Present:
Mr Edwin Poots MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Oliver Gibson MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs Jnr MLA
Dr Esmond Birnie MLA
Ms Patricia Lewsley MLA
Mr Alex Maskey MLA
Dr Alasdair McDonnell MLA
Mr Eugene McMenamin MLA
Mr Ken Robinson MLA

In Attendance:
Mrs Debbie Pritchard (Principal Committee Clerk)
Mr Hugh Farren (Committee Clerk)
Ms Stella McArdle (Committee Clerk)
Mr John Conlan
Mrs Gillian Lewis
Ms Laurie Roberts

Apologies:
Mrs Eileen Bell MLA
Mr Fred Cobain MLA
Mrs Annie Courtney MLA
Mr David Ervine MLA
Ms Michelle Gildernew MP, MLA
Mr James Leslie MLA
Mr Jim Shannon MLA

USA Visit: Members agreed that the Committee visit to the USA should be postponed.

Seminar on Financial Processes: The Chairperson reminded the Committee that a half day seminar on government finance and the budget process would be held on 6 and 12 September.

3. Approval of draft minutes from previous proceedings

The minutes from the previous meeting were agreed and signed by the Chairperson.

4. Matters arising

None.

5. Correspondence

Members discussed the items of correspondence which were issued during the summer recess period. Comments on human rights issues included in the response from the Education Committee about the Single Equality Bill Consultation Document were noted.

The Committee noted an invitation for members to attend a conference to launch the Future of Europe Debate in Scotland. It was agreed that the Clerk should attend the conference on behalf of the Committee. Action: Clerk

6. Committee Forward Work Programme

1. Forward Work Programme and Planning Day: Members debated how they would deal with the Committee Forward Work Programme.

Agreed the Forward Work Programme would be fully considered on 19 September commencing at 1.30pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings;

the event would begin with a presentation by the Head of the Civil Service, Mr Gerry Loughran;

the Clerk would prepare a paper to assist members' consideration and assessment. Action: Clerk

Mr Maskey joined the meeting at 2.35pm.

2. Agenda for next meeting on 12 September 2001: The Committee considered the proposed agenda for the meeting on 12 September 2001.

Agreed Statutory Rule No 282/2001 Sex Discrimination (Indirect Discrimination and Burden of Proof) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 and Statutory Rule No 302/2001 Salaries (Assembly Ombudsman and Commissioner for Complaints) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001 would be scrutinised and OFMDFM officials would be invited to brief the Committee on the first Rule;

the OFMDFM Commissioner for Children for Northern Ireland Consultation would also be scrutinised, the Clerk would provide a 'comparison' paper between this and the Committee's Report and OFMDFM officials would be invited to brief the Committee. Action: Clerk

Members also debated procedures for processing consultation documents through other Committees.

Agreed the OFMDFM Children's Commissioner Consultation Document and the consultation exercise on a Victim's Strategy will be copied to other Committees for comment and the other Committees will be asked to pass any responses through the Committee of the Centre. Action: Clerk

7. European Affairs - Inquiry - Terms of Reference

Members considered and debated the Clerk's paper on a European Affairs Inquiry. The Committee agreed the following Terms of Reference:

'An evaluation of the effectiveness of the current approach of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Devolved Government in the engagement of Northern Ireland within the institutions of the European Union'.

The Committee also agreed that the methodology for the Inquiry should include a 'European Familiarisation Seminar', widespread consultation and gathering of evidence, analysis of other regions, benchmarking and best practice, a visit to the Northern Ireland Executive Office in Brussels and production of a report. Appointment of a Specialist Adviser and a timetable commencing in October 2001 with a completion date of February 2002 were also agreed. Action: Clerk

8. Any other business

None

9. Date and time of next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday, 12 September 2001 at 2.00pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.