COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY,
25 MARCH 2009
ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mitchel McLaughlin MLA (Chairperson)
Simon Hamilton MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Dr Stephen Farry MLA
Fra McCann MLA
Jennifer McCann MLA
David McNarry MLA
Adrian McQuillan MLA
Declan O’Loan MLA
Dawn Purvis MLA
Peter Weir MLA
In Attendance:
Shane McAteer (Assembly Clerk)
Vivien Ireland (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Colin Jones (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
David McKee (Clerical Supervisor)
Chris McCreery (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: Ian Paisley Jnr MLA
The meeting commenced at 10.12 am in open session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
Agreed: that the evidence from Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) officials on the implications for the Northern Ireland Civil Service from the Whitehall review of pay and bonuses to senior civil servants and on the Department’s draft Operational Plan for 2009-10 will be recorded by Hansard and the finalised transcripts published on the website.
Mr Weir left the meeting at 10.11 am.
2. Draft Minutes of Proceedings of 18 March 2009
Agreed: for publication on the Assembly website.
Dr Farry joined the meeting at 10. 13 am.
Mr Weir returned to the meeting at 10.14 am.
3. Matters Arising
The Committee noted the outstanding requests for information from DFP and a discussion took place on the slippage by the Department in meeting some deadlines for responding to the Committee.
Agreed: that the Secretariat will monitor this area and will liaise with the Departmental Assembly Liaison Office to ensure that the issue is highlighted within DFP. The Committee also agreed that if the situation did not improve that this issue would be formally raised at the Chairpersons’ Liaison Group.
Members noted clarification from the Department on issues in the Explanatory Memorandum to the Pre-release Access to Official Statistics ( Northern Ireland) 2009, which does not form part of the legislation.
Members noted a point of contact to take forward arrangements for work-shadowing placements during disability week, which is due to take place in late June 2009.
Members considered information on the work of the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment (CETI) in considering the issue of the Presbyterian Mutual Society.
Agreed: that the issue of the Presbyterian Mutual Society falls within the remit of CETI and that the Committee for Finance and Personnel supports the efforts of CETI in that regard.
4. Implications for the Northern Ireland Civil Service from the Whitehall Review of Pay and Bonuses to Senior Civil Servants: Evidence from DFP
The Committee took evidence from the following DFP officials: Leo O'Reilly, Permanent Secretary and Derek Baker, Director, Central Personnel Group. The session was recorded by Hansard.
Mr Weir left the meeting at 10.38 am.
Mr Weir returned to the meeting at 10.42 am.
Mr McQuillan left the meeting at 10.56 am.
Ms McCann left the meeting at 11.01 am.
Ms McCann returned to the meeting at 11.13 am.
Mr McQuillan returned to the meeting at 11.18 am.
Mr McNarry left the meeting at 11.19 am.
Mr O’Loan left the meeting at 11.25 am.
Mr O’Loan returned to the meeting at 11.26 am.
Mr Weir left the meeting at 11.27 am.
Mr McNarry returned to the meeting at 11.28 am.
Mr Weir returned to the meeting at 11.32 am.
Agreed: that the DFP officials will provide details of the value of the components relating to pay band salary, bonus and pension offered at Senior Civil Service Pay Bands 1 and 2.
5. Draft DFP Operational Plan for 2009-10: Evidence from DFP
The Committee took evidence from the following DFP officials: Leo O'Reilly, Permanent Secretary; Deborah McNeilly, Head of Finance Branch and Colm Doran, Head of Business Planning Team, Corporate Services Group. The session was recorded by Hansard.
Mr Weir left the meeting at 11.51 am.
Dr Farry left the meeting at 11.58 am.
Mr Weir returned to the meeting at 12.01 pm.
Dr Farry returned to the meeting at 12.12 pm.
Mr Hamilton left the meeting at 12.19 pm.
Mr McNarry left the meeting at 12.30 pm.
Mr Hamilton returned to the meeting at 12.31 pm.
Ms Purvis left the meeting at 12.35 pm.
Mr McNarry returned to the meeting at 12.36 pm.
Mr McCann left the meeting at 12.38 pm.
Agreed: that the DFP officials will provide further information to the Committee as requested during the briefing session.
6. The Barnett Formula: Assembly Research Briefing
The Committee received a briefing from Assembly Research on the Barnett Formula.
Members were advised of the details for the forthcoming dinner with the House of Lords Select Committee on the Barnett Formula.
Mr O’Loan left the meeting at 12.47 pm.
Mr O’Loan returned to the meeting at 12.49 pm.
Mr McCann returned to the meeting at 12.49 pm.
Agreed: to copy the research paper to the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister (COFMDFM) for information.
7. Correspondence
The Committee noted the following correspondence:
- DFP: February Forecast Outturn Data;
- DFP: Statutory Rule Pensions Increase (Review) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009;
- DFP: Response to issues arising from Workplace 2010 evidence session;
Agreed: that the outstanding issues on this subject will be followed up with the Department;
Mr Weir left the meeting at 12.35 pm.
- Ian Paisley Jnr: Letter from Alistair McNeill of James McNeill Grocery Ltd;
Agreed: that this correspondence will be copied to CETI;
- DFP: Delay in the publication of second report on the review of data protection;
Agreed : that a DFP briefing session will be scheduled into the Committee’s work programme in advance of the formal publication of the report;
Ms McCann left the meeting at 1.07 pm.
- DFP: Response to issues raised in an anonymised letter from staff in the Driver and Vehicle Agency in relation to HRConnect ;
Ms McCann returned to the meeting at 1.12 pm.
Mr McQuillan left the meeting at 1.12 pm.
- DFP: Memorandum on Public Accounts Committee’s Shared Services for Efficiency Report;
Agreed : that a schedule and timetable for the reports on Gateway Review 5, lessons learned and post project evaluations in respect of each of the reform projects will be requested from the Department. It was also agreed that copies of lessons learned reports to date and of the benefits realisation plans will be requested;
- Carson McDowell Solicitors: Response to issues arising from evidence session 11 February 2009;
Agreed : that the response, which will be included in the submissions to the Committee’s public procurement inquiry, will be considered at a later date;
- DFP: Response on issues raised during evidence from DFP on HRConnect on 25 February;
- DFP: Response to Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure (CAL) regarding transfer of monies from other planned capital development projects into the budget for safety at sports grounds ;
Agreed : that the correspondence will be forwarded to CAL Committee as requested;
- COFMDFM : EU Match Funding ;
Agreed : that the correspondence will be copied to DFP as requested;
- DFP: Response to Committee query on when the Executive is due to consider the Report on the Location of Public Sector Jobs .
8. Committee Work Programme
Members considered the current draft of the Committee work programme until summer recess.
Agreed: that the current draft of the programme will be published on the Assembly website.
9. Any Other Business
Mr McNarry proposed that the Committee should consider receiving a presentation from Ulster Community Investment Trust.
Agreed: that the Chairperson will discuss the possibilities with the Clerk and report back to the Committee next week.
Mr O’Loan advised the Committee that, at a recent All Party Construction Group meeting, discussion had taken place on the issue of how the construction industry could obtain fuller and more timely information on departmental capital spend. It was noted that the Committee had pursued this issue previously with DFP.
Agreed: that the Clerk will review the Committee’s previous deliberations on this issue and report back to the Committee next week.
10. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 1 April 2009 at 10.00 am in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.20 pm.