COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS FIFTY THIRD MEETING
TUESDAY, 01 MAY 2001
COMMITTEE ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:Mr Francie Molloy (Chairman)
Mr James Leslie (Deputy Chairman)
Mr Alex Attwood
Mr Nigel Dodds
Ms Patricia Lewsley
Mr Alex Maskey
Mr Peter Weir
Apologies:Mr Billy Bell
Mr Seamus Close
Mr Peter Robinson
In attendence:Mr Martin Wilson (Principal Clerk)
Mr Peter Hughes (Clerk)
Mrs Margaret Miskelly (Clerk)
Ms Edel Gillen (Executive Support)
Mr Jonathan Briggs (Administrative Support)
The Chairman declared the meeting open at 2.41 p.m. The meeting was held in public session
Mr Nigel Dodds attended from 3.14p.m. Mr Peter Weir attended from 3.05p.m.
1. Apologies
1.1 Mr Billy Bell, Mr Seamus Close and Mr Peter Robinson.
2. Minutes of Proceedings
2.1 Resolved: The Committee agreed the Minutes of Proceedings for 24 April 2001.
2.2 Minutes of Evidence
2.2.1 Resolved: The Committee agreed the Minutes of Evidence for 3 April 2001 on the Trustee Bill.
3. Matters arising
3.1 Committee Programme
3.1.1 The Committee noted the revised programme. The Principal Clerk stressed the need to have a quorum during the election period to get through all the items of business.
3.1.2 Resolved: The Committee agreed that the normal meetings should go ahead.
3.2 Product Liability (Amendment) Bill
3.2.1 The Committee discussed the appropriate Committee that would deal with the Bill. Mr Maskey explained that the Business Committee would decide on this next week however in the meantime it would be helpful if members would speak to their Chief Whips regarding this matter.
3.2.2 Resolved: The Committee agreed that the Chairman should send a letter to the Speaker.
3.3 Foot and Mouth Disease
The Committee noted the letter from the Minister dated 26 April also the letter from the Minister to the Chairperson, Enterprise Trade and Investment Committee.
3.4 Draft Report on Error in Penny Product Calculation
3.4.1 The Committee Clerk briefed the Committee on changes and the inclusion of the Minutes of Evidence in the Draft Report.
3.4.2 Resolved: The Committee noted the changes and agreed the Minutes of Evidence for the Draft Report and the printing of the Report should go ahead.
Mr Alex Attwood left at 3.00p.m.
4. P P P Inquiry
Mr John Plumb, Specialist adviser briefed the Committee on the Inquiry. Matters were discussed regarding forthcoming visits and Evidence Sessions. Members were provided with an up to date list of all the organisations invited to give submissions and those who had responded. The Committee agreed that members would be happy to receive copies of submissions by email and hard copies if requested.
Mr Dodds left at 3.40p.m
5. Trustee Bill
Mr Michael Foster and Mrs Ethne Harkness from Office of Law Reform attended for the Consideration of the Bill. The Committee clerk explained that there were no concerns raised other than the issue raised by the Human Rights Commission regarding Paragraph 7 of Schedule 1. Members had already agreed that they were content with Paragraph 7 of Schedule 1 and it should remain unchanged.
The Committee considered the Long Title.
The Committee deliberated on the Long Title.
Resolved: That the Committee is content with the Long Title as drafted.
The Committee considered Clauses 1 and 2.
The Committee deliberated.
Resolved: That the Committee is content with Clauses 1 and 2 as drafted.
The Committee considered Clauses 3 to 7.
The Committee deliberated.
Resolved: That the Committee is content with Clauses 3 to 7 as drafted.
The Committee considered Clauses 8 to 10.
The Committee deliberated.
Resolved: That the Committee is content with Clauses 8 to 10 as drafted.
The Committee considered Clauses 11 to 27.
The Committee deliberated.
Resolved: That the Committee is content with the Clauses 11 to 27 as drafted.
The Committee considered Clauses 28 to 33.
The Committee deliberated.
Resolved: That the Committee is content with Clauses 28 to 33 as drafted.
The Committee considered Clauses 34 to 36.
The Committee deliberated.
Resolved: That the Committee is content with Clauses 34 to 36 as drafted
The Committee considered Clauses 37 to 46. In particular the Committee deliberated on the issue in clause 39(6) and took further advice from the officials of the Office of Law Reform.
The Committee deliberated.
Resolved: That the Committee is content with Clauses 37 to 46 as drafted.
The Committee considered Schedules 1 - 4. Mrs Harkness, Office of Law Reform noted the concerns raised by Prof. Dickson, Human Rights Commission and concluded it was not in breach of Article 1 of Protocol 1 to the European Convention on Human Rights.
The Committee deliberated.
Resolved: That the Committee is content with the Schedules 1 - 4 as drafted.
The Principal Clerk to the Committee explained that a motion had been put forward seeking an extension to the Committee Stage however this could be withdrawn if the draft Report was agreed at the next meeting.
6. Correspondence
Members noted correspondence tabled at the meeting.
A copy of the draft letter for issue to the Speaker regarding proposed Bill on Product Liability.
Letter from Minister on Departmental Bids.
The Members noted this letter and agreed that a response should be sent raising their concerns about the overall timescales for enabling departmental committees to participate in the compilation of bids.
Proposed Departments (Transfer of functions) Order (NI) 2001
Members noted the information sent by the Committee of the Centre.
Presentation on the Social Economy
Members noted the presentation on 15th May in the Long Gallery.
7. Date of next meeting
7.1 The Committee agreed to meet on Tuesday 08 May 2001.
The Chairman declared the meeting closed at 4.12 p.m.
Francie Molloy
Chairman