COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY
FIRST MINISTER
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 14 APRIL 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Danny Kennedy (Chairperson)
Mrs Naomi Long (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Alex Attwood
Mr Tom Elliott
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)
Apologies:
Ms Martina Anderson
Mr Barry McElduff
Mr Stephen Moutray
The meeting opened in public session at 2.12 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.
Barnardo’s
The Chairperson advised the Committee that he, the Deputy Chairperson and the Clerk met with representatives from Barnardo’s at lunchtime to discuss child poverty issues.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to seek further information on the Child Poverty Strategy and to forward to the Department information provided on child poverty initiatives.
3. Draft minutes of the meetings held on 24 March 2010 and 12 April 2010
Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 24 March 2010 and 12 April 2010 were agreed by the Committee.
4. European Issues
Mrs Diane Dodds MEP joined the meeting at 2.14 p.m.
Mrs Diane Dodds MEP briefed the Committee on European issues. A question and answer session followed.
Mrs Long joined the meeting at 2.21 p.m.
Mr Attwood joined the meeting at 2.22 p.m.
Mr Shannon joined the meeting at 3.03 p.m.
Mr Attwood left the meeting at 3.07 p.m.
Mrs Dodds MEP left the meeting at 3.10 p.m.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the Minutes of Evidence from all the European briefing sessions already held and any future European briefings to all statutory committees for their information.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the First Minister and deputy First Minister and the Assembly Commission to request their responses to the Committee’s Report on the Consideration of European Issues.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a briefing from the Department on its response to the Europe 2020 Strategy and how it will link with the Executive’s priorities.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward links to the Europe 2020 Strategy and the European Commission’s Work Programme to all statutory committees for their information.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to Northern Ireland’s Representatives in Europe to request written briefings on their views of the Europe 2020 Strategy and the European Commission’s Work Programme.
5. Departmental Forecast Out-turn
Agreed: The Committee agreed to move to agenda item 7.
The Committee noted the Department’s monthly forecast out-turn for the month of February.
6. Census Order 2010
The Committee considered an SL1 for the Census Order 2010. The Committee also noted the Committee for Finance and Personnel letter advising that it was content with the proposals in the Census Order 2010.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to advise that it was content with the SL1.
7. Matters arising
Commissioner for Older People
The Committee noted a response from the Department concerning the consultation on the draft Commissioner for Older People Bill.
Children in Northern Ireland
The Committee considered a response from the Department concerning Children in Northern Ireland’s response to the review of the 2010-11 spending plans.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward relevant sections of the response to Children in Northern Ireland.
Mr Attwood re-joined the meeting at 3.14 p.m.
Equality Impact Assessment on the Crumlin Rd Gaol and Girdwood Park Masterplan
The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Social Development following its briefing on the Equality Impact Assessment for the Crumlin Road Gaol and Girdwood Park Masterplan.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for Social Development to advise that it was content to continue its consideration of the Crumlin road Gaol regeneration site.
ILEX Briefing
The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Social Development following its briefing from the ILEX Regeneration Company suggesting a concurrent meeting in the autumn to consider responses following the public consultation on the ILEX Mk II Regeneration Plan.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for Social development to advise that it was content to schedule a concurrent meeting on this issue in the autumn.
Cross Departmental Benefit Uptake Strategy
The Committee considered a response from the Committee for Social Development providing an update on relevant recommendations in the Committee’s Child Poverty report. The Committee for Social Development also expressed its support for the recommendation to develop a cross-departmental benefit uptake strategy.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to highlight the Committee for Social Development’s support for the development of a cross-departmental benefit uptake strategy.
Promoting Social Inclusion Report on Disability
The Committee noted a response from the Committee for Social Development to the Promoting Social Inclusion Report on Disability.
Provision of Childcare in Northern Ireland
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the letter from the Committee for Social Development to the Department concerning the provision of childcare in Northern Ireland.
