Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST AND DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 10 MARCH 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present: Mr Danny Kennedy (Chairperson)
Mrs Naomi Long (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Alex Attwood
Mr Tom Elliott
Mr Barry McElduff
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)

Apologies: Ms Martina Anderson

The meeting opened in public session at 2.05 p.m.

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.

Strategic Investment Board Visit

The Committee noted the report of the Committee’s visit to the Strategic Investment Board on Wednesday 3 March 2010.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Confederation of British Industry to advise them of the new Investment Strategy Delivery Tracking System.

Sustainable Development Implementation Plan
The Chairperson advised Members that he and the Clerk met with the Chairperson of the Committee for the Environment, the Chairperson of the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment and the Critical Friend Stakeholder Group concerning the Sustainable Development Implementation Plan.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward correspondence from the Critical Friend Stakeholder Group to the Department for comment and to the Committee for the Environment and the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment for information.

The Committee considered two responses from the Department concerning the delays in producing the Sustainable Development Implementation Plan and advising of the establishment of a Steering Group.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the responses to the Committee for the Environment.

3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 24 February 2010

Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 24 February 2010 were agreed by the Committee.

4. European Issues

The Committee considered a Clerk’s Brief relating to the European Commission’s Impact Assessments and the Report of the House of Lords Inquiry on Impact Assessments in the EU.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a research paper from the Assembly’s Research and Library Services on European Commission Impact Assessments.

The Committee considered a response from the Assembly’s Legal services concerning subsidiarity issues.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Committee Secretariat would consider the arrangements for establishing a working group to consider subsidiarity issues.

5. Matters arising

Departmental Spending Plans

The Committee noted a response from the Department concerning the adequacy of the staffing and funding resources available to the Planning Appeals Commission.

Cost of Insurance

The Committee considered a letter from the First Minister and deputy First Minister concerning the high cost of insurance in Northern Ireland.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the response to the Committee for Finance and Personnel who are taking lead on this issue.

Child Poverty Update

The Committee noted a response from the Department for Agriculture and Rural Development providing an update on its relevant recommendations in the Committee’s Child Poverty Report.

Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure

The Committee noted a response from the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure providing information on their Department’s involvement in Europe.

Consultation on the Commissioner for Older People

The Committee considered a copy of a letter from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to the Department concerning the Consultation on the draft Commissioner for Older People Bill.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to seek information on why the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman was not consulted directly and to request information on how it will be responding to the letter.

Mr Attwood joined the meeting at 2.18 p.m.

Mr Moutray joined the meeting at 2.19 p.m.

Victims and Survivors Forum

The Committee considered a request from the Services Committee of the Victims and Survivors Forum to brief the Committee on the proposed Victims and Survivors Service.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson, the Deputy Chairperson and any interested Members would meet with the Services Committee of the Victims and Survivors Forum.

6. Correspondence

Devolution of Policing and Justice

The Committee considered a letter from the First Minister and deputy First Minister offering a briefing on the process for achieving the transfer of powers. The Chairperson advised Members that this will be a joint meeting with the Assembly and Executive Review Committee and will be on Tuesday 23 March at 3 p.m. in the Senate Chamber.

Committee for Social Development

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a response from the Department concerning the economic appraisal on the options for the provision of childcare in Northern Ireland to the Committee for Social Development.

Committee for Employment and Learning

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a letter from the Committee for Employment and Learning concerning its inquiry into young people aged 16-24 not in education, employment or training to junior Ministers.

The Stroke Association for Northern Ireland

The Committee noted a copy of a letter from the Stroke Association for Northern Ireland to the Minister for Finance and Personnel concerning proposed cuts to the Health and Social Care Budget.

Northern Ireland Marine Task Force

The Committee noted a copy of a briefing paper from the Northern Ireland Marine Task Force on the Marine Policy Statement and Marine Planning.

Action for Children

The Committee noted a copy of a letter from Action for Children to the Minister for Finance and Personnel concerning the Review of the 2010-11 Spending Plans

Children in Northern Ireland

The Committee considered a copy of a letter from Children in Northern Ireland to the Minister for Finance and Personnel concerning the Review of the 2010-11 Spending Plans.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the relevant section of the response to the Department for comment.

Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a letter from the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure concerning a Bike to Work Scheme to the First Minister and deputy First Minister.

Mr Shannon joined the meeting at 2.23 p.m.

Assembly and Executive Review Committee

The Committee noted a copy of a letter from the First Minister and deputy First Minister concerning the devolution of policing and justice matters to the Chairperson of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee.

7. Forward Work Programme

Mr Moutray left the meeting at 2.25 p.m.

Mr Elliott joined the meeting at 2.27 p.m.

The Committee considered the Forward Work Programme for the coming months.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to seek information on when the draft Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration will be made available to the Committee.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a briefing from the Belfast City Mission on their work with asylum seekers.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek clarification on its scrutiny role in relation to the British Irish Council and the North South Ministerial Council.

8. Any other Business

Budget (No. 2) Bill

Departmental Officials Mr Tony Canavan and Mr Iain McFarlane joined the meeting at 2.48 p.m.

Mr McElduff left the meeting at 2.48 p.m.

Departmental officials answered questions on the Budget (No. 2) Bill for devolving policing and justice.

Departmental Officials Mr Tony Canavan and Mr Iain McFarlane left the meeting at 3.08 p.m.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the proposals contained in the Budget (No. 2) Bill.

9. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held in the Senate Chamber on Tuesday 23 March 2010 at 3 p.m

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.10 p.m.

Mr Danny Kennedy
Chairperson,
Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister