Present:
Mr Edwin Poots MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Oliver Gibson MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs MLA
Mrs Eileen Bell MLA
Mr David Ervine MLA
Dr Alasdair McDonnell MLA
Mr Eugene McMenamin MLA
Mr Conor Murphy MLA
Mr Ken Robinson MLA
Mr Jim Shannon MLA

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

Apologies:
Dr Esmond Birnie MLA
Mr Fred Cobain MLA
Mrs Annie Courtney MLA
Ms Michelle Gildernew MP MLA
Mr James Leslie MLA
Ms Patricia Lewsley MLA
Mr Alex Maskey MLA

1. Apologies

Apologies are listed above.

2. Chairperson's Business

1. House of Lords Constitutional Committee Inquiry into Inter-Institutional Relations in the UK: The Chairperson informed members that the deadline for the Lord Norton Inquiry call for evidence has been extended from 27 February to 27 March 2002. The Chairperson advised that the Principal Clerk would come back to the Committee with advice regarding whether a response to the Inquiry would be co-ordinated by the Assembly at a corporate level.

Action: Clerk

Dr McDonnell joined the meeting at 2.06pm.

2. Appointment of New Junior Minister: The Chairperson advised members that he had received a letter from Mr James Leslie MLA regarding his recent appointment as Junior Minister.

3. Approval of Draft Minutes

The minutes from the previous meeting held on 13 February 2002 were agreed and signed by the Chairperson.

Mr Murphy joined the meeting at 2.08pm.

4. Matters Arising

1. Review of Public Administration: The Chairperson reminded members that the Committee had agreed to consider its role in the Public Administration Review at today's meeting. Members discussed the impending review and terms of reference and agreed that a Committee should be appointed to take the lead in co-ordinating the cross cutting issues, and that this lead role should be taken by the Committee of the Centre.

The Chairperson advised members that the Principal Clerk had sought guidance from the Assembly Legal Adviser about 'conflict of interest' issues in relation to member's involvement in the Review. A memo from the Legal Adviser was issued to members advising that:

"Standing Order 64(4) provides that a member shall declare any interest, financial or other which is relevant to that debate or proceeding but there is no provision preventing participation in any debate or proceeding."

The Chairperson advised that he would reflect the views of the Committee on its role in the Review during the Take Note debate scheduled for 25 February 2002.

Action: Clerk

Mr Gibson left the meeting at 2.21pm.

5. Correspondence

1. Letter from the Electoral Office for NI about recording the return of postal ballot papers: The Committee noted the views from the Electoral Office.
2. Information from European Committees: The Committee noted the information including the House of Lords EU Committee's Weekly Agenda and the House of Lords Chairman's sift of documents for scrutiny.

6. Potential Committee Inquiry Subjects & Commissioned Research Areas

The Chairperson invited discussion on potential inquiry subjects for the Committee and also potential areas for commissioned research. The Committee agreed to wait on the outcome of the Take Note debate which would cover the Review of Public Administration before making any decision about future Inquiry subjects.

The Chairperson requested member's views on a potential Committee visit to the USA. Members requested Committee staff to draw up a draft programme for the week of 20 May 2002 for consideration.

The Chairperson invited views from the members on the suggested commissioned areas of research. The Committee agreed to support the following research proposals:

• Promoting Social Inclusion - The Working Poor
• Info-Exclusion - The Digital Divide in NI

Action: Clerk

7. Single Equality Bill

Dr McDonnell left the meeting at 2.33pm.

Briefing Session from OFMDFM Officials

The briefing by OFMDFM officials began at 2.33pm. Briefing on the progress of the Single Equality Bill was taken from Mrs Mary Bunting, Head of Equality Directorate, Mrs Patricia McAuley, Anti Discrimination Division and Mrs Christine Scott, Single Equality Bill Unit.

Mr McMenamin left the meeting at 2.45pm.
Mr Ervine joined the meeting at 2.58pm.
Dr McDonnell re-joined the meeting at 3.04pm.

The officials explained the reasons for the delay of the progression of the Single Equality Bill and gave details of the revised plans for bringing the Bill forward. Members asked the officials to forward to the Committee a realistic revised timetable detailing the planned progression of the Bill following the next Assembly elections.

Action: Clerk

The briefing ended at 3.21pm and the officials left.

The meeting went into closed session.
Mr Ervine left the meeting at 3.22pm.
Dr McDonnell left the meeting at 3.24pm.

8. European Union Inquiry

The Special Advisor joined the meeting at 3.24pm.

Additional information relating to the EU Inquiry

1. Discussion Paper

The Committee reviewed the key issues arising from the evidence submitted to the Inquiry and discussed options for recommendations to be included in the draft report. The review was based on a discussion paper prepared by the Clerk and the Special Advisor to the Inquiry.

The Committee agreed the following in relation to the emerging recommendations:

Sections 1 & 5: Required further consideration by the Committee at next week's meeting.

Section 2: Agreed to include this with amendments to parts g & i.

Section 3: Agreed to include this section.

Section 4: Agreed to include this with rewording of 4a(iv), 4b(vi), 4c(v) and additional recommendation at 4d.

Section 6: Agreed to include this section with rewording at 6d.

Section 7: Agreed to include this section with rewording of 7a and 7d.

Mrs Bell joined the meeting at 4.03pm.

Mr Shannon left the meeting at 4.15pm.

It was agreed the Clerk would prepare a draft report for consideration at the meeting on Wednesday, 6 March 2002.

Action: Clerk

2. Written Submissions from Organisations

The Committee noted the written submissions relating to the EU Inquiry from Sir Nigel Shienwald KCMG, the NI Fisheries in Europe and Dr Ian R K Paisley MP MEP MLA.

3. Timetable for EU Inquiry & Approval of Evidence

The Committee noted the revised timetable for the completion of the EU Report. The Committee discussed the list of evidence submissions to the Inquiry and agreed to exclude the following submissions from the final report:

• NI Chamber of Commerce and Industry - nil response

• Environment Committee - research report and appendix

• Patronat Catala pro Europa - organisation information

• NI Fish Producers - appendix

The Committee also agreed the inclusion of the submission by Dr Ian R K Paisley MP MEP MLA in the final report.

9. Patterns of Sectarianism & Segregation in Belfast

The briefing session by Assembly Head of Research began at 4.25pm.

Members received a short presentation on the paper "Patterns of Sectarianism and Segregation in Belfast & NI". The Committee asked for more time to be set aside for this presentation at next week's meeting.

The Committee agreed to invite OFMDFM and Dr Peter Shirlow to next week's Committee meeting to discuss his research.

Action: Clerk

The briefing ended at 4.50pm and the Head of Research left.

10. Any Other Business

None.

11. Date & Time of Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday, 27 February at 2.00pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.52pm.

Mr Oliver Gibson MLA
Deputy Chairperson, Committee of the Centre
27 February 2002