COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
FIFTY EIGHTH MEETING
TUESDAY, 14 JUNE 2001
COMMITTEE ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr Francie Molloy (Chairman)
Mr James Leslie (Deputy Chairman)
Mr Alex Attwood
Mr Billy Bell
Mr Seamus Close
Mr Derek Hussey
Mr Alex Maskey
Ms Patricia Lewsley
Mr Peter Weir
In attendance: Mr Martin Wilson (Principal Clerk)
Mr Peter Hughes (Clerk)
Mrs Margaret Miskelly (Clerk)
Mr Joe Sloan (Assistant Clerk)
Ms Sharon Bowman (Executive Support)
Mr Jonathan Briggs (Administrative Support)
Mr Brendan O Neill (Administrative Support)
The Chairman declared the meeting open at 2.16 p.m. The meeting was held in public session
1. Apologies
1.1 None
2. Minutes of Proceedings
2.1 Resolved: The Committee agreed the Minutes of Proceedings for 29 May 2001.
3. Matters arising
3.1.1 The Committee discussed the paper from the Principal Clerk of Committees regarding an international conference in Sydney, Australia on Regulation Reform Management and Scrutiny of Legislation.
3.1.2 Resolved: The Committee agreed that the Chairman be nominated to attend the conference on behalf of the Committee for Finance and Personnel.
3.1.3 The Committee noted the possible requirement to declare new interests following the General and Local elections.
3.1.4 The Committee noted its letters to the Senior Civil Service Review Team dated 25 May 2001, to the Minister of Finance and Personnel in regard to its consultation on the 2001/02 Main Estimates dated 30 May 2001,to the Chairpersons of Statutory Departmental Committees in regard to the Budget Timetable dated 4 June 2001 and correspondence between the Department of Finance and Personnel and the Clerk regarding the departmental bidding process for the 2002/03 financial year.
4. PPP Inquiry
4.1.1 The Clerk presented the Draft Report for the Inquiry to the Committee and explained the time schedule required by the Committee to consider and amend the drafts in order to publish the Report before the Assembly's summer recess.
4.1.2 Resolved: The Committee agreed to meet on Tuesday 19 June 2001 and Thursday 21 June 2001 to give further consideration to the report.
Ms Lewsley attended the meeting at 2.29 p.m,
4.1.3 The Clerk explained how parts of the Report could be produced on a CD ROM rather than in hard copy version as a pilot for future production of Assembly committee reports.
4.1.4 Resolved: The Committee agreed to production of its Report on CD ROM.
4.1.5 The Clerk advised the Committee of the number of days worked by the Specialist Adviser on the Inquiry and the need to seek an extension due to the volume and content of the written and oral evidence provided to the Committee and his contribution to drafting the Report. The Committee had agreed at its meeting on 26 February 2001 to consider an extension beyond 20 days.
4.1.6 Resolved: The Committee agreed to an extension beyond 20 days subject to its consideration of the draft Report presented.
Mr Leslie attended the meeting at 2.35 p.m, Mr Hussey attended at 2.38 p.m.
4.1.7 Resolved: The Committee agreed to confirm on Tuesday 19 June 2001 if the Specialist Adviser should be requested to attend its meeting on Thursday 21 June 2001 for consultation on the Report.
Mr Attwood attended at 2.40 p.m.
5. 2002/2003 Departmental Bids
5.1.1 The Principal Clerk briefed the Committee about the timing and content of correspondence by the Minister and Department of Finance and Personnel to the Committee and Assembly in regard to Departmental Bids for the 2002/03 Financial Year.
5.1.2 The Committee was briefed by Dr Andrew Mc Cormick from the Department of Finance and Personnel accompanied by Mr David Sterling on the arrangements for consultation on the Bids between Departments and Departmental Committees.
5.1.3 The Committee questioned Dr Mc Cormick.
Mr Bell left the meeting at 3.12 p.m.
6. Departmental Strategic Plan 2001 - 2004 & Business Plan 2001/02
6.1 The Committee was briefed on the Department's objectives by an Assembly Researcher.
6.2 Departmental officials, Mr David Ferguson, Mrs Aileen Edmund, Mrs Patricia Gibson and Mr David Trelford briefed the Committee and answered members' questions on the plans.
Mr Maskey left the meeting at 4.11 p.m.
7. 2002/2003 Financial Year Departmental bids
7.1 Mr David Ferguson, Mr Michael Daly and Mr David Sterling spoke about the Department of Finance and Personnel's bids to the Committee.
Ms Lewsley left the meeting at 4.24 p.m.
8. Statutory Rules
8.1 Compulsory Registration of Title (No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001. Negative Resolution.
8.1.1 The Committee considered a pre-drafting letter from the Department.
8.1.2 Resolved: That the Committee had no objections to the draft Rule.
8.2 Lands Tribunal (Salaries) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001.
8.2.1 The Committee considered a pre-drafting letter from the Department.
8.2.2 Resolved: That the Committee had no objections to the draft Rule.
9. Correspondence
9.1 Consultation Document for the Single Equality Bill.
9.1.1 The Committee noted a letter from the Committee of the Centre and notice from the Clerk of a paper commissioned from Research Services to be tabled at its next meeting.
9.2 DFP New TSN Action Plan
9.2.1 The Committee noted the reply from the Department dated 11 June 2001 in response to issues raised by the Committee.
9.3 Finance Training
9.3.1 The Committee noted dates in September for delivery of training to committee members and staff.
The Chairman declared the meeting closed at 4.35p.m.
Francie Molloy
Chairman