COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2008
DUNGANNON AND SOUTH TYRONE BOROUGH COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Present: Danny Kennedy (Chairperson)
Naomi Long (Deputy Chairperson)
Tom Elliott
Dolores Kelly
Barry McElduff
Francie Molloy
Jim Shannon
Jimmy Spratt
In Attendance: Damien Martin (Assembly Clerk)
Antonia Hoskins (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Lynda Mulholland (Clerical Supervisor)
Marion Johnson (Clerical Assistant)
The meeting opened at 2.03 p.m. in public session
The Chairperson expressed gratitude to the Mayor, Councillor Barry Monteith and Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council for hosting the meeting and thanked them for their hospitality.
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Apologies
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Chairperson’s Business
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Draft minutes of the meeting held on 06 February 2008
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Matters Arising
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Child Poverty Inquiry
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Correspondence
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Any Other Business
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Date of next meeting
Martina Anderson, Stephen Moutray, Jim Wells.
Letter from Chairperson of the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment (ETI)
Members were advised that the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment has sought an indication of whether the Committee intend to respond to the further consultation being undertaken as part of the Varney Review on the Northern Ireland Economy. The Committee agreed that it would be more appropriate for other statutory committees to respond to the Review. Members noted that the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment will be inviting the Economic Research Institute for Northern Ireland (a sponsored body of the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister) to provide evidence to the Review.
The minutes of proceedings for Wednesday 06 February 2008 were agreed by the Committee.
Letter from Chair of the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development
Members agreed to forward the further letter from the Chairperson of the Committee for Agriculture & Rural Development on the Forkhill ex-army base to OFMDFM.
The Committee also requested a response on the role of OFMDFM in seeking to have the Lisanelly site in Omagh transferred to the devolved administration.
Diversity in Public Appointments
Members discussed the further information provided by OFMDFM on the implementation of recommendations by the Short Term Working Group on Diversity in Public Appointments. The Committee agreed to seek the views of the Commissioner for Public Appointments on the adequacy of arrangements for taking forward the recommendations on diversity in public appointments when she comes before the Committee to discuss the Prerogative Order on Public Appointments.
Reviewing the Case for the Older People’s Commissioner
In response to a request from the Committee, Members were informed that, an additional pre-consultation meeting will be held in the mid-Ulster area.
The Committee agreed to write to OFMDFM requesting clarification on the means and methods being used to consult and to seek a wider range of venues across Northern Ireland when OFMDFM formally consults on the proposed role/remit of a Commissioner for Older People.
Maze Long Kesh
The Committee were advised that a response by Minister Poots to an enquiry from the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure on matters relating to the briefing on the design of the stadium at the Maze/Long Kesh site had been forwarded directly to the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure.
Members were advised that a written submission has been received from the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and that further information on the definition of poverty from the Northern Ireland Antipoverty Network had been included in the inquiry packs. Members were informed that a further research briefing on the measurement of child poverty is scheduled for next week’s meeting.
The Chairperson asked Members to declare any relevant interests in advance of hearing oral evidence, as part of the Child Poverty Inquiry. Members declared interests as follows:-
Mr Kennedy declared an interest as a Councillor in Newry and Mourne District Council;
Mrs Long declared an interest as a Councillor in Belfast City Council;
Mr Elliot declared an interest as a Councillor in Fermanagh District Council;
Mrs Kelly declared an interest as a Councillor in Craigavon Borough Council;
Mr McElduff declared an interest as a Councillor in Omagh District Council;
Mr Molloy declared an interest as a Councillor in Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council;
Mr Shannon declared an interest as a Councillor in Ards Borough Council.
Oral evidence session with Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council
Representatives from Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council joined the meeting at 2.23 p.m.
Mr Spratt joined the meeting at 2.25 p.m.
Mr Spratt declared an interest as a Councillor in Castlereagh Borough Council.
Members took oral evidence from Mayor Councillor Barry Monteith and Claire Linney representing Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council. A question and answer session followed. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
Hansard recorded the evidence session for publication in the Committee’s report.
Representatives from the Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council left the meeting at 3.04 p.m.
Representatives from Craigavon Borough Council joined the meeting at 3.05 p.m.
Oral evidence session with Craigavon Borough Council
Members took oral evidence from Davina McCartney, a representative from Craigavon Borough Council. A question and answer session followed. The Chairperson thanked the witness for attending.
Hansard recorded the evidence session for publication in the Committee’s report.
The representative from Craigavon Borough Council left the meeting at 3.27 p.m.
Representatives from Western Health Action Zone and Western Investing for Health Partnership joined the meeting at 3.28 p.m.
Oral evidence session with Western Health Action Zone and Western Investing for Health Partnership
Members took oral evidence from Siobhan Sweeney, a representative from the Western Health Action Zone and Brendan Bonner, a representative from Western Investing for Health Partnership. A question and answer session followed. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
Hansard recorded the evidence session for publication in the Committee’s report.
Representatives from Western Health Action Zone and Western Investing for Health Partnership left the meeting at 4.02 p.m.
Representatives from Western Area Childcare Partnership and Southern Area Childcare Partnership joined the meeting at 4.03 p.m.
Oral evidence session with Western Area Childcare Partnership and Southern Area Childcare Partnership
Members took oral evidence from Mia Murray and Gerry McDonald, representatives from Southern Area Childcare Partnership and Maura Mason, a representative from Western Area Childcare Partnership. A question and answer session followed. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
Hansard recorded the evidence session for publication in the Committee’s report.
Representatives from Western Area Childcare Partnership and Southern Area Childcare Partnership left the meeting at 4.39 p.m.
Disability Discrimination Regulations
The Committee discussed the response from OFMDFM on the current position in relation to the Disability Discrimination (Transport Vehicle) Regulations and noted the letter from the Omnibus Partnership on the impact of the absence of the regulations on people with a disability. Members were perturbed at the apparent disparity with other parts of the United Kingdom and the lack of a definitive timetable for implementing the regulations.
The Committee welcomed the additional information provided to Mr Shannon by Junior Minister Kelly during the plenary session on 12 February 2008, but nevertheless agreed to schedule consideration of the matter immediately after Easter and to request the attendance of officials from OFMDFM to advise the Committee of what action is being taken to progress the introduction of the regulations without delay.
Northern Ireland Sustainable Development Strategy
The Committee noted a letter from NGO members of the Northern Ireland Sustainable Development Forum. The Chairperson advised Members that the Committee has asked to be briefed by OFMDFM on sustainable development implementation after the Easter recess. Members agreed to invite key stakeholders, including the Sustainable Development Commission to also address the Committee on this issue.
Regional Government Headquarters (Nuclear Bunker) at Ballymena
The Committee noted a copy letter from the First Minister and deputy First Minster to Mr Atwood in response to his supplementary question at NI Assembly Oral Question Time on 21 January 2008, on the Regional Government Headquarters (Nuclear Bunker) at Ballymena.
Spotlight Programme - 11 February 2008
Members requested a copy of the recent BBC Spotlight programme on Poverty.
Funding for Children and Young People’s Priorities
Following discussion, the Clerk undertook to contact OFMDFM to advise of the Committee’s view that immediate action is required to ensure that effective programmes established under the children’s fund and children and young people’s funding package do not cease while decisions on the allocation of long-term funding for children and young people’s priorities are under consideration by departmental Ministers.
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 20 February 2008 at 2.00 p.m. in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.55 p.m.