COMMITTEE OF THE CENTRE

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS:
WEDNESDAY 29 MAY 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
Dr Esmond Birnie MLA
Mr Danny Kennedy MLA
Ms Patricia Lewsley MLA
Mr Alex Maskey MLA
Mr Barry McElduff MLA
Mr Conor Murphy MLA
Mr Ken Robinson MLA
Mr Jim Shannon MLA

Apologies:
Dr Alastair McDonnell MLA
Mr Duncan Shipley-Dalton MLA
Mr Eugene McMenamin MLA
Mr David Ervine MLA

In Attendance:
Mr Hugh Farren (Committee Clerk)
Ms Stella McArdle (Committee Clerk)
Ms Victoria Surplus
Ms Laurie Roberts

The meeting opened at 2.05pm in public session.

1. Apologies

Apologies are listed above.

2. Chairperson's business

Committee Visit to Washington and Boston - The Chair noted that a report is being prepared on the Committee visit to Washington and Boston. He thanked Boston College for the funding which made the visit possible and thanked both the Northern Ireland Bureau, Boston College and the Committee staff for their help and support in developing the programme.

The Chair asked members to note that the meeting of 5^th June would fall during a Plenary session because of the Bank Holidays on Monday and Tuesday. As the Junior Ministers would be in attendance to brief members on the Commissioner for Children and Young People, he asked Members to ensure that the meeting had a quorum.

The Chair asked Members to note that the two UK Parliamentary Representatives to the Convention on Europe have agreed to meet with the Committee on Thursday 20^th June at 12.00noon. The Danish Ambassador has also agreed to meet with the Committee on Monday 24^th June. Members were requested to complete a reply slip to allow the Committee staff to complete arrangements.

3. Approval of draft minutes

The minutes from the previous meeting held on 8 May 2002 were agreed and signed by the Chairperson.

Mr Murphy joined the meeting at 2.07pm.

Mr McElduff joined the meeting at 2.07pm.

4. Matters arising

1. OFMDFM's response to the Committee's letter regarding planning permission for telecommunication developments: Members considered the letter and agreed to pass it to the Environment Committee. The Committee would re-consider the matter in light of the Environment Committee comments.

Action: Clerk

Mr Kennedy joined the meeting at 2.10pm.

2. OFMDFM's response to the Committee's letter regarding the Executive Programme Fund for Children: Members considered the response and requested additional information on whether DHSSPS would charge for the administration of the fund, on which Committee is taking oversight of this fund, on what the remaining funding would be used for and details on the Children's Fund Lobby Group. The Committee also felt that the response did not address the issue raised by the Committee of the Centre why they had not been given an opportunity to consider the proposed arrangements for the administration of the funds.

Action: Clerk

Mr Shannon joined the meeting at 2.16pm.
Mr Robinson joined the meeting at 2.16pm.

(c) - (f) Correspondence from Assembly Committees about the bids for EPF Infrastructure Funds 2002/3 and 2003/4: Members considered letters from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, the Chairperson of the Committee for Employment and Learning, the Minister of Finance and Personnel, and the Committee for Regional Development. Members requested that staff liase with the Committee for Finance and Personnel staff on this issue. Members noted the issues raised in the letters and that further bids from OFMDFM under the Infrastructure Funds will come to the Committee for scrutiny.

Action: Clerk

Mr Maskey joined the meeting at 2.21 pm.

7. Correspondence from OFMDFM clarifying the handling procedures of agendas from the General Affairs Councils (GAC): Members noted the correspondence, agreed to receive the agendas, and to keep a watching brief on this issue.
8. Correspondence from OFMDFM responding to the Committee's letter highlighting a number of issues in the Accommodation Review Interim Report: Members requested additional information on the square footage of the buildings and where the building in Armagh was located.

Action: Clerk

5. Correspondence

1. Response from OFMDFM regarding the Draft Guide to Consultation Methods: Members noted the response and asked for information on how groups/organisations can be added to consultation lists.

Action: Clerk

Mr Robinson left the meeting at 2.28pm.
Mr Beggs left the meeting at 2.33pm.

(b) Copy of the Junior Ministers' response to the Lord Alderdice, The Speaker, regarding the public petition on Women's Centres presented to the Assembly on 19 March 2002: Members noted the letter and that the Junior Ministers have set up an interdepartmental group to explore and report back on issues relating to the funding of women's organisations. The Committee have asked that they be kept informed of the likely timescale and outcome of the interdepartmental group's findings.

Action: Clerk

Mrs Bell joined the meeting at 2.40pm.

