COMMITTEE FOR FINANCE AND PERSONNEL
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
NINETY FIFTH MEETING
TUESDAY, 18 JUNE 2002
COMMITTEE ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Francie Molloy (Chairman)
Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairman)
Mr Alex Attwood
Mr Billy Bell
Mr Seamus Close
Mr Derek Hussey
Mr Roger Hutchinson
Ms Patricia Lewsley
Mr Alex Maskey
Mr Maurice Morrow
Mr Peter Weir
In attendance:
Mr Alan Patterson (Principal Clerk)
Ms Sheila McClelland (Clerk)
Mr Joe Sloan (Assistant Clerk)
Ms Shauna McDaid (Executive Support)
Mr Jonathan Briggs (Administrative Support)
The Chairman declared the meeting open at 2.22 p.m.
1. Apologies.
1.1 None.
2. Minutes of Proceedings.
2.1 The Committee considered the Minutes of Proceedings for 11 June 2002.
Resolved: The Committee agreed the Minutes of Proceedings of 11 June 2002.
Mr Hussey and Mr Maskey attended the meeting at 2.25 p.m.
3. Matters arising.
3.1 The Committee noted the letter from the Department in relation to the Department's bids for Executive Programme Funds.
Resolved: The Committee agreed to support the Department's bids and the priorities applied to them.
3.2 The Committee noted the letter from the Minister regarding the Scottish Water Service and the publication of a report on the feasibility of Not for Profit Trusts including Scottish Water due to be published before the end of the summer.
3.3 The Committee considered the Statutory Rule 211/2002 in relation to Superannuation for Invest Northern Ireland, which has been laid in the Assembly Business Office.
Resolved: The Committee considered the Statutory Rule 211/2002 Superannuation (Invest Northern Ireland) Order (Northern Ireland) 2002 and delegated its functions under Standing Order 41 (3), (4) and (5) to the Examiner of Statutory Rules. The Committee has no objections to the Statutory Rule subject to the Examiner's Report.
3.4 The Committee noted the letter from the Minister of Finance and Personnel in regard to the Quinquennial Review of the Rates Collection Agency and his intention to implement the main recommendations of the Stage 1 Report.
3.5 The Committee noted the letter from the Minister of Finance and Personnel with regard to the Review of Public Procurement and his agreement to provide a progress report on implementation of the action points detailed in his statement to the Assembly on 27 May 2002.
4. Executive's Position Report.
4.1 The Committee was briefed by the Clerk on a proposed schedule for consideration of its response to the Executive's Position Report and a co-ordinated response from the Assembly Committees to the Executive Committee.
Mr Weir left the meeting at 2.50 p.m.
Resolved: The Committee agreed to the proposed schedule.
4.2 The Committee considered the questions presented in the Executive's Position Report in relation to the Department of Finance of Finance and Personnel.
Ms Lewsley attended the meeting at 2.56 p.m.
Resolved: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should collate the responses by the Committee for further consideration at its next meeting.
5. Inquiry into European Structural Funds and Community Initiatives - Evidence Session.
5.1 Representatives from the Society of Local Authority Chief Executive's, Mr Trevor Reaney, Mr John Kennedy and Mr Victor Brownlees, attended the meeting and presented evidence to the Committee in connection with its Inquiry.
Mr Maskey left the meeting at 3.29 p.m. Ms Lewsley left the meeting at 3.38 p.m.. Mr Close attended the meeting at 3.43 p.m. Mr Attwood attended the meeting at 3.47 p.m. Mr Morrow left the meeting at 4.01 p.m.
Due to Division in the House the meeting was adjourned at 4.17 p.m.
Following Division the meeting resumed at 4.40 p.m with Mr Molloy, Mr Beggs, Mr Bell, Mr Close and Mr Morrow attending. Mr Hussey attended the meeting at 4.45 p.m.
5.2 The representatives answered questions from the Committee.
6. Northern Ireland Economic Council - Review.
6.1 The Committee was briefed on the proposals by the Executive Committee to establish a single research body combining the Northern Ireland Economic Council and the Northern Ireland Economic Research Centre to provide economic advice to the Administration.
Resolved: The Committee agreed to invite Mr Victor Hewitt from the Department of Finance and Personnel and Ms Janet Trewsdale from the Northern Ireland Economic Council to brief them on the matter before responding to the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.
7. Committee Business Programme.
7.1 The Committee noted its programme of forthcoming business.
8. Correspondence.
8.1 The Committee noted the consultation document on proposals to convert the Northern Ireland Registry of Companies to an e-Government service.
8.2 The Committee noted the receipt of the Strategic and Business Plans for the Department's Business Development Service.
8.3 The Committee noted the final report on public and closed meetings of the Assembly Committees.
8.4 The Committee noted the request by the Committee for Enterprise Trade and Investment for the Department of Finance and Personnel's official, Mr Brian Mc Clure, to give oral evidence in respect of Industrial de-rating.
Resolved: The Committee agreed to forward the letter to Mr Mc Clure.
9. Any other business.
9.1 None.
10. Date of next meeting.
10.1 The next meeting was agreed as Wednesday 19 June 2002 at 2 p.m. in room 144.
The Chairman declared the meeting closed at 5.08 pm.
Francie Molloy
Chairman