COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY
FIRST MINISTER

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr Tom Elliott (Chairperson)
Dr Stephen Farry (Deputy Chairperson)
Ms Martina Anderson
Mr Alan Bresland
Mr William Humphrey
Mrs Dolores Kelly
Mr Danny Kinahan
Mr Barry McElduff
Mr Francie Molloy
Mr George Robinson
Mr Jimmy Spratt

Apologies:
None

In Attendance:
Mrs Cathie White (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Keith McBride (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Stephen Magee (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Marion Johnson (Clerical Officer)

The meeting opened in public session at 2.02 p.m.

1. Apologies

As above.

2. Chairperson’s Business

Legal Matters

The Committee considered a response from the Speaker, on behalf of the Assembly Commission in relation to legal matters.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider this issue in closed session at the end of the meeting.

Declaration of Interests

The Chairperson sought any declarations of interest from Members in relation to items of business being discussed.

Christmas Cards

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson would decide whether to post Christmas cards or send e-cards and that the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson would agree the list of those to be sent cards.

3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 10 November 2010

Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 10 November 2010 were agreed as amended by the Committee.

4. European Issues

Mr Maurice Maxwell joined the meeting at 2.10 p.m.
Mr Robinson joined the meeting at 2.13 p.m.

Mr Maurice Maxwell, Head of the European Commission’s Office in Belfast, briefed the Committee on European Issues as part of the committee’s ongoing engagement in Europe. A question and answer session followed.

Mr Maurice Maxwell left the meeting at 2.40 p.m.

5. Commissioner for Public Appointments

Mrs Felicity Huston, the Commissioner for Public Appointments joined the meeting at 2.42 p.m.
Mr Kinahan joined the meeting at 2.45 p.m.
Mr Molloy joined the meeting at 2.58 p.m.
Mr Robinson left the meeting at 3.12 p.m.

Mrs Felicity Huston, the Commissioner for Public Appointments briefed the Committee on the recommendations for the Department contained in a report by the Public Accounts Committee in relation to public appointments. A question and answer session followed.

Mrs Felicity Huston, the Commissioner for Public Appointments left the meeting at 3.20 p.m.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request an update in relation to the implementation of a number of recommendations which the Public Accounts Committee made in a report regarding the Hospitality Association of Northern Ireland in 2008. The Committee also agreed to request a copy of the Central Appointments Unit’s latest report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for Finance and Personnel to request a copy of the Arms Length Bodies Review Team report on arms length bodies and for a progress report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Commissioner for Public Appointments to request a list of Public Bodies for which she has regulatory powers, those bodies that are suitable for regulation but for which she currently has no regulatory powers and third party organisations controlled by the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Commissioner for Public Appointments to request information on how the Public Bodies under her control are regulated.

6. European Issues

A Researcher from the Assembly’s Research and Library Service provided the Committee with a briefing on the European Commission’s Work Programme for 2011 and on subsidiarity. A question and answer session followed.

Dr Farry joined the meeting at 3.32 p.m.
Mr McElduff left the meeting at 3.42 p.m.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department concerning Recommendation 10 of its Report on the Consideration of European Issues and to request its assessment of the European Commission’s Annual Work Programme.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to all statutory committees to request information on their engagement on European issues, as per Action 2 of the Committees Report on Consideration of European Issues.

7. Armed Forces and Veterans Bill

The Committee considered the responses to the consultation on the Armed Forces and Veterans Bill. Sinn Fein stated their opposition to the Bill.

Mr Bresland declared an interest as an ex-member of the Ulster Defence Regiment.

Mr Elliott declared an interest as an ex-member of the Ulster Defence Regiment and as a member of the Royal British Legion.

Mr Kinahan declared an interest as an ex-serviceman.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite the Department to brief the Committee on their role in relation to the Bill.

8. Matters Arising

Draft Child Poverty Strategy

The Committee considered a response from the Department providing further information on Departments who had not yet submitted their input to the draft Child Poverty Strategy.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the response to the Committee for Employment and Learning.

Childcare Strategy

The Committee considered a response from the Department providing further information in relation to the economic appraisal on a range of options for the future delivery of childcare. The Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson advised the Committee that they had met with a representative from the Northern Ireland Child Minders Association.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request further information in relation to the economic appraisal on a range of options for the future delivery of childcare.

Departmental matters

Agreed: The Committee also agreed to write to the Department to request an update on the status of outstanding strategies and legislation.

Northern Ireland Memorial Fund

Mr Bresland declared an interest as a Member of the Board of the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund.

The Committee considered a response from the Department concerning the current status of the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request an update on the proposed Victims and Survivors Service.

European Issues

The Committee noted a response from the Department providing further information following the briefing with officials on 20 October 2010.

North Sea and Channel Region

The Committee considered a response from the Department concerning Ministers involvement in discussions on Northern Ireland’s role in the North Sea and Channel Region advising the Committee that it may wish to see if the Department for Finance and Personnel has been involved in any discussions.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for Finance and Personnel to request information on discussions the Minister for Finance and Personnel may have had on this issue.

9. Correspondence

Committee for the Environment

The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for the Environment concerning the role of the Northern Ireland Ombudsman in addressing planning issues and a response from the Office of the Northern Ireland Ombudsman on this issue.

Mrs Kelly left the meeting at 4.13 p.m.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for the Environment concerning the role of the Northern Ireland Ombudsman in planning issues.

Committee for Social Development

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Social Development advising that it is content with Members of this Committee to attend the Comprehensive spending Review call for evidence on 25 November 2010.

Mr Molloy left the meeting at 4.15 p.m.

Committee for Employment and Learning

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Employment and Learning providing a copy of the Department for Employment and Learning’s response to the European Commission’s communication on the Rights of the Child.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward correspondence from the Committee for Employment and Learning inviting junior Ministers to the launch of its Report on the Inquiry in Young People who are Not in Education, Employment or Training.

Council for the Homeless Northern Ireland

The Committee considered a request from the Council for the Homeless Northern Ireland to meet with the Chairperson to discuss the strategic direction of developing ties with Europe.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and any interested Members would meet with the Council for the Homeless Northern Ireland.

10. Any Other Business

The Departments (Transfer of Functions) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010

The Committee considered the statutory rule for the Department (Transfer of Functions) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010 and the report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content that the Department (Transfer of Functions) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010 be affirmed by the Assembly.

Mr Molloy re-joined the meeting at 4.17 p.m.

Visit to the Offices of the North South Ministerial Council

The Chairperson reminded Members of the planned visit to the offices of the North South Ministerial Council on Wednesday 1 December 2010.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that Members would make their own way to the offices for 3 p.m. on 1 December 2010 and that Members would advise the Committee office of their availability to attend.

The meeting moved into closed session at 4.18

Legal Matters

The Committee considered a response from the Speaker, on behalf of the Assembly Commission in relation to legal matters.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Commission to discuss this matter further.

11. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held in Room 30 on Wednesday 24 November 2010 at 2 p.m.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.37 p.m.

Mr Tom Elliott
Chairperson,
Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister

10 November 10  / Menu