COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY
FIRST MINISTER
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 19 MAY 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Danny Kennedy (Chairperson)
Mrs Naomi Long (Deputy Chairperson)
Ms Martina Anderson
Mr Tom Elliott
Mr Stephen Moutray
Mr George Robinson
Mr Jim Shannon
Mr Jimmy Spratt
In Attendance:
Mrs Cathie White (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Keith McBride (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Stephen Magee (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Marion Johnson (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Alex Attwood
Mr Barry McElduff
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.
Visit to UK Border Agency
The Chairperson advised the Committee that he and a number of Members visited the UK Border Agency at Drumkeen House to receive a briefing and a tour of Drumkeen House on Wednesday 12 May 2010. The Chairperson advised that this was a very useful visit and that the Committee will keep in contact with the UK Border Agency.
Ms Anderson joined the meeting at 2.03 p.m.
Meeting of 26 May 2010
Agreed: The Committee agreed that to facilitate the Committee for Finance and Personnel it would hold next week’s meeting in Room 135.
Written Ministerial Statement
The Committee considered a written Ministerial Statement on “The Executive’s Priority Measures to Deal with the Economic Downturn”.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the written Ministerial Statement to all statutory committees for information.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would consider the merits of tabling a motion for a take note debate in the Assembly on this issue later in the meeting.
Commissioner for Older People Bill
The Committee considered a response from the Department providing further information regarding the Public Prosecution Service and whether it should be included in the list of relevant authorities. The Committee also considered a timetable for consideration of the Bill by the Committee and a Public Notice.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would reconsider the timetable for its consideration of the Bill after the closing date for written evidence at its meeting of 16 June 2010. The Committee agreed the public notice and agreed that it should be placed in the Newsletter, Irish News and the Belfast Telegraph following first stage. The Committee also agreed that the Clerk liaise with the Assembly’s Research and Library Services to identify key stakeholders to invite written evidence on the Bill.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 12 May 2010
Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 12 May 2010 were agreed by the Committee.
4. Trauma Advisory Panels
Representatives of the Trauma Advisory Panels Mrs Sandra Peake, Mr Jeff Barr, Ms Fionnuala McAtamney and Ms Sheelagh Sheerin joined the meeting at 2.08 p.m.
Mrs Long joined the meeting at 2.17 p.m.
Mr Shannon joined the meeting at 2.22 p.m.
Representatives of the Trauma Advisory Panels briefed the Committee on their work. A question and answer session followed.
Representatives of the Trauma Advisory Panels Mrs Sandra Peake, Mr Jeff Barr, Mrs Fionnuala McAtamney and Ms Sheelagh Sheerin left the meeting at 3.03 p.m.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to seek further information on the funding and staffing of the Trauma Advisory Panels. The Committee also agreed to forward a copy of the Hansard of the evidence session to the Department and to the Commission for Victims and Survivors for their comments.
5. European Issues
Committee of the Regions
The Committee considered a response from the Department concerning support for the Members of the Committee of the Regions.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the response from the Department to the Members of the Committee of the Regions for their information.
Mr Spratt left the meeting at 3.05 p.m.
Report of Inquiry into the Consideration of European Issues
The Committee noted responses from the Assembly Commission and the Speaker concerning the Committee’s Report of its Inquiry into the Consideration of European Issues.
Claw back of European Grants
The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel providing a final update on the claw back of European grants.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for Finance and Personnel requesting information on the steps being taken by the Department for Finance and Personnel to avoid a reoccurrence of this problem.
Mr Spratt re-joined the meeting at 3.08 p.m.
European Funding for Research and Development
The Committee considered a briefing paper on European Funding for Research and Development and a research paper on the European Union Framework Programmes for Research and Development both of which were provided by the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment to seek further information on who can assist industry in drawing down European Funding.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for Employment and Learning to request further information on the barriers to European funding for research and development encountered by the Universities.
European Commission Press Release
The Committee considered a press release issued by the European Commission highlighting the Commission’s plans to boost research and innovation by making it easier to apply for and mange European grants.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek further information on how the European Commission plan to make it easier to apply for and manage European grants.
6. Census Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010
The Committee considered the draft Census Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010. The Committee noted the Committee for Finance and Personnel letter advising that it recommended that the Census Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010 be affirmed by the Assembly.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to recommend that the Census Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010 be affirmed by the Assembly.
7. Department of Justice (2010 Act)(Commencement) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010
The Committee noted the Department of Justice (2010 Act)(Commencement) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010, which the First Minister and deputy First Minister made on 9 April 2010.
8. Matters Arising
Northern Ireland Community Relations Council
The Committee noted a response from the Department concerning transitional funding arrangements for victims groups.
Victims and Survivors
The Committee noted a response from the Department to issues raised concerning the proposed Victims and Survivors Service.
