COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER
WEDNESDAY 8 October 2008
Room 144, PARLIAMENT bUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Danny Kennedy (Chairperson)
Mrs Naomi Long (Deputy Chairperson)
Ms Martina Anderson
Mr Tom Elliott
Mr Ian McCrea
Mr Barry McElduff
Mr Stephen Moutray
Mr Jim Shannon
Mr Jimmy Spratt
In Attendance:
Mrs Cathie White (Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Linda Gregg (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Keith McBride (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Lynda Mulholland (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Helena Maginness (Clerical Officer)
Mr Denis Arnold (Bill Clerk)
2.32 p.m. The meeting opened in public session
1. Apologies
Mr Francie Molloy
2. Chairperson’s Business
Invitation from the Welsh Equality of Opportunity Committee
Members considered the invitation from the Welsh Equality of Opportunity Committee to visit the Welsh Assembly to discuss areas within equal opportunities.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Committee will accept the invitation from the Welsh Equality of Opportunity Committee. Members agreed to advise the Clerk of their availability to attend.
Visit by the President of the European Parliament
Members noted the planning arrangements for the proposed visit to the Assembly by Mr Hans-Gert Pottering, President of the European Parliament on Monday 24 November.
Letter of sympathy to the deputy First Minister
Members noted the letter from the Chairperson to the deputy First Minister, offering the Committee’s sympathy and condolences on the death of his mother.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 1 October 2008
Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings were agreed by the Committee.
4. Matters Arising
US-NI Investment Conference
Members noted the letter from the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, in response to the Committee’s queries on the US-NI Investment Conference.
Non-receipt of Departmental Papers
Members noted the response from the First Minister and deputy First Minister concerning the non-receipt of Departmental papers.
Junior Ministers
Members noted the letter from the Junior Ministers, requesting that their scheduled meeting with the Committee on 15 October, be rescheduled to Wednesday 5 November. The Chairperson advised Members that this would be the final rescheduling.
5. EU Terms of Reference and Action Plan
The Committee considered the draft terms of reference and action plan for its consideration of European issues.
2.41 p.m. Mrs Long joined the meeting
Agreed: Members agreed the terms of reference and action plan for its consideration of European issues. Members agreed that the Committee would consider European issues approximately one meeting in four. Members agreed to request from the Assembly’s Research and Library Services, a list of key stakeholders that the Committee may wish to seek written evidence from. Members agreed a press release.
6. Public Authorities (Reform) Bill
2.49 p.m. Officials from OFMDFM, the Department for Social Development and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development joined the meeting.
Officials from OFMDFM, the Department for Social Development and the Department for Agriculture and Rural Development, gave oral evidence to the Committee concerning the Public Authorities (Reform) Bill. A question and answer session followed.
3.05 p.m. Mr McCrea left the meeting
Mr Elliott proposed that the Committee ask that the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister introduces the abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board into the Bill.
The Committee divided on the proposal: Ayes 6; Noes 2
Ayes: Mr Tom Elliott, Mr Danny Kennedy, Mrs Naomi Long, Mr Stephen Moutray, Mr Jim Shannon, Mr Jimmy Spratt.
Noes: Ms Martina Anderson, Mr Barry McElduff.
Agreed: The Committee asks the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to introduce the abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board into the Bill.
The session was recorded by Hansard
3.21 p.m. Officials from OFMDFM, the Department for Social Development and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development left the meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed a motion to extend the Committee Consideration Stage to 12 December, Ms Anderson wished to note that she did not agree with the motion to extend.
7. Committee for Finance and Personnel Inquiry
Members considered the Committee for Finance and Personnel Inquiry into the role of the NI Assembly in scrutinising the Executive’s Budget and expenditure and also the DFP review of the NI Executive’s Budget process.
Agreed: Members agreed a response to the Committee for Finance and Personnel.
8. Correspondence
Committee for Social Development
Members agreed to forward the letter from the Committee for Social Development, concerning the Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments No.2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008, to the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
NIAUR Sustainability Consultation
Members considered the papers from the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee concerning the NIAUR Sustainability Consultation.
Agreed: Members agreed to consider in more detail at next week’s meeting. Members also agreed they would forward any comments to the Clerk in advance of next week’s meeting.
3.29 p.m. Mr McCrea joined the meeting
9. Any Other Business
Section 64 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998
Members were advised that the Committee for Finance and Personnel were seeking clarification from the Department of Finance and Personnel on Section 64 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and the provision within for the laying of a Budget each year. This may have implications for OFMDFM regarding the Programme for Government.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Clerk should write to the Clerk for the Committee for Finance and Personnel seeking to be kept informed of any response from the Department of Finance and Personnel.
Invitation from the Victims and Survivors Commissioners
The Chairperson advised Members of the invitation to the Committee from the Victims and Survivors Commissioners to a discussion workshop in the Stormont Hotel at 12.45 p.m. on Monday 20 October 2008. Members are to notify the Commissioner’s office of their availability to attend.
Parliamentary Language
Members had a discussion on the use of Parliamentary language by officials attending a meeting of the Committee.
10. Date of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 15 October 2008 at 2.00 p.m. in Room 144.
3.37 p.m. The Chairperson adjourned the meeting