COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY
FIRST MINISTER
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 9 DECEMBER 2009
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr Danny Kennedy (Chairperson)
Mrs Naomi Long (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Alex Attwood
Mr Tom Elliott
Mr Francie Molloy
Mr Stephen Moutray
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)
Apologies: Ms Martina Anderson
Mr Barry McElduff
Mr George Robinson
The meeting opened at 2.04 p.m. in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
Declaration of Interests
The Chairperson sought any declarations of interest from Members in relation to items of business being discussed. There were no disclosures.
Meeting with Kedco Energy NI
The Chairperson provided Members with an update on the meeting that he, the Deputy Chairperson and the Clerk attended with Kedco Energy.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request further information on which Department is responsible for strategies relating to bio-fuels, bio-gas and bio-mass.
Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities
The Committee considered a request from the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities to brief the Committee on its report into the affects of the economic downturn on the Polish community in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and any other interested Members would meet with NICEM to discuss the Report.
Review of Strategic Investment Board
The Chairperson advised Members that he and the Clerk met with the consultants undertaking the review of the Strategic Investment Board who provided an update on the Review.
Lifelong Learning
The Committee considered a letter from the Committee for Employment and Learning inviting Junior Ministers and the Committee to its Lifelong Learning for Older People Event.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the invitation to Junior Ministers.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 25 November 2009
Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 25 November 2009 were agreed by the Committee.
4. Northern Ireland Community Relations Council
Mr Attwood joined the meeting at 2.08 p.m.
Mr Tony McCusker, Chair of the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council and Mr Duncan Morrow, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council joined the meeting at 2.08 p.m.
Mr Elliott joined the meeting at 2.10 p.m.
Mr McCusker and Mr Morrow briefed the Committee on the work of the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council and its paper: Beyond the Crossroads.
A question and answer session followed.
Mr Moutray left the meeting at 3.24 p.m.
Mr McCusker and Mr Morrow left the meeting at 3.28 p.m.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to seek further information on the transitional arrangements for the funding of victims and survivors projects.
5. Matters arising
Appointments to the Strategic Investment Board
The Committee noted the press release advising of the appointment of a Chairman and non-executive directors to the Strategic Investment Board.
Mrs Long left the meeting at 3.30 p.m.
Child poverty Sub-Group
The Committee noted the response from the Department providing further information on the Child Poverty Sub-Group of the Ministerial Sub-Committee on Children and Young People.
Programme for Government Delivery Report
The Committee considered two responses from the Department to the Committee’s comments on the Programme for Government Delivery Report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Confederation of British Industry to seek clarification on its submission to the Committee.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request a copy of the Annexe to the PSA Delivery Agreements which contain details on targets.
Mr Moutray rejoined the meeting at 3.32 p.m.
Implementing the Gender Equality Strategy
The Committee considered a response from the Department to the Committee’s comments on the Implementing the Gender Equality Strategy: Progress Report 2006-2008.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to seek clarification on the progress of the draft Childcare Strategy.
Commission for Victims and Survivors Corporate Plan 2009-2011
The Committee noted the summary of responses provided by the Commission for Victims and Survivors to its consultation on its Corporate Plan.
Childcare SOS Campaign
The Committee considered a letter providing information on the Childcare SOS Campaign.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite Employers for Childcare to brief the Committee on the Childcare SOS Campaign.
Mr Attwood left the meeting at 3.36 p.m.
Visit to Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre
The Committee noted the report of the visit to Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre and the Scotland and Northern Ireland UK Border Agency.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule a visit to the UK Border Agency office at Drumkeen House into the Committee’s forward Work Programme.
European Investment Bank
The Committee noted a response from the Minister for Finance and Personnel concerning the European Investment Bank Small and Medium Size Enterprises Loan Scheme.
Committee for Social Development
The Committee considered a response from the Committee for Social Development concerning child benefit issues.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to highlight these issues.
Minority Ethnic Development Fund 2010/11
The Committee noted the letter from the Department advising of the call for applications for funding under the Minority Ethnic Development Fund.
6. Correspondence
Public Accounts Committee
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a letter from the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee concerning the Hospitality Association of Northern Ireland to the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
Committee for Regional Development
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a letter from the Committee for Regional Development concerning services available in the public and private sector for disabled people to the Department for information.
Committee for Education
The Committee considered a letter from the Committee for Education concerning proposed changes to the provision of special needs education in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for Education stating that as the Department for Education is the lead department the Committee would be noting the letter.
Inquiry into the impact of the Treaty of Lisbon on Scotland
The Committee considered a letter from the Convener of the Scottish Parliament European and External relations Committee inviting a written submission on its inquiry into the impact of the Treaty of Lisbon on Scotland. The Committee agreed as it is currently considering how it will deal with issues of subsidiarity and proportionality that it would not make a submission to the inquiry.
Mr McElduff rejoined the meeting at 3.12 p.m.
7. Forward work Programme
The Committee considered the Forward Work Programme for the month of January and agreed that the first meeting after recess would take place on 13 January 2010.
8. Any other Business
Public Consultation on the Post Office
The Chairperson advised Members of the public consultation on new financial services and products that could be offered by the Post Office. The Committee agreed that as it had no remit for this issue it would not make a response.
Public Consultation on a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland: Next Steps
The Chairperson advised Members of the public consultation on a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland: Next steps launched by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 30 November 2009.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to request a summary of responses following the completion of the consultation period.
The meeting moved into closed session at 3.45 p.m.
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 3.45 p.m.
Mrs Long rejoined the meeting at 3.46 p.m.
Mr Spratt left the meeting at 3.46 p.m.
5. Matters arising cont……..
December Monitoring Round
The Committee noted a response from the Department providing further information on its proposals for the December Monitoring Round.
Economic Research and Policy Challenge
The Committee noted a response from the Department concerning the provision of Economic Research and Policy Challenge.
9. Consideration of draft European Report
The Chairperson advised Members that he and the Clerk will meet with the Assembly Commission on Thursday 10 December to discuss the Committee’s European Report and the Recommendations for the Assembly Commission. The Chairperson advised that the Committee will consider the Report again at the first meeting following Recess on 13 January 2010.
10. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held in Room 30 on Wednesday 13 January 2010 at 2 p.m.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.50 p.m.