COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY
FIRST MINISTER
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 23 MARCH 2011
ROOM 29, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Tom Elliott (Chairperson)
Mr 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:
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 2.07 p.m. with the Deputy Chairperson in the Chair.
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.
Washington – St Patrick’s Day
The Deputy Chairperson updated Members on his and the Chairperson’s attendance at the Northern Ireland Bureau’s St Patrick’s Day Reception and other events in Washington last week.
Meeting with the Speaker
The Deputy Chairperson advised Members that he, the Chairperson and the Clerk met with the Speaker on Monday to discuss the respective roles of the Assembly Commission and the Committee in relation to European matters.
Meeting with the Czech Republic Ambassador
The Deputy Chairperson advised Members that he met with the Czech Republic Ambassador to the UK on Tuesday to discuss a number of issues in relation to European matters.
Hansard
The Deputy Chairperson advised Members that Hansard intend to have the report of today’s briefings issued as early as possible after the meeting and that Members and witnesses will have until midnight on Thursday to send suggested amendments. The Committee placed on record its thanks to Hansard for its work over the period of the mandate.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 16 March 2011
Agreed: The draft minutes of proceedings of 16 March 2011 were agreed by the Committee.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson would approve and sign the minutes of today’s meeting before dissolution.
4. Committee Legacy Report
Agreed: The Committee agreed its Legacy Report.
5. Matters Arising
Northern Ireland Commission for Children and Young People
The Committee noted correspondence from the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People providing further information on the sick absence rates in the Office over the past 3 years.
Committee for the Environment
The Committee considered responses from the Committee for the Environment on the abolition of the Sustainable Development Commission and on the Executive’s discussion paper on European Engagement.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the responses to the Department for consideration.
Sustainable Development Implementation Plan
The Committee noted correspondence from the Department providing a copy of the draft Sustainable Development Implementation Plan.
Appointments to the South Eastern Education and Library Board
The Committee noted responses from the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland and the Department concerning issues it had raised in relation to appointments to the Board of the South Eastern Education and Library Board
Sustainable Development Commission
The Committee noted a response from the Department in relation to comments made by the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment concerning the abolition of the Sustainable Development Commission.
International Relations
The Committee noted a response from the Department advising that it will take into consideration the Committee’s suggestion to appoint an international relations co-ordinator as they consider how best to co-ordinate this issue across Departments.
Strategic Investment Board
The Committee noted a response from the Department providing further information on the breakdown of costs in relation to the Strategic Investment Board’s spend on the Maze/Long Kesh project.
Revenue Raising
The Committee noted a response from the Department providing information on the revenue raising proposals included in the draft Budget 2011-15.
Consultation on the Draft Budget 2011-15
The Committee noted a response from the Department providing a copy of the Report it completed on its consultation on the draft Budget 2011-15.
Savings Plans
The Committee noted a response from the Department providing further information on issues raised by the Committee following the briefing on the Department’s Savings Plans.
Forecast Outturn
The Committee noted a response from the Department providing a summary of the Department’s forecast outturn position for 2010/11.
Arms Length Bodies
The Committee noted a response from the Department in relation to the accommodation for Arms Length Bodies.
Volunteering Strategy
The Committee noted a response from the Department in relation to volunteering.
European Social Funding
The Committee noted a response from the Department in relation to European Social Funding.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the response to Action Mental Health for information.
Lord Chief Justice
The Committee noted a response from the Lord Chief Justice’s Office in relation to the Committee’s consultation on proposals to update and reform the Office of the Ombudsman.
6. Correspondence
Executive’s Investment Strategy
The Committee noted correspondence from the First Minister and deputy First Minister providing an update report on the Executive’s Investment Strategy.
Written Ministerial Statement
The Committee noted a Written Ministerial Statement from the First Minister and deputy First Minister on the “Executive’s Response to Independent Review of the Dioxin Incident”.
7. Gifting of Former Military Sites
The Committee considered a response from the Department advising that officials are unable to brief the Committee at today’s meeting and providing further information to queries raised at last week’s meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to suggest that it consults with Limavady Borough Council and the Ballykelly Community Centre in relation to the gifted site at Ballykelly. The Committee also agreed to forward to the Department a newspaper article in relation to this issue.
The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 2.24 p.m.
The meeting resumed at 2.51 p.m. with Mr Bresland, Mr Elliott, Mr Humphrey, Mrs Kelly, Mr Kinahan and Mr Spratt present.
8. Play and Leisure Implementation Plan
Departmental officials joined the meeting at 2.52 p.m.
Ms Anderson re-joined the meeting at 2.58 p.m.
Mr Humphrey left the meeting at 3.01 p.m.
Departmental officials Ms Martina Campbell and Ms Brenda Stevenson briefed the Committee on the draft Play and Leisure Implementation Plan. A question and answer session followed.
Departmental officials left the meeting at 3.09 p.m.
9. Programme for Government Delivery Report
Departmental officials joined the meeting at 3.10 p.m.
Mrs Kelly left the meeting at 3.32 p.m.
Departmental officials Mr Dale Heaney and Mr James McEldowney briefed the Committee on the Programme for Government Delivery Report to September 2010. A question and answer session followed.
Departmental officials left the meeting at 3.37 p.m.
10. Cross-Departmental Gender Equality Action Plans
A Departmental official joined the meeting at 3.38 p.m.
Mr Robinson re-joined the meeting at 3.38 p.m.
Departmental official, Ms Eileen Sung briefed the Committee on the draft Sex Discrimination Order 1976 (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011. A question and answer session followed.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the draft Regulations.
Departmental official Ms Eileen Sung also briefed the Committee on the cross-departmental Gender Equality action Plans. A question and answer session followed.
The Departmental official left the meeting at 3.58 p.m.
11. Any Other Business
The Chairperson thanked Members and the Committee staff for their work during this mandate.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.59 p.m.
Mr Tom Elliott MLA
Chairperson,
Committee for the Office of the First Minister
and deputy First Minister
16 March 11 / Menu |
