COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY
FIRST MINISTER
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 21 APRIL 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Danny Kennedy (Chairperson)
Mr Tom Elliott
Mr Francie Molloy
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:
Ms Martina Anderson
Mr Alex Attwood
Mrs Naomi Long
Mr Stephen Moutray
The meeting opened in public session at 2.01 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.
Trauma Advisory Panel
The Committee considered a request from the Regional Trauma Advisory Panels to brief the Committee on its work.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule a briefing from representatives of the Regional Trauma Advisory Panels into the forward Work Programme.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 14 April 2010
Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 14 April 2010 were agreed by the Committee.
4. Assembly Ombudsman and Commissioner for Complaints
The Assembly Ombudsman and Commissioner for Complaints, Mr Tom Frawley CBE and Deputy Ombudsman, Mrs Marie Anderson joined the meeting at 2.04 p.m.
Mr Shannon joined the meeting at 2.20 p.m.
The Assembly Ombudsman and Commissioner for Complaints, Mr Tom Frawley CBE and Deputy Ombudsman, Mrs Marie Anderson briefed the Committee on the role of the Ombudsman, engagement with the Assembly and the Development of his Office. A question and answer session followed. Mr Frawley undertook to provide the Committee with a paper on legislation for the Office of the Ombudsman.
The Assembly Ombudsman and Commissioner for Complaints, Mr Tom Frawley CBE and Deputy Ombudsman, Mrs Marie Anderson left the meeting at 2.57 p.m.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request an update on the status of the Review of the Ombudsman’s Office carried out in 2004.
5. Matters arising
Victims and Survivors Service
The Committee considered a response from the First Minister and deputy First Minister following the Committee’s response to the consultation on the Victims and Survivors Service. The response advised that the Department are looking at various options on how the Service will be established.
6. Correspondence
Promotion of Townland Names
The Committee considered a response from the Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service to the Chairperson of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure concerning the promotion of townland names.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the response from the Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service to the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure. The Committee also agreed to write to the Department to request information on how they plan to promote the use of townland names and to request information on how the Pointer system could be used to promote townland names.
Inquiry into Young People who are not in Education, Employment or Training
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a response from junior Ministers to the Committee for Employment and Learning concerning its inquiry into Young People who are not in Education, Employment or Training.
In-year Monitoring Guidelines
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel which provided a draft of the “Engagement with committees” section, for inclusion in the 2010-11 in-year monitoring guidelines.
7. Any Other Business
Europe 2020 Strategy
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department for Finance and Personnel to request a briefing on the Europe 2020 Strategy, which would include the views of other interested departments.
Consultation Paper on the Public Assemblies, Parades and Protests in Northern Ireland
The Committee had a general discussion on how it would consider and respond to the Consultation Paper on the Public Assemblies, Parades and Protests in Northern Ireland.
Mr McElduff left the meeting at 3.08 p.m.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would consider responses to the Consultation as they are received from the Department and consider a response following the closing date of the Consultation.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the Consultation Paper to the Committee for Justice for their information.
Visit to Drumkeen House
Agreed: The Committee agreed that as there is no meeting scheduled for 5 May 2010 and a visit to the UK Border Agency at Drumkeen House is scheduled for 12 May 2010, that if required a short meeting will be held before the visit on 12 May 2010 to consider any urgent business.
Visit to the European Institutions in Brussels
Agreed: The Committee agreed to hold a formal meeting in Brussels during its visit to the European Institutions from the 8-10 June 2010 and for the Clerk to investigate options as to where the meeting could be held.
Equal Employment Opportunities Commission
The Chairperson advised Members that the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland had requested that the Committee meets with the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission from Israel during their visit to Northern Ireland on Wednesday 12 May 2010.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to hold an informal lunch meeting with the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission from Israel at 12.30 p.m. on Wednesday 12 May 2010.
8. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held in Room 30 on Wednesday 28 April 2010 at 1 p.m.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.14 p.m.