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

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 15 DECEMBER 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr Tom Elliott (Chairperson)
Dr Stephen Farry (Deputy Chairperson)
Ms Martina Anderson
Mr Allan Bresland
Mrs Dolores Kelly
Mr William Humphrey
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)

The meeting opened in public session at 2.03 p.m.

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 8 December 2010

Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 8 December 2010 were agreed by the Committee.

4. Matters Arising

Joint Ministerial Committee (Europe)

The Committee noted a briefing from the Department on the recent meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee (Europe).

Dr Farry joined the meeting at 2.05 p.m.

Play and Leisure Policy

The Committee considered a response from the Department providing further information in relation to the budget for the policy and the Play and Leisure Implementation Plan and if it took into account the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety’s Report into obesity when developing the plans.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the response to the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety for their information.

December Monitoring Round

The Committee noted a response from the Department providing further information on the breakdown of the £135K savings in the Community Relations Council .

European Investment Bank

The Committee considered a response from the Minister for Finance and Personnel providing further information on his role in relation to encouraging the use of the European Investment Bank.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the response to the Department to seek their views on how it can encourage greater participation.

North Sea and Channel Region

The Committee considered a response from the Department for Finance and Personnel concerning discussions with the European Commission on Northern Ireland’s role in the North Sea and Channel Region.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for Finance and Personnel requesting further information on what impact the strategy could have on delivery of programmes and the possible effect of shortfalls in departments due to this.

Commissioner for Public Appointments

The Committee noted correspondence from the Commissioner for Public Appointments concerning changes in Scotland in relation to amalgamating a number of Commissioners.

5. Correspondence

Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety

The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety seeking the Committee’s views on the Autism Bill and requesting a letter be forwarded to the First Minister and deputy First Minister.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward correspondence from the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety concerning the Autism Bill to the First Minister and deputy First Minister.

Fair-trade Belfast Committee

The Committee noted a copy of correspondence from the Chair of the Fair-trade Belfast Committee to the Department concerning the promotion of ethical consumerism and fair-trade.

Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward correspondence from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment concerning the Presbyterian Mutual Society to the First Minister and deputy First Minister.

6. The Department’s (Transfer of Functions) Order 2010

Department of Justice officials joined the meeting at 2.16 p.m.

Department of Justice officials Ms Siobhan Broderick, Ms Gillian McClearn, Ms Una Doyle and Ms Caren Crockett briefed the Committee on the Department’s (Transfer of Functions) Order in relation to the transfer of responsibility for tribunals to the Department of Justice. A question and answer session followed.

Department of Justice officials left the meeting at 2.35 p.m.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for Justice to seek their views on the Department’s (Transfer of Functions) Order 2010.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request further information on the reasons for the Planning Appeals Commission and the Water Appeals Commission not being transferred to the Department of Justice.

7. Armed Forces and Veterans Bill

The Committee considered the Armed Forces and Veterans Bill.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to take evidence from the Equality Commission NI at its meeting on 12 January 2011.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request responses to the committee’s previous letters in relation to the Armed Forces and Veterans Bill.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite Mr McNarry MLA to be available to attend the meeting on 12 January 2011 and the Committee’s clause-by-clause scrutiny of the Bill.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that a Researcher from the Assembly’s Research and Library Service should brief the Committee on its Armed Forces and Veterans Bill 2010 – Update paper.

8. British Council NI

Ms Shona McCarthy, Director of the British Council NI and Mr Colm McGivern, UK Director of the British Council joined the meeting at 2.46 p.m.

Mr Kinahan joined the meeting at 2.53 p.m.

Mr McElduff left the meeting at 3.14 p.m.

Mr Spratt left the meeting at 3.20 p.m.

Ms Shona McCarthy, Director of the British Council NI and Mr Colm McGivern, UK Director of the British Council briefed the Committee on the work of the British Council. A question and answer session followed. The British Council agreed to provide further information on the programmes it undertakes and the membership of its Board.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request that the co-ordination of international engagement be discussed at the British-Irish Council. The Committee also agreed to request that the Department consider appointing a co-ordinator for international engagement that would ensure all departments and public bodies were aware of the international engagement being undertaken.

Ms Shona McCarthy, Director of the British Council NI and Mr Colm McGivern, UK Director of the British Council officials left the meeting at 3.26 p.m.

Dr Farry left the meeting at 3.27 p.m.

Mr Humphrey left the meeting at 3.27 p.m.

Mrs Kelly left the meeting at 3.27 p.m.

9. Any Other Business

Forward Work Programme

The Committee discussed its Forward Work Programme for January and February 2011.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the First Minister and deputy First Minister to request an oral briefing on the Department’s Budget, Savings Plans and a general update on the work of the Department.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request further information on the Working Groups set up following the Hillsborough Agreement. The Committee also agreed to write to the Department to request a response to its previous letter concerning outstanding policies and legislation.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a research paper on the regeneration of sites in advance of its meeting at ILEX on 27 January 2011.

10. Da te, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held in Room 30 on Wednesday 12 January 2011 at 2 p.m.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.28 p.m.

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

08 December 10  / Menu