COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 20 February 2008
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT bUILDINGS
Present:
Danny Kennedy (Chairperson)
Martina Anderson
Tom Elliott
Dolores Kelly
Jim Shannon
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 2.49 p.m. in public session
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Apologies
Naomi Long, Barry McElduff, Francie Molloy, Stephen Moutray, Jimmy Spratt, Jim Wells.
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Chairperson’s Business
Launch of Centre for Ageing Research and Development in Ireland (CARDI)
The Chairperson advised Members that he and the Deputy Chairperson had been invited to the launch of CARDI. The Chairperson advised that he hoped to attend the launch, subject to dairy constraints.
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Draft minutes of the meeting held on 13 February 2008
The minutes of proceedings for Wednesday 13 February 2008 were agreed by the Committee.
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Matters Arising
Co-terminosity within the Review of Public Administration (RPA)
The Committee noted the response received from OFMDFM regarding how co-terminosity has been delivered in key RPA decisions. Members agreed to invite officials to brief the Committee on the progress made to deliver commitments in the RPA policy, in advance of the Committee’s consideration of proposals for the Public Authorities Reform Bill.
Commissioner for Public Appointments
Members discussed the response from OFMDFM on issues raised by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The Committee agreed to write to OFMDFM to ask why the Community Relations Council was not aware of the relevant guidance on appointments to third party organisations.
Budget figures for Children and Young People
Members discussed the response from OFMDFM providing confirmation of budget figures referred to by Junior Ministers at the meeting on 30 January 2008. Members agreed to write to OFMDFM to seek clarification on whether the funds, relating to the Bamford Review, are specifically for Children and Young People. The Committee also agreed to share the response with other relevant Committees and to request that they monitor departmental allocations to ensure that the funding is used for the purpose for which it has been allocated.
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The Salaries (Assembly Ombudsman and Commissioner for Complaints) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008
Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister has no objections to the following rule;
The Salaries (Assembly Ombudsman and Commissioner for Complaints) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
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Departments (Transfer of Functions) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008
Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister has considered the Departments (Transfer of Functions) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 and recommends it be affirmed by the Assembly.
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The Disability Discrimination (Guidance on the Definition of Disability) (Revocation) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008
Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister has no objections to the following rule;
The Disability Discrimination (Guidance on the Definition of Disability) (Revocation) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
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Correspondence
Capital Realisation Taskforce Report
Members agreed to invite officials to brief the Committee on the findings of the Capital Realisation Report.
Letter from Love for Life
Members noted the copy of correspondence to the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People from Love for Life, regarding the Regional Child Protection Guidelines as they pertain to sexual activity involving children under 14.
Letter from the Social Development Committee
Members agreed to forward the letter received from the Social Development Committee on the legal advice relating to the Conflict Transformation Initiative to the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
Correspondence from the Future Together Initiative
Members noted the correspondence received and agreed to seek further information from the Future Together Initiative on their upcoming Investment and Fairness Conference. Members also agreed to write to OFMDFM to seek an update on the forthcoming investment conference in May.
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Key changes in the Programme for Government, Budget and Investment Strategy
Departmental officials from OFMDFM joined the meeting at 3.20 p.m.
Departmental officials answered questions from Members concerning the changes in the Programme for Government, Budget and Investment Strategy that relate to matters within OFMDFM’s responsibility, including the cross-cutting themes of a Better Future and Sustainability. Committee Members emphasised the importance of clarity within the Performance Management Framework concerning responsibility and accountability for meeting targets. Officials undertook to provide the Committee with further information on a range of issues.
Departmental officials left the meeting at 4.25 p.m.
Members expressed concern about the lack of progress on some key policy issues and agreed to add discussion of the Maze/Long Kesh regeneration to the agenda for the meeting with the First Minister and deputy First Minister, which is expected to take place on the 5 March 2008. The Committee also agreed to formally request a copy of the business case for the Maze/Long Kesh regeneration.
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Commissioner for Older People
Members noted the joint written submission received from Help the Aged and Age Concern and agreed to make a formal submission to OFMDFM on the case for a Commissioner for Older People after the Committee has considered research commissioned by Help the Aged and Age Concern.
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Any other business
Forward Work Programme
The Committee briefly discussed the Forward Work Programme and noted the changes that would be required to facilitate decisions during the meeting.
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Date of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 27 February 2008 at 2.00 p.m. in Room 144.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.34 p.m.