COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 18 JUNE 2008
Senate Chamber, PARLIAMENT bUILDINGS
Present: Danny Kennedy (Chairperson)
Naomi Long (Deputy Chairperson)
Martina Anderson
Tom Elliott
Dolores Kelly
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)
Marion Johnson (Clerical Assistant)
The meeting opened at 2.01 p.m. in public session
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Apologies
There were no apologies.
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Chairperson’s Business
Consultative Group on the Past
The Chairperson advised Members that an informal meeting with the Consultative Group on the Past will be held on Tuesday 1 July 2008 at 12.30 p.m. in the Private Members Dining Room.
Informal Meeting with the First Minister and deputy First Minister
The Chairperson advised Members that he and the Deputy Chairperson will be attending an informal meeting with the First Minister and deputy First Minister on Monday 23 June 2008.
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Draft minutes of the meeting held on 11 June 2008
The minutes of proceedings for Wednesday 11 June 2008 were agreed by the Committee.
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Matters Arising
Play and Leisure Policy
Members discussed the correspondence from OFMDFM concerning the Play and Leisure Policy and agreed to write to OFMDFM to re-iterate the Committee’s view that it would wish to see the policy and implementation plans take specific account of the needs of vulnerable groups. Members also agreed to seek a timetable for introduction of the policy and implementation plans.
Mr Shannon joined the meeting at 2.06 p.m.
Ms Anderson joined the meeting at 2.07 p.m.
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Commissioners for Victims and Survivors
The Commissioners for Victims and Survivors joined the meeting at 2.13 p.m.
The Commissioners for Victims and Survivors; Michael Nesbitt, Patricia MacBride, Bertha McDougall and Brendan McAllister briefed the Committee and answered questions on their roles and responsibilities, priorities for the incoming year and on OFMDFM’s Draft Strategic Approach for Victims and Survivors. The Chairperson thanked the Commissioners for attending.
The session was recorded by Hansard.
The Commissioners for Victims and Survivors left the meeting at 3.34 p.m.
Members considered a response from OFMDFM and an updated Outline Draft Strategic Approach for Victims and Survivors. The Committee agreed to write to OFMDFM seeking urgent clarification on the roles and responsibilities of the Commission for Victims and Survivors and the Victims and Survivors Service.
Mr McElduff left the meeting at 3.45 p.m.
Mrs Kelly left the meeting at 3.49 p.m.
Mr Wells left the meeting at 3.49 p.m.
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Public Authorities Reform Bill
The Committee considered responses from OFMDFM on the Public Authorities Reform Bill and agreed the issues that the Chairperson will highlight during the debate on the second stage of the Bill on 30 June 2008.
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Committee visit to Brussels
The Committee noted the arrangements for the Committee visit to Brussels on 23 to 25 June 2008.
The Chairperson also advised Members that he will be attending a meeting of the EC-UK Forum on Monday 30 June 2008, in Edinburgh.
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Child Poverty Inquiry
Members noted the press release issued on behalf of the Committee on 17 June, concerning the Committee’s report on Child Poverty. Members were advised that this will also now issue to local papers. The Chairperson advised Members that a table breaking down poverty by local government district and a short note highlighting some of the key issues in the report are available from the Clerk to assist Members in dealing with queries from the local media.
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Correspondence
NIAUR Consultation on Sustainability
Members noted correspondence from the Committee for Regional Development and Committee for the Environment on the NIAUR consultation on sustainability. The Chairperson advisedthat the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment is taking the lead on this matter and will consult with the Committee following the public consultation exercise.
Ethnic Minority funding and Programme for Cohesion
Members noted the correspondence from the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities on Ethnic Minority Funding and the Programme for cohesion, sharing and integration for a shared and better future.
Neighbourhood Renewal
Members considered correspondence from the Committee for Social Development concerning the implementation of the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy. Members agreed to respond to the Committee for Social Development and to write to OFMDFM seeking details of its contribution to the Strategy.
Inquiry into the impact of the Lisbon Treaty
Members noted correspondence from the Scottish European and External Relations Committee concerning its inquiry into the impact of the Lisbon Treaty. The Committee agreed to consider again following the Brussels visit.
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Any other business
Members considered the late request from Amnesty International to brief the Committee about the current human rights situation in China, and how the Devolved Administrations can raise the issue of human rights in their dealings with the Chinese authorities. Members agreed that this was not within the remit of the Committee and to advise Amnesty International to pursue through the political parties, individual MLAs and the All-Party Group on International Development.
- Date of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 2 July 2008 at 2.00 p.m. in Room 144.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.01 p.m.