Sustainable Development Commissioner
The Committee considered a response from the Department providing further information on the appointment of a Sustainable Development Commissioner.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request a further update on the appointment of a Sustainable Development Commissioner and to request an update on what further action has been taken on the draft Sustainable Development Strategy.
Prompt Payment of Invoices
The Committee noted correspondence from the Department providing information on their performance in relation to the prompt payment of invoices.
Promotion of Townland Names
The Committee noted a response from the Department in relation to promoting the use of townland names and the Pointer system.
Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration
The Committee considered a response from the Department concerning comments raised by the Committee on the draft Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to seek further information on the make up of the Racial Equality Panel, how the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community will be included in the Programme. The Committee also agreed to request information on when the bi-lateral discussions with Departments and stakeholders are to take place and when it can expect to see a revised Programme.
Child Poverty Strategy
The Committee considered a response from the Department to queries raised concerning the development of a child poverty strategy.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the detail of the response to Barnardo’s, who raised the initial concerns.
Review of the Office of the Northern Ireland Ombudsman
The Committee considered a response from the Department concerning the Review of the Office of the Northern Ireland Ombudsman.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request further information on the internal review following consideration by Ministers.
Review of School Transport
The Committee noted a response from the Department of Education advising that no date has been decided for the commencement of the review of school transport.
Promoting Social Inclusion Report on Disability
The Committee noted a response from the Department of Education regarding the Promoting Social Inclusion Report on Disability.
Brief for Missing Children in Care
The Committee noted a Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety briefing paper on Missing Children in Care.
Review of the Office of the Northern Ireland Ombudsman
The Committee considered a response from the Northern Ireland Ombudsman providing his views on the recommendations contained in the Review of his Office.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward his views to the Department for Ministers to consider.
9. Correspondence
Commissioner for Public Appointments (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010
The Committee noted the Commissioner for Public Appointments (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010, which came into operation on 15 April 2010, following the devolution of policing and justice powers.
Children in Northern Ireland
The Committee considered a copy of a letter from Children in Northern Ireland to junior Ministers concerning the restructuring of the Department.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to seek information on how they will be responding to the letter.
Post Project Evaluations
The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel detailing each department’s outstanding post project evaluations.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request further information on its outstanding post project evaluations.
Welfare Reform Bill
The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Social Development inviting the Committee’s views on the Welfare Reform Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk would draft a response to the Committee for Social Development highlighting relevant recommendations in the Committee’s Report on Child Poverty. The Committee also agreed that Members should forward any comments for inclusion in the response to the Clerk.
Committee for Education
The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Education concerning an article in the Belfast Telegraph and whether the article was written by Mr McGuinness in his capacity as deputy First Minister.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to ask if the article was written by Mr McGuinness in his capacity as deputy First Minister.
Belfast International Airport
The Committee noted correspondence from the Belfast International Airport concerning Members support in the Assembly debate of 24 February 2009 on the need to setup a public inquiry into the planning application to extend the runway at Belfast City Airport.
Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association
The Committee considered a request from the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association to brief the Committee on its Programme for Prosperity document.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and any interested Members would meet with the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association.
Assembly and Executive Review Committee
The Committee noted correspondence from the Chairperson of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee concerning the Office of the Attorney General. The Chairperson advised Members that he met with the Chairpersons of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee, the Committee for Justice and the Committee on Procedures to discuss the process for scrutinising the Attorney General. The Chairperson advised that it was agreed that this Committee will have primacy in scrutinising the financial and administrative aspects of the Attorney General Office.
ILEX
The Committee noted correspondence from the Department following the briefing received by the Committee for Social Development on Ilex.
Older People’s Advocate Annual Report December 2008 – March 2010
The Committee noted the Older People’s Advocate Annual Report December 2008 – March 2010.
10. Any Other Business
Committee for Finance and Personnel
The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding their meeting with the Irish Bank Officials Association regarding the proposed sale of the First Trust Bank by the Allied Irish Bank. The letter recommends that the Minister for Finance and Personnel, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment and the First Minister and deputy First Minister meet with the Irish Bank Officials Association to discuss this issue.
Agreed: The Committee agreed with this approach and agreed to forward the correspondence to the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
Written Ministerial Statement
The Committee considered a written Ministerial Statement on “The Executive’s Priority Measures to Deal with the Economic Downturn”.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to table a Committee take note motion on the Executive’s Priority Measures to Deal with the Economic Downturn for debate in the Assembly.
Maze Long Kesh
The Chairperson advised Members that given the media interest regarding the costs of the regeneration of the Maze Long Kesh site, he had requested and received a breakdown of the costs from the Department.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request an oral briefing from officials on the costs and progress of the regeneration of the site, what has been done to maximise the potential of the site and to ascertain what has been done to establish the Maze Long Kesh Corporation.
Room 30
Agreed: The Committee agreed that at any future meetings it holds in Room 30 the blinds will remain open for the duration of the meeting.
11. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held in Room 135 on Wednesday 26 May 2010 at 2 p.m.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.41p.m.