COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY
FIRST MINISTER

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 29 APRIL 2009
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr Danny Kennedy (Chairperson)
Mrs Naomi Long (Deputy Chairperson)
Ms Martina Anderson
Mr Tom Elliott
Mrs Dolores Kelly
Mr Ian McCrea
Mr Barry McElduff
Mr Francie Molloy
Mr Stephen Moutray
Mr Jim Shannon
Mr Jimmy Spratt

In Attendance:
Ms Cathie White (Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Linda Gregg (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Colin Wilson (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Ms Linda Mulholland (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr James Quinn (Clerical Officer)

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

1. Apologies

None

2. Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson informed members that the European elections are due to be held on 4 June 2009. Some Committee’s have agreed to postpone their meetings for that week as members may not be available to attend.

Agreed: Members agreed to defer their meeting of 3 June 2009.

Community Relations Council – Communications Strategy Review

The Chairperson advised members of correspondence received from the Community Relations Council requesting the Chairperson’s participation in a review of the organisations Communications Strategy .

Agreed: Members agreed that the Chairperson and deputy Chairperson should meet with the Community Relations Council consultants.

Events and Invitations -
Meeting with the Welsh and Scottish Equality of Opportunity Committees’

The Chairperson advised members that a meeting is scheduled to take place in the Long Gallery on the morning of Monday 8 June 2009 with the Welsh and Scottish Equality of Opportunity Committees’ and that this date is a counting day for the European elections.

Agreed: Members agreed to defer this meeting and reschedule a new date after the summer recess.

3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 22 April 2009

Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 22 April 2009 were agreed by the Committee.

2.07 p.m. Mr Ian McCrea, Mr Stephen Moutray, Mr Jim Shannon and Mr Jimmy Spratt joined the meeting.

4. Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities

2.08 p.m. Mr Tom Elliott joined the meeting.
2.09 p.m. Mr Patrick Yu, Executive Director of the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities (NICEM) joined the meeting.

Mr Patrick Yu (NICEM) briefed the Committee on a review of the Race Relations Order. This was followed by a question and answer session.

2.35 p.m. Mr Patrick Yu, Executive Director of the NICEM left the meeting.

Agreed: Members agreed to request details of the membership of the expert panel and ask the Department why there has been no engagement with them since 2006.

Agreed: Members agreed to write to the Department and ask what their view is on the Race Relations Order in the absence of taking forward the Single Equality Bill.

2.37 p.m. Mrs Naomi Long left the meeting

5. Consideration of European Issues

The Chairperson advised members that the Children’s Law Centre had confirmed that they are unable to appear before the Committee to provide evidence for the Europe inquiry.

Agreed: Members agreed to write to the Special EU Programmes Body and ask them if they would be prepared to come and give evidence to the Committee on the Europe inquiry.

2.38 p.m. Mr Ronnie Hall from the DG Regional Policy Departmnent of the European Commission joined the meeting.

Mr Ronnie Hall from DG Regional Development briefed the Committee on European issues. This was followed by a question and answer session.

3.12 p.m. Mr Tom Elliott left the meeting
3.18 p.m. Mr Ronnie Hall from the DG Regional Policy left the meeting.
3.19 p.m. Mr Barry McElduff left the meeting
3.20 p.m. Mr Wilfred M itchell, Mr Paul Givan and Mr George Dorrian from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) joined the meeting .

Mr Wilfred M itchell, Mr Paul Givan and Mr George Dorrian from the FSB briefed the Committee on European issues. This was followed by a question and answer session.

3.36 p.m. Mr Stephen Moutray left the meeting.
3.39 p.m. Mr Tom Elliott joined the meeting
3.49 p.m. Mr Wilfred M itchell, Mr Paul Givan and Mr George Dorrian from the FSB left the meeting.

Agreed: The Committee asked the FSB to provide further information on the Small Business Act and the Supply Chain Network.

6. Matters arising

EC-UK Agenda

The Committee noted the draft agenda for the EC-UK meeting on Monday 8 June 2009 in Cardiff.

Letter from OFMDFM to member of the public .

The Committee noted the letter from the Department.

Tax Credits – Improving delivery and choice – proposed Committee Response

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to HM Treasury asking if the childcare voucher scheme could be extended to families who work and pay taxes in Northern Ireland but use childcare facilities in the Republic of Ireland. The Committee further agreed to ask that Northern Ireland be included in the Childcare Affordability Pilot project.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to use the draft response to formulate a reply to HM Treasury’s earlier letter of 9 March 2009.

3.53 p.m. Mr Stephen Moutray joined the meeting.

Welfare Reform Bill - Update from Action for Children

The Committee noted the letter from Action for Children regarding proposed changes to the Welfare Reform Bill.

3.54 p.m. Mr Francie Molloy left the meeting

EU Match Funding response from DFP

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to request further information on EU funding.

NIFHA further information

The Committee noted the further information provided by the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Association’s.

Houses of the Oireachtas – Joint Committee on European Affairs

The Committee noted the letter from the Houses of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Affairs.

3.55 p.m. Mr Barry McElduff joined the meeting.

7. Correspondence

North Belfast Community Action Unit: Evaluation of the Community Empowerment Partnerships

The Committee noted the evaluation report on the Community Empowerment Partnerships.

3.56 p.m. Mr Francie Molloy joined the meeting

Europe Day Invitation

The Committee noted the Europe Day reception on Friday 8 May 2009 between 12.30 and 2.00 p.m. in the Harbour Office, Belfast.

Letter from the Environment Committee: Briefing from BT Chief Sustainability Officer

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the memo from the Committee for the Environment to the Department for comments .

World Forum on Care and Education

Agreed: Members agreed that the Chairperson and deputy Chairperson should receive a briefing from the Early Years organisation on the World Forum on Care and Education .

8. Evidence Session with Department Officials

Victims and Survivors Service Proposals

4.00 p.m. Colin Jack, William Redpath and Kellie Service from OFMDFM joined the meeting .

Colin Jack, William Redpath and Kellie Service briefed the Committee on the Victims and Survivors Service Proposals . This was followed by a question and answer session.

4.39 p.m. Colin Jack, William Redpath and Kellie Service from OFMDFM left the meeting .

4.39 p.m. Mr Stephen Moutray left the meeting.

5. Consideration of European Issues (continued)

4.40 p.m. Mr Trevor Newsom from the Directors Office, Queens University Belfast (QUB) joined the meeting.

Mr Trevor Newsom from QUB briefed the Committee on European issues. This was followed by a question and answer session.

4.57 p.m. Mr Trevor Newsom from the Directors Office, QUB left the meeting.

8. Evidence Session with Department Officials (continued)

Proposed Race Relations Order (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2009

4.58 p.m. Colin Jack, David McGowan, Pascal McCulla from OFMDFM joined the meeting

Colin Jack, David McGowan and Pascal McCulla briefed the Committee on the SL1 Draft Race Relations Order . This was followed by a question and answer session.

5.01 p.m. Colin Jack, David McGowan, Pascal McCulla from OFMDFM left the meeting .

9. Any other Business