COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER
WEDNESDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2008
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr Danny Kennedy (Chairperson)
Mrs Naomi Long (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Tom Elliott
Mr Ian McCrea
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)

2.06 p.m. The meeting opened in public session.

1. Apologies

Mrs Dolores Kelly, Mr Barry McElduff

2. Chairperson’s Business

Meeting with the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People

The Chairperson advised Members that the Committee had received a request from Ms Patricia Lewsley, the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, to brief the Committee on the Commission’s work over the past year and its priorities for the next 3 years.

Agreed: Members agreed that the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People will brief the Committee on Wednesday 26 November 2008.

3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 5 November 2008

Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings were agreed by the Committee.

4. Consideration of European Issues

2.10 p.m. Mr Elliott joined the meeting.
2.10 p.m. Officials from OFMDFM joined the meeting.

Officials from OFMDFM, Mrs Evelyn Cummins and Mr Paul Geddis briefed the Committee on OFMDFM’s work in relation to Europe and the Committee’s terms of reference for its consideration of European issues. A question and answer session followed. Officials advised they would provide the Committee with further information relating to the newspaper article on the claw back of European funds. The Chairperson thanked Mrs Cummins and her team for their help during the Committee’s visit to Brussels.

2.45 p.m. Officials from OFMDFM left the meeting.
2.46 p.m. Maurice Maxwell joined the meeting.
2.46 p.m. Mr Kennedy left the meeting, Mrs Long took the Chair.

Mr Maurice Maxwell, Head of the European Commission’s Office in Belfast, briefed the Committee on the work of the European Commission’s Office and the Committee’s terms of reference for its consideration of European issues. A question and answer session followed.

3.10 p.m. Maurice Maxwell left the meeting.

Members discussed the forward work plan for its consideration of European issues.

Agreed: The Committee would bring forward its meeting with Northern Ireland’s Members of the European Parliament to 10.00am on Friday 12 December 2008 in Room 144.

5. Public Authorities (Reform) Bill

3.12 p.m. Officials from OFMDFM joined the meeting.

Mr Neil Jackson and Mr Jim Hamilton joined the meeting for the Committee’s clause-by-clause consideration of the Public Authorities (Reform) Bill. The Committee considered a response from the First Minister and deputy First Minister to the Committee’s request that the Agricultural Wages Board be included as a body to be abolished in the Bill. The response advised that the First Minister and deputy First Minister will not be proposing an amendment to include the Agricultural Wages Board as a body to be abolished in the Bill.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development to advise that this Committee would not be proposing an amendment to the Bill.

The Committee commenced formal clause-by-clause consideration of the Public Authorities (Reform) Bill.

Clause 1 – Fisheries Conservancy Board

Schedule 1 – The Fisheries Conservancy Board for Northern Ireland

Question: That the Committee is content with the clause and schedule as drafted, put and agreed to.

Clause 2 – Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board Northern Ireland

Schedule 2 – The Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board Northern Ireland

Question: That the Committee is content with the clause and schedule as drafted, put and agreed to.

Clause 3 – Northern Ireland Pig Production Development Committee