COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY
FIRST MINISTER
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 21 OCTOBER 2009
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Danny Kennedy (Chairperson)
Mr Naomi Long (Deputy Chairperson)
Ms Martina Anderson
Mr Alex Attwood
Mr Tom Elliott
Mt Barry McElduff
Mr Francie Molloy
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 2.04 p.m.
The Clerk advised Members that the Chairperson and deputy Chairperson will arrive to the meeting late, and that Members should elect a temporary Chairperson.
Ms Anderson proposed Mr Spratt and Mr Molloy seconded the proposal.
Agreed:Mr Spratt assumes the position of temporary Chairperson.
1. Apologies
Mr Stephen Moutray .
2. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 14 October 2009
Agreed:The draft minutes of proceedings of 14 October 2009 were agreed by the Committee.
2.06 p.m. Mr Attwood joined the meeting.
3. UK Child Poverty Bill
The temporary Chairperson advised Members that due to a delay at Westminster in publishing the amendments to the UK Child Poverty Bill, Departmental officials are unable to brief the Committee. The Chairperson advised that this item would be rescheduled for the meeting of 4 November 2009.
4. Salaries (Assembly Ombudsman and Commissioner for Complaints) Order 2009
The Committee considered the Salaries (Assembly Ombudsman and Commissioner for Complaints) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 S.R. 2009/335 and the Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules. Mr Attwood reserved his position on the matter.
Agreed:That the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister has considered the Salaries (Assembly Ombudsman and Commissioner for Complaints) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009 S.R. 2009/335 and has no objection to the rule.
5. Department of Justice Bill
Members considered the draft Report on the Department of Justice Bill.
Agreed: Members read and agreed paragraphs 1 to 10 without objection.
Agreed:Members read and agreed paragraphs 11-12 without objection.
Agreed:Members read and agreed paragraphs 13-18 without objection.
2.14 p.m. Mr Kennedy joined the meeting.
Paragraph 19 was read and the Committee divided: Ayes 6; Noes 1; Abstentions 2.
Ayes: Ms Anderson, Mr McElduff, Mr Molloy, Mr Robinson, Mr Shannon, Mr Spratt.
Noes: Mr Attwood.
Abstentions: Mr Elliott, Mr Kennedy.
Agreed:Paragraph 19 read and agreed.
Agreed:Members read and agreed paragraphs 20-21 without objection.
Paragraph 22 was read and the Committee divided: Ayes 6; Noes 1; Abstentions 2.
Ayes: Ms Anderson, Mr McElduff, Mr Molloy, Mr Robinson, Mr Shannon, Mr Spratt.
Noes: Mr Attwood.
Abstentions: Mr Elliott, Mr Kennedy.
Agreed:Paragraph 19 read and agreed.
Agreed:Members read and agreed paragraphs 23-24 without objection.
2.17 p.m. Mr Kennedy took the Chair.
Agreed: Members agreed to include the appendices in the report:
Agreed:Members agreed to order the report to be printed.
Agreed: Members agreed that an extract from the Minutes of Proceedings of today’s meeting should be included in Appendix 1 of the report and are content that the Chairperson agrees the minutes to allow the extract to be included in the printed report.
6. Matters arising
Departmental Response
The Committee noted a response from the Department on the Victims and Survivors Service consultation, the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities press release and Gender Equality.
Nechama Project
Agreed:The Committee agreed to forward a response from the First Minister and deputy First Minister to the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety concerning the Nechama project.
Cost of Insurance in Northern Ireland
The Committee considered a letter from the Committee for Finance and Personnel the cost of insurance in Northern Ireland.
Agreed:The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for Finance and Personnel to advise that it is content with them taking lead on this issue.
Agreed:The Committee agreed to write to the Department to seek further information of its role in relation to insurance.
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. Members were made aware of the consultation process.
7. Correspondence
Performance against 2008/09 PSA targets
The Committee noted the letter from the Committee for Finance and Personnel concerning performance against 2008/09 PSA targets and the potential for discrepancy in performance reporting systems.
Equality Commission for Northern Ireland – Annual Report and Accounts 2008/09
The Committee noted a copy of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2008/09.
Kedco Energy
The Committee considered a request from Kedco Energy to brief the Committee on its energy project.
Agreed:The Committee agreed that the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and any other interested Members would meet with Kedco Energy to discuss their project.
8. Any other Business
The Chairperson advised Members that the Committee papers for the meeting of 4 November 2009 would be issued to Members rooms on Monday 2 November 2009.
2.24 p.m. Mrs Long joined the meeting.
2.25 p.m. The meeting moved into closed session.
9. Draft European Report
Members considered the Committee’s draft European Report.
Agreed: Members agreed that it would consider a further draft of the Committee’s European Report at its meeting of Wednesday 11 November 2009.
10. Date of next meeting
The next meeting will be held in Room 30 on Wednesday 4 November 2009 at 2 p.m.
5.05 p.m. The Chairperson adjourned the meeting.