COMMITTEE OF THE CENTRE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS: WEDNESDAY 20 MARCH 2002
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr Edwin Poots (Chairperson)
Mr Oliver Gibson (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs Jnr.
Mrs Eileen Bell
Dr Esmond Birnie
Mr Danny Kennedy
Ms Patricia Lewsley
Mr Alex Maskey
Dr Alasdair McDonnell
Mr Eugene McMenamin
Mr Jim Shannon
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 Annie Courtney
Mr Duncan Shipley-Dalton
Mr David Ervine
Mr Barry McElduff
Mr Conor Murphy
Mr Ken Robinson
The meeting began at 2.08pm in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are listed above.
2. Chairperson's Business
(a) Conference of the European Information Network in Northern Ireland: The Chairperson reminded members that he would be addressing a Conference of the European Information Network in Northern Ireland organised in conjunction with the European Commission Representation in NI on Thursday, 28 March 2002. Members were advised that an invitation to attend the conference had been extended to all the Committee members and that if interested in attending, to advise Committee staff who would forward confirmation to the organisers.
(b) Launch of the Victims' Strategy: The Chairperson advised members that the launch of the Victims Strategy has been postponed to 11 April 2002. The Chairperson said he understood that all Committee members will be invited to the launch which will be held in the Craigavon Civic Centre.
3. Approval of Draft Minutes
The minutes from the previous meeting held on 13 March 2002 were agreed and signed by the Chairperson.
4. Matters Arising
(c) Draft Committee Response to OFMDFM's draft Service Delivery Agreements: The Committee considered a draft response to OFMDFM's latest Service Delivery Agreements prepared by the Clerk and agreed to have the response forwarded to the department subject to minor amendment.
Action: Clerk
5. Correspondence
(a) Response to the draft Terms of Reference to the Review of Public Administration: Members noted a copy of the response from the Social Development Committee to OFMDFM's draft Terms of Reference for the Review of Public Administration.
Ms Lewsley joined the meeting at 2.13pm
(b) Letter from OFMDFM about the Final Report of the PSI Working Group on Travellers: Members noted the letter from OFMDFM which responded to queries raised by the Committee about progress of the implementation of the report's recommendations. The letter confirmed that a cross-departmental group is currently developing the Executive strategic response to all the recommendations contained within the report, and in-line with the Programme for Government a strategic response would be published in 2002 outlining what the Executive intends to do over the next three years. Members agreed to respond to OFMDFM highlighting the Committee's concern about the length of time that the implementation of the recommendations is taking, and also to request details of the target publication date of the strategic response.
Action: Clerk
(c) Information from European Committees: Members noted the information from UK-European Committees and further information available from the Committee office including: the weekly agenda for the House of Lords, a list of current no named day debates and inquires, and a European Union Select Committee Progress of Scrutiny update.
Mrs Bell informed the Committee that on a recent visit to the USA, she had met the Chair of the US Committee on International Relations Sub-Committee on European Affairs who was interested in maintaining links with the Committee of the Centre in relation to European matters. Members agreed to forward a copy of the Committee's European Union Inquiry report to the Sub-Committee when published.
Action: Clerk
6. Noble: Measures of Deprivation for Northern Ireland
Briefing Session from Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency
Mr Shannon joined the meeting at 2.16pm.
The briefing began at 2.16pm. Mr Edgar Jardine, Chief Executive of NISRA gave as short presentation to the Committee on the Noble: Measures of Deprivation for Northern Ireland.
Dr McDonnell joined the meeting at 2.20pm.
Mr Jardine briefed the Committee on the consultation process, and gave background information about the formation of the indicators and domains and the ranking used in the report.
Dr McDonnell left the meeting at 2.43pm.
Mr Beggs joined the meeting at 2.48pm
Mr Jardine agreed to forward the report to members, and informed the Committee that further copies of the report can be downloaded from the NISRA website at www.nisra.gov.uk.
Mr Mc Menamin left the meeting at 3.13pm
Dr McDonnell rejoined the meeting at 3.20pm
The briefing ended at 3.25pm and Mr Jardine left the meeting.
The meeting went into closed session at 3.26pm.
7. Review of Public Administration
Ms Lewsley left the meeting at 3.26pm
The Chairperson advised members that as agreed at a previous meeting of the Committee a number of experts in the field of public administration had been approached about their availability to brief the Committee on this subject. Members were updated on the current position and confirmed that they were content to proceed as planned.
8. European Union Inquiry
The Principal Clerk and Specialist Adviser joined the meeting at 3.29pm.
Final Draft Report
The Committee discussed the memo prepared by the Principal Clerk of Standing Committees, which addressed the wording of the report's recommendation at paragraphs 70, 71 and 72, and the wording of the Motion lodged with the Business Committee.
Mr Kennedy joined the meeting at 3.32pm
Members discussed three options for the wording of paragraphs 70, 71 and 72 presented in a paper prepared by the Clerk and agreed to replace the current recommendation with the alternative wording presented in option number three.
Mr Beggs left the meeting at 3.36pm.
Amended Motion
Members also agreed to revise the wording of the motion for the debate. The wording of the motion was amended from, 'That this Assembly notes . . . ' to,
'That this Assembly accepts the recommendations outlined in the report of the Committee of the Centre on their Inquiry into the "Approach of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Devolved Government on European Union Issues" and calls on the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to implement the relevant recommendations'.
The Amended motion was proposed by Mr Kennedy, seconded by Dr McDonnell and agreed by all present. The Committee agreed to forward the revised motion to the Business Committee.
Mr Gibson left the meeting at 3.46pm
Approval of Draft Minutes
As the minutes of proceedings of this meeting were required for inclusion in the final report, the Chairperson requested that five members of the Committee meet on the 21 March 2002 at 1pm in the Committee office to approve the minutes in advance of the next Committee meeting. This was agreed.
Dr McDonnell left the meeting at 3.48pm
Action: Clerk
Final Amendments
The Committee reviewed the final draft of the report which had been amended to take account of the discussion at the meeting on the 13 March 2002. Members reviewed the following amendments made:
Executive Summary, paragraphs 3 & 4 confirmed agreement
Section 3, paragraphs 63, 80, 81, 89, 101, 124 confirmed agreement
Section 4, paragraph 141 confirmed agreement
Order Report to be Printed
The Committee confirmed they had no further amendments and ordered the report to be printed. This was proposed by Mr Shannon and seconded by Mrs Bell.
Debate & Launch of the Report
Members also considered the Debate and Launch of the report. It was confirmed in a memo from the Clerk that three hours had been allocated to the debate which will be held on Monday, 8 April. Members agreed that the launch of the report should be held in the Long Gallery directly after the Debate at 5.15pm. A draft agenda for the launch was agreed by members.
The Principal Clerk and Specialist Adviser left the meeting at 3.54pm.
Mr Maskey joined the meeting at 3.54pm
9. Any Other Business
None.
10. Date & Time of Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday, 10 April at 2.00pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.56pm.
Mr Edwin Poots MLA
Chairperson, Committee of the Centre
10 April 2002