COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY
FIRST MINISTER
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 30 SEPTEMBER 2009
ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mrs Naomi Long (Deputy Chairperson)
Ms Martina Anderson
Mr Barry McElduff
Mr Francie Molloy
Mr Stephen Moutray
Mr George Robinson
Mr Jim Shannon
Mr Jimmy Spratt
In Attendance:
Mrs Cathie White (Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Linda Gregg (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Keith McBride (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Stephen Magee (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Marion Johnson (Clerical Officer)
The meeting opened at 2.03 p.m. in public session
1. Apologies
Mr Alex Attwood, Mr Tom Elliott, Mr Danny Kennedy.
2. Chairperson’s Business
Meeting with Equality Committees
The Deputy Chairperson advised Members that the meeting with the Scottish and Welsh Equality Committees took place on Monday 28 September 2009. The Deputy Chairperson advised that the next meeting will be held in Edinburgh in the New Year.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 23 September 2009
Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 23 September 2009 were agreed by the Committee.
4. Gender Equality Strategy
2.05 p.m. The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland joined the meeting.
2.05 p.m. Mr McElduff joined the meeting.
2.08 p.m. Mr Shannon joined the meeting.
2.10 p.m. Mr Spratt joined the meeting.
Mr Bob Collins, Chief Commissioner and Mrs Evelyn Collins, Chief Executive of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland briefed the Committee on the Gender Equality Strategy. A question and answer session followed.
2.42 p.m. Mr McElduff left the meeting.
2.45 p.m. The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland left the meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider a response to the Department on the Gender Equality Strategy at next week’s meeting.
5. UK Child Poverty Bill
2.47 p.m. Departmental Officials, Dr Gerry Mulligan, Mrs Patricia Carey and Mr Michael Pollock joined the meeting.
Departmental Officials briefed the Committee on the UK Child Poverty Bill and timetable for consideration of the Bill. A question and answer session took place. Departmental Officials undertook to brief the Committee further on amendments to the Bill at a later stage.
3.10 p.m. Departmental Officials left the meeting.
3.10 p.m. Mr McElduff rejoined the meeting.
6. Sustainable Development Strategy
3.15 p.m. Departmental Officials, Mr Damian Prince, Mr Jim Sutherland and Mr John Bradley joined the meeting.
Departmental Officials briefed the Committee on the draft Sustainable Development Strategy and the timetable leading up to the publication of the Strategy. A question and answer session took place. The Committee expressed concerns with Departmental Officials regarding the timescale for the Committee’s consideration of the Strategy.
3.27 p.m. Mr Spratt left the meeting.
3.40 p.m. Departmental Officials left the meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the draft Sustainable Development Strategy to all statutory committees and seek their views on the draft Strategy.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to advise that it would like to see a greater emphasis placed on public procurement within the draft Strategy.
7. Executive’s European Action Plan 2009/10
The Deputy Chairperson advised Members that the Executive’s European Action Plan for 2009/10 has now been received and Departmental Officials will brief the Committee on the Action Plan and the 2008/09 Priorities for European Engagement End of Year Report at next week’s meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the Executive’s European Action Plan 2009/10 to all statutory committees and seek their views on the Action Plan.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a Research paper from the Assembly’s Research and Library Services on the Executive’s European Action Plan 2009/10.
8. Matters arising
Resource Accounts and September Monitoring
The Committee considered a response from the Department which provided a breakdown of capital costs for the Office of the Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department for Finance and Personnel to express its concern at the Central Procurement Directorate not taking into account fees and VAT in its initial estimates.
Tax Credits
The Committee considered a response from the Department concerning Tax Credits and their role in tackling child poverty.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to bring together previous letters and consider the response again at next week’s meeting.
Gender Pay Gap
The Committee noted the figures provided by the Department on the Gender Pay Gap.
Amendments to the Financial Provisions Bill
The Committee considered a letter from the Committee for Finance and Personnel on the proposed amendments to the Financial Provisions Bill and including the creation of a statutory authority for expenditure in relation to older people.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department seeking its views on including an amendment to provide for the statutory authority for expenditure in relation to older people.
Child Poverty Targets
The Committee noted a paper from the Department, which provided details of the Child Poverty targets and comparison of performance against those targets with England, Scotland and Wales.
Drawdown and allocation of funding from the European Investment Bank
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department for Finance and Personnel seeking clarity on the process of Small Medium Size Enterprises being allocated funding from the European Investment Bank, and specifically the problems and delays some of the banks in Northern Ireland are experiencing in drawing down funds from the European Investment Bank.
Consideration of the Committee’s European Report
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider its European Report at its meeting of 21 October 2009.
Programme for Government Delivery Report
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider a draft response to the Department on the Programme for Government Delivery Report at next week’s meeting.
3.55 p.m. Mr Moutray left the meeting.
9. Correspondence
Committee for Finance and Personnel
The Committee considered a letter from the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding the monitoring of departmental efficiency delivery plans.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to seek further information on their efficiency savings and how efficiency savings in other departments are impacting on the delivery of the Departments targets and cross-cutting themes.
PSNI Offender Management Conference
The Committee noted the invitation to the Police Service for Northern Ireland’s Offender Management Conference on the morning of Wednesday 21 October 2009. Members will let the Committee Secretariat know if they wish to attend.
Public Procurement Stakeholder Conference
The Committee noted the invitation from the Committee for Finance and Personnel to the Public Procurement Stakeholder Conference on Wednesday 21 October 2009.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for Finance and Personnel declining the invitation and to request copies of any presentations used and of the post Conference Report.
10. Forward Work Programme
Members noted the Committee’s Forward Work Programme for October.
11. Any other Business
None
12. Date of next meeting
The next meeting will be held in Room 144 on Wednesday 7 October 2009 at 2 p.m.
4.03 p.m. The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting.