In Attendance: Mr Hugh Farren (Committee Clerk)
Ms Stella McArdle (Committee Clerk)
Mr John Conlan
Mrs Roisin Donnelly
Ms Pauline Innes
Mr Paul McCrossan
Ms Laurie Roberts

Apologies: Mrs Eileen Bell
Mr Fred Cobain
Mrs Annie Courtney
Mr David Ervine
Mr BarryMcElduff

The meeting began at 2.04pm in public session.

1. Apologies

Apologies are listed above.

2. Chairperson's Business

(a) Staff Changes: The Chairperson advised members that due to the recent retirement of the Clerk Assistant, there had been changes in the responsibilities of the Principal Clerks. As a result the Principal Clerk for the Committee of the Centre would be undertaking additional management responsibilities which would mean a less involved role with the Committee. The members agreed to send a letter of appreciation to the Principal Clerk for her work with the Committee and wishing her well with her new responsibilities.

Action: Clerk

(b) Meeting with Junior Ministers: The Chairperson advised members that he and the Deputy Chairperson had met with the Junior Ministers on Monday, 4 February to discuss co-operation on European issues. The Committee noted the record of the meeting prepared by the Clerk.

3. Approval of Draft Minutes

The minutes from the previous meeting held on 27 February 2002 were agreed and signed by the Chairperson.

4. Matters Arising

None.

5. Correspondence

(a) Letter from OFMDFM about EU-UK Chair's meeting: The Committee noted the letter from OFMDFM which responded to a number of questions previously raised by the members about the nomination process to the Committee of the Regions, the planned progress of consultation with the Assembly on twinning/linkages and update on the Governance White Paper and Charter of Competence.

The members agreed to include the letter as a submission to the EU Inquiry Report.

Action: Clerk

(b) Letter from OFMDFM about E-Government Corporate Strategic Framework: Members noted the letter confirming that the responsibility for the formulation of each Department's key service targets is left with Departments and their Ministers. The Committee requested that further information be sought from OFMDFM about the responsibility to monitor progress.

Action: Clerk

(c) Press release from OFMDFM about the Head of the NI Civil Service: The Committee noted the press release which confirmed that the Head of the Civil Service has announced his intention to leave his post later this year.

(d) Memo from the Committee for Finance & Personnel regarding EU Structural Funds & Community Initiatives Inquiry: The members noted the information from the Committee for Finance & Personnel and agreed to provide a submission to the Inquiry. The Committee asked the Clerk to prepare a draft response for consideration by the members. The Committee also agreed to have letters forwarded to the First & Deputy First Ministers inviting the views of their Department on this Inquiry.

Action: Clerk

(e) Information from European Committees: The members noted the press release from the House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee. The Committee also noted that further information from House of Lords European Committee was available from the Committee office.

(f) Revised Timetable for Single Equality Bill: The Committee noted the revised timetable from OFMDFM which detailed the planned progression of the Single Equality Bill.

(g) Letter from the Environment Committee: The Committee noted the letter from the Environment Committee inviting members to attend a seminar they are hosting for members of the UK Sustainable Development Commission.

6. Review of Public Administration/ Potential Inquiry Subjects

The members discussed the planned Review of Public Administration and noted confirmation from the Chairperson that the Committee would be responsible for the scrutiny of the review process with other Statutory Committees involved in the issues that fall under their remit. The Committee agreed to undertake some preliminary work to set the review in context and to get an overview of the issues that will arise in the course of the review. The Committee agreed to hear from a number of experts in the field identified by the Senior Researcher and to then invite the First & Deputy First Minister to discuss the proposed structure and methodology of the review in more detail. The Committee agreed to defer making a written response to the Draft Terms of Reference until after the meeting with the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.

The Chairperson confirmed that a paper prepared by the Assembly Researchers about the review of Public Administration would be made available to members.

Dr McDonnell joined the meeting at 2.24pm
Mr Robinson joined the meeting at 2.26pm

The Committee agreed not to embark on another Committee Inquiry at present.

Action: Clerk

The meeting went into Closed Session at 2.46pm.

7. European Union Inquiry

The Specialist Adviser joined the meeting at 2.46pm.

i. Confirmation of Emerging Recommendations

The members discussed and agreed the two remaining recommendations for inclusion in the report. The first recommendation was agreed by a majority decision and the second was agreed unanimously.

Mr Murphy left the meeting at 2.58pm

ii. Additional Information relating to the EU Inquiry

The Committee agreed to include additional submissions to the Inquiry report about the Draft Framework document received from the Committees for Finance & Personnel, Employment & Learning, Culture, Arts & Leisure, Enterprise, Trade & Investment and also the Social Development, Education, and Environment Committees. The Committee also agreed to include a submission from the Scottish Parliament European Committee about the Committee of the Regions Representation in Scotland.

Action: Clerk

iii. Consideration of the Draft Report

The Committee considered the European Union draft report for the first time.

The overall format of the report and Contents were agreed.

It was agreed that the Committee's recommendations would be set out at the beginning of the report.

Mr Maskey joined the meeting at 3.05pm

Section 1 was agreed.

Section 2 was agreed.

Section 3.1 paragraphs 3.1.1 - 3.1.7 were agreed.

minor amendment to paragraphs 3.1.8 & 3.1.9

paragraphs 3.1.10 & 3.1.11 were agreed.

minor amendment to paragraphs 3.1.12 & 3.1.13

paragraphs 3.1.14 & 3.1.15 were agreed.

Order of paragraphs 3.1.16 & 3.1.17 to be swapped and minor amendment to 3.1.7. Additional paragraph to be included elaborating on issues raised in 3.1.16 & 3.1.17.

Dr McDonnell left the meeting at 3.30pm

Section 3.2 paragraphs 3.2.1 & 3.2.2 were agreed.

minor amendment to paragraph 3.2.3

paragraph 3.2.4 was agreed.

minor amendment to paragraph 3.2.5

paragraphs 3.2.6 - 3.2.9 were agreed.

The Committees agreed to defer consideration of paragraphs3.2.10 & 3.2.11 until the next meeting.

paragraph 3.2.12 was agreed.

Mr Shannon left the meeting at 3.39pm

paragraphs 3.2.13 - 3.2.15 were agreed with additional evidence added to enforce this paragraph.

minor amendment to paragraph 3.2.16

Mr McMenamin left the meeting at 3.43pm
Ms Lewsley left the meeting at 3.43pm

paragraphs 3.2.17 - 3.2.19 were agreed.

minor amendment to paragraph 3.2.20.

paragraphs 3.2.21- 3.2.22 were agreed.

Section 3.3 paragraphs 3.3.1 - 3.3.5 were agreed.

Agreed to combine recommendations at 3.3.6 & 3.3.8

paragraph 3.3.7 was agreed.

paragraphs 3.3.9- 3.3.11 were agreed.

Quotes used at 3.3.12 need to be reviewed and slight rewording of the recommendation.

Paragraph 3.3.13 was agreed.

Paragraph 3.3.14 needs to be reviewed.

The meeting was suspended at 3.57pm and reconvened at 4.00pm

Paragraphs 3.3.15 - 3.3.18 were agreed.

The recommendations at 3.3.19 and 3.3.20 need to be considered further.

Paragraphs 3.3.21 - 3.3.26 were agreed.

Minor amendment to paragraph 3.3.27.

Paragraph 3.3.28 was agreed.

Minor amendment to paragraph 3.3.29.

Paragraph 3.3.30 was agreed.

Paragraph 3.3.31 needs to be reviewed.

Minor amendment to paragraphs 3.3.35 & 3.3.36.

Paragraph 3..3.38 was agreed.

Minor amendment to paragraph 3.3.39.

Section 3.4 paragraphs 3.4.1 - 3.4.8 were agreed.

3.4.9 - 3.4.11 moved to previous section dealing with this subject and minor rewording to 3.4.10 & 3.4.11.

The Specialist Adviser left the meeting at 4.28pm.

8. Any Other Business

(a) Noble Measures of Deprivation

The members agreed to request briefing for the Committee on the new Noble measures of deprivation.

Action: Clerk

(b) Emergency Planning Provision

The Committee agreed to request information about emergency planning provision to respond to a major incident in relation to the recent expansion and developments of Belfast City Airport.

Action: Clerk

9. Date & Time of Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday, 13 March at 2.00pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.32pm.

Mr Edwin Poots MLA
Chairperson, Committee of the Centre
13 March 2002

27 February 2002 / Menu / 13 March 2002