COMMITTEE OF THE CENTRE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS:
WEDNESDAY 17 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 Economic Policy Unit, OFMDFM
7. Evidence on the Northern Ireland Economic Council
8. Any Other Business
9. Date and Time of Next Meeting
Present: Mr Edwin Poots MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Oliver Gibson (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs Jnr
Dr Esmond Birnie
Mrs Annie Courtney
Mr David Ervine
Ms Michelle Gildernew
Ms Patricia Lewsley
Mr Conor Murphy
Mr Eugene McMenamin
Mr Ken Robinson
Mr Jim Shannon
In Attendance: Mrs Debbie Pritchard (Principal Committee Clerk)
Mr Damien McVeigh
Ms Laurie Roberts
Apologies: Mrs Eileen Bell
Mr James Leslie
Mr Alex Maskey
Dr Alasdair McDonnell MLA
Meeting commenced at 2.02pm in public session.
The Chairperson welcomed Mrs Annie Courtney MLA to the Committee of the Centre, who had replaced Mr PJ Bradley MLA. Mrs Courtney declared as an interest, membership of Derry City Council. The Chairperson thanked PJ Bradley for his work on the Committee.
2.03pm Dr Birnie and Mr Robinson joined the meeting.
1. Apologies
Apologies are listed above.
2. Chairperson's Business
2.1 Electronic Communications Bill
The Chairperson advised members that the Electronic Communications Bill had passed its Second Stage and had been referred to the Committee of the Centre for Committee Stage. Agreed, that the Committee would call officials from the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) to assist in the clause by clause scrutiny of the Bill at its next meeting. Action: Clerk.
2.2 Statutory Rule 371/2000 - Fair Employment
The Chairperson informed members that a Fair Employment Statutory Rule (SR 371/2000), which emanated from OFMDFM, had been passed by the Business Committee to the Higher & Further Education, Training and Employment (HFETE) Committee to be processed. Agreed, that the Committee was content that the HFETE Committee hear evidence from officials of OFMDFM.
3. Approval of draft minutes of previous proceedings
The minutes were agreed and signed by the Chairperson.
4. Matters arising
4.1 Committee on Procedures - review of legislative process
Agreed, that the draft response arising from debate at the previous meeting should be sent to the Committee on Procedures. Action:Clerk
4.2 Proposed visit to the USA
The Chairperson sought members views on a revision of the dates for the Committee's proposed visit. Agreed, that the Committee would debate this matter at its meeting on 31 January 2001, which will be attended by the Director of the Transitional Programme.
2.08pm Mr Ervine joined the meeting.
2.12pm Mr Shannon joined the meeting.
5. Correspondence
5.1 Draft Programme for Government
The Committee noted the response from OFMDFM to their comments on the draft Programme for Government. Agreed, that the Committee would seek further information on the outcome of OFMDFM's December monitoring round bid for funding for Victims. Action: Clerk.
2.18pm Mr Murphy joined the meeting
6. Evidence on the Economic Policy Unit, OFMDFM
The evidence session began at 2.18pm. Evidence on the Economic Policy Unit was taken from Mr Will Haire, Mr Eugene Rooney and Mr Dermott MacCann of the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.
2.26pm Ms Lewsley joined the meeting.
2.47pm Mr Murphy left the meeting.
3.06pm Ms Gildernew left the meeting.
The officials left the meeting at 3.24pm.
7. Evidence on the Northern Ireland Economic Council
The evidence session began at 3.26pm. Evidence was taken from Mrs Janet Trewsdale OBE, Chairperson and Mr Aidan Gough, Acting Director of the Northern Ireland Economic Council.
4.01pm Mr Shannon left the meeting
4.02pm Mr McMenamin and Mr Robinson left the meeting.
4.06pm Dr Birnie and Mr Ervine left the meeting.
Mrs Trewsdale and Mr Gough left the meeting at 4.15pm.
8. Any other business
None.
9. Date and time of next meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 24 January 2001 at 2.00pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.16pm.
Councillor Edwin Poots MLA
Chairperson, Committee of the Centre
24 January 2001
10 January 2001 / Menu / 24 January 2001