Present:
Mrs Dolores Kelly MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Jonathan Bell MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Sydney Anderson MLA
Mr Paul Butler MLA
Rev Dr Robert Coulter MLA
Mr Chris Lyttle MLA
Mr David McClarty MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
Mr Pat Ramsey MLA

In Attendance:
Mr Peter Hall (Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Sheila Mawhinney (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Miss Pauline Devlin (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Bill Kinnear (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA
Mr Peter Weir MLA

The meeting opened in public session at 10.08 am.

Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

1. Minutes of the meeting held on 6 October 2010

Agreed: The minutes were agreed.

10.10 am Rev Dr Robert Coulter joined the meeting

 2. Briefing from DEL Careers Advice Service on supporting young people who are NEET

Nuala Kerr, Director, Skills and Industry Division, and Frances O’Hara, Careers Service Delivery, briefed the Committee on the work carried out by DEL Careers Service to support and engage young people who are not in education, employment or learning. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

10.16 am Mr David McClarty joined the meeting

Agreed: The Committee agreed that Departmental officials would supply further information as requested.

10.59 am Mrs Claire McGill left the meeting

3. Matters Arising

• Monthly update on Apprentices

Agreed: Members noted the latest update from DEL on the number of apprentice redundancies and agreed that further updates should include information on the number of apprentices still in employment

• Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration

Agreed: Members considered a draft Committee response on the above, and agreed to return to the issue next week

• The Browne and Stuart Reports

Agreed: The Committee noted the recent issue of the Browne and Stuart reports on the funding of Higher Education and student finance, and agreed to consider these reports in more detail at a later date

• ‘Investing in Global Relationships’

Members noted a press release from the Department of Education and Skills in the Republic of Ireland on the launch the above strategy aimed at increasing international student numbers in higher education and English language schools

• NEETs Strategy

Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister regarding the formulation of a NEETs strategy, and agreed to include his letter in its Inquiry report

• Committee Press Release

Agreed: The Committee considered a draft press release entitled, ‘Committee discusses Future of Higher Education’, and agreed that it should be issued

The Deputy Chairperson led a vote of thanks, supported by all members present, to the Committee staff for their work in supplying members urgently with briefing material on the Browne and Stuart reports, and also to Departmental officials for their co-operation on this matter.

11.06 am Mrs Claire McGill rejoined the meeting

4. Briefing from Fasttrack to IT(FIT) on the Committee’s Inquiry into young people who are not in Education, Employment of Training

The Committee received a briefing from Mr William McClean, Programme Manager, FIT NI, and Peter Davitt, Chief Executive, FIT Ireland Ltd, on the work of the organisation in providing IT training for young people who are not in education, employment or learning. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

5. Employment (No.2) Bill 2010

The Committee considered Clauses one to ten of the Employment (No.2) Bill.

Agreed: Members agreed to seek further clarification on the wording of the Explanatory Memorandum relating to Clause 8

11.59 am Mr David McClarty left the meeting
11.59 am Mr Pat Ramsey left the meeting
11.59 am Rev Dr Robert Coulter left the meeting

6. Subordinate Legislation

Agreed: The Committee considered the SL1 for the Statutory Rule, The Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) (Amendment) Order Northern Ireland 2010, and agreed that it was content for the Department to proceed to make the Rule

7. Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson provided a brief outline of her attendance at forthcoming meetings and events, and drew members’ attention to various invitations.

8. Departmental Press Notices

Members noted a number of recent Departmental and other press releases

9. Any Other Business

• ‘College Connection’

Members noted the first issue of the ‘College Connection’ newsletter from the North West Regional College

• Forward Work Programme – for information

Members noted the Committee’s Forward Work Programme for October and November 2010, and discussed arrangements for the forthcoming visit to Magee College

10. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday, 20 October 2010 at 10.30 am in Room MD050, “Martha Magee’s”, Magee College

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.05 pm

Mrs Dolores Kelly
Chairperson, Committee for Employment & Learning
13 October 2010

6 October 10 / Menu