COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY
FIRST MINISTER
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 12 MAY 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Danny Kennedy (Chairperson)
Mrs Naomi Long (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Alex Attwood
Mr Barry McElduff
Mr Francie Molloy
Mr Stephen Moutray
Mr Jimmy Spratt
In Attendance:
Mrs Cathie White (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Keith McBride (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Stephen Magee (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Tara McKee (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Rae Browne (Research Officer) Item 4 only
Apologies:
Ms Martina Anderson
Mr Tom Elliott
Mr George Robinson
Mr Jim Shannon
The meeting opened in public session at 1.57 p.m.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would consider agenda items 6, 7 and 8 at next week’s meeting.
Declaration of Interests
The Chairperson sought any declarations of interest from Members in relation to items of business being discussed. There were no disclosures.
The Chairperson congratulated Mrs Long and Mr Shannon on their Westminster Election successes and congratulated Mr Attwood on his upcoming appointment as Minister for Social Development.
Visit to the European Institutions
The Committee considered the draft programme for its joint visit to the European Institutions with the Assembly Commission.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the draft Programme and that the Clerk should continue to liaise with the Office of the Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels to finalise the programme.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 21 April 2010
Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 21 April 2010 were agreed by the Committee.
4. Commissioner for Older People – Draft Bill
Departmental Officials Dr Gerry Mulligan, Ms Jane Corderoy, Mr Stephen Orr and Mr Chris McCafferty joined the meeting at 2.01 p.m.
Mr McElduff joined the meeting at 2.06 p.m.
Departmental officials briefed the Committee on the Commissioner for Older People final policy proposals to the Bill following the consultation process. A question and answer session followed. Officials undertook to provide the Committee with further information on the list of relevant authorities included in Schedule 3 of the draft Bill.
Departmental Officials Dr Gerry Mulligan, Ms Jane Corderoy, Mr Stephen Orr and Mr Chris McCafferty left the meeting at 2.27 p.m.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to advise that it was content for the Bill to be considered at the next Executive meeting and that Members, or indeed the Committee, may bring forward amendments to the Bill following introduction.
5. Consultation on a Private Members Bill to Introduce Legislation on Missing Children and Young People in Northern Ireland
Ms Rae Browne of the Assembly’s Research and Library Services briefed the Committee on the proposed Private Members’ Bill – The Missing Children and Young Person’s Bill and the current provision for young runaways and missing children in England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland.
Mr Spratt left the meeting at 2.29 p.m.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the Research Paper to Ms Michelle McIlveen MLA, the sponsor of the Private Members’ Bill and to the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety as if the Bill is introduced they will be the Committee taking forward the Bill .
6. Correspondence
Performance and Efficiency Delivery Unit
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a letter from the Committee for Finance and Personnel concerning the Performance and Efficiency Delivery Unit to the Department.
Historic Child Abuse in Northern Ireland
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a letter from the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety concerning historic child abuse to the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
Strategic Investment Board
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a request for the Strategic Investment board to give evidence to the Committee for Finance and Personnel to the Department.
Childcare Strategy
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a letter from the Committee for Employment and Learning regarding publication of the Childcare Strategy to junior Ministers.
Hospitality Association of Northern Ireland
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a response from the First Minister and deputy First Minister concerning the Hospitality Association of Northern Ireland to the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee.
Bike to Work Scheme
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a response from the First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding a “Bike to Work” scheme to the Chairperson of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure.
Historic Child Abuse
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a response from the First Minister and deputy First Minister concerning historic child abuse to the Chairperson of the Committee for Health, Social Service and Public Safety.
Young Informal Carers in Northern Ireland
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward correspondence from the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety providing a petition for the help of young informal carers in Northern Ireland to junior Ministers.
7. Any Other Business
No other business.
8. Da te, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held in Room 30 on Wednesday 19 May 2010 at 2 p.m.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 2.36 p.m.