COMMITTEE OF THE CENTRE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS:
WEDNESDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2000.
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr Edwin Poots MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Oliver Gibson MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs Jnr MLA
Dr Esmond Birnie MLA
Mr Fred Cobain MLA
Mr David Ervine MLA Ms Patricia Lewsley MLA
Mr Alex Maskey MLA
Mr Conor Murphy MLA
Mr Ken Robinson MLA
Mr Jim Shannon MLA
In Attendance: Dr Andrew C Peoples (Committee Clerk)
Mr Damien McVeigh
Apologies: Mrs Eileen Bell MLA
Mr P J Bradley MLA
Ms Michelle Gildernew MLA
Dr Alasdair McDonnell MLA
Mr Eugene McMenamin MLA
Meeting opened at 2:04pm in open session.
-
Apologies
-
Chairperson's Business
-
Approval of draft minutes of previous proceedings
-
Matters arising
-
Background material on International Matters and European Affairs
-
Evidence on International Matters and European Affairs
-
Any other business
-
Date and time of next meeting
The apologies are listed above.
Members noted the minutes of proceedings from the meeting of the Chairpersons of UK Committees with European responsibilities in Glasgow on 3 November 2000.
The Chairperson briefed members on the main outcomes of the meeting of the Chairpersons Liaison Group he had attended that morning and members welcomed the agreed changes in recording members joining and leaving meetings.
The Chairperson informed members that he had attended a meeting, Wednesday 29 November 2000, with officials of the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM). The areas discussed were the proposed Electronic Communications Bill, the current situation of the Committee's inability to take secondary legislation and the future work programme of the OFMDFM.
The minutes were agreed and signed by the Chairperson.
None were raised.
The Chairperson briefed members on the material provided by the Committee and Research and Library Services Staff.
2.14pm Mr Shannon joined the meeting.
2.16pm Mr Ervine joined the meeting.
Evidence on International Matters and European Affairs was taken from Mr Will Haire, Mr Tony McCusker, Dr Peter Smyth and Ms Julie Mapstone of the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.
2.51pm Mr Cobain joined the meeting.
2.55pm Mr Murphy left the meeting.
2.58pm Mr Beggs left the meeting.
3.00pm Mr Maskey joined the meeting.
3.37pm Mr Ervine and Ms Lewsley left the meeting.
3.38pm Dr Birnie left the meeting.
3.48pm Mr Gibson left the meeting.
It was agreed that Mrs Linda Devlin should give the Committee an overview of the legislative process using the Electronic Communications Bill as an example.
The Chairperson informed members that the Clerk of Committees, Mr John Torney, was organising a short course on Government Finance and should any member wish to attend they should advise the Committee Office. The Chairperson requested the Clerk to circulate this to all members. Action: Clerk.
It was agreed that the Committee would meet on Wednesday, 6 December 2000 at 2.00pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings in public session.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4:10pm.
Councillor Edwin Poots MLA
Chairperson, Committee of the Centre
6 December 2000