 pm.
Mr Kennedy left the meeting at 3.39 pm.
Members considered their response to the Report. A draft composite reply for members to agree at the next meeting will be prepared.
Action: Clerk
The officials left the meeting at 3.43 pm.
8. Subordinate Legislation - SL1 - Part II of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000
Members considered and discussed the proposed subordinate legislation. The Committee is content that OFMDFM should proceed and make the two statutory rules under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.
The Chairperson joined the meeting at 3.50 pm.
9. Any other business
None.
10. Date and time of next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday 1 May 2002 at 2.00 pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.52 pm.
COUNCILLOR EDWIN POOTS MLA
Chairperson, Committee of the Centre
1 May 2002