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

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 24 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 George Robinson
Mr Jimmy Spratt

Apologies:
Mr Francie Molloy

In Attendance:
Mrs Cathie White (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Keith McBride (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Stephen Magee (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Marion Johnson (Clerical Officer)
Mrs Patricia Casey (Bill Clerk) Item 5 only
Mr Gordon Nabney (Examiner of Statutory Rules) Item 5 only

The meeting opened in public session at 2.01 p.m. with the Deputy Chairperson in the Chair.

1. Apologies

As 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.

3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 17 November 2010

Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 17 November 2010 were agreed by the Committee.

4. Child Poverty

Junior Minsters and Departmental officials joined the meeting at 2.04 p.m.

Mr Elliott joined the meeting at 2.50 p.m.

Junior Minister Newton and junior Minister Kelly and Departmental officials Mr Tim Losty and Mr Stephen Donnelly briefed the Committee on child poverty. A question and answer session followed.

Junior Ministers and Departmental officials left the meeting at 2.53 p.m.

Mr Elliott took the chair at 2.53 p.m.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the draft Child Poverty Strategy to all statutory committees for comment.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request further information on the timetable for producing the Child Poverty Strategy and on the consultation process. The Committee also agreed to ask the Department to issue to the Committee copies of responses to its consultation as they arrive in the Department.

5. Armed Forces and Veterans Bill

Sinn Fein stated its opposition to the Bill.

The meeting moved into closed session at 3.08 p.m.

The Committee had a discussion concerning the drafting of the provision relating to subordinate legislation.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the advice provided by the Examiner of Statutory Rules be forwarded to Mr McNarry MLA for his consideration.

The meeting moved into public session at 3.28 p.m.

Mr David McNarry MLA joined the meeting at 3.28 p.m.

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

Mr Elliott declared an interest as a former member of the security forces and as a member of the Royal British Legion.

Mr Kinahan declared an interest as an ex-serviceman.

Mr Robinson declared an interest as a member of the Enniskillen Association

Mr David McNarry MLA briefed the Committee on the Armed Forces and Veterans Bill. A question and answer session followed. Sinn Fein stated its opposition to the Bill.

Mr David McNarry MLA left the meeting at 4.22 p.m.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to seek its comments on the Bill and seek information on how the legislation fits with existing equality legislation.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Assembly’s Legal Services to seek its advice on the competence of the Armed Forces and Veterans Bill in relation to current equality legislation in Northern Ireland.

Mr McElduff left the meeting at 4.30 p.m.

6. December Monitoring Round and Forecast Out-turn 2010-11

Agreed: The Committee agreed to postpone next week’s visit to the offices of the North South Ministerial Council and reschedule the briefing from the Central Procurement Directorate to Wednesday 8 December 2010.

Departmental officials joined the meeting at 4.38 p.m.

Mrs Kelly left the meeting at 4.49 p.m.

Mr Bresland left the meeting at 4.56 p.m.

Dr Farry declared an interest as a member of the Board of the Community Relations Council.

Mrs Jackie Kerr and Mrs Alison Stafford briefed the Committee on the Department’s December Monitoring Round proposals, the Forecast Out-turn 2010-11 and provided further information in relation to the Resource Accounts. A question and answer session followed. Officials undertook to provide further information to the Committee in relation to the Strategic Investment Board, the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council, the Victims and Survivors Commission and the Military Sites gifted by the UK Government.

Departmental officials left the meeting at 5.04 p.m.

7. Matters Arising

Investment Strategy Activity Reports

The Committee noted a response from the Department advising that the Committee’s feedback on the Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland Activity Reports has been noted and the Strategic Investment Board will take the feedback into account.

Mr Spratt left the meeting at 5.06 p.m.

Mr Robinson left the meeting at 5.06 p.m.

Play and Leisure

The Committee noted a response from the Department providing further information in relation to the Play and Leisure Implementation Plan.

The Committee considered a response from the Committee for Regional Development on the Play and Leisure Implementation Plan.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the response to junior Ministers for their information.

The Committee considered a response from the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety asking if the recommendations it made in its report on obesity were taken into account when developing the Play and Leisure implementation plan.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to check if the recommendations of the committee for Health, Social services and Public Safety’s Report on obesity were taken into account when developing the plan.

Civil Service Commissioners

The Committee noted information on the role of Civil Service Commissioners and their code of practice.

Draft Press Release

The Committee considered a draft press release concerning the passage of the Commissioner for Older People Bill.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to issue the press release following completion of the final stage of the Commissioner for Older People Bill.

8. Correspondence

Committee for Finance and Personnel

The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding the £18 billion long term Investment Strategy.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department seeking their comments on this issue.

Committee for Social Development

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Social Development concerning Barnardo’s report on Protecting the Most Vulnerable Children in a Time of Public Spending Austerity.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the Hansard from today’s briefing session from the junior Ministers to the Child Poverty Alliance and Barnardo’s.

Committee for Employment and Learning

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a response from the Department concerning the role and work of the Office of the Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels to the Committee for Employment and Learning. The Committee also agreed to forward the annexes of the response to all statutory committees for their information.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a response from the First Minister and deputy First Minister concerning the Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration to the Committee for Employment and Learning.

Commission for Victims and Survivors

The Committee considered a request from the Commission for Victims and Survivors to brief the Committee informally on advice it submitted to the Department.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule an informal briefing with the Victims and Survivors Commissioners, preferably following the Committee’s meeting on 1 December 2010.

Committee for Finance and Personnel

The Committee noted a copy of the Hansard from the Committee for Finance and Personnel’s meeting with officials on the implications of the spending review 2011-12.

Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety

The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety concerning the health budget to the First Minister and deputy First Minister.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the letter 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 seek further information on why they are only recommending the health aspect of the budget be protected.

Equality Commission Annual Report

The Committee noted a copy of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland Annual Report.

9. Any Other Business

No other business.

10. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held in Room 30 on Wednesday 1 December 2010 at 2 p.m.

• The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5.15 p.m.

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

17 November 10  / Menu