Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

COMMITTEE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND LEARNING

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

WEDNESDAY, 16TH MAY 2007
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present: Ms Sue Ramsey MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Jimmy Spratt MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Alex Attwood MLA
Mr Paul Butler MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Mr David McClarty MLA
Mr Basil McCrea MLA
Mr Robin Newton MLA

In Attendance: Mr John Torney (Principal Clerk)
Mr Rab McConaghy (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Trevor Allen (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Collan Cree (Clerical Supervisor)
Miss Jessica Dougan (Clerical Officer)
Dr Robert Barry, Ms Yan Liu and Mr Peter McClenaghan (Assembly Research and Library Services)

Apologies: Mr Nelson McCausland MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
Mr Jim Wells MLA
The meeting opened at 10.35am in public session.

Chairperson’s Introductions

The Chairperson welcomed Members to the first meeting of the newly established Committee for Employment and Learning and discussed the meeting agenda. The Chairperson also welcomed members of the press and visitors to the Committee.

1. Committee Membership

Members noted and agreed details of the Committee’s composition.

2. Committee Staff Contact Details

Members noted details of the secretariat staff supporting the Committee.

3. Departmental Briefing

The Chairperson welcomed Sir Reg Empey, Minister for Employment and Learning; Dr Aideen McGinley, Permanent Secretary to the Department; and Mr Greg McConnell and Mrs Catherine Bell, Deputy Secretaries.

The Minister discussed the major issues facing the Department including:

The Minister also discussed other issues that are of importance including:

Dr Aideen McGinley gave a presentation focusing on the work of the Department with particular emphasis on key Departmental priorities and issues.

The Minister and Dr McGinley’s presentations were followed by a question and answer session. The Chairperson thanked the Minister and officials for their attendance before the Committee.

11.15 am Mr Attwood joined the meeting.
11.32 am Mr McClarty left the meeting.

Mr McCrea declared a remunerated interest in the Northern Ireland Manufacturers Focus Group.
Mr Butler declared an interest as a lecturer at the Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education.

11.41 am Mr McClarty returned to the meeting.
11.45 am Ms Lo left the meeting.

Dr McGinley agreed to provide the Committee with a report on how the Committee’s Inquiry into Education and Training for Industry, conducted during the previous mandate, has been taken forward by the Department.

Agreed: Following the Departmental briefing the Committee agreed that its next meeting should concentrate on the information provided by the department and a number of briefing papers to be provided by the Clerk in order to inform decisions on the Committee’s future work programme.

4. Procedural Issues

12.11 pm Mr McClarty left the meeting.

The Chairperson referred Members to the “Guide to the powers and operations of a statutory committee” and in particular Members’ obligation to declare any interests that are relevant to the debate or proceedings and the issue of privilege and sub-judice.

Members were reminded that under Standing Order 64 (4), ‘Before taking part in any debate or proceeding of the Assembly or its Committees, a member shall declare any interest, financial or otherwise, which is relevant to that debate or proceeding, where such interest is held by the Member or an immediate relative.’ They were also advised that ‘proceeding’ of the Assembly includes meetings of this Committee.

Members noted the declarations of interest received. The finalised interests register is appended to this minute.
Mr Spratt declared interests as a member of the Board of Governors of Lisnasharragh High School, Knockbreda High School and Moneyreagh Primary School.

The Chairperson further reminded Members that “under section 50 of the NI Act 1998, for the purposes of the law of defamation, absolute privilege applies equally to –

This privilege also extends to meetings of the committee. Members noted however that privilege does not extend to press conferences or statements made to the press.

Sub-judice falls under Standing Order 68 of the Standing Orders for the NI Assembly prepared by the Secretary of State in accordance with paragraph 5(4) of Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006. Sub-judice applies from when a criminal charge (or charges) is brought, or from when notice of an appeal is lodged to the time that the verdict and sentence have been announced, or from when a civil action is listed for trial until judgement is given. In such cases, the matter awaiting adjudication should not be prejudiced by comment in a public session of a committee meeting.”

Members also noted the “Guide to the role of the Committee Chairperson” and the “Guide to the role and functions of the Committee office”.

The Chairperson referred Members to the “Guide to the NI Assembly’s Research Services” and introduced Dr Robert Barry, Ms Yan Liu and Mr Peter McClenaghan of Assembly Research and Library Services. Dr Barry discussed the services available to Members and the protocols for dealing with Research Services.

5. Subordinate Legislation

Agreed: The Committee discussed its statutory role in the scrutiny of secondary legislation and agreed that the technical scrutiny of subordinate legislation (Statutory Rules) be delegated to the Assembly’s Examiner of Statutory Rules. The Committee agreed:

“That the Committee for Employment and Learning resolves, under Standing Order 41 to delegate to the Examiner of Statutory Rules the technical scrutiny of statutory rules referred to the Committee under the above mentioned Standing Order.

The Committee further resolves that in carrying out this function the Examiner shall be authorised to report his technical findings on each statutory rule to the Assembly, through the Business Office, and to the relevant Department, as well as to the Committee itself and to publish his report.”

6. Pre-restoration and Forthcoming Meetings

The Chairperson discussed the key points arising from a number of meetings that she and/or the Deputy Chairperson had attended. These included meetings with the Minister for Employment and Learning, Disability Action, the University and College Union, and the NI Council for Ethnic Minorities. Members also noted forthcoming meetings with Queen’s University Belfast and Age Concern and an invitation to attend DEL’s Further Education Centenary Dinner.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson continue to hold key stakeholder meetings on an informal (non-committee) basis with all members invited to attend.

