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

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2011
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

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

Apologies:
Mr Tom Elliott (Chairperson)
Mr Barry McElduff
Mr George Robinson

In Attendance:
Mrs Cathie White (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Keith McBride (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Stephen Magee (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Andrienne Magee (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.

Meeting with Barnardo’s

The Chairperson advised Members, that he and the Clerk met with representatives from Barnardo’s at lunchtime today .

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request information on how they are developing and agreeing the criteria for the Social Investment Fund and the Social Protection Fund and how it links with the priority of addressing child poverty.

Mr Kinahan joined the meeting at 2.06 p.m.
Mr Spratt joined the meeting at 2.06 p.m.

Forward Work Programme

Members discussed the Committee’s Forward Work Programme to dissolution and the issues that are currently outstanding .

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request an oral briefing from the Permanent Secretary of the Department on the outstanding issues.

3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 26 January 2011

Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 26 January 2011 were agreed, as amended, by the Committee.

4. Matters Arising

Public Appointments

The Committee considered a response from the Department providing further information on regulated and non-regulated appointments.

Mr Spratt declared an interest as a former member of the South Eastern Education and Library Board

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request further information on how non-regulated appointments are made.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Commissioner for Public Appointments to request further information on how appointments to the South Eastern Education and Library Board are made.

Transfer of Functions (Tribunal Reform) Order (NI) 2010

The Committee considered a response from the Department concerning the proposal to transfer the Planning Appeals Commission to the Department of Justice.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request the reasons why the First Minister did not agree to transfer the Planning Appeals Commission to the Department of Justice .

The Committee noted a response from the Committee for Justice on the Transfer of Functions (Tribunal Reform) Order (NI) 2010 . The response advised that it was content with the proposed order.

Older People’s Advocate

The Committee considered correspondence from the Older People’s Advocate concerning the consultation document and consultation process for the Legislation to update and reform the office of the Ombudsman .

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Older People’s Advocate to advise of the process.

5. Correspondence

Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment

The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment seeking this Committee’s views on the Executive’s Economic Strategy – Priorities for Sustainable Growth Consultation Document.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request information on its responsibility in terms of economic development. The Committee agreed to consider this document at next week’s meeting.

Beyond Belfast Report

The Committee considered a request from the Community Relations Council and the Rural Community Network to brief the Committee on the Beyond Belfast Contested Spaces in Urban, Rural and Cross Border Settings Report.

Dr Farry declared an interest as Member of the Board of the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule the briefing into the Committee’s Forward Work Programme.

Scottish Parliament Equal Opportunities Committee

The Committee considered correspondence from the Scottish Parliament Equal Opportunities Committee advising that it will be recommending that its successor Committee should build on the relationship in the next Parliament. Members re-iterated the importance of collaborative working with other legislatures.

Ms Anderson joined the meeting at 2.26 p.m.

Ilex Urban Regeneration Company

The Committee noted correspondence from the Ilex Urban Regeneration Company thanking the Committee for the opportunity to brief the Committee on its work and to invite the Committee to visit Ilex in the future.

Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety

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

6. European Issues

Mr Jonathan Bell MLA and Mr Francie Molloy MLA joined the meeting at 2.27 p.m.

Northern Ireland’s representatives on the Committee of the Regions, Mr Jonathan Bell MLA and Mr Francie Molloy MLA briefed the Committee on their work on the Committee of the Regions and on upcoming issues of relevance to Northern Ireland. A question and answer session followed.

Mr Elliott declared an interest as a self-employed farmer.

Mr Jonathan Bell MLA and Mr Francie Molloy MLA left the meeting at 3.31 p.m.

Mr Humphrey declared an interest as a Member of Belfast City Council

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission to request information on why it has not yet been consulted on the Assembly’s European Engagement Strategy and to request an oral briefing on how the Assembly Commission are progressing European engagement.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request an oral briefing on how the Department are improving European engagement.

7. Any Other Business

Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment

The Chairperson advised Members that an invite to the launch of the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment’s report on Renewable Energy had been received. Members are to advise the Committee Secretariat if the wish to attend.

Armed Forces and Veterans Bill

The Chairperson advised Members that if they had any amendments to the Hansard of the 19 January 2011, in relation to the Armed Forces and Veterans Bill, then they should contact Hansard before 12 noon tomorrow.

Department’s Savings Plans

The Chairperson advised Members that Departmental officials will brief the Committee on the Department’s Savings Plans at next week’s meeting. Members agreed to forward any specific questions they may have to the Clerk in advance of the meeting, to allow the Department time to consider.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request a briefing on responses to its consultation on the Budget 2011-15 proposals.

8. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held in Room 30 on Wednesday 9 February 2011 at 2 p.m.

• The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.45 p.m.

Dr Stephen Farry MLA
Deputy Chairperson,
Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister

26 January 11  / Menu