COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY
FIRST MINISTER
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 14 OCTOBER 2009
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Danny Kennedy (Chairperson)
Ms Martina Anderson
Mr Alex Attwood
Mr Tom Elliott
Mt 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)
Ms Eilis Haughey (Bill Clerk)
The meeting opened at 2.01 p.m. in closed session
1. Apologies
Mrs Naomi Long.
2. Department of Justice Bill
The Bill Clerk briefed the Committee on the Department of Justice Bill and the process for clause-by-clause scrutiny of the Bill.
2.14 p.m. The meeting opened to the public.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 7 October 2009
Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 7 October 2009 were agreed as amended by the Committee.
4. Maze/Long Kesh Development Corporation
2.16 p.m. Departmental officials, Mr Alan Maitland, Mrs June Wilkinson and Mr Kyle Alexander joined the meeting.
Departmental officials briefed the Committee on the proposed Statutory Rule to create the Maze/Long Kesh Development Corporation. A question and answer session followed.
2.36 p.m. Mr Moutray left the meeting.
2.52 p.m. Departmental officials left the meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the proposed Statutory Rule and to request a briefing by officials following the establishment of the Maze/Long Kesh Development Corporation.
5. Matters arising
Priorities for European Engagement 2008/09
The Committee considered a response from the First Minister and deputy First Minister to the Committee’s views on the Priorities for European Engagement 2008/09.
Agreed: Members agreed to forward to the Committee Secretariat any recommendations from the Report of the Northern Ireland Task Force, which they think should have been included in the Action Plan.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the response should be forwarded to all statutory committees for information.
Executive’s Draft European Engagement Action Plan 2009/10
The Committee considered a draft response to the First Minister and deputy First Minister on the Executive’s Draft European Engagement Action Plan 2009/10.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the response to the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
Monitoring Post Project Evaluations
The Committee considered a quarterly report from the Department for Finance and Personnel concerning the monitoring of Post Project Evaluations.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department seeking further information on the outstanding Post Project Evaluations.
Draft Caravans Bill
The Committee noted the Draft Caravans Bill.
Proposed Autism Bill
The Committee noted the Report of the Independent Review of Autism Services.
Disability Discrimination (Transport Vehicles) Regulations
The Committee considered responses from the Committee for the Environment and the Committee for Regional Development concerning the Disability Discrimination (Transport Vehicles) Regulations.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the responses to the Department for comment.
Gender Equality Strategy
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for the Environment to highlight its concerns regarding the representation of women on the Local Government Transition Committees.
Executive’s Draft European Engagement Action Plan 2009/10
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for Finance and Personnel to seek further information on the civil servants seconded to the European Institutions.
6. Correspondence
Independent Review of Economic Policy
The Committee considered the Independent Review of Economic Policy and a letter from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment seeking the Committee’s views on the report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward any comments on the Report to the Committee Secretariat for consideration at next week’s meeting.
Analysis of Sickness Absence in Northern Ireland Departments
The Committee noted a copy of the Analysis of Sickness Absence in Northern Ireland Departments.
Review of the Strategic Investment Board
The Committee considered a submission from the Confederation of British Industry’s (CBI) concerning the Review of the Strategic Investment Board.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite the CBI to brief the Committee on their submission.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to seek an update on the Review and details of the Terms of Reference for the Review.
7. Any other Business
UK Child Poverty Bill
The Chairperson advised Members that the list of amendments to be considered at the House of Commons Committee Stage is to be published on Friday 16 October 2009. The Department will forward a copy of the amendments and a copy of the legislative consent motion on Monday 19 October 2009.
8. Date of next meeting
The next meeting will be held in Room 30 on Wednesday 21 October 2009 at 2 p.m.
9. Department of Justice Bill
3.04 p.m. Mr Moutray rejoined the meeting.
The Committee discussed a late written submission from Mr James Allister QC, on the Department of Justice Bill.
Mr Elliott proposed that the Committee accepts the submission and place the submission in the report, and advise Mr Allister that due to the lateness of the submission it could not be taken into consideration in the Committee’s deliberations.
