COMMITTEE CONSIDERS ESSENTIAL EUROPEAN ISSUES

The Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister today announced its terms of reference for consideration of European issues.

Chairperson, Mr Danny Kennedy commented that the Committee had given the issue a great deal of consideration and said:

“It is essential that the Northern Ireland Assembly’s role in Europe is developed and established. There is much that can be achieved by promoting Northern Ireland, its industries and its skills. To achieve this, the Committee aims to reach satisfactory conclusions to European policy issues for the people of Northern Ireland.”

Mr Kennedy confirmed that the Committee will be consulting widely with Northern Ireland’s representatives in the various European institutions and key stakeholders in the business and community field.

ENDS

Notes for Editors

The Terms of Reference for the consideration of European issues includes:

Review the Northern Ireland Assembly’s role in relation to European issues and to make recommendations to improve scrutiny of European policy and enhance engagement with European issues.
Consider the Northern Ireland Executive’s strategic approach to European issues, including in particular the Northern Ireland Executive’s response to the work of the Barroso Taskforce (EU Special Taskforce to Northern Ireland see link to OFMDFM website http://www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk/content_-_co-operation-barroso-taskforce).
Consider European policy issues which fall within the remit of the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.

Information about the Committee

The Committee for the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister is one of the statutory committees established by the Northern Ireland Assembly on 9 May 2007.

A motion was approved in the Assembly on Tuesday 12 June 2007 proposing that the committee’s name be changed from the Committee of the Centre to the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.

The role of the Committee as set out in Standing Orders for the Northern Ireland Assembly is “to advise and assist the First Minister and the deputy First Minister in the formulation of policy with respect to matters within their responsibilities as Ministers jointly in charge of the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister.”

Committee Membership: -
Danny Kennedy, Chairperson
Naomi Long, Deputy Chairperson
Martina Anderson
Tom Elliott
Dolores Kelly
Barry McElduff
Ian McCrea
Francie Molloy
Stephen Moutray
Jim Shannon
Jimmy Spratt

All enquiries regarding the work of the Committee should be directed to the Committee Clerk: -
Cathie White
Room 416, Parliament Buildings
Tel: 028 9052 1448

Media enquiries should be addressed to the Northern Ireland Stephanie Mallon
Assembly Press Office: -
Room B2, Parliament Buildings
Stormont, Belfast BT4 3XX

Tel: 028 9052 1137
Mobile: 07825 146794
Email:info.office@niassembly.gov.uk