7. Correspondence Received by Chairperson

Members noted a number of items of correspondence received by the Chairperson.

8. Draft Press Release

Agreed: Members considered a draft joint press release and agreed that it be issued.

9. Any Other business

Agreed: Members agreed that the Chairperson write to Queen’s University Belfast offering congratulations on joining the Russell Group of Universities.

Mr McCrea discussed forthcoming events to be hosted in Parliament Buildings in relation to skills training and offered to provide further information when available.

10. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 23rd May 2007 at 10.30am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.34pm.

Ms Sue Ramsey
Chairperson, Committee for Employment and Learning
23 May 2007

COMMITTEE FOR EMPLOYMENT & LEARNING

SUMMARY OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS

Name

Interests Declared

Sue Ramsey

  • Return indicated no relevant interests to declare

Jimmy Spratt

Remunerated employment, office, profession, etc

  • Member, Castlereagh Borough Council
  • Member, Castlereagh District Policing Partnership
  • South Eastern Education & Library Board (no remuneration at present)

Land & property

  • Rental Property, Dundonald
  • 38 Acres, agricultural land, Comber
  • Holiday Property, Morocco

Unremunerated interests

  • Member of the Board of Governors of Lisnasharragh High School
  • Member of the Board of Governors of Knockbreda High School
  • Member of the Board of Governors of Moneyreagh Primary School

Alex Attwood

Directorships

  • Trustee – John Hume Trust

Paul Butler

Remunerated employment, office, profession, etc

  • Member, Lisburn City Council
  • Lecturer at Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education

Unremunerated interests

  • Member, Lisburn LSP
  • Vice Chair, Maze Long Kesh Monitoring Group

Anna Lo

Remunerated employment, office, profession, etc

  • Currently employed as the Chief Executive of the Chinese Welfare Association – until 31 May 2007

Unremunerated interests

  • Currently on several boards related to employment with Chinese Welfare Association – due to step down from these boards on termination of contract with the Association

Nelson McCausland

Remunerated employment, office, profession, etc

  • Member, Belfast City Council
  • Member, Belfast Education and Library Board

Unremunerated interests

  • Director, Community relations Council
  • Director, Community Convention and Development Company
  • Chairman, Ulster-Scots Heritage Council
  • Director, Greater Shankill Partnership Board
  • Director, North Belfast Partnership Board
  • Member, Linen Hall Library
  • Member, Board of Governors, Wheatfield Primary School
  • Member, Board of Governors, Legoneil Primary School
  • Member, Board of Governors, Carr’s Glen Primary School

David McClarty

Remunerated employment, office, profession, etc

  • Member, Coleraine Borough Council

Gifts, Benefits and hospitality (UK)

  • Hospitality by McDonalds Restaurants in August 2006 in the form of accommodation, meals and football match tickets for self and spouse – value approximately £500.

Unremunerated interests

  • Chairman of Board of Governors, D H Christie Memorial Primary School, Coleraine
  • Member of Board of Governors, Coleraine Academical Institution
  • Chairman of West Bann Development Group, Coleraine
  • Member of Board of Big Telly Theatre Company
  • Member of Ballywillan Drama Group, Portrush

Basil McCrea

Remunerated employment, office, profession, etc

  • Councillor on Lisburn City Council
  • Member of the Policing Board

Unremunerated interests

  • Northern Ireland Manufacturers Focus Group - for a further 1 month

Claire McGill

Remunerated employment, office, profession, etc

  • Member, Western Education and Library Board
  • Member, Strabane District Council

Unremunerated interests

  • Committee Member, North West Passage
  • Member, Western Economic Strategy Team
  • Member of the Board of Governors of St Brigid’s School, Cranagh
  • Member of the Board of Governors of St Joseph’s School, Plumbridge
  • Member of the Board of Governors of St Eugene’s School, Victoria Bridge
  • Omagh Hospital Review Steering Group

Robin Newton

Directorships

  • Newton Management Consultants Ltd
  • Textile and Clothing Technology Limited

Remunerated employment, office, profession, etc

  • Belfast Harbour Commissioner (appointed by Belfast City Council)

Land and property

  • Commercial Rented, Cregagh Road, Belfast

Unremunerated interests

  • Member, East Belfast Partnership Board

Jim Wells

Directorships

  • St Patrick’s Centre, Downpatrick
  • The Schomberg Society, Kilkeel
  • Down Rural Partnership, Banbridge
  • Ballynahinch Regeneration Company
  • Down Local Strategy Partnership

Remunerated employment, office, profession, etc

  • Councillor, Down District Council
  • Town Planning Consultant (non practising)

Overseas Visits

  • United States, July 1998, Seminar paid for by Kennedy School of Government
  • United States, February 2003, Seminar paid for by Kennedy School of Government
  • Kenya, 13-17 February 2006, political training, paid for by Westminster Foundation for democracy (Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe)
  • Kenya, 7-12 April 2006, political training, paid for by Westminster Foundation for democracy (Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe)

Land and property

  • Private dwelling, Kilkeel

Shareholdings

  • Gartmore Japan Unit Trust

Unremunerated interests

    • Treasurer (unpaid) Chosen Northern Ireland
    • Chairman (unpaid) Northern Ireland Raptor Study Group
    • Member of the Orange Institution
    • Member of the Royal Black Institution
    • Member of the Apprentice Boys - Londonderry

Menu / 23 May 2007