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

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 16 FEBRUARY 2011
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr Tom Elliott (Chairperson)
Dr Stephen Farry (Deputy Chairperson)
Ms Martina Anderson
Mr William Humphrey
Mrs Dolores Kelly
Mr Barry McElduff
Mr Jimmy Spratt

Apologies:
Mr Alan Bresland
Mr Danny Kinahan
Mr Francie Molloy
Mr George Robinson

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 2.04 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 9 February 2011

Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 9 February 2011 were agreed by the Committee.

4. Matters Arising

Delivery Tracking System

The Committee noted a response from the Department providing further information in relation to reports taken from the Delivery Tracking System.

February Monitoring Round Update

The Committee noted a response from the Department providing an update on its February Monitoring Round proposals.

Central Procurement Directorate

The Committee noted a response from the Central Procurement Directorate providing further information following their briefing on 1 December 2010.

Capital Assets Realisation Taskforce

The Committee noted a response from the Department providing further information to queries raised by the Committee in relation to the Strategic Investment Board.

Joint Ministerial Committee (Europe)

The Committee noted a summary of the last meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee (Europe), which junior Ministers attended on 6 December 2010.

Resource DEL: Administrative Cost Controls

The Committee noted a response from the Department providing further information on the Department’s administrative cost controls and details of the Department’s front-line services.

Public Appointments

The Committee considered a response from the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments concerning appointments to the Board of the South Eastern Education and Library Board.

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 Minister for Education to request further information on appointments to the South Eastern Education and Library Board and if a review of the appointments had been conducted.

5. Correspondence

Committee for Education

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward correspondence from the Department concerning the Construction Employers Federation to the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

Public Bodies Bill – Legislative Consent Motion

The Committee considered correspondence from the Department in relation to a Legislative Consent Motion on the Public Bodies Bill.

Mr Humphrey joined the meeting at 2.13 p.m.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to all statutory committees to inform them that their departments should be bringing this Legislative Consent Motion to their attention.

Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People

The Committee noted correspondence from the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People advising that she had to make comments to the media before she had the opportunity to brief the Committee at next week’s meeting.

6. European Issues

Departmental officials joined the meeting at 2.15 p.m.

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

Mrs Kelly joined the meeting at 2.50 p.m.
Dr Farry left the meeting at 3.18 p.m.

Departmental officials, Dr Gerry Mulligan and Dr Paul Geddis briefed the Committee on the Department’s work in Europe and on the review of the European Division. A question and answer session followed.

Departmental officials left the meeting at 3.23 p.m.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the draft discussion paper on European Engagement 2011-2012 to all statutory committees for comment.

7. Commission for Victims and Survivors

Dr Farry re-joined the meeting at 3.23 p.m.

The Commissioners for Victims and Survivors joined the meeting at 3.24 p.m.

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

Victims and Survivors Commissioners Bertha McDougal and Brendan McAllister briefed the Committee on the work of the Commission for Victims and Survivors. A question and answer session followed.

Mrs Kelly left the meeting at 4.11 p.m.

The Commissioners for Victims and Survivors left the meeting at 4.21 p.m.

Mr Humphrey left the meeting at 4.22 p.m.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Commissioners for Victims and Survivors to seek further information on their role in relation to dealing with the past.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to seek clarification on its views of the role of the Commission for Victims and Survivors in relation to dealing with the past.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Secretary of State to seek further information on the progress of work in relation to dealing with the past and what role the Commission for Victims and Survivors has in relation to dealing with the past.

8. SL1 - Transfer of Functions (Economic Statistics) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011

Agreed: The Committee considered the SL1 - Transfer of Functions (Economic Statistics) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011 and agreed that it was content with the Order.

9. Departments (Transfer of Functions) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011 – Tribunal Reform

The Committee noted the Departments (Transfer of Functions) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011.

10. Reform of the Office of the Northern Ireland Ombudsman

The Committee considered a summary of responses to its public consultation on legislation to update and reform the Office of the Ombudsman. The Committee also considered a response from the Department to the Committee’s consultation.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a number of questions to the Ombudsman concerning issues raised during the consultation. The Committee also agreed to request a research paper from the Assembly’s Research and Library Service on a number of issues raised during the consultation.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to a number of bodies who are listed as authorities under the remit of the Ombudsman to seek their views on the proposals. The Committee also agreed to write to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland to seek their views on the possible resource implications for the Office of the Ombudsman if these proposals were introduced.

11. Forward Work Programme

The Committee noted the Committee’s Forward Work Programme to the end of the mandate.

12. 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 23 February 2011 at 2 p.m.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.43 p.m.

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

9 February 11  / Menu