COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 12 March 2008
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Danny Kennedy (Chairperson)
Naomi Long (Deputy Chairperson)
Francie Molloy
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 2.13 p.m. in public session
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Apologies
Martina Anderson, Tom Elliott, Dolores Kelly, Barry McElduff, Stephen Moutray.
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Chairperson’s Business
Visit by Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to the Northern Ireland Assembly
The Chairperson advised Members that the Speaker has extended an invitation to the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and a representative from each party to attend a lunchtime event on European issues involving Ambassador Iztok Mirosic, on 24 April 2008.
Response to the Committee’s report on PFG/ISNI
The Chairperson advised the Committee that a response to the Committee’s report on the PFG/ISNI has been received from OFMDFM, and will be considered after the Easter recess.
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Draft minutes of the meeting held on 5 March 2008
The minutes of proceedings for Wednesday 5 March 2008 were agreed by the Committee.
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Matters Arising
Response from OFMDFM on Funding for Children and Young People’s priorities
The Committee discussed the response received from OFMDFM on the action being taken to ensure that the capacity developed through the Children’s Fund and Children and Young People’s Funding Package is not lost and agreed to write to OFMDFM to request that the Ministerial Sub-Committee on Children and Young People give immediate consideration to the needs of groups affected by changes in funding arrangements.
OFMDFM response to letter from Coalition of Aid and Development Agencies (CADA)
The Committee discussed the response received from OFMDFM which advised that while international relations was a reserved matter, the First Minister and deputy First Minister strongly support the work of local aid agencies and that the Executive would consider the issues raised by CADA when it reviews the Programme for Government. Members agreed to copy the letter to CADA and to the chairperson of the All Party Group on International Development.
OFMDFM's response to February Monitoring Round
The Committee noted the response from OFMDFM on queries raised by Members during a briefing on OFMDFM’s input to the February Monitoring Round. The Committee agreed that they would wish to be consulted on the new sustainable development implementation plan when the Committee considers sustainable development after recess.
Commission for Victims and Survivors Bill
The Committee noted the advice received from the Bill Office on whether an amendment to the definition of victims and survivors would be within the scope of the Bill.
The Committee noted the response from OFMDFM which set out the reasons for seeking accelerated passage and provided responses to questions raised by Members on the Draft Bill at its meeting of 5 March 2008.
Letter from the First Minister and deputy First Minister on clarification of Maze/Long Kesh Business Case and Affordability Assessment
The Committee discussed a letter from the First Minister and deputy First Minister on the Maze/Long Kesh Business Case and Affordability Assessment and agreed to write to OFMDFM seeking clarification on the nature of additional advice being sought by Ministers in advance of providing the business case to the Committee.
Members agreed that the briefing by OFMDFM officials on the business case for the Maze/Long Kesh be held in closed session and sought a definitive date for officials to address the Committee on the issue.
The Committee also agreed to ask OFMDFM whether the Northern Ireland Office has provided any indication that failure to develop the Maze/Long Kesh site would have consequences for the transfer of other former Ministry of Defence sites to the devolved administration.
Mr Molloy joined the meeting at 2.27 p.m
Mr Wells left the meeting at 2.28 p.m.
Letter from OFMDFM on Lisanelly Ex-Army Base
The Committee noted the response from OFMDFM to its inquiry regarding the role of OFMDFM in supporting the transfer of Lisanelly ex-army base and other sites.
Sex Discrimination Order 1976 (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008
Members noted a response from OFMDFM to an inquiry raised in relation to the proposed the Sex Discrimination Order 1976 (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008. The Committee did not express any objections to the proposed rule.
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Child Poverty Inquiry
Research Paper
The Chairperson drew the Committee’s attention to the research paper prepared as part of the Child Poverty Inquiry, outlining current and previous childcare strategies and policies and funding within the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People
Representatives from Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People joined the meeting at 2.34 p.m.
Members took oral evidence from Mrs Patricia Lewsley, Commissioner for Children and Young People who was accompanied by Ms Seana Hume. A question and answer session followed. The Chairperson thanked the Commissioner and Ms Hume for attending and congratulated the Commissioner on the publication of the NICCY Child Poverty Policy.
Hansard recorded the evidence session for publication in the Committee’s report.
Representatives from Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People left the meeting at 2.55 p.m.
Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
Representatives from Equality Commission for Northern Irelandjoined the meeting at 2.56 p.m.
Members took oral evidence from Mr Bob Collins, Chief Commissioner of Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, who was accompanied by Chief Executive, Mrs Evelyn Collins. A question and answer session followed. The Chairperson thanked the Chief Commissioner and Chief Executive for attending.
Hansard recorded the evidence session for publication in the Committee’s report.
Representatives from Equality Commission for Northern Irelandleft the meeting at 3.38 p.m.
The Committee agreed to issue a press release advising of the progression of the Child Poverty Inquiry into its final stage.
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Review Of Public Administration (RPA)
The Chairperson asked Members to declare any relevant interests in advance of the briefing on the RPA and the draft Public Authority Reform ( Northern Ireland) Bill. 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 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.
Mr Spratt declared an interest as a Councillor in Castlereagh Borough Council.
Departmental Officials joined the meeting at 3.46 p.m.
Departmental Officials, Damian Prince, Neill Jackson, Jim Hamilton and Maurice Dowling briefed the Committee on the progress and implementation of the RPA.A question and answer session followed. The officials undertook to provide clarification on the number of Quango’s abolished and on the number of new public bodies that have been created since the RPA final decisions document was published.
Hansard recorded the evidence session for publication.
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The draft Public Authority Reform (Northern Ireland) Bill
Departmental Officials, Damian Prince, Neill Jackson, Jim Hamilton and Maurice Dowling briefed the Committee on proposals relating to the Public Authorities Reform ( Northern Ireland) Bill. A question and answer session followed.
Hansard recorded the evidence session for publication.
Departmental Officials left the meeting at 4.11 p.m.
Following discussion, the Committee agreed to consult with other statutory committees on the proposals and the scope of the draft Public Authority Reform ( Northern Ireland)Bill before making a response to OFMDFM.
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Commissioner for Older People
The Committee considered the research document from Help the Aged and Age Concern on the role and powers of the Commissioner for Older People and the proposals from OFMDFM for interim arrangements. The Committee agreed to seek further information on both the role and the process to appoint an Interim Commissioner.
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Correspondence
All Party Assembly Group on Ethnic Minority Communities
Members noted the correspondence received from Terry Deehan of the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities outlining the terms of reference for the All Party Assembly Group on Ethnic Minority Communities and also the letter from Patrick Yu, Executive Director of the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities, seeking a meeting with the Committee.
The Committee was informed that proposals for a programme for Cohesion and Integration are scheduled for discussion by the Committee after the Easter recess and agreed to take evidence from a small number of key stakeholders after the briefing from OFMDFM.
Review of the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland
Members noted the correspondence received from OFMDFM in relation to Phase 1 of the review of the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Northern Ireland.
The Role of Member States in EU Scrutiny
Members noted the copy correspondence from the Chairman of the European Scrutiny Committee at the National Assembly for Wales.
Response from OFMDFM on the US-NI Economic Conference
The Committee discussed the response from OFMDFM in relation to a request for further information on the US-NI Investment Conference and noted the department’s intent to brief the Committee on the format of the event. It was agreed that this would need to take place shortly after the Easter recess.
Letter from Sustainable NI
The Committee notedthe correspondence from Sustainable NI thanking the Chairperson for the opportunity to discuss Sustainable Development in Northern Ireland.
Letter from Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action
Members notedthe copy correspondence from the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action to the First Minster and deputy First Minister requesting urgent publication of the Anti Poverty Strategy for Northern Ireland.
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Any other business
Forward Work Plan
The Clerk updated the Committee on issues relating to the forward work plan and Members noted the heavy work schedule for April. The Committee agreed to hear from the Omnibus Partnership on the Disability Discrimination Transport ( Northern Ireland) Regulations on the 2 April. The Committee also agreed to hold an informal meeting in late April 2008, facilitated with the support of expert witnesses, to discuss the findings of the Child Poverty Inquiry.
Briefing by the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland
The Committee agreed to formally record the serious concerns expressed by Mr Spratt on 27 February 2008, that the Commissioner for Public Appointments, in her briefing to the Committee on that date, had strayed into matters that were the responsibility of the democratic process when discussing the issue of statutory nominations.
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Date of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 2 April 2008 at 2.00 p.m. in Room 144.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.32 p.m.