COMMITTEE OF THE CENTRE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS:
WEDNESDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2001.
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present: Mr Edwin Poots MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Oliver Gibson MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs Jnr MLA
Mrs Eileen Bell MLA
Mrs Annie Courtney MLA
Ms Patricia Lewsley MLA
Mr Conor Murphy MLA
Dr Alasdair McDonnell MLA
Mr Eugene McMenamin MLA
Mr Jim Shannon MLA

In Attendance: Mrs Debbie Pritchard (Principal Committee Clerk)
Mr Hugh Farren (Committee Clerk)
Mrs Gillian Lewis
Mr Tim Moore
Ms Laurie Roberts

Apologies: Ms Michelle Gildernew MLA
Mr Alex Maskey MLA
Mr James Leslie MLA
Mr Ken Robinson MLA

The meeting commenced at 2:07pm in public session.

1. Apologies

The apologies are listed above.

2. Chairperson's Business

The Chairperson introduced Mr Hugh Farren, Committee Clerk to the Committee members.

Mr Shannon joined the meeting at 2.13pm.

Meeting with Dame Rennie Fritchie, OCPA: The Committee noted the minutes of the Chair's meeting with Dame Rennie Fritchie, Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Ms Lewsley joined the meeting at 2.17pm.

Children's Commissioner: In response to the statement made by the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to bring forward proposals to establish a Commissioner for Children for Northern Ireland, the Committee agreed to proceed with drawing up a programme to consult interested groups/organisations. It was further agreed to begin this process by inviting the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to meet with the Committee to outline and discuss OFMDFM's consultation plans and proposals.
Action: Clerk

Mr Gibson joined the meeting at 2.21pm.

B3. Approval of draft minutes from previous proceedings>

The minutes from both meetings (31/1/01 and 7/2/01) were agreed and signed by the Chairperson.

Mrs Bell left the meeting at 2.23pm.

Mrs Courtney joined the meeting at 2.23pm.

4. Matters Arising

Equal Pay & Burden of Proof Consultation: Members agreed to proceed with the Burden of Proof aspect of the consultation and will raise any concerns with officials from the Anti-Discrimination Unit of OFMDFM at next week's meeting.

5. Correspondence

(a) Response from OFMDFM regarding Victims Funding: The Committee remains concerned about the level of funding and asked the Clerk to pursue this matter with OFMDFM. Action: Clerk

Mr Gibson requested information on all Victims groups throughout Northern Ireland. Action: Clerk

(b) Service & Systems Solutions (Sx3): Members expressed interest in visiting their premises at a future date. Action: Clerk

(c) Northern Ireland Women's European Platform (NIWEP): The Committee agreed to invite them to present their report at the Committee meeting on 28 February 2001. Action: Clerk

6. Evidence on Statutory Rule Equality Commission (Time Limits) Regulations (NI) 2001

The evidence session began at 2.31pm. Evidence on the Statutory Rule was taken from Mrs Patricia McAuley, Mr Ken Walker and Mr Robert Gray from the Anti-Discrimination Unit of the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.

Mrs Bell re-joined the meeting at 2.35pm.
Mr Murphy left the meeting at 2.51pm
Dr McDonnell joined the meeting at 3.00pm
Mr McMenamin left the meeting at 3.05pm.
The Officials left the meeting at 3.07pm.

Agreed: That the Committee of the Centre has considered the Equality Commission (Time Limits) Regulations (NI) 2001 and has no objections to the Rule. Action: Clerk

Mr McMenamin re-joined the meeting at 3.10pm.

7. Evidence from Public Service Improvement Unit

The evidence session began at 3.13pm. Evidence on the Public Service Improvement Unit and the Service First Unit was taken from Mr Murray Cameron, Mr Gary Ewing, Mr Larry Sheeran and Mr Fred Penhallurick from the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.

Mrs Bell left the meeting at 3.22pm.

Ms Lewsley left the meeting at 3.56pm.

The Officials left the meeting at 3.56pm.

8. Any other business

2000/01 Spring Supplementary Estimates and 2000/01 Vote on Account: Members considered the paper and had no comments.

9. Date and time of next meeting

It was agreed that the next meeting of the Committee would be on Wednesday, 21 February 2001 at 2.00pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting was adjourned at 3.57pm.

Councillor Edwin Poots MLA
Chairperson, Committee of the Centre
21 February 2001