COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY
FIRST MINISTER
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Danny Kennedy (Chairperson)
Ms Martina Anderson
Mr Alex Attwood
Mr Tom Elliott
Mr Barry McElduff
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)
Apologies:
Mrs Naomi Long
Mr Francie Molloy
Mr Stephen Moutray
The meeting opened in public session at 2.03 p.m.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
Mt Attwood joined the meeting at 2.04 p.m.
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.
Commissioner for Public Appointments
The Chairperson advised Members that the Commissioner for Public Appointments had requested a meeting with him.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson, the Deputy Chairperson and any interested Members would meet with the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
Invite to attend St Patrick’s Day Reception in Washington
The Chairperson advised Members that he and Deputy Chairperson have been invited to attend the Northern Ireland Bureau’s St Patrick’s Day Reception and other events in Washington.
Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration
The Committee noted a letter from the First Minister and deputy First Minister stating that they will shortly be launching the Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration and that they will be forwarding a copy of the draft document to the Committee before Executive approval.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 17 February 2010
Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 17 February 2010 were agreed by the Committee.
4. European Issues
Mr Maurice Maxwell, Head of the European Commission’s Office in Belfast joined the meeting at 2.06 p.m.
Mr Maurice Maxwell, Head of the European Commission’s Office in Belfast briefed the Committee on European issues. A question and answer session followed. Mr Maxwell undertook to provide further information to the Committee on European funding available for Research and Development.
Mr Elliott joined the meeting at 2.11 p.m.
Mr Shannon joined the meeting at 2.22 p.m.
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 2.47 p.m.
Mr Maxwell left the meeting at 3.07 p.m.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a research paper from the Assembly’s Research and Library Services on European Structural Funds and European funding for Research and Development.
5. Consultation on Victims and Survivors Service
The Committee considered the summary of responses from the Department’s consultation on the proposed Victims and Survivors Service.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk would draft a response to the Department advising of the Committee’s views on the Victims and Survivors Service for approval by the Chairperson.
6. Matters arising
Sustainable Development Duty
The Committee noted a response from the Department concerning guidance relating to the statutory duty for sustainable development.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the response to the Committee for the Environment.
Late Receipt of Papers
The Committee noted a letter from the First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding late receipt of papers.
7. Correspondence
Committee for the Environment
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a letter from the Committee for the Environment regarding the Sustainable Development Implementation Plan to the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment providing a copy of a research paper on Business Opportunities and Challenges Presented by Carbon Emissions Targets.
Northern Ireland Law Commission
The Committee noted the Annual Report and Accounts of the Northern Ireland Law Commission for the year ending 31 March 2008.
8. Any other Business
The Chairperson reminded Members that the visit to the Strategic Investment Board to receive a presentation on the Investment Strategy Delivery Tracking System was scheduled for 2.15 p.m. next Wednesday.
9. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held in Room 30 on Wednesday 10 March 2010 at 2 p.m.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.57 p.m.