COMMITTEE OF THE CENTRE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS:
WEDNESDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2000.
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
1. Apologies
2. Chairperson's Business
3. Approval of Draft Minutes of Previous Proceedings
4. Matters arising
5. Correspondence
6. Evidence session with officials from the OFMDFM
7. Committee's response on the specific aspects of the draft Programme for Government within the Terms of Reference of the Committee
8. Committee's response on the Equality Impact Assessment of the draft Programme for Government
9. Any Other Business
10. Date and Time of Next Meeting
Present: Mr Edwin Poots MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Oliver Gibson MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs Jnr MLA
Mrs Eileen Bell MLA
Dr Esmond Birnie MLA
Mr P J Bradley MLA
Mr Fred Cobain MLA
Ms Michelle Gildernew MLA
Ms Patricia Lewsley MLA
Dr Alasdair McDonnell MLA
Mr Eugene McMenamin MLA
Mr Jim Shannon MLA
In Attendance: Dr Andrew C Peoples (Committee Clerk)
Mrs Gillian Lewis
Mr Damien McVeigh
Ms Laurie Roberts
Mr Hugh Widdis
Apologies: Mr David Ervine MLA
Mr James Leslie MLA
Mr Alex Maskey MLA
Mr Conor Murphy MLA
Mr Ken Robinson MLA
Meeting opened at 2:33pm in closed session.
1. Apologies
The apologies are listed above.
2. Chairperson's Business
The Chairperson informed members that he and the Clerk had met with two researchers from Queen's University of Belfast on research work being carried out in respect of European Union policy matters. The Committee debated the conducting of Committee meetings in public session and agreed that all meetings would be held in public session from 22 November 2000, unless previously agreed. Action Clerk
2.54pm Mr Cobain left the meeting.
2.54pm Ms Lewsley left the meeting.
2.57pm Ms Lewsley rejoined the meeting.
3. Approval of draft minutes of previous proceedings
The minutes were agreed subject to the following amendments:
1. Record the apology of Mr Eugene McMenamin
2. Correct the spelling error in point 8
4. Matters Arising
The Committee debated the draft 2001/02 Budget response. It was agreed to add a further paragraph requesting OFMDFM to review the potential for savings within the additional allocation to Departmental Running Costs (DRC). It was further agreed that the Clerk would seek clarification from OFMDFM on the specific proposals and outcome for the additional DRC allocation. Action: Clerk
5. Correspondence
The Committee considered the correspondence from the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister on the Electronic Communications Bill and agreed to inform the OFMDFM that they should proceed with the introduction of the Electronic Communications Bill to the Northern Ireland Assembly. Action: Clerk
3.13pm Ms Gildernew left the meeting.
3:18pm PUBLIC SESSION
6. Evidence session with officials from the OFMDFM on Equality Impact Assessment of the draft Programme for Government
3.18pm Mr Gibson left the meeting.
3.20pm Mr Gibson rejoined the meeting.
Evidence on the Equality Impact Assessment of the draft Programme for Government was taken from Mr Tony Canavan, Mr Murray Cameron, Mrs Linda Devlin and Prof Des Vincent.
3:25pm Mr Bradley left the meeting.
3:28pm Mr Birnie left the meeting.
3:32pm Dr McDonnell left the meeting.
3:50pm Ms Bell left the meeting.
3:52pm Mr Shannon left the meeting.
3:52pm Ms Bell rejoined the meeting.
3.53pm Ms Lewsley left the meeting.
4.08pm Ms Gildernew rejoined the meeting.
4:10pm Mr Beggs and Mr Gibson left the meeting.
Meeting was non-quorate, suspended at 4.10pm 4:13pm Mr Beggs rejoined the meeting.
4:11pm Mr Gibson rejoined the meeting and business was resumed
.
4:13pm Mr McMenamin left the meeting.
7. Committee's response on the specific aspects of the draft Programme for Government within the Terms of Reference of the Committee.
The Committee debated its response on the specific areas of the Programme for Government within its Terms of Reference. A consensus view was reached and the Clerk was directed to draft a response for the Committee's consideration at the next meeting. Action: Clerk
8. Committee's response on the Equality Impact Assessment of the draft Programme for Government.
The Committee debated its response to the Equality Impact Assessment of the draft Programme for Government. A consensus view was reached and the Clerk was directed to draft a response for the Committee's consideration at the next meeting. Action: Clerk
9. Any other business
None.
10. Date and time of next meeting
It was agreed that the Committee would meet on Wednesday, 22th November at 2:30pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings in public session.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4:19pm.
Mr Edwin Poots MLA
Chairperson, Committee of the Centre
22 November 2000
8 November 2000 / Menu / 22 November 2000