COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 24 OCTOBER 2007
UNIVERSITY OF ULSTER, MAGEE CAMPUS.
Present: Danny Kennedy (Chairperson)
Martina Anderson
Tom Elliot
Dolores Kelly
Barry McElduff
Jim Shannon
Jim Wells
In Attendance: Christine Darrah (Assembly Clerk)
Antonia Hoskins (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Joe Sloan (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Lynda Mulholland (Clerical Supervisor)
Marion Johnson (Clerical Officer)
The meeting opened at 2.00 p.m. in public session.
1. Apologies
Naomi Long, Francie Molloy, Stephen Moutray, Jimmy Spratt.
2. Chairperson’s business
Invitation from Barnardo’s to attend a seminar on Child Poverty
The Chairperson informed the Committee that he was unable to accept an invitation from Barnardo’s to a seminar on child poverty in London on 28 and 29 October 2007. He advised that the Assistant Clerk would attend and report back to the Committee following the event. Dolores Kelly indicated her intention to attend the event and agreed to also represent the Committee at it.
Draft Programme for Government and ISNI’08 briefing by Junior Ministers
The Chairperson advised Members that a closed briefing session with Junior Ministers on the draft Programme for Government and draft Investment Strategy would be held in room 144, Parliament Buildings at 9.00 am on 25 October 2007, before the statement in the Assembly at 10.30 a.m. The Committee noted the information provided by OFMDFM on the proposed consultation on these issues.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 17 October 2007
The minutes of proceedings for Wednesday 17 October 2007 were agreed by the Committee.
4. Matters arising
Child Poverty Inquiry
The Committee agreed the list of organisations to which the Clerk would write inviting a written submission in relation to the inquiry into child poverty with the addition of St Vincent de Paul and the Salvation Army.
Draft response on the EU Gender Directive on Goods and Services
The Committee noted the further information provided by OFMDFM and following a discussion discussed and agreed a response on the initial assessment of the consultation exercise on the EU Gender Directive on Goods and Services.
5. Evidence Session in relation to the Child Poverty Inquiry with Save the Children
Officials from Save the Children joined the meeting at 2.22 p.m.
Representatives from Save the Children Mrs Tennant and Mrs Monteith gave oral evidence to the Committee in relation to child poverty inquiry. Key issues covered included the extent of the problem, the impact, the current strategy and actions, relevant experience elsewhere and proposals for further actions. This was followed by an informative question and answer session.
Hansard recorded the evidence session for publication in due course.
Mr McElduff left the meeting at 2.50 p.m.
Officials from Save the Children left the meeting at 3.16 p.m.
6. Correspondence
Regeneration of Maze/Long Kesh
The Committee noted further information provided by OFMDFM regarding a detailed timetable and definitive timescales for the completion of the Maze/Long Kesh regeneration project and agreed to write again on the matter.
North/South Ministerial Council and British Irish Council Meetings
The Committee noted the information provided by OFMDFM on the mechanisms in place to communicate and engage with Assembly Committees regarding the work of the NSMC and BIC and the schedule of future planned meetings.
Letter from Putting Children First Alliance
The Committee noted a paper from Putting Children First Alliance on the Commissioner for Young Children and Young People (NI) Order and agreed that the organisation should be invited to give a short presentation at the meeting scheduled for 7 November 2007.
Letter from Social Development Committee regarding the Inquiry into Town Centre Regeneration
The Committee agreed to forward a letter from the Committee for Social Development regarding its inquiry into town centre regeneration to the First Minister and Deputy First Minister. The Committee also agreed to consider responding to the Social Development Committee on the inquiry at a later date.
7. Advisory Council on Investment and Infrastructure (ACII)
The Chairman of the ACII joined the meeting at 3.21 p.m.
The Independent Chair of the Advisory Council on Investment and Infrastructure, John Keanie, briefed the Committee on the role and work of the Council and highlighted issues it had raised regarding the development and procurement of public service infrastructure. Mr Keanie agreed to provide the Committee with the Councils’s views on the draft Investment Strategy in due course.
The Committee agreed to write to OFMDFM requesting a copy of a report on the capacity of the public sector and the private sector to deliver the planned infrastructure programme.
The Chairman of the ACII left the meeting at 3.53 p.m.
8. Date of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 7 November 2007 at 2.00 p.m. in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.55. p.m.