COMMITTEE OF THE CENTRE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS: WEDNESDAY 13 MARCH 2002
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Edwin Poots MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Oliver Gibson MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs MLA
Dr Esmond Birnie MLA
Mr Danny Kennedy MLA
Ms Patricia Lewsley MLA
Mr Alex Maskey MLA
Dr Alasdair McDonnell MLA
Mr Eugene McMenamin MLA
Mr Duncan Shipley-Dalton MLA
Mr Ken Robinson MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Hugh Farren (Committee Clerk)
Ms Stella McArdle (Committee Clerk)
Mr John Conlan
Mrs Roisin Donnelly
Ms Pauline Innes
Mrs Gillian Lewis
Ms Laurie Roberts
Apologies:
Mrs Eileen Bell MLA
Mrs Annie Courtney MLA
Mr David Ervine MLA
Mr Barry McElduff MLA
Mr Conor Murphy MLA
Mr Jim Shannon MLA
The meeting began at 2.05pm in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are listed above.
2. Chairperson's Business
(a) New Appointments to Committee: The Chairperson advised members of the two new appointments to the Committee, Mr Danny Kennedy and Mr Duncan Shipley-Dalton in their replacement of Mr James Leslie and Mr Fred Cobain. The Chairperson welcomed Mr Kennedy and asked him to declare any interests that he considered related to the Committee's Terms of Reference or to work of the Committee. Mr Kennedy declared an interest as a member of the Newry & Mourne Local Strategy Partnership and the Newry & Mourne District Council. When Mr Shipley-Dalton later joined the meeting, he declared his interest as a member of The Northern Ireland Bar.
Dr Birnie joined the meeting at 2.06pm
3. Approval of Draft Minutes
The minutes from the previous meeting held on 6 March 2002 were agreed and signed by the Chairperson.
4. Matters Arising
(a) Review of Public Administration: The Chairperson confirmed that as agreed at the last meeting members had been issued with a research paper in their meeting packs about the Review of Public Administration which had been prepared by Assembly Research staff.
5. Correspondence
(a) Response to the draft Terms of Reference to the Review of Public Administration: Members noted the responses to the draft Terms of Reference to the Review of Public Administration forwarded to OFMDFM from the Committee for Culture, Arts & Leisure and the Committee for Employment & Learning.
(b) Letter from OFMDFM about the 'Young Persons Behaviour & Attitudes Survey': The Committee noted the letter advising on departmental plans to respond to the survey findings.
(c) Letter from Deloitte & Touche regarding the Equality Commission Pre-Consultation on establishing (a) Consultative Council(s): Members noted the letter requesting an interview with the Chairperson about participating in the consultation process and agreed that the Chairperson should take part. Members were invited and Ms Lewsley volunteered to also take part.
(d) Information from European Committees: The Committee noted that information from UK-European Committees was available from the Committee office including: the weekly agenda for the House of Lords, the minutes of the Scottish Parliament European Committee meeting on 26 February and information about the Committee's 9th Report.
Dr McDonnell joined the meeting at 2.09pm
Mr Shipley-Dalton joined the meeting at 2.09pm
(e) Letter from OFMDFM about February Monitoring: The Committee noted the letter from OFMDFM issued on 11 March 2002 which confirmed that the department had not lodged any bids for the February Monitoring Round. The letter also confirmed details of three reduced requirements.
6. Draft Service Delivery Agreements
Briefing Session from OFMDFM Officials
The briefing from OFMDFM officials began at 2.10pm. Briefing on the revised draft Service Delivery Agreements was taken from Mr Will Haire, Second Secretary, Mrs Dorothy Angus, Director of Corporate Services Division, Mr Eugene Rooney, Head of Economic Policy Unit, Mrs Mary Bunting, Head of Equality Directorate, Mr Aubrey Playfair, Finance Division.
Mr Robinson joined the meeting at 2.13pm
The officials confirmed their department's commitment to the publication of the Service Delivery Agreements by the end of March 2002 and invited the comments of the Committee on the draft before 21 March.
Mr Maskey joined the meeting at 2.30pm
Mr Gibson left the meeting at 2.40pm
The Committee requested that the Clerk prepare a draft response for consideration at next week's meeting.
Action: Clerk
The briefing ended at 3.00pm and the officials left.
The meeting went into closed session at 3.00pm.
7. European Union Inquiry
The Specialist Adviser joined the meeting at 3.00pm.
Consideration of the Draft Report
The Committee continued their consideration of the draft European Union Report which has been revised to take account of the discussion at the meeting on 6 March 2002.
Mr McMenamin left the meeting at 3.02pm
| Sections 1 & 2 | confirmed agreement |
|---|---|
| Section 3.1 | confirmed agreement |
| Section 3.2 | confirmed agreement with minor amendment to 3.2.3 and rewording of 3.2.11 |
Ms Lewsley left the meeting at 3.26pm
| and a minor amendment to 3.2.19 | |
| section 3.3 | confirmed agreement with minor amendment to 3.3.6, 3.3.15 |
Dr McDonnell left the meeting at 3.34pm
| and rewording of 3.3.38 | |
| Section 3.4 | confirmed agreement |
| Section 4 | confirmed agreement with minor amendment to 3.2.3 and rewording of 3.2.11 |
| Executive Summary | confirmed agreement with minor amendment to paragraphs 3 and 4 |
| Report Format | agreed to the changes in the format of the report. |
The Chairperson confirmed that the final draft of the report (with the final requested changes made) would be brought to the Committee at next week's meeting for approval and to order printing.
Action: Clerk
Draft Motion
Members agreed to ask the Business Committee to schedule the debate of the Report for Monday, 8 April 2002 and to request that a sizeable amount of time (i.e. up to 3 hours) is allocated for the debate.
Members discussed the wording of the motion. The wording of the motion was amended from "That this Assembly endorses the recommendations . . ." to "That this Assembly takes note of the recommendations . . .". The amended motion was proposed by Dr Birnie, and seconded by Mr Maskey. The Committee agreed to forward the motion to the Business Committee for 19 March 2002.
Action: Clerk
The Specialist Adviser left the meeting at 3.58pm.
8. Any Other Business
None.
9. Date & Time of Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday, 20 March at 2.00pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.00pm.
Mr Edwin Poots MLA
Chairperson, Committee of the Centre
20 March 2002