COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 23 JANUARY 2008
SENATE/ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Danny Kennedy (Chairperson)
Martina Anderson
Dolores Kelly
Naomi Long (Deputy Chairperson)
Barry McElduff
Francie Molloy
Stephen Moutray
Jim Shannon
Jimmy Spratt
Jim Wells
In Attendance: Damien Martin (Assembly Clerk)
Antonia Hoskins (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Keith McBride (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Lynda Mulholland (Clerical Supervisor)
Marion Johnson (Clerical Assistant)
The meeting opened at 10.10 a.m. in public session in the Senate
1. Apologies
Tom Elliott
2. Child Poverty Inquiry
Representatives from Advice NI and Citizens Advice joined the meeting at 10.16 a.m.
Jim Shannon joined the meeting at 10.18 a.m.
Oral evidence session with Advice NI and Citizens Advice
Members took oral evidence from Kevin Higgins representing Advice NI, and Lucy Cochrane and Derek Alcorn representing Citizens Advice. A question and answer session followed. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
The Chairperson noted the attendance of Junior Minister Paisley in the public gallery and thanked him for his interest in the Inquiry.
Stephen Moutray joined the meeting at 10.30 a.m.
Hansard recorded the evidence session for publication in the Committee’s report.
Representatives from Advice NI and Citizens Advice Bureau left the meeting at 10.54 a.m.
Representatives from National Children’s Home (NI) and Children’s Law Centre joined the meeting at 10.55 a.m.
Oral evidence session with National Children’s Home (NI) and Children’s Law Centre
Members took oral evidence from Ross McCrea representing National Children’s Home (NI) and Natalie Whelehan representing Children’s Law Centre. A question and answer session followed. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
Jimmy Spratt joined the meeting at 11.43 a.m.
Hansard recorded the evidence session for publication in the Committee’s report.
Representatives from National Children’s Home and Children’s Law Centre left the meeting at 11.46 a.m.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11.46 a.m.
The Chairperson resumed the meeting at 11.59 a.m.
A representative from Playboard joined the meeting at 12 noon
Oral evidence session with Playboard
Members took oral evidence from Margaret Deevy representing Playboard. A question and answer session followed. The Chairperson thanked the witness for attending.
Dolores Kelly left the meeting at 12.21 p.m.
Hansard recorded the evidence session for publication in the Committee’s report.
The representative from Playboard left the meeting at 12.22 p.m.
Representatives of the Voluntary Sector Housing Policy Forum joined the meeting at 12.23 p.m.
Oral evidence session with Voluntary Sector Housing Policy Forum
Members took oral evidence from Tony McQuillan (Shelter) and David Carroll (Simon Community), representing the Voluntary Sector Housing Policy Forum. A question and answer session followed. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
Representatives of the Voluntary Sector Housing Policy Forum left the meeting at 1.04 p.m.
Hansard recorded the evidence session for publication in the Committee’s report.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.05 p.m.
The Chairperson resumed the meeting in Room 144 at 2.07 p.m. with the following Members present: Danny Kennedy, Dolores Kelly, Barry McElduff, Francie Molloy, Stephen Moutray, Jim Shannon and Jim Wells.
3. Chairperson’s Business
Lunch with Members of Parliament from Moldova
The Chairperson advised Members that the Committee had been invited by the Speaker to attend a lunch with Members of Parliament from Moldova on Thursday 31 January 2008 at 12.30 p.m. The purpose of the event is to discuss democracy and accountability. The Committee agreed that one Member from each of the parties represented on the Committee would attend.
Martina Anderson joined the meeting at 2.10 p.m.
4. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 16 January 2008
The minutes of proceedings for Wednesday 16 January 2008 were agreed by the Committee.
Jimmy Spratt joined the meeting at 2.11 p.m.
Jim Wells left the meeting at 2.11 p.m.
5. Matters Arising
Maze/Long Kesh
The Committee noted the response received from OFMDFM on the issue of planning deadlines for the Maze/Long Kesh project.
