COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY
FIRST MINISTER
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 27 JULY 2010
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Danny Kennedy (Chairperson)
Dr Stephen Farry (Deputy Chairperson)
Ms Martina Anderson
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)
Ms Tara McKee (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Marion Johnson (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Tom Elliott
Mr Stephen Moutray
Mr Jim Shannon
The meeting opened in public session with the Deputy Chairperson in the Chair at 12.17 p.m.
1. Apologies
Noted as above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
Declaration of Interests
The Deputy 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
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 30 June 2010
Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 30 June 2010 were agreed as amended by the Committee.
4. Parades Public Assemblies and Protests Bill
The Committee considered a request from the Department to withdraw an email sent to the Committee Office on 28 June 2010 concerning responses to the consultation on the draft Parades Public Assemblies and Protests Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Department withdrawing the email.
The Committee noted the responses to the Department’s consultation on the draft Parades Public Assemblies and Protests Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to advise that it noted the responses to the consultation and to request that the Department considers the responses of the political parties. The Committee also agreed to request further information from the Department on the publishing of responses on its website.
5. Departmental Spending Plans
The Committee noted correspondence from the Department advising that officials were unable to brief the Committee on the Department’s Spending Plans as Ministers were still considering various options.
6. Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration
The Committee noted correspondence from the Department advising that the Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration was agreed by the Executive and was going out for consultation later today.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk would write to the Department to request a response to the queries the Committee previously raised.
7. Proposed Legislation to Provide for a Public Services Ombudsman
The Assembly Ombudsman and Commissioner for Complaints Mr Tom Frawley CBE and Deputy Ombudsman, Mrs Marie Anderson joined the meeting at 12.43 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 and considered a draft consultation document provided by the Ombudsman’s Office. 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 1.27 p.m.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the draft consultation document to the Department for comment. The Committee also agreed that the Clerk meet with the Bill Office and the Ombudsman’s Office to finalise the consultation document and commission research papers, if required.
8. Matters Arising
Sustainable Development Commissioner
The Committee considered a response from the Department concerning the appointment of a Sustainable Development Commissioner.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to seek further information on the Department’s current position following the announcement by the UK Government that it is to stop funding the Sustainable Development Commission and what discussions Ministers have had with the Scottish and Welsh Governments following the announcement. The Committee agreed to bring this to the attention of the Committee for the Environment. The Committee also agreed to request a briefing from the Department on this issue.
Post Project Evaluations
The Committee noted a response from the Department providing further information on outstanding Post Project Evaluations.
Programme for Government Delivery Reports
The Committee noted correspondence from the Department providing further information on the Programme for Government Delivery Reports.
Review of the Office of the Northern Ireland Ombudsman
The Committee noted a response from the Department concerning the Review of the Office of the Northern Ireland Ombudsman.
Report on the Northern Ireland Data Protection Review
The Committee considered a response from the Department providing further information to issues raised in relation to the Report on the Data Protection Review.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the response to the committee for Finance and Personnel for their information.
European Funding for Research and Development
The Committee considered a response from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment providing further information on support available for drawing down European Union funding for research and development.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment to request a breakdown of participation in the Seventh Framework Programme by region.
Commissioner for Older People Bill
The Committee noted a response from the Committee for Social Development advising that it will not be submitting a response to the Committee on the Commissioner for Older People Bill.
Special European Union Programmes Body
Mrs Kelly declared an interest as a Member of the East Border Region.
The Committee considered a response from the Committee for Finance and Personnel advising that it will be taking forward Recommendation 14 of the Committee’s Consideration of European Issues Report with the Special European Union Programmes Body during an evidence session in the autumn.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for Finance and Personnel to request a briefing from the Special European Union Programmes Body on its work.
Access to Benefits
The Committee noted correspondence from Access to Benefits providing further clarification on its response to the Commissioner for Older People Bill.
9. Correspondence
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 Employment and Learning
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward correspondence from the Committee for Employment and Learning concerning redundancies at Quinn Insurance to the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
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 coalition Government’s emergency budget to the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
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 Autism Spectrum Disorder to the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
Department for Social Development Consultation
The Committee noted correspondence from the Department for Social Development advising of its consultation on Support for Owner Occupiers in Redevelopment Areas.
Law Centre (NI)
The Committee considered correspondence from the Law Centre (NI) in relation to research on redressing users’ disadvantage and requesting to brief the committee on this issue.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Law Centre (NI) to inquire if racial equality, disability and gender equality are covered in the research.
European and External Relations Committee
The Committee noted correspondence from the Scottish Parliament’s European and External Relations Committee providing a copy of its report on the impact of the Treaty of Lisbon on Scotland.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Assembly Commission to seek further information on external relations in the Assembly.
Office of the Taoiseach
The Committee noted correspondence from the Office of the Taoiseach providing a copy of his address to the Institute of British Irish Studies in University College Dublin on 20 May 2010.
Integrated Education Fund
The Committee considered a position paper provided by the Integrated Education Fund.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the position paper to the Committee for Education.
Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a response from the First Minister and deputy First Minister concerning the accessibility of local government owned art to the Chairperson of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure.
Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a response from the First Minister and deputy First Minister concerning the Coalition Government’s emergency budget to the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety.
Sustainable Development Draft Implementation Plans
The Committee considered correspondence from the Department advising that the draft Sustainable Development Implementation Plans went out for consultation on Monday 26 July 2010.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request a summary of responses following completion of the consultation period.
British Irish Council and North South Ministerial Council
The Committee considered correspondence from the Department providing clarification on the role of the Committee in relation to the British Irish Council and the North South Ministerial Council.
Mr Kennedy joined the meeting at 1.49 p.m.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule into its forward work programme briefings from the British Irish Council and the North South Ministerial Council on their work. The Committee also agreed that the Clerk should investigate the possibility of holding a Committee meeting at the offices of the North South Ministerial Council in Armagh.
Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a response from the Department to the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment concerning its Renewable Energy Inquiry.
Commissioner for Older People Bill
The Committee considered a submission from the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland concerning the Commissioner for Older People Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the submission to the Department for its consideration.
Parades Commission Annual Report
The Committee noted the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland’s Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2009.
10. Any Other Business
No other business.
11. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held in Room 30 on Wednesday 8 September 2010 at 2 p.m.
The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.53 p.m.