COMMITTEE OF THE CENTRE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS:
WEDNESDAY 10 JANUARY 2001.
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 on the Gender Policy Unit, OFMDFM
7. Evidence on the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
8. Committee of the Centre draft Work Programme
9. Any Other Business
10. Date and Time of Next Meeting
Present:Mr Edwin Poots (Chairperson)
Mr Oliver Gibson (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs Jnr
Mrs Eileen Bell
Dr Esmond Birnie
Mr P J Bradley
Mr Fred Cobain
Mr David Ervine
Ms Michelle Gildernew
Ms Patricia Lewsley
Mr Alex Maskey
Mr Conor Murphy
Dr Alasdair McDonnell
Mr Eugene McMenamin
Mr Ken Robinson
Mr Jim Shannon
In Attendance: Mrs Debbie Pritchard (Principal Committee Clerk)
Dr Andrew C Peoples (Committee Clerk)
Mr Damien McVeigh
Ms Laurie Roberts
Apologies: Mr James Leslie
Meeting commenced at 2.00pm in public session.
1. Apologies
An apology was received from Mr Leslie and is listed above.
2. Chairperson's Business
The Chairperson briefed members on two meetings he had attended before the recess. The first with Mr Gerry Loughran, Head of the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM), on 19 December 2000 and the second with the Chairperson and Acting Director of the Northern Ireland Economic Council on 18 December 2000.
2.04pm Mr Beggs joined the meeting.
2.06pm Mrs Bell joined the meeting.
2.08pm Dr Birnie joined the meeting.
3. Approval of draft minutes of previous proceedings
The minutes were agreed and signed by the Chairperson.
4. Matters arising
4.1 Proposed visit to the USA
The Chairperson briefed members on a meeting he had attended with the Director of the Northern Ireland Assembly Transitional Programme, on 19 December 2000, to discuss the Committee's proposed visit to the USA. Agreed, that the Committee would invite the Director to a future meeting to allow members to input their views on a proposed programme. Action: Clerk.
4.2 Amendments to Standing Orders
The Committee discussed the proposals, outlined in a letter from the Committee on Procedures, to amend Standing Orders to permit the Committee of the Centre to take the Committee Stage of Bills emanating from OFMDFM and to approve Secondary Legislation. Agreed, that the Committee were satisfied with the proposals. Action: Clerk.
4.3 Committee on Procedures - review of legislative process
The Chairperson sought the views of members on the current procedures for handling legislation within the Assembly. Agreed, that the Committee should review a draft response, based on the views expressed by members, at its next meeting. Action: Clerk.
2.20pm Ms Gildernew left the meeting.
2.23pm Mr Robinson joined the meeting.
4.4 Response from OFMDFM to ETI Committee
The Committee noted the response from OFMDFM to the queries raised by the Enterprise, Trade & Investment Committee on the review in to the provision of economic advice to the Northern Ireland Administration.
5. Correspondence
5.1 OFMDFM Budget
The Committee noted the response from OFMDFM to their comments on the draft Budget Allocations. Agreed, that the Committee would seek further clarification on the provision of funding for e-Government. Action: Clerk.
2.25pm Ms Gildernew rejoined the meeting.
5.2 Victims
The Committee noted the response from OFMDFM to its evidence session on Victims. Agreed, that the Committee should request sight of the memorandum on operational matters setting out the responsibilities of the Victims Unit in OFMDFM and the Victims Liaison Unit in the Northern Ireland Office. Action: Clerk.
5.3 Children and Domestic Violence
The Committee noted the paper from OFMDFM on a current research project into Children and Domestic Violence.
5.4 Request from ETI Committee
The Committee agreed to the request from the Enterprise, Trade & Investment Committee to take oral evidence from officials of the Economic Policy Unit within OFMDFM on the review into the provision of economic advice to the Northern Ireland Administration. Action: Clerk.
5.5 Equal Pay and Burden of Proof Directive
The Committee noted the request to consult on the joint proposals from OFMDFM and the Department of Higher & Further Education, Training & Employment (DHFETE) on speeding up the tribunals for equal pay cases and the implementation of the Burden of Proof Directive. Agreed, that subject to the views of the HFETE Committee, a joint response would be prepared. Action: Clerk.
5.6 Equality proofing UK wide legislation
The Committee noted the paper from OFMDFM on the current procedures for equality proofing the implications of UK wide legislation for Northern Ireland. Agreed, that OFMDFM be advised that the Committee did not consider the action being taken by Departments as satisfactory.
2.35pm Dr McDonnell joined the meeting.
2.37pm Mrs Bell left the meeting.
5.7 PSI Working Group Report on Travellers
The Committee noted the consultation on the PSI Working Group Report on Travellers. Agreed, that a copy of the report should be obtained; that the Committee would then look at the recommendations falling within its remit and if necessary, a briefing on the matter would then be arranged.
2.47pm Mrs Bell rejoined the meeting.
6. Evidence on the Gender Policy Unit, OFMDFM
Evidence on the Gender Policy Unit was taken from Mr Tony Canavan, Ms Maggie Smith and Ms Joyce Cairns of the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.
3.02pm Mr Bradley and Dr McDonnell left the meeting. 3.35pm Mr Murphy left the meeting.
3.38pm Mr Cobain and Mr McMenamin left the meeting.
7. Evidence on the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
Evidence was taken from Mrs Joan Harbison, Ms Evelyn Collins, Mrs Mary Bunting, and Mr Bill Halliday of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.
4.01pm Mr Shannon left the meeting.
4.16pm Mr Ervine left the meeting.
4.22pm Dr Birnie left the meeting.
4.35pm Ms Gildernew left the meeting.
8. Committee of the Centre draft Work Programme
The Committee agreed the draft Work Programme subject to the additions agreed during the meeting.
9. Any other business
None.
10. Date and time of next meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 17 January 2001 at 2.00pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.36pm.
Councillor Edwin Poots MLA
Chairperson, Committee of the Centre
17 January 2001
29 November 2000 / Menu / 17 January 2001