Victims Commissioner
The Committee noted the response received from OFMDFM advising there would be an announcement on appointment of a Victims Commissioner shortly.
Attendance of Junior Ministers
Members noted the letter from Junior Minister Kelly and Junior Minister Paisley accepting the invitation from the Committee to attend next weeks meeting to discuss resourcing and delivering priorities relating to Children and Young People. The Committee agreed it would hold the meeting in the Senate Chamber.
6. Child Poverty Inquiry
Representatives from the Northern Ireland Anti Poverty Network and New Policy Institute joined the meeting at 2.19 p.m.
Oral evidence session with NI Anti Poverty Network and New Policy Institute
Members took oral evidence from Frances Dowd, representing NI Anti Poverty Network and Peter Kenway, representing New Policy Institute. A question and answer session followed. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
Naomi Long joined the meeting at 2.24 p.m.
Francie Molloy left the meeting at 2.50 p.m.
Hansard recorded the evidence session for publication in the Committee’s report.
NI Anti Poverty Network and New Policy Institute left the meeting at 3.08 p.m.
A representative from Disability Action joined the meeting at 3.10 p.m.
Oral evidence session with Disability Action
Members took oral evidence from Kevin Doherty, representing Disability Action. A question and answer session followed. The Chairperson thanked the witness for attending.
Dolores Kelly joined the meeting at 3.24 p.m.
Stephen Moutray left the meeting at 3.24 p.m.
Hansard recorded the evidence session for publication in the Committee’s report.
The representatives from Disability Action left the meeting at 3.30 p.m.
7. Disability Discrimination
Question put to and agreed:
That the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister has no objections to the guidance on matters to be taken into account in determining questions relating to the definition of disability (NIA 64/07-08)
Question put to and agreed:
That the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister has considered the Disability Discrimination (Private Clubs etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 and recommend it be affirmed by the Assembly.
8. Fair Employment (Specification of Public Authorities)(Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007
Question put to and agreed:
That the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister has no objections to the following rule;
Fair Employment (Specification of Public Authorities)(Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007.
9. Correspondence
Letter from the Committee for Social Development regarding the Charities Bill
The Committee agreed to forward a letter from the Committee for Social Development inviting written evidence on the Charities Bill to the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
Letter from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment
The Committee agreed to forward a letter from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment inviting written evidence on the Draft Action Plan 2008-2011 for the Regional Innovation Strategy to the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
Correspondence from Junior Minister Paisley
The Committee noted correspondence from Junior Minister Paisley on the Committee’s interim report on its child poverty inquiry.
10. Programme for Government, Budget and Investment Strategy
Members considered the tabled paper from OFMDFM on the strategic Equality Impact Assessment for the Programme for Government, Budget and Investment Strategy.
Department officials joined the meeting at 3.40 p.m.
Linda Wilson, Patricia Carey and Tom Reid from OFMDFM gave an overview of the main issues contained within the paper and the consultation process. Officials then answered questions from Members. The Committee encouraged the officials to ensure that the consultation process provides opportunities from people across Northern Ireland to contribute.
Jim Wells joined the meeting at 3.43 p.m.
Stephen Moutray joined the meeting at 3.45 p.m.
Barry McElduff left the meeting at 3.51 p.m.
Department Officials left the meeting at 3.55 p.m.
The Committee agreed to consider and respond to the strategic Equality Impact Assessment during the consultation period. The Committee also agreed to write to OFMDFM to ask for details of the changes in the Programme for Government, Budget and Investment Strategy that relate to matters within OFMDFM’s responsibility or that affect the cross-cutting priorities of a Better Future and Sustainability.
The Committee also agreed that consideration of the Performance Management Framework for Programme for Government, Budget and Investment Strategy would be scheduled into the Forward Work Programme for a later date and that the Clerk should seek confirmation of OFMDFM's timetable for bringing forward its efficiency plans.
11. Date of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 30 January 2008 at 2.00 p.m. in the Senate, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.58 p.m.