COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY
FIRST MINISTER
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 30 JUNE 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Danny Kennedy (Chairperson)
Dr Stephen Farry (Deputy Chairperson)
Ms Martina Anderson
Mr Tom Elliott
Mrs Dolores Kelly
Mr Barry McElduff
Mr Francie Molloy
Mr George Robinson
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 Jim Shannon
The meeting opened in public session at 2.05 p.m.
1. Apologies
Noted as above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
Change in Committee Membership
The Chairperson welcomed Dr Stephen Farry to the Committee and wished him well in his new position as Deputy Chairperson. The Chairperson expressed the Committee’s thanks to Mrs Naomi Long MP for her work as Deputy Chairperson.
Declaration of Interests
The Chairperson sought any declarations of interest from Members in relation to items of business being discussed. Dr Farry declared the following interest.
Member of the Board of the Community Relations Council
Action Renewables
The Chairperson advised the Committee that he and the Clerk met with representatives from Action Renewables on Wednesday 30 June 2010 to discuss the work of their organisation and specifically their work in Europe.
Construction Employers Federation
The Chairperson advised the Committee that the Construction Employers Federation has requested to brief the Committee on their work.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and other interested Members meet with the construction Employers Federation after summer recess.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 23 June 2010
Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 23 June 2010 were agreed by the Committee.
4. Commissioner for Older People Bill
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission joined the meeting at 2.08 p.m.
Mr Spratt joined the meeting at 2.11 p.m.
Mrs Kelly joined the meeting at 2.18 p.m.
Mr Molloy joined the meeting at 2.32 p.m.
Professor Monica McWilliams, Dr Nazia Latif and Ms Roisin Devlin from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission briefed the Committee on their response to the Commissioner for Older People Bill. A question and answer session followed.
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission left the meeting at 2.36 p.m.
The Age Sector Platform and Age NI joined the meeting at 2.37 p.m.
Mr McElduff left the meeting at 3.01 p.m.
Mr Francis Hughes from the Age Sector Platform and Mr Duane Farrell and Ms Michelle Smyth from Age NI briefed the Committee on their response to the Commissioner for Older People Bill. A question and answer session followed.
The Age Sector Platform and Age NI left the meeting at 3.03 p.m.
The Northern Ireland Ombudsman joined the meeting at 3.04 p.m.
Dr Tom Frawley, the Northern Ireland Ombudsman and Ms Michaela McAleer from the Ombudsman’s Office briefed the Committee on their response to the Commissioner for Older People Bill. A question and answer session followed.
The Northern Ireland Ombudsman left the meeting at 3.43 p.m.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the Hansards from the evidence sessions on the Commissioner for Older People to the Department for their comment.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request research papers from the Assembly’s Research and Library Services providing a mapping exercise on investigatory bodies in Northern Ireland and an assessment of the brief provided to Deloitte, the changes made through the consultation and what was reported when reviewing the case for a Commissioner for Older People.
Mr Kennedy left the meeting at 3.46 p.m. The Deputy Chairperson took the Chair.
5. Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration
Mr McElduff re-joined the meeting at 3.55 p.m.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Chief Executive of the Community Relations Council concerning the Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk would write to the Chief Executive of the Community Relation Council to advise of the protocols for sending correspondence to the Committee
Departmental officials joined the meeting at 3.56 p.m.
Departmental officials Mr Colin Jack and Ms Evelyn Hoy briefed the Committee on the revised Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration. A question and answer session followed.
Departmental officials left the meeting at 4.21 p.m.
Mr McElduff left the meeting at 4.22 p.m.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request copies of all Departments responses concerning the Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration. The Committee also agreed to request details of changes to the document since the Committee first considered it in March.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request that the Equality Impact Assessment is forwarded to Members as soon as possible. The Committee also agreed to request a copy of the Programme if it is revised before being considered by the Executive and that officials brief the Committee on any revised Programme and the EQIA at its meeting of 27 July 2010.
6. Delivery Tracking System
Officials from the Strategic Investment Board joined the meeting at 4.29 p.m.
Mr Elliott left the meeting at 4.45 p.m.
Mr Spratt left the meeting at 4.49 p.m.
Mr Martin Spollen and Mr Patrick McMeekin from the Strategic Investment Board briefed the Committee on the Investment Strategy Delivery Tracking System. A question and answer session followed.
Officials from the Strategic Investment Board left the meeting at 4.52 p.m.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for the Environment to request that he encourage local governments to include capital projects on the tracking system.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a briefing from the Central Procurement Directorate on the procurement process.
7. Matters Arising
Public Assemblies, Parades and Protests Code of Conduct
The Committee noted the Public Assemblies Parades and Protests Code of Conduct and responses received by the Department to date.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to hold a meeting on Tuesday 27 July to consider all the responses received in full. The Committee also agreed to write to the Department to seek further information on the implications of the delay in publishing the code of conduct to the timetable contained in the Hillsborough Agreement.
Minister for Social Development
The Committee noted a response from the Minister for Social Development advising of his discussions with the Minister for Work and Pensions.
Trauma Advisory Panels
The Committee noted correspondence from the Commission for Victims and Survivors concerning the work of the Trauma Advisory Panels.
Review of the Office of the Northern Ireland Ombudsman
The Committee noted a response from the Department providing support for the Committee’s proposal to take forward legislation in relation to the Northern Ireland Ombudsman.
Independent Review of the Economic Policy Implementation Plan
The Committee considered and had no comment on the Review of the Economic Policy Implementation Plan.
Maze/Long Kesh
The Committee considered a response from the First Minister and deputy First Minister on the regeneration of the Maze/Long Kesh site.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the First Minister and deputy First Minister to invite them to come before the Committee and provide an update on the work of the Department over the past year.
8. Correspondence
Committee for the Environment
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a response from the Department to the Committee for the Environment concerning road safety.
Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward correspondence from the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure concerning accessibility to local government art to the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
Energy Bill
The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment concerning the Energy Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward comments on the Bill to the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment.
Renewable Energy Inquiry
The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment concerning its Renewable Energy Inquiry.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule further consideration in September.
Northern Ireland Executive Budget 2010: Guidance for Departments
The Committee noted copies of Guidance for Departments in relation to the Budget 2010 and Savings Delivery Plans.
Committee for Finance and Personnel
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a request from the Committee for Finance and Personnel inviting the Strategic Investment Board to give evidence in relation to the Department for Finance and Personnel’s Review of the Budget process.
Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward correspondence from the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety concerning the Health and Social Care Budget to the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee Culture, Arts and Leisure making the Committee aware of the Department’s interest in Special Olympics Ulster.
Safeguarding Board Bill
The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety inviting comments on the Safeguarding Board Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety advising that it broadly welcomes the Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward correspondence from the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety concerning the Safeguarding Board Bill to the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
9. Forward Work Programme
The Committee noted the forward Work Programme for the month of September.
10. Any Other Business
Report on Committee Visit to Brussels
The Committee noted the report on the Committee’s visit to Brussels.
Commission for Victims and Survivors
The Committee considered a paper from the Commission for Victims and Survivors on Dealing with the Past.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite the Commissioners for Victims and Survivors to brief the Committee on its paper. The Committee also agreed to request a Research Paper comparing the Commission’s document with the Eames-Bradley paper on dealing with the past.
11. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held in Room 30 on Tuesday 27 July 2010 at 11 a.m.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5.10 p.m.
Mr Danny Kennedy
Chairperson,
Committee for the Office of the First Minister
and deputy First Minister