COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE
FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 10 OCTOBER 2007
Room 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Danny Kennedy (Chairperson)
Naomi Long (Deputy Chairperson)
Martina Anderson
Tom Elliot
Dolores Kelly
Barry McElduff
Francie Molloy
Stephen Moutray
Jim Shannon
Jimmy Spratt
Jim Wells

In Attendance:
Christine Darrah (Assembly Clerk)
Antonia Hoskins (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
David Douglas (Clerical Supervisor)
Marion Johnson (Clerical Officer)

The meeting opened at 2.02 p.m. in public session.

1. Apologies

None

2. Appointment of a Victims Commissioner

Mr Elliot joined the meeting at 2.05 p.m.

The Chairperson advised that the proposed briefing had been cancelled given the announcement on Monday 8 October by the First Minister and Deputy First Minister on the extension of the process to appoint a Commissioner for Victims and Survivors. The Committee discussed issues relating to the announcement and agreed to request further information on the Status of the Interim Victim’s Commissioners report.

3. Chairperson’s business

Invitation to EU Mock Council and lunch with the Head of the European Commission Representation in the United Kingdom

The Chairperson informed the Committee that he intended to accept an invitation to open the EU Mock Council meeting on Wednesday 17 October in the Long Gallery. The Committee were invited to meet with Reijo Kemppinen, Head of the European Commission Representation in the United Kingdom over lunch on 17 October 07, before the Committee meeting.

Invitation from NIPPA to Symposium on Investing in Young Children

The Chairperson advised the Committee of an invitation to attend the NIPPA symposium on 1 November 2007. Mr Barry McElduff advised that he would attend the event and encouraged other Members to do so..

4. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 3 October 2007

The minutes of proceedings for Wednesday 3 October 2007 were agreed by the Committee.

5. Matters arising

Further information on October Monitoring Round

Members discussed the further information supplied by OFMDFM on the October Monitoring Round and the Department’s October Monitoring Return submitted to DFP. The Committee agreed to request further clarification and information on a number of issues.

Child Poverty Inquiry

The Committee was advised that advertisements would be placed in the newspapers in the near future inviting written submissions in relation to the Child Poverty Inquiry and that a detailed work schedule for the Inquiry would be tabled at next week’s meeting. Members agreed to request further information on the current status of the Lifetimes Opportunity Strategy.

Cost of Division Report

The Chairperson advised that procedural guidance did allow for an item to be discussed again by a Committee so long as notice had been given to all members of the Committee of the intention to revisit the previous decision. The Chairperson advised that consideration to invite the authors of the Cost of Division Report would be placed on the agenda at the earliest date. The Committee also agreed to write to the Committee on Procedures with regard to the general issue.

6. Forward Work Programme

The Committee briefly discussed the updated Forward Work Programme and noted that a number of issues would be rescheduled once OFMDFM provided revised timescales.

7. Proposed Visit to Ilex

Members discussed and agreed the outline programme for the proposed visit to Ilex. The Committee also agreed that the meeting on 24 October would be held in Magee College.

8. EU Gender Directive on Goods and Services

Departmental officials joined the meeting at 2.56 p.m.

Departmental Officials Patricia Carey, Carol McCabe and Roberta Mercer briefed the Committee and answered questions on the results of the consultation exercise on the EU Gender Directive on Goods and Services. Members raised a number of issues requiring further written clarification by officials. The Committee agreed to consider a response to OFMDFM on this matter at next weeks meeting.

Mr Spratt left the meeting at 3.44 p.m.
Departmental officials left the meeting at 3.45 p.m.

9. Disability Discrimination Legislation.

Departmental officials joined the meeting at 3.52 p.m.
Mr Spratt joined the meeting at 3.53 p.m.

Departmental Officials Patricia Carey, Carol McCabe and Margaret Glass presented proposals to the Committee on four Statutory Rules which would implement key parts of the Disability Discrimination Order:-

• The Disability Discrimination (Service Providers and Public Authorities

Carrying Out Functions) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007;

• The Disability Discrimination (Premises) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007;
• The Disability Discrimination (Questions and Replies) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007; and

Mr McElduff left the meeting at 4.06 p.m.
Mr Moutray left the meeting at 4.10 p.m.

• The Disability Discrimination (Private Clubs, etc) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007.

Officials answered questions and provided further clarification on a number of issues raised.

Following consideration the Committee agreed that it was content with the proposals for each of the Statutory Rules.

Mr McElduff joined the meeting at 4.15.p.m.
Mr Moutray joined the meeting at 4.16 p.m.
Mr Spratt left the meeting at 4.17 p.m.
Departmental officials left the meeting at 4.29 p.m.

10. Correspondence

Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY)

The Committee noted information provided by OFMDFM in relation to the Children’s Commissioner and agreed to request further comparative information on the equivalent body in the Republic of Ireland.

Letter from the Consultative Group on the Past

The Committee noted a letter from the Consultative Group on the Past, following the briefing session on 26 September and agreed to maintain contact with the group. Members also requested a transcript of the briefing session.

Letter from the Assembly and Executive Review Committee

The Committee noted the letter from the Assembly and Executive Review Committee regarding the monitoring of the Lifetime Opportunities Strategy relating to Poverty and Social Inclusion and agreed to reply advising that it would be monitoring the strategy and its implementation closely and would liaise with other Statutory Committees as necessary on this matter.

11. AOB

High Level Impact Assessments

The Committee agreed to request further clarification from OFMDFM regarding the use of High Level Impact Assessments and Equality Impact Assessments in relation to high level strategies.

12. Date of the next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 17 October 2007 at 2.00 p.m. in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.35 p.m.

Mr Danny Kennedy
Chairperson, Committee for the Office
of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister

03 October 07 / Menu