COMMITTEE OF THE CENTRE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS: TUESDAY 29 MAY 2001
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr Oliver Gibson (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs Jnr
Mrs Eileen Bell
Mrs Annie Courtney
Mr Alex Maskey
Dr Alasdair McDonnell
Mr Ken Robinson
In Attendance: Mr Hugh Farren (Committee Clerk)
Mr John Conlan
Mrs Gillian Lewis
Ms Laurie Roberts
Mr Tim Moore
Apologies: Mr Edwin Poots (Chairperson)
Dr Esmond Birnie
Mr Fred Cobain
Mr David Ervine
Ms Michelle Gildernew
Mr James Leslie
Ms Patricia Lewsley
Mr Eugene McMenamin Mr Conor Murphy
Mr Jim Shannon
The meeting opened at 11.38am in public session - Mr Gibson in the Chair.
1. Apologies
Apologies are listed above.
2. Chairperson's Business
Visit by Members to Washington and Boston: Members were reminded that the Committee will be visiting Washington and Boston during the period 23 - 29 September 2001 and J1Visas are required. The necessary application forms have been left in Members' pigeonholes and all appropriate information should be returned to Committee office staff by Friday, 8 June 2001. Action: Clerk
3. Approval of draft minutes from previous proceedings
The minutes from the previous meeting were agreed and signed by the Deputy Chairperson.
4. Matters arising
(p) SL1 - Departments (Transfer of Functions) (NI) Order 2001: The Committee considered the draft response for the SL1 - Departments (Transfer of Functions) (NI) Order 2001 and agreed that the Clerk should forward the response to OFMDFM. Action: Clerk
Approach to Consultation on Single Equality Bill: Members agreed the Committee's approach to the Consultation on the Single Equality Bill. It was also agreed that the Committee of the Centre will co-ordinate any responses, on the Consultation document, from other Committees. Action: Clerk
5. Correspondence
(a) Letters and memo relating to the Department for Social Development, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure about Equality Schemes: The Committee noted the letters and memo about the Equality Schemes for the Department for Social Development, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure. Members agreed that they should be kept informed of any further Equality Schemes which follow from other Departments. Action: Clerk
(b) Letter from First Minister and Deputy First Minister relating to the Inquiry Into Public Private Partnerships: The Committee noted the letter from First Minister and Deputy First Minister relating to the Inquiry Into Public Private Partnerships.
(c) Response from the Education Committee relating to the Children's Commissioner for Northern Ireland Inquiry: Members agreed that the response from the Education Committee relating to the Children's Commissioner for Northern Ireland Inquiry should be included in the Committee's report as a written submission. Action: Clerk
6. Proposal for A Statutory Rule (SL1) to Implement The Burden of Proof Directive EC97/80
The Committee considered the proposal for a Statutory Rule (SL1) to Implement The Burden of Proof Directive EC97/80 and agreed that a response to the OFMDFM should be completed and issued. Action:Clerk
Dr McDonnell joined the meeting at 11.45am.
11.46am CLOSED SESSION
7. Committee's Continued Consideration of the Draft Report on the Children's Commissioner Inquiry
The Committee continued its deliberations on Section 4 of the draft report.
Mrs Bell joined the meeting at 11.50pm.
Section 4 - the two recommendations relating to paragraph 4.5.1 were agreed.
Section 4 - the recommendation relating to paragraph 4.5.2 was agreed.
Section 4 - the two recommendations relating to paragraph 4.5.3 were agreed.
Section 4 - the recommendation relating to paragraph 4.6.1 was agreed.
Section 4 - the recommendation relating to paragraph 4.6.2 was agreed.
Section 4 - the recommendation relating to paragraph 4.6.3 was agreed subject to a minor amendment.
Section 4 - the first and third recommendations relating to paragraph 4.7.1 were agreed and the second recommendation was agreed subject to minor amendments.
Section 4 - the two recommendations relating to paragraph 4.7.2 will be re-drafted.
Section 4 - the recommendation relating to paragraph 4.7.4 was agreed subject to minor amendment.
The Committee reconsidered the edited version of Section 3.
Mr Maskey left the meeting at 12.15pm.
Section 3 - paragraphs 3.1.1 to 3.1.15 were agreed.
Section 3 - paragraphs 3.2.1 to 3.2.46 were agreed.
Section 3 - paragraphs 3.3.1 to 3.3.20 were agreed.
Section 3 - paragraphs 3.4.1 to 3.4.17 were agreed subject to minor amendments.
Section 3 - paragraphs 3.5.1 to 3.5.16 were agreed.
Section 3 - paragraphs 3.6.1 to 3.6.23 were agreed.
8. Any other business
None.
9. Date and time of next meeting
The members agreed that the next meeting of the Committee will be held on Monday, 4 June 2001 at 11.30am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 12.26pm.
Mr Oliver Gibson
Deputy Chairperson, Committee of the Centre
4 June 2001