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

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 9 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 George Robinson
Mr Jimmy Spratt

Apologies:
Mr Tom Elliott
Mr Barry McElduff
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 Deputy Chairperson sought any declarations of interest from Members in relation to items of business being discussed.

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

Mr Humphrey joined the meeting at 2.05 p.m.

EC-UK Forum Meeting

The Deputy Chairperson advised Members, that the Chairperson and the Clerk attended a meeting of the EC-UK Forum on Monday and that papers from the meeting were circulated to Members.

Invite to attend St Patricks Day in Washington

The Deputy Chairperson advised Members that he and the Chairperson had been invited by the First Minister and deputy First Minister to attend the Northern Ireland Bureau’s St Patrick’s Day Reception and other events in Washington.

3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 2 February 2011

Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 2 February 2011 were agreed, as amended, by the Committee.

4. Matters Arising

Lifetime Opportunities Monitoring Framework Baseline Report

The Committee noted a response from the Department providing further information in relation to queries raised in the Lifetime Opportunities Monitoring Framework Report.

Committee for Finance and Personnel

The Committee noted a response from the Committee for Finance and Personnel advising that they had requested a copy of any submission made by the Department for Finance and Personnel to the EU Budget.

Public Accounts Committee

The Committee noted a response from the Public Accounts Committee concerning recommendations from its report on the Hospitality Association Northern Ireland.

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 Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment to advise that it has written to the Department to seek further information on its role in relation to economic development. The Committee also agreed to forward a copy of Poverty and Social Exclusion in the UK’s response to the Northern Ireland’s draft Budget.

Northern Ireland Assembly Commission

The Committee noted a response from the Speaker concerning European issues and the development of a European Engagement Strategy.

Sustainable Development Commission

The Committee considered correspondence from First Minister and deputy First Minister providing further information in relation to the abolition of the Sustainable Development Commission and proposals for future delivery.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the letter to all statutory committees for their views on the proposals and to schedule a briefing from Departmental officials on this issue.

Mr Robinson joined the meeting at 2.15 p.m.

Child Poverty Strategy

The Committee noted a response from junior Ministers concerning the draft Child Poverty Strategy.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to highlight in its legacy report that the next Committee may wish to consider the recommendations contained in its Child Poverty Report and if those recommendations need to be amended.

Play and Leisure Implementation Plan

The Committee considered a response from junior Ministers concerning the draft Play and Leisure Implementation Plan.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to seek further information on the flagship projects in relation to the Play and Leisure Policy.

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 that it was content with the draft Transfer of Functions (Tribunal Reform) Order (NI) 2010.

Strategic Investment Board

The Committee considered responses from the Department concerning the Capital Assets Realisation Taskforce and the Strategic Investment Board .

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward responses on the Capital Assets Realisation Taskforce to the Committee for Finance and Personnel and to consider the response on the Strategic Investment Board at next week’s meeting.

Resource DEL: Administrative Cost Controls

Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider this response at next week’s meeting.

Joint Ministerial Committee (Europe)

Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider this at next week’s meeting. The Committee also agreed to write to the Department concerning the speed at which papers come to the Committee.

5. Correspondence

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The Committee noted correspondence from the Department providing a draft copy of the Executive’s input in relation to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and that officials will brief the Committee when the document goes out for consultation.

Committee for Education

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward correspondence from the Committee for Education concerning the Education Advisory Panel to the First Minister and deputy First Minister.

6. Departmental Savings Plans

A Departmental official joined the meeting at 2.24 p.m.

Departmental official, Mrs Jackie Kerr briefed the Committee on the Department’s Saving Plans 2011-15. A question and answer session followed. The Departmental official undertook to provide further information on a number of issues.

The Departmental official left the meeting at 2.56 p.m.

7. Regeneration of Sites

A Departmental official joined the meeting at 3.00 p.m.

Ms Anderson joined the meeting at 3.10 p.m.

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

Departmental official, Mr Alan Maitland briefed the Committee on the Department’s regeneration of sites which are under its responsibility. A question and answer session followed. The Departmental official undertook to provide further information.

The Departmental official left the meeting at 3.51 p.m.

Mr Humphrey left the meeting at 3.51 p.m.

The meeting moved into closed session at 3.52 p.m.

8. Matters Arising

Legal Matters

The Committee considered a response from the Speaker in relation to legal matters.

Mr Kinahan left the meeting at 3.57 p.m.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek clarification from the Assembly’s Legal Services on a number of issues.

The meeting moved into public session at 4.01 p.m.

Mr Robinson left the meeting at 4.01 p.m.

9. Outstanding Issues

Departmental officials joined the meeting at 4.02 p.m.

Mr Kinahan re-joined the meeting at 4.07 p.m.
Mr Spratt left the meeting at 4.11 p.m.
Mr Bresland left the meeting at 4.11 p.m.

Departmental officials, Mr Noel Lavery, Mr Colin Jack, Ms Martina Campbell and Dr Paul Geddis briefed the Committee on outstanding issues. A question and answer session followed. The Departmental official undertook to provide the Committee with flowcharts of the various outstanding issues and where they are in development.

Departmental officials left the meeting at 4.31 p.m.

10. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held in Room 30 on Wednesday 16 February 2011 at 2 p.m.

The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.32 p.m.

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

2 February 11  / Menu