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

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 1 JULY 2009
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

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

In Attendance:
Mrs Cathie White (Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Linda Gregg (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Colin Wilson (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Stephen Magee (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Marion Johnson (Clerical Officer)

The meeting opened at 2.05 p.m. in public session

1. Apologies

None

2. Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson welcomed Mr Alex Attwood to the Committee and wished him well in his new position, the Chairperson asked Mr Attwood to declare any interests to the Committee, Mr Attwood advised that he had no interests to declare.

The Chairperson advised members that he and the Clerk had met with representatives from the Early Years Strategic Alliance to discuss the Department’s Childcare Strategy.

2.07 p.m. Mr Moutray joined the meeting.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department on a number of issues regarding the Childcare strategy.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a paper from the Women’s Centres Childcare Fund to the Committee for Social Development.

The Chairperson advised members that he and the Clerk had met with representatives from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to discuss the Department’s Sustainable Development Strategy.

The Chairperson asked members to complete a form detailing availability during the summer recess and forward to the Committee Office.

2.08 p.m. Ms Anderson joined the meeting.

3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 24 June 2009

Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 24 June 2009 were agreed by the Committee.

4. Consideration of European Issues

2.09 p.m. Mrs E Kelly from the Northern Ireland Executive Office in Brussels joined the meeting.

Mrs E Kelly briefed the Committee on European issues. This was followed by a question and answer session.

2.10 p.m. Mr Shannon joined the meeting.
2.28 p.m. Mr Moutray left the meeting.
2.38 p.m. Mrs Long left the meeting.
2.40 p.m. Mrs E Kelly from the Northern Ireland Executive Office in Brussels left the meeting.

The Chairperson advised members that he had to temporarily leave the meeting and as the deputy Chairperson was not present, members should elect a temporary Chairperson to take charge of the meeting.

2.42 p.m. Mr Kennedy left the meeting.

Mr McElduff proposed Mr Spratt and Mr Shannon seconded the proposal, the Committee agreed that Mr Spratt assume the position of temporary Chairperson.

5. Briefing on the UK Child Poverty Bill

2.45 p.m. Departmental Officials Mr G Mulligan, Mr S Donnelly and Mr M Pollock joined the meeting.

Mr G Mulligan, Mr S Donnelly and Mr M Pollock briefed the Committee regarding the UK Child Poverty Bill. This was followed by a question and answer session.

2.55 p.m. Mr Moutray joined the meeting.
3.22 p.m. Departmental Officials Mr G Mulligan, Mr S Donnelly and Mr M Pollock left the meeting.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk would draft a composite response of views and email to members for approval, the Committee also agreed that if necessary an emergency meeting would be held to approve a composite reply to the Department.

3.24 p.m. Mr Kennedy rejoined the meeting and took over the role of Chairperson.

6. Briefing on the Gender Equality Strategy

3.25 p.m. Departmental Officials Mr G Mulligan and Ms E Sung joined the meeting.

Mr G Mulligan and Ms E Sung briefed the Committee regarding the Gender Equality Strategy. This was followed by a question and answer session.

3.40 p.m. Mr McCrea left the meeting.
3.54 p.m. Departmental Officials Mr G Mulligan and Ms E Sung left the meeting.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite the Gender Advisory Panel and the Equality Commission to appear before the Committee on 23 September 2009.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the strategy to the Gender Advisory Panel and the Equality Commission.

7. Briefing on the Commissioner for Older People’s Draft Legislation

3.55 p.m. Departmental Officials Mr G Mulligan, Ms O Ward and Mrs M Campbell joined the meeting.
3.55 p.m. Mr Shannon left the meeting.

Mr G Mulligan, Ms O Ward and Mrs M Campbell briefed the Committee regarding the Commissioner for Older People’s draft Legislation. This was followed by a question and answer session.

4.12 p.m. Mr McCrea joined the meeting.
4.22 p.m. Departmental Officials Mr G Mulligan, Ms O Ward and Mrs M Campbell left the meeting.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite the Older People’s Advocate to appear before the Committee in September 2009.

8. Proposed Employment Equality (Age) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland)

The Committee noted the Department’s draft Statutory Rule amending the 2006 Age Regulations.

9. Matters arising

Debt Relief Orders

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the research paper on Debt Relief Orders to the Committee for Enterprise Trade and Investment.

Forward Work Programme

The Committee noted the update to the Forward Work Programme.

Programme for Government Delivery Report

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward any views on the PfG Delivery Report to the Committee Office by 3 September 2009 for inclusion in the following week’s meeting pack.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a research paper on the Programme for Government Delivery Report.

EU Issues Paper

Agreed: The Committee agreed to examine the issues paper over the summer recess and forward any amendments/additions to the Committee Office for consideration at a further meeting in September.

Children and Young Peoples Action Plan – Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development Response

The Committee noted the response from t he Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development on the Children and Young People’s Action Plan.

EU Issues – Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment Response

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment requesting a written briefing from their Department on the role of their EU Programmes Branch .

Varney Report – Departmental Response

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the D epartment to request an assessment of progress on recommendations from the Department of Finance and Personnel.

Single Equality Bill – Departmental Response

The Committee noted the response from the Department on the Single Equality Bill panel of experts .

European Investment Bank Funding – Departmental Response

4.30 p.m. Mr Spratt left the meeting.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the First Minister and deputy First Minister to request a briefing on the drawdown and allocation of funding from the European Investment Bank.

10. Correspondence

Draft Strategy for Sport

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a letter from the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure to the First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding the draft Strategy for Sport.

Housing Amendment Bill

Agreed: The Committee agreed to submit returns to the Committee Office which will then be collated and a composite response agreed in September.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a letter from the Committee for Social Development to the First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding the Housing Amendment Bill.

Remit of Northern Ireland Ombudsman

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a letter from the Committee for Employment and Learning to the First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding the remit of the NI Ombudsman.

Digital Britain Report – Correspondence from Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department in relation to the proposed pilot exercise on the Digital Britain Report.

Commission for Victims and Survivors

Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a summary of responses to the consultation exercise on the Commission for Victims and Survivors draft Corporate Plan.

11. Any other Business