COMMITTEE OF THE CENTRE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS:
WEDNESDAY 21 MARCH 2001
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
1. Apologies
2. Chairperson's Business
3. Approval of Draft Miniutes
4. Matters Arising
5. Correspondence
6. Children's Commissioner Programme
7. Any Other Business
8. Date and Time of Next Meeting
Present: Mr Edwin Poots (Chairperson)
Mr Oliver Gibson (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs Jnr
Dr Esmond Birnie
Mr Fred Cobain
Mrs Annie Courtney
Mr David Ervine
Ms Michelle Gildernew
Ms Patricia Lewsley
Mr Eugene McMenamin
Mr Conor Murphy
Mr Ken Robinson
Mr Jim Shannon
In Attendance: Mr Hugh Farren (Committee Clerk)
Ms Stella McArdle (Committee Clerk)
Mr John Conlan
Mrs Gillian Lewis
Ms Laurie Roberts
Apologies: Mrs Eileen Bell
Mr James Leslie
Dr Alasdair McDonnell
The meeting opened at 2:03pm in closed session.
1. Apologies
The apologies are listed above.
Dr Birnie joined the meeting at 2.04pm.
2. Chairperson's Business
(a) Letter from Enterprise, Trade and Investment (ETI) Committee on Strategy 2010 Inquiry: The members debated and agreed their response to the letter from the ETI Committee.
Mr Beggs joined the meeting at 2.05pm.
Mr Ervine joined the meeting at 2.05pm.
Ms Lewsley joined the meeting at 2.06pm
Mr Shannon joined the meeting at 2.13pm.
Ms Gildernew joined the meeting at 2.21pm.
2.24pm PUBLIC SESSION
(b) EU-UK Liaison Group Meeting on Friday, 16 March 2001 : The Chairperson advised members of the key outcomes of the European Union Liaison Group - Chairpersons' meeting. These included sharing information on the current work of the Committees, the importance of receiving advance notice and early information about policies and legislation from Brussels to enable Committees to adopt a more proactive approach and the likely impact of EU enlargement on current Member States.
Mr Cobain joined the meeting at 2.26pm.
(c) Update on Children's Commissioner Work Programme: Members agreed that the meeting on 4 April 2001 will take place in Magee College Campus, Londonderry and that the Clerk should invite the Norwegian Children's Ombudsman to give oral evidence at a future suitable date. They also agreed to invite the Chairperson of the Health Committee in Wales to provide oral evidence on the experiences of the Welsh Children's Commissioner.
Action: Clerk
3. Approval of draft minutes from previous proceedings
The minutes from the previous meeting were agreed and signed by the Chairperson
4. Matters arising
(a) Committee's response to the Equality Scheme Screening Exercise: The Committee agreed the draft response prepared by the Clerk.
5. Correspondence
(a) Review of Public Administration: The Committee noted the letter about responsibility for Review of Public Administration within the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.
(b) Letter from Mr Des McConaghy: The members noted the follow-up letter from Mr McConaghy regarding Public Service Agreements.
6. Children's Commissioner Programme
Members noted the paper on the Children's Commissioner Programme.
I. Evidence from Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
The evidence session started at 2.31pm. Evidence on the impact of Human Rights issues on the role and remit of a Children's Commissioner for Northern Ireland was taken from Professor Brice Dickson, Chief Commissioner and Dr Linda Moore, Investigations Worker of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. It was agreed that they would forward a written submission and additional information.
Action: Clerk
Mr Murphy joined the meeting at 2.34pm.
Mr Murphy left the meeting at 3.03pm.
Mr Ervine left the meeting at 3.16pm.
Dr Birnie left the meeting at 3.17pm.
The representatives left the meeting at 3.20pm.
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 3.22pm.
II. Evidence from Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
The evidence session started at 3.21pm. Evidence on the equality issues relating to the role and remit of a Children's Commissioner for Northern Ireland was taken from Mrs Joan Harbison, Chief Commissioner, and Mr Joe Lenaghan, Head of Statutory Duty of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. A written submission will be sent to the Committee.
Action: Clerk
Mr Cobain left the meeting at 3.24pm.
Ms Gildernew left the meeting at 3.41pm.
Mr McMenamin left the meeting at 3.51pm.
7. Any other business
None.
8. Date and time of next meeting
It was agreed that the next meeting of the Committee would be on Wednesday, 28 March 2001 at 2.00pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 4.11pm.
Councillor Edwin Poots
Chairperson, Committee of the Centre
28 March 2001
14 March 2001 / Menu