COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY
FIRST MINISTER
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 2 JUNE 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Danny Kennedy (Chairperson)
Ms Martina Anderson
Mr Tom Elliott
Mrs Dolores Kelly
Mr Francie Molloy
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:
Mrs Naomi Long
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.
Condolences to Mr McElduff
The Chairperson advised Members that Mr McElduff’s father had passed away this morning. The Chairperson advised Members that he would issue a letter to Mr McElduff, on behalf of the Committee, offering the Committee’s sympathy and condolences on the death of his father.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 26 May 2010
Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 26 May 2010 were agreed by the Committee.
4. Maze/Long Kesh Redevelopment
Departmental officials, Mr Alan Maitland, Mrs June Wilkinson and Mr Kyle Alexander joined the meeting at 2.03 p.m.
Mr Spratt joined the meeting at 2.05 p.m.
Ms Anderson joined the meeting at 2.08 p.m.
Mr Elliott joined the meeting at 2.10 p.m.
Mr Shannon joined the meeting at 2.17 p.m.
Mr Elliott declared an interest as a member of the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society
Departmental officials updated the Committee on the redevelopment of the Maze/Long Kesh Development. A question and answer session followed.
Departmental official, Mrs June Wilkinson left the meeting at 2.51 p.m.
Departmental officials, Mr Alan Maitland and Mr Kyle Alexander left the meeting at 2.57 p.m.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the First Minister and deputy First Minister to request that they expedite negotiations with the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society concerning their relocation to the Maze/Long Kesh site. The Committee agreed to request further information on the delays on progressing a feasibility study and design of a possible Peace Centre on the site and the impact of delays in securing European funding for any Centre. The Committee also agreed to request regular briefings every 4 – 6 weeks on the redevelopment of the Maze/Long Kesh site.
5. The Assembly Ombudsman and Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints
The Assembly Ombudsman and Commissioner for Complaints Mr Tom Frawley CBE and Deputy Ombudsman, Mrs Marie Anderson joined the meeting at 3.03 p.m.
Mrs Kelly left the meeting at 3.23 p.m.
Mr Moutray left the meeting at 3.30 p.m.
The Assembly Ombudsman and Commissioner for Complaints Mr Tom Frawley CBE and Deputy Ombudsman, Mrs Marie Anderson briefed the Committee on legislation to provide for a Public Services Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. A question and answer session followed.
The Assembly Ombudsman and Commissioner for Complaints Mr Tom Frawley CBE and Deputy Ombudsman, Mrs Marie Anderson left the meeting at 3.40 p.m.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that there is a need for legislation in this area. The Committee agreed to request a briefing from the Assembly’s Bill Office on the timeframe for introducing a Committee Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request further information on the reasons why the Department has not brought forward legislation on this issue and to seek assurance that if the Committee brings forward a Bill, the Department will assist the Committee through the process.
6. Review of the Northern Ireland Executive Budget 2008-11 Process
The Committee considered correspondence from the Department advising that as the recommendations in the Review of the Northern Ireland Executive Budget 2008-11 Process are under consideration by Ministers, Departmental officials are unable to brief the Committee at this time.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department requesting that the Committee is briefed by Departmental officials at its meeting of 16 June 2010.
7. June Monitoring Round
The Committee considered a response from the Department to queries raised by the Committee following last week’s briefing on the Department’s proposals for the June Monitoring Round.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to express its support for the capital bid of £1m to complete the remediation work at the Maze/Long Kesh site.
8. Tribunal Reform Programme Consultation
The Committee considered a request from the Committee for Justice on the Tribunal Reform Programme Consultation.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for Justice welcoming the Tribunal Reform Programme.
9. Sunbeds Bill
The Committee considered a request from the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety seeking the Committee’s views on the Sunbeds Bill and requesting the Committee forward a letter to the First Minister and deputy First Minister seeking their views on the Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the letter from the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety to the First Minister and deputy First Minister. The Committee also agreed to write to the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety to highlight its support for the licensing of the tanning industry and the registration of sunbed operators.
10. Matters Arising
Targets for the Elimination of Child Poverty
The Committee noted a response from the Department providing further information in relation to targets for the elimination of child poverty and the work of the Ministerial Sub-committee on Poverty and Social Exclusion.
Committee for Education
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a response from the Department to the Committee for Education providing confirmation that Mr Martin McGuinness MP MLA did not write the article in the Belfast Telegraph in his capacity as deputy First Minister.
Children in Northern Ireland
The Committee noted a copy of a response from junior Ministers to Children in Northern to concerns raised in relation to the restructuring of the Department.
Performance and Efficiency Delivery Unit
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a response from the Department to the Committee for Finance and Personnel concerning the Department’s use of the Performance and Efficiency Delivery Unit.
11. Correspondence
Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment
The Committee considered a request from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment that under Standing Order 64(A) it would be the lead Committee on the issue of major fuel suppliers in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment to advise that it was content with that Committee for taking the lead on this issue and requesting to be kept informed of any developments.
Committee for the Environment
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward correspondence from the Committee for the Environment to the Department concerning road safety.
12. Any Other Business
None.
13. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held in Room JDE70 in the Committee of the Regions Offices in Brussels on Thursday 10 June 2010 at 10 a.m.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.55p.m.