COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2007
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT bUILDINGS.
Present:
Danny Kennedy (Chairperson)
Dolores Kelly
Francie Molloy
Stephen Moutray
Jim Shannon
Jim Wells
In Attendance:
Christine Darrah (Assembly Clerk)
Damien Martin (Assembly Clerk)
Antonia Hoskins (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Joe Sloan (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Lynda Mulholland (Clerical Supervisor)
Marion Johnson (Clerical Officer)
The meeting opened at 2.03 p.m. in public session.
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Apologies
Martina Anderson, Tom Elliot , Naomi Long , Barry McElduff, Jimmy Spratt.
- Chairperson’s business
Meeting with the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education
The Committee noted that the Chairperson had accepted an invitation to meet with the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education in relation to the shared future policy and that the outcome of the meeting would be reported to the Committee at a later date.
Christmas Cards
The Committee noted that the Chairperson proposed to issue Christmas cards to relevant statutory bodies.
Executive’s Legislative Programme
The Committee noted that the take note debate on the Executive’s legislative programme for 2007-2008 is to take place on Monday 20 November 2007.
Director of the Economic Research Institute for Northern Ireland’s attendance at Finance and Personnel Committee meeting
The Committee noted the attendance of the Director at the Committee for Finance and Personnel’s meeting today. OFMDFM is the sponsoring body for the Institute.
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Draft minutes of the meeting held on 7 November 2007
The minutes of proceedings for Wednesday 7 November 2007 were agreed by the Committee subject to an amendment to the record of the second division on actions arising from the letter from the Families Acting for Innocent Relatives.
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Matters arising
Reviewing the case for a Commissioner for Older People
The Committee noted the response from OFMDFM confirming the appointment of consultants, Deloitte & Touche, to carry out the review and providing details of the appointment process. The Committee also noted that the consultants are seeking the views of the Committee and agreed to write to OFMDFM broadly supporting the case for a Commissioner for Older People. The Committee also agreed to request a briefing on the review in advance of any Ministerial decision on the case for a Commissioner for Older People.
Forward Work Programme
The Committee considered and agreed its forward work programme and agreed that it may be necessary to schedule an additional meeting before Christmas if some of the major policies of interest to the Committee come forward from the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
Take note debate on Programme for Government and Investment Strategy
The Committee noted that the “Take Note” debate has been scheduled for Monday 26 November 2007.
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Correspondence
Trevor Phillips public lecture
The Committee noted the invitation to the lecture by Trevor Phillips, the Chair of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights entitled “The role of Education in Promoting Equality and Social Cohesion”. As the timing clashes with the Committee’s weekly meeting, the Committee Clerk was asked to obtain Mr Phillip’s speaking notes for Committee consideration.
Letter from Committee for Employment and Learning
The Committee noted a letter from the Committee for Employment and Learning regarding the establishment of a student complaints body and agreed to write to OFMDFM to ascertain if the Department has a view on this matter.
Response to Health Committee’s inquiry into prevention of suicide and self harm
The Committee noted the response from the First Minister and deputy First Minister and agreed to forward this to the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety.
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Any other business
The Committee noted that responses to the transcript of the Child Poverty Inquiry evidence session with Save the Children are now required.
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Draft Programme for Government, Budget and Investment Strategy consultation
Mr Wells joined the meeting at 2.23 p.m.
OFMDFM officials Paul Priestly, Jackie Kerr and Cynthia Smyth joined the meeting at 2.29p.m.
The officials briefed the Committee on how OFMDFM priorities, key goals and Public Service Agreement targets agreed by the First Minister and the deputy First Minister interact with the Executive’s Programme for Government (PfG), Budget and Investment Strategy (ISNI) documents.
The officials answered questions from Members relating to OFMDFM’s priorities, Public Service Agreement targets, budget and proposed efficiencies and agreed to provide additional information on a number of issues.
Mrs Kelly left the meeting at 3.03 p.m.
The officials gave an undertaking that the Committee would be consulted on OFMDFM’s revised efficiency proposals and on the proposed performance management framework under development by OFMDFM and the Department of Finance and Personnel.
The officials left the meeting at 3.48 p.m.
The Committee agreed to forward to OFMDFM a number of additional questions in writing and to give further consideration to PfG and ISNI and consider its draft response to the Committee for Finance and Personnel on the Draft Budget at its next meeting.
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Child Poverty Inquiry
The Committee considered a research paper on Child Poverty and requested additional information in relation to the impact of including housing costs when calculating child poverty in Northern Ireland.
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Date of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 21 November 2007 at 2.00 p.m. in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.07. p.m.