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

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2011
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 Francie Molloy
Mr George Robinson
Mr Jimmy Spratt

Apologies:
None

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

None.

2. Chairperson’s Business

Declaration of Interests

The Chairperson sought any declarations of interest from Members in relation to items of business being discussed.

Bottled Water

Mr Bresland joined the meeting at 2.06 p.m.

Mrs Kelly joined the meeting at 2.06 p.m.

Dr Farry joined the meeting at 2.06 p.m.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to use jugs of water in Committee meetings rather than bottled water as a cost cutting measure.

Save the Children

Mr McElduff joined the meeting at 3.07 p.m.

The Committee noted correspondence from Save the Children in relation to the Child Poverty Strategy. The Committee agreed that it was content to meet informally with Save the Children on this issue.

3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 16 February 2011

Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 16 February 2011 were agreed by the Committee.

4. Matters Arising

Childcare Strategy

The Committee noted a response from the Department providing further information in relation to the development of the Childcare Strategy.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to ask the Department if there would be a debate in plenary on the Child Poverty Strategy.

European Commission European Disability Strategy

The Committee noted a response from the Department advising that the Executive’s responses to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability and the Promoting Social Inclusion Report on Disability are complimentary to the European Commission European Disability Strategy.

Outstanding Issues

The Committee considered a response from the Department providing further information on the current position of outstanding issues.

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

5. Correspondence

Committee for the Environment

The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for the Environment seeking the Committee’s views on the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Action Plan and to request that it be forwarded to the Department for comment.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the plan to the Department for comment. The Committee also agreed to write to the Committee for the Environment to highlight the importance of the Action Plan being driven by the Executive as this will ensure buy-in from all departments and deliver better joined up Government.

PSNI – Equal Pay

The Committee considered correspondence from PSNI Staff to the Department in relation to Equal Pay for PSNI Staff. The Department advised that they have forwarded this to the Department for Finance and Personnel.

Mr Spratt declared an interest as a Member of the Policing Board.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence to the Committee for Finance and Personnel and the Committee for Justice for information.

Review of Ilex Urban Regeneration Company

The Committee considered correspondence from the Department providing a copy of the Review Report of the Ilex Urban Regeneration Company.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department and to the Ilex Urban Regeneration Company to seek their views on the recommendations of the report and to request further information on how the recommendations will be taken forward.

6. Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People

The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People joined the meeting at 2.19 p.m.

Dr Farry left the meeting at 2.26 p.m.

Mr Molloy left the meeting at 2.26 p.m.

Mr Robinson joined the meeting at 2.35 p.m.

Mr Humphrey declared an interest as a member of the Scouts Association.

Mr McElduff left the meeting at 3.05 p.m.

The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, Mrs Patricia Lewsley and Chief Executive, Mr Gerry Campbell briefed the Committee on the work of the Commission and on the Review of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People. A question and answer session followed. The Commissioner undertook to provide the Committee with further information in relation to staff absence over the last 3 years.

The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People left the meeting at 3.23 p.m.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department and to the Department for Finance and Personnel to seek assurances that leases currently held by Arms Length Bodies for accommodation be reviewed and that consideration be given to the possible merging of offices.

7. Budget 2011-15

Departmental officials joined the meeting at 3.20 p.m.

Departmental officials, Mr Noel Lavery and Mrs Jackie Kerr briefed the Committee on the responses to the Department’s consultation on it Budget 2011-15 proposals. A question and answer session followed.

Mrs Kelly left the meeting at 3.39 p.m.

Departmental officials left the meeting at 3.40 p.m.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request further information on the overall Equality Impact Assessment for the Budget 2011-15.

8. Victims and Survivors

Departmental officials joined the meeting at 3.43 p.m.

Mrs Kelly re-joined the meeting at 3.46 p.m.

Ms Anderson joined the meeting at 3.56 p.m.

Mr McElduff re-joined the meeting at 4.17 p.m.

Mr Bresland declared an interest as a member of the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund.

Departmental officials, Mr Colin Jack and Ms Kellie Service briefed the Committee on the Victims and Survivors Service and on the Comprehensive Needs Assessment. A question and answer session followed. Officials agreed to provide a copy of the speaking notes to the Committee.

Departmental officials left the meeting at 4.28 p.m.

9. Any Other Business

Report on Statutory Committees Activity on European Issues

The Committee considered its draft Report on Statutory Committees Activity on European Issues.

Agreed: The Committee read and agreed paragraphs 1-27 of the Report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to include Appendices 1-3 in the Report.

Agreed: The Committee ordered the Report to be printed.

Agreed: The Committee agreed a motion to be tabled to the Business Committee in relation to a Take Note debate on the Report.

10. Date, time and place of next meeting

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

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.32 p.m.

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

16 February 11  / Menu