COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 5 SEPTEMBER 2007
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Danny Kennedy (Chairperson)
Martina Anderson
Dolores Kelly
Barry McElduff
Francie Molloy
Stephen Moutray
Jim Wells
In Attendance: Debbie Pritchard (Principal Clerk)
Joe Sloan (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Antonia Hoskins (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Lynda Mulholland (Clerical Supervisor)
Marion Johnson (Clerical Officer)
Eileen Regan (Senior Researcher)
The meeting opened at 2.05 p.m. in public session.
1. Apologies
Jimmy Spratt.
The Chairperson informed the Committee that the Committee Clerk, Mr Damien Martin is recovering at home following an accident. The Committee agreed to send Mr Martin a message of goodwill and wish him a speedy recovery.
Mr Mc Elduff joined the meeting at 2.07 p.m.
2. Chairperson’s business
Members noted that a number of papers relating to matters arising from previous meetings some months ago had only just been received and some were still outstanding. The Committee agreed that the Principal Clerk should write to the Department expressing the Committee’s dissatisfaction about the provision of responses to enquiries.
The Chairperson briefed the Committee on slippage in timing for a number of issues which were expected to come before the Committee at its first meetings following the summer recess, including Programme for Government and Budget 2007. The Committee agreed to receive briefing on emerging budget pressures and efficiencies in OFMDFM for Budget 2007 and also to invite the Strategic Investment Board to provide briefing on the draft Investment Strategy for 2008-20018 at its meeting on 12 September 2007. The Committee agreed to consider the process for developing PfG / Budget / ISNI at its meeting on 19 September 2007 and to write to OFMDFM to establish a timetable for consideration by Committee of the Maze / Long Kesh draft business case.
The Committee considered papers issued during the summer recess and in particular discussed if Committee consideration should be made of the Cost of Division report by Deloitte.
Mr Kennedy proposed that the authors be invited to make a presentation to the Committee on the Cost of Division report.
The Committee divided: Ayes 3; Noes 3
| AYES | NOES |
| D Kelly | M Anderson |
| D Kennedy | B Mc Elduff |
| S Moutray | F Molloy |
The motion was accordingly negatived.
Mr Wells joined the meeting at 2.30 p.m.
Members noted correspondence and a number of invitations to the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and Committee from:
Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments, Northern Ireland
Friends of the Earth
One Small Step Campaign
Review of Assembly Secretariat
Junior Ministers - Five Nations Play Summit
OFMDFM - Sustainable Development Commission
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 4 July 2007
The minutes of proceedings for Wednesday 4 July 2007 were agreed by the Committee.
4. Matters arising
Maze / Long Kesh programme costs
The Committee noted that the request for details of costs incurred on the Maze / Long Kesh programme had not yet been received by the Secretariat.
Maze / Long Kesh transcript
The Committee agreed that the unofficial transcript of its meeting with OFMDFM officials on the Maze / Long Kesh programme should be passed to the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure to assist its deliberations on proposed siting of the multi-purpose sports stadium at the location.
Review of Public Administration savings
The Committee noted the response from OFMDFM on the position of savings achieved to date as the result of the Review in the areas of Health, Education and Local Authorities. The Committee agreed to write to the Health and Education Committees with a number of concerns in relation to the impacts of implementation of the Review in the relevant departments.
Review of Planning Appeals Commission
Mr Wells declared an interest.
The Committee noted the terms of reference for the review of the Commission. Members agreed to write to OFMDFM to request the preliminary report and conclusions and to provide comment that the review should include recommendations for immediate action to reduce the backlog of appeals.
Review of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young people
The Committee discussed the response from OFMDFM regarding legislative powers of the Commissioner and agreed to raise this issue with the Assembly and Executive Review Committee during its inquiry into the devolution of policing and justice.
5. Review of the Civic Forum
Officials joined the meeting at 2.47 p.m.
The Committee was briefed by OFMDFM officials, Stewart Johnston, Aidan Cassidy and Liz Benson on the draft terms of reference and methodology for the review of the Civic Forum.
Mr Molloy left the meeting at 3.03 p.m.
Officials left the meeting at 3.14 p.m.
Members agreed to write to the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister requesting a copy of a report by Phil Nicholls of the Social Economy Agency on options for legal structures for a civic forum and to provide comments made by Members to OFMDFM on the terms of reference, methodology and timing for the review.
6. Sustainable Development
Officials joined the meeting at 3.30 p.m.
Departmental officials, Linda Wilson and Bobby Clulow briefed the Committee on the position in relation to the Northern Ireland Sustainable Development Strategy and Implementation Plan and on proposed indicators to assess progress towards sustainable development using objective and target measures in the strategy.
Mr Mc Elduff left the meeting at 3.50 p.m.
Officials left the meeting at 3.51 p.m.
Members agreed to write to OFMDFM to provide comments on the sustainable development indicators and on the strategy.
Members agreed to write to the other statutory committees promoting scrutiny of department specific and cross-cutting action points in the sustainable development implementation plan.
7. Correspondence
Members noted the letter from the Assembly and Executive Review Committee to OFMDFM in relation to the establishment of the Review Group to examine the North South Ministerial Council implementation bodies.
Members noted the minute from the Assembly and Executive Review Committee to the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister indicating its interest in any inquiry into poverty and social exclusion.
Members noted the response from OFMDFM to a number of queries raised by the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure and agreed to pass these to that committee.
8. Any other business
In response to a question by a Member, the Chairperson advised the Committee that he had not received any correspondence from OFMDFM regarding the appointment of special advisers to the Junior Ministers.
9. Date of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 12 September 2007 at 2.00 p.m. in Room 144 Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.00.p.m.