COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY
FIRST MINISTER
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 26 MAY 2010
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Danny Kennedy (Chairperson)
Mrs Naomi Long (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Barry McElduff
Mr Francie Molloy
Mr Stephen Moutray
Mr George Robinson
Mr Jim Shannon
In Attendance:
Mrs Cathie White (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Keith McBride (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Stephen Magee (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Marion Johnson (Clerical Officer)
Mr Tim Moore (Senior Research Officer) Item 3 only
Apologies:
Mr Tom Elliott
Mrs Dolores Kelly
Mr Jimmy Spratt
The meeting opened in public session at 2.15 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.
3. European Issues
Mr Tim Moore of the Assembly’s Research and Library Services briefed the Committee on the European Commission’s Legislative and Work Programme.
4. Update on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
Departmental officials, Mr Colin Jack, Ms Martina Campbell and Miss Orla Heatley joined the meeting at 2.24 p.m.
Mr McElduff joined the meeting at 2.24 p.m.
Mr Moutray joined the meeting at 2.26 p.m.
Mr Shannon joined the meeting at 2.32 p.m.
Departmental officials updated the Committee on the work of the Department in relation to the concluding observations of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. A question and answer session followed.
Departmental officials, Mr Colin Jack, Ms Martina Campbell and Miss Orla Heatley left the meeting at 2.48 p.m.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request copies of five action plans from five of the six priorities under the work programme of the Ministerial Sub Committee on Children and Young People.
The Committee considered correspondence from Children in Northern Ireland concerning the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence to the Department for comment.
5. Chairperson’s Business
Committee Motion
The Chairperson advised Members that the Committee motion concerning “The Executive’s Priority Measures to Deal with the Economic Downturn” is likely to take place week commencing 14 June 2010.
Committee Visit to the European Institutions
Mr Shannon advised the Chairperson that he is unable to attend the Committee visit to the European Institutions as he will be making his maiden speech in the House of Commons on that date.
6. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 19 May 2010
Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 19 May 2010 were agreed by the Committee.
7. European Issues
Commission’s Legislative Work Programme
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Assembly’s Research and Library Service’s proposal that it would monitor the development of the priority initiatives and any new policy proposals in the areas of Social Affairs, Inclusion and Fundamental Rights.
Funding for Research Framework Programmes
The Committee noted a communication from the European Commission concerning Simplifying the Implementation of the Research Framework Programmes.
Action 3 of the Committee’s Report on the Consideration of European Issues
The Committee considered Action 3 of the Committee’s Report on the Consideration of European Issues concerning the establishment of an advisory panel to assist the Committee in its consideration on European matters.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a Research Paper on the options for establishing an advisory panel.
8. June Monitoring Round Proposals
Departmental official, Mrs Jackie Kerr joined the meeting at 2.52 p.m.
A Departmental official briefed the Committee on the Department’s proposals for the June Monitoring Round. A question and answer session followed.
Departmental official, Mrs Jackie Kerr left the meeting at 3.15 p.m.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request further information on a number of issues raised during the briefing session and that the information should be supplied to the Committee in time for consideration at next week’s meeting.
9. Committee for Finance and Personnel Inquiry into the Role of the NI Assembly in Scrutinising the Executive’s Budget and Expenditure
The Committee considered the Committee for Finance and Personnel’s request for views on the Role of the NI Assembly in Scrutinising the Executive’s Budget and Expenditure. The Chairperson advised Members that the Committee will receive a briefing next week from Departmental officials on the Department for Finance and Personnel’s Review of the NI Executive Budget 2008-11 processes.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek an extension of two weeks to the deadline for response to the Committee for Finance and Personnel. The Committee also agreed that Members should forward any comments to the Committee Secretariat for inclusion at next week’s meeting.
10. Matters Arising
Lifetime Opportunities Monitoring Framework
The Committee noted a copy of the Key Points Summary of the draft Lifetime Opportunities Monitoring Framework. The Chairperson advised the Committee that the Department will brief the Committee on this document in the autumn.
Crumlin Road Gaol Development
The Committee noted a copy of a letter from the Minister for Social Development to the Committee for Social Development concerning the Crumlin Road Gaol Development.
Assembly and Executive Review Committee
The Committee noted a letter from the Assembly and Executive Review Committee highlighting the outcome of discussions between the Chairpersons of this Committee, the Assembly and Executive Review Committee, the Committee for Justice and the Committee on Procedures.
11. Correspondence
Committee for Social Development
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a response from the Department to the Committee for Social Development concerning its request for a copy of the completed economic appraisal report on a range of strategic options for the provision of Childcare in Northern Ireland.
Committee for Employment and Learning
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a response from the First Minister and deputy First Minister concerning automated forms of communication to the Chairperson of the Committee for Employment and Learning.
Assembly and Executive Review Committee
The Committee noted a copy of a letter from the chairperson of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee to the First Minister and deputy First Minister concerning the Efficiency Review Panel.
Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward correspondence from the Chairperson of the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety regarding the North-South Feasibility Study to the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward correspondence from the Chairperson of the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development concerning cohesion policy and the renationalisation of structural funds to the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
Committee for Finance and Personnel
The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel concerning the use of external advisors in Departments.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request information on external advisors employed by the Department and details of their remuneration.
Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
The Committee noted a letter of thanks from the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland following the Committee’s informal meeting with the Israeli Equal Employment Opportunities Commission.
Northern Ireland Audit Office
The Committee noted correspondence from the Northern Ireland Audit Office advising of its development of a good practice efficiency checklist.
12. Any Other Business
Forward Work Programme
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request a briefing on the Maze/Long Kesh redevelopment by Departmental officials at next week’s meeting.
13. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held in Room 30 on Wednesday 2 June 2010 at 2 p.m.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.26p.m.