Victims and Survivors Funding
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of Martina Anderson’s e-mail concerning funding for victims and survivors to the Department for comment.
8. Correspondence
Memorandum of Understanding and Supplementary Agreements
The Committee noted a letter from the First Minister and deputy First Minister providing a copy of the revised Memorandum of Understanding and Supplementary Agreements.
Executive’s Advertising Policy
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a response from the First Minister and deputy First Minister concerning the Executive’s Advertising Policy to the Committee for Finance and Personnel.
Review of Public Administration
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a letter from the Committee for the Environment concerning the local government reform process to the Department.
Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a letter from the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety concerning legislation for Autistic Spectrum Disorder to the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
Prompt Payment of Invoices
The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment concerning Departmental prompt payment of invoices.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to seek information on its performance in relation to the prompt payment of invoices.
Independent Review of the Economic Policy Implementation Plan
The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment providing a copy of the Independent Review of the Economic Policy Implementation Plan.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should ascertain what the closing date is for responses.
Children and Young People’s Unit
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a letter from the Committee for Education concerning the Children and Young People’s Unit anti-bullying comic to the Department.
Belfast International Airport
The Committee considered correspondence from Belfast International Airport thanking the Committee for its help and assistance in securing a public inquiry into the runway extension at Belfast City Airport.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to Belfast International airport to advise that it has not previously considered this issue and therefore did not provide any help or assistance in securing the public inquiry.
Consultation on Private Members’ Bill
The Committee considered correspondence from Michelle McIlveen MLA in relation to the consultation on a Private Members’ Bill to introduce legislation on missing children and young people in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request an extension to the deadline for response. The Committee also requested a research paper from the Assembly’s Research and Library Services on missing children and young people in Northern Ireland.
9. Any Other Business
Revised Departmental Spending Plans 2010-11
The Committee noted that the revised Departmental Expenditure Plans 2010-11 were agreed by the Executive on 2 April 2010. It is expected that the debate will take place on 20 April 2010 and that the Chairperson will speak on issues raised during its consideration of the Department’s revised spending plans.
Visit to the European Institutions in Brussels
The Committee considered a draft programme and dates for its joint visit with the Assembly Commission to the European Institutions in Brussels.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to visit the European Institutions in Brussels from 8-10 June 2010 and that the Clerk would liaise with the Office of the Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels and the Clerk to the Commission concerning the programme.
Mr Spratt left the meeting at 3.26 p.m.
10. Draft Sustainable Development Strategy
Departmental officials, Mr Damian Prince, Mr Jim Sutherland and Mr John Bradley joined the meeting at 3.27 p.m.
Departmental officials briefed the Committee on the final consultation report on the draft sustainable Development Strategy and the Sustainable Development Implementation Plan. A question and answer session followed.
Departmental officials, Mr Damian Prince, Mr Jim Sutherland and Mr John Bradley left the meeting at 3.40 p.m.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to issue a copy of the final consultation report on the draft Sustainable Development Strategy to all statutory committees for information.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to seek further information on the appointment of a Sustainable Development Commissioner.
The Committee considered a response from the Department to concerns raised by the “Critical Friend Stakeholder Group” concerning the Sustainable Development Strategy.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the response to the Committee for the Environment and the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment for information.
11. Organisational Restructuring
Departmental officials, Mr Tim Losty, Mrs Jackie Kerr and Mr Frank Duffy joined the meeting at 3.42 p.m.
Departmental officials briefed the Committee on the Department’s organisational restructuring. A question and answer session followed.
Departmental officials, Damian Prince, Mr Jim Sutherland and Mr John Bradley left the meeting at 4.19 p.m.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request a detailed breakdown of what was the previous structure in the Department, what is the new structure and which posts have been lost.
12. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held in Room 30 on Wednesday 21 April 2010 at 2 p.m.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.20 p.m.
Mr Danny Kennedy
Chairperson,
Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister