COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER TO HOLD MEETING IN MAGEE COLLEGE

The Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister will visit the ILEX Urban Regeneration Company (ILEX) on Wednesday 24 October.
Following a briefing on the economic, physical and social regeneration of Londonderry by the Chief Executive of ILEX, members of the Committee will tour the Ebrington site.

The Chairperson, Mr Danny Kennedy said:

“Having seen the Maze/Long Kesh site in June 2007 the Committee is keen to visit the Ebrington site and discuss the proposals for the development of it to boost regeneration of the area and economic development.”

Following the (tour) visit the Committee will hold a public meeting at 2.00 p.m. in the Great Hall, Magee Campus, University of Ulster.
At the meeting the Committee will hear evidence from representatives of Save the Children in respect of its inquiry into Child Poverty and also receive a briefing from the independent Chair of the Advisory Council on Infrastructure and Investment, John Keanie, on investment in public service infrastructure and the investment strategy.
Mr Kennedy highlighted:

“The Committee has a key role to play in scrutinising the work of the Department and holding the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to account. Members are keen for the public to have the opportunity to learn about the Committee and see it in action. We therefore welcome the opportunity to hold a public meeting in Magee College.”

Notes for Editors

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
Francie Molloy
Stephen Moutray
Jim Shannon
Jimmy Spratt
Jim Wells
Terms of Reference for the Inquiry

The Committee will examine the current strategic approach to tackling child poverty in Northern Ireland.

In particular the Committee will:

 examine the extent, intensity and impact of child poverty in Northern Ireland

 consider the approach taken when formulating the current strategy including the extent of the engagement with key stakeholders

 assess whether the existing strategy is capable of delivering the key targets for 2010 and 2020

 examining whether the implementation mechanisms, resources and monitoring arrangements currently in place are adequate to ensure delivery of the key actions/targets

 identify and analyse relevant experience elsewhere in terms of policy interventions and programmes

 consider what further actions could be taken to tackle child poverty with particular focus on those that would be deliverable by the devolved administration

All enquiries regarding the work of the Committee should be directed to the Committee Clerk: -
Christine Darrah
Room 242, Parliament Buildings
Tel: 028 9052 1629

Media enquiries should be addressed to:
Kieran Dougan, Northern Ireland Assembly Information Office: -
Parliament Buildings, Belfast BT4 3XX
Tel: 028 9052 1642 ; mobile 07825146794
Website archive.niassembly.gov.uk