(c) Correspondence from the Junior Ministers regarding the Review of the Northern Ireland Economic Council (NIEC) and the provision of Economic Advice and Research: The Committee considered the correspondence and the Junior Ministers' request for a response from the Committee. Members agreed to request written briefing from the NIEC and the Northern Ireland Economic Research Council, and asked for the replies from the Committees for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, and Finance and Personnel to come through this Committee. Members agreed to consider the issues raised in the Junior Ministers' letter when this further information is available. Dr Esmond Birnie MLA registered a non-financial interest as he had previously worked for one of the organisations.

Action: Clerk

4. Letter from the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development regarding the House of Lords European Union Select Committee and Sub Committee Inquiries into the Impact of EU Environmental Regulations on UK Agriculture and Merger Control: Members noted the letter from the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development and agreed to forward its letter to the Clerk of the House of Lords Sub Committee D.

Action: Clerk

5. EU information: Members noted the information from other EU Committees.

6. Additional correspondence: Members noted the following additional correspondence:

• Correspondence from OFMDFM advising the Committee that the report on the initial consultation exercise on the Single Equality Bill has now been completed.
• Letter from OFMDFM notifying the Committee of the forthcoming Draft Disability Act 1995.
• OFMDFM Press Release - New TSN Research: Poverty in Northern Ireland.
• Letter from the Northern Ireland General Consumer Council regarding oral and written evidence.
• Letter from the Committee for Employment and Learning regarding its invitation to members of the Civic Forum to its meeting of 30^th May 2002.
• Copy of the Central Emergency Planning Unit (CEPU) document "Guide to Plan Preparation".
• Minutes of the meeting held between the Chairman and the Junior Ministers on Thursday 16^th May 2002.
• Correspondence from Mr John Stapleton regarding the Review of Public Administration: Delivering Better Government? An Analysis of the Strategic Management Initiative 1994 in the Irish Civil Service - by Frances O'Neill BA in Public Administration 2002.
• Correspondence from Mr John Stapleton regarding the Review of Public Administration: Evaluation of the Progress of the Strategic Management Initiative/Delivering Better Government Modernisation Programme - PA Knowledge Limited 2002.

6. Subordinate Legislation - Proposed Fair Employment (Monitoring) (Amendment) Regulations 2002

Members considered and discussed the proposed subordinate legislation. The Committee agreed that OFMDFM should proceed and make the statutory rule under the Fair Employment (Monitoring) (Amendment) Regulations 2002.

7. Future of Europe Debate

The briefing session began at 2.45pm. Briefing on Convention on the Future of Europe and the Assembly Debate on 5 June 2002 was taken from Mr Tim Moore, Assembly Research and Library Services.

Members then considered a number of issues to include:

• Simplification of the Treaties?
• Delimitation of Competencies?
• Subsidiary?
• Status of Charter of Fundamental Rights?
• More Democracy in the European Union?
• Should the Commission have an elected President?
• Should the European Council meet in Public?

The Members agreed that the Research and Library Service paper could be made available on both the Intranet and Internet.

Mr Kennedy left the meeting at 2.57pm.
Mr Maskey left the meeting at 3.12pm.
Mr Robinson joined the meeting at 3.16pm.
Mr Beggs joined the meeting at 3.20pm.
Ms Lewsley left the meeting at 3.34pm.
Mrs Bell left the meeting at 3.35pm.

8. E-Government

Briefing by OFMDFM Officials

The briefing session began at 3.35pm. A presentation on e-Government and the Digital Divide was taken from Mr Ray Wright, Deputy Director, and Mr Colin Cluney, Central Information Technology Unit (NI). Mr Robert Fee, Head of Information Systems Unit and Mrs Dorothy Angus Director of Corporate Services also made a presentation to the Committee on OFMDFM e-Business Strategy. The members were then able to question officials on these issues.

The officials left the meeting at. 4.19pm.
Dr Birnie left the meeting at 3.37pm.
Mr Robinson left the meeting at 3.40pm.
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 3.59pm.

9. Any other business

(a) and (b) Review of Public Administration: publication of evidence: Members agreed to publish the Minutes of Evidence and written submissions relating to the meetings on the Review of Public Administration with Mr John Stapleton on Wednesday, 24 April 2002, and Professor Chris Skelcher on Wednesday, 1 May 2002.

Action: Clerk

10. Date and time of next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday 5 June 2002 at 2.00pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.21pm.

COUNCILLOR EDWIN POOTS MLA
Chairperson, Committee of the Centre

5 June 2002

8 May 2002 / Menu / 5 June 2002