The Committee divided: Ayes 6; Noes 0; Abstentions 4.
Ayes: Mr Attwood, Mr Elliott, Mr Kennedy, Mr Moutray, Mr Robinson, Mr Shannon.
Noes:
Abstentions: Ms Anderson, Mr McElduff, Mr Molloy, Mr Spratt.
Agreed: The Committee would accept Mr Allister’s written submission and place the submission in the Committee’s Bill Report, and advise that due to the lateness of the submission, it could not be taken into consideration in the Committee’s deliberations.
3.07 p.m. Departmental officials, Mr Tony Canavan and Mr Geoffrey Simpson joined the meeting.
The Committee commenced its formal clause-by-clause scrutiny of the Department of Justice Bill.
Clause 1– The Department of Justice
Schedule – Amendments
Question: That the Committee is content with the clause as drafted.
Agreed: That the Committee is content with the clause as drafted.
Question: That the Committee is content with the schedule as drafted.
Agreed: That the Committee is content with the schedule as drafted.
Clause 2– Minister in charge of the Department of Justice
Mr Elliott proposed that the Committee should seek legal advice from the Assembly’s Legal Services on clause 2 and the potential consequences of the sunset clause.
The Committee divided on Mr Elliott’s proposal: Ayes 3; Noes; 7; Abstentions 0.
Ayes: Mr Attwood, Mr Elliott, Mr Kennedy.
Noes: Ms Anderson, Mr McElduff, Mr Molloy, Mr Moutray, Mr Robinson, Mr Shannon, Mr Spratt.
Agreed: That the proposal falls.
Mr Attwood proposed page 1, line 15, leave out clause 2.
The Committee divided on proposed amendment: Ayes 3; Noes 7; Abstentions 0.
Ayes: Mr Attwood, Mr Elliott, Mr Kennedy.
Noes: Ms Anderson, Mr McElduff, Mr Molloy, Mr Moutray, Mr Robinson, Mr Shannon, Mr Spratt.
Agreed: That the proposal falls.
Question: That the Committee is content with the clause as drafted.
The Committee divided: Ayes 7; Noes 3; Abstentions 0.
Ayes: Ms Anderson, Mr McElduff, Mr Molloy, Mr Moutray, Mr Robinson, Mr Shannon, Mr Spratt.
Noes: Mr Attwood, Mr Elliott, Mr Kennedy.
Agreed: That the Committee is content with the clause as drafted.
Clause 3– Short title and commencement
Mr Attwood proposed an amendment – page 2, clause 3, line 6, replace –
“such day or days as the First Minister and deputy First Minister, acting jointly, may by order appoint.”
With –
“7 December 2009”.
The Committee divided on the proposed amendment: Ayes 1; Noes 9; Abstentions 0.
Ayes: Mr Attwood.
Noes: Ms Anderson, Mr Elliott, Mr Kennedy, Mr McElduff, Mr Molloy, Mr Moutray, Mr Robinson, Mr Shannon, Mr Spratt.
Agreed: That the proposal falls.
Question: That the Committee is content with the clause as drafted.
The Committee divided: Ayes 7; Noes 2; Abstentions 1.
Ayes: Ms Anderson, Mr McElduff, Mr Molloy, Mr Moutray, Mr Robinson, Mr Shannon, Mr Spratt.
Noes: Mr Attwood, Mr Elliott.
Abstentions: Mr Kennedy.
Agreed: That the Committee is content with the clause as drafted.
Long Title
Question: That the Committee is content with the Long Title as drafted.
The Committee divided: Ayes 7; Noes 2; Abstentions 1.
Ayes: Ms Anderson, Mr McElduff, Mr Molloy, Mr Moutray, Mr Robinson, Mr Shannon, Mr Spratt.
Noes: Mr Attwood, Mr Elliott.
Abstentions: Mr Kennedy.
Agreed: That the Committee is content with the clause as drafted.
3.48 p.m. The Chairperson adjourned the meeting.