COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 17 September 2008
Room 144, PARLIAMENT bUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Danny Kennedy (Chairperson)
Mrs Naomi Long (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Tom Elliot
Mrs Dolores Kelly
Mr Ian McCrea
Mr Stephen Moutray
Mr Jim Shannon
Mr Jimmy Spratt
In Attendance:
Mrs Cathie White (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Keith McBride (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Antonia Hoskins (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Ms Helena Maginness (Clerical Officer)
2.10 p.m. The meeting opened in public session with the Deputy Chairperson in the Chair
1. Apologies
Mr Barry McElduff
2. Chairperson’s Business
Welcome to Mr Ian McCrea
The Deputy Chairperson welcomed Mr Ian McCrea to the Committee and wished him well in his new position. Mr McCrea declared the following interests:
Member, Cookstown District Council
Member, Cookstown District Policing Partnership
Member, Apprentice Boys of Derry
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 10 September 2008
Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings were agreed by the Committee.
4. Matters Arising
Sustainable Development Strategy
Members noted the response from OFMDFM on the Sustainable Development Strategy, Members agreed to consider when the further information on the Action Plan is received from the Department.
Asylum Seekers Research Briefing
Members noted the research briefing from the Assembly’s Research and Library Services on Asylum seekers and their children in Northern Ireland. The Committee agreed to write to the Security Minister, Mr Paul Goggins MP and the First Minister and the deputy First Minister expressing its concern on the holding conditions for asylum seekers and their children.
Northern Ireland Anti-Poverty Network
Members noted the response from OFMDFM advising that the Department has no statutory mechanism to fund the Northern Ireland Anti-Poverty Network. Members agreed to write to the First Minister and deputy First Minister to seek clarification if the anti-poverty strategy is waiting Executive approval.
5. The September Monitoring Round
The Deputy Chairperson advised Members that the papers for the September Monitoring Round were only received on Tuesday morning. Members agreed that the Committee would consider these papers with the Head of the Civil Service at next week’s meeting. Members also agreed to write to the First Minister and deputy First Minister seeking confirmation that the lateness of the September Monitoring Round Papers will be an exception.
6. EU Subsidiarity Pilot
A Senior Researcher from the Assembly’s Research and Library Services briefed the Committee on the EU pilot subsidiarity check. A question and answer session followed. Members agreed a response to the House of Lords EU Sub-Committee G.
7. Promoting Social Inclusion Report on Lone Parents
2.34 p.m. Officials joined the meeting
2.36 p.m. Mr Elliot joined the meeting
2.43 p.m. Mr Shannon joined the meeting
2.47 p.m. Mr Kennedy joined the meeting
Mrs Patricia Carey and Mrs Carol Carser briefed Members on the findings of the Promoting Social Inclusion Report on Lone Parents. A question and answer session followed.
3.11 p.m. Officials left the meeting
Members agreed a response to the Department on the Promoting Social Inclusion Report on Lone Parents.
8. Equality and Social Need Research and Information Strategy
3.14 p.m. Mr Kennedy took the Chair
3.14 p.m. Officials joined the meeting
Dr Stephen Donnelly and Mrs Patricia Carey briefed Members on the draft Equality and Social Need Research and Information Strategy. A question and answer session followed.
3.35 p.m. Mr Moutray left the meeting
3.37 p.m. Officials left the meeting
Members agreed a response to the Department on the Equality and Social Need Research and Information Strategy.
3.43 p.m. Mr Moutray joined the meeting
9. Review of the Economic Research Institute Northern Ireland (ERINI)
Members considered the final report on the Review of ERINI, carried out by KPMG. Members agreed to consider further with the Director of ERINI and the Chairman of the Board of ERINI at next week’s meeting.
10. Forward Work Programme
The Chairperson advised Members of the changes to the Forward Work Programme. Members agreed that the Committee write to the First Minister and deputy First Minister seeking details of items of business, that relate to OFMDFM, awaiting Executive approval.
11. Correspondence
Assembly and Executive Review Committee
Members noted the copy letters from the Assembly and Executive Review Committee to the First Minister and deputy First Minister concerning the devolution of policing and justice and the Efficiency Review Panel.
Reply to the Committee for Education
Members noted the correspondence from OFMDFM to the Committee for Education concerning the RPA Bill for Education.
12. Any other business
No other business
13. Date of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 24 September 2008 at 2.00 p.m. in Room 144.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.45 p.m.