Committee of the Centre
Minutes of Proceedings:
Wednesday 17 April 2002
Room 144, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Mr Edwin Poots MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Oliver Gibson MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs Jnr MLA
Mrs Eileen Bell MLA
Dr Esmond Birnie MLA
Ms Patricia Lewsley MLA
Mr Alex Maskey MLA
Dr Alasdair McDonnell MLA
Mr Barry McElduff MLA
Mr Conor Murphy MLA
Mr Ken Robinson MLA
Mr Jim Shannon MLA
Apologies:
Mrs Annie Courtney MLA
Mr Duncan Shipley Dalton MLA
Mr David Ervine MLA
Mr Danny Kennedy MLA
Mr Eugene McMenamin MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Hugh Farren (Committee Clerk)
Ms Stella McArdle (Committee Clerk)
Mr John Conlan
Ms Pauline Innes
Mrs Gillian Lewis
Ms Laurie Roberts
The meeting opened at 2.07 pm in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are listed above.
Mr Beggs joined the meeting at 2.08 pm.
2. Chairperson's Business
EU-UK Liaison Group Meeting: The Chairperson explained that he will be attending the fourth European Union Liaison Group-Chairpersons' meeting in London on Monday, 22 April 2002. Members will be advised of the outcomes in due course.
Action: Clerk
3. Approval of draft minutes
The minutes from the previous meeting held on 10 April 2002 were agreed and signed by the Chairperson.
4. Matters arising
Mr Murphy joined the meeting at 2.10 pm.
(a) Committee visit to USA: Members considered and discussed the Clerk's paper on travel options for the proposed visit to Washington and Boston. The Committee agreed option 3 and members will clarify individual requirements with the Clerk.
Action: Clerk
Dr Birnie joined the meeting at 2.13 pm.
(b) Regional Transportation Strategy: The Committee considered and agreed a response to the strategy which will highlight disability issues and infrastructure and roads issues in rural areas.
Action: Clerk
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 2.14 pm.
5. Correspondence
(a) Note about the United Nations University (UNU)/Centre for International Conflict Research (INCORE) courses scheduled for 9-15 June 2002 in Londonderry: The Committee noted the scheduled dates and venue for the conflict resolution and peacebuilding courses. Members proposing to attend the courses will contact Committee office staff to enable the necessary arrangement to be made.
(b) Victims' Strategy: Members considered the "Reshape, Rebuild, Achieve" cross-departmental strategy for delivering practical help and services to victims of conflict in Northern Ireland which was launched by OFMDFM on 11 April 2002. Referring to the strategy members noted that the Committee's main concern about the existence of two separate victims' units (in OFMDFM and NIO) was acknowledged. However the Committee expressed disappointment no immediate action has been taken on this.
Action: Clerk
Mr Robinson joined the meeting at 2.16 pm.
(c) Response from the Citizens Advice Bureaux to the OFMDFM Corporate Strategic Framework for delivering Government services electronically: The Committee noted the correspondence.
(d) Press Notice and Executive Summary from the National Audit Office Report 'Better Public Services through e-government': Members noted the press notice and executive summary.
(e) Letter and enclosures from OFMDFM on the Fifth Annual Report on Public Appointments: The Committee noted the two volumes of the report.
(f) Information from European Committees: Members noted the information relating to UK European Committees. This included the House of Lords (HOL) Weekly Agenda, (available from Committee office staff) a new inquiry being undertaken by the HOL Sub-Committee A (Economic and Financial Affairs Trade and External Relations) on Merger Control and a new inquiry being undertaken by the HOL Sub-Committee D on the Impact of EU environmental regulations on UK agriculture. The Committee agreed to forward the information relating to Sub-Committees A and D to the Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Agriculture and Rural Development and Environment Committees.
Action: Clerk
Mr Maskey joined the meeting at 2.18 pm.
6. OFMDFM Budget Proposals
Briefing from OFMDFM
The briefing session began at 2.19 pm. Briefing on OFMDFM budget proposals in the Departmental Position Report was taken from Mrs Mary Bunting, Head of Equality Directorate, Mr Eugene Rooney, Economic and Policy Unit, Mrs Dorothy Angus, Corporate Services and Mr Aubrey Playfair, Finance Branch. It was agreed the officials would forward additional information on funding for the Victims' Programme (including funding for research), the Community Relations Strategy, the Louvain Institute for Ireland in Europe, secondments in Brussels, the North South Ministerial Council, E-government key services and the Children's Commissioner.
Ms Lewsley joined the meeting at 2.20 pm.
Dr McDonnell joined the meeting at 2.47 pm.
Dr Birnie left the meeting at 2.54 pm.
Mr Gibson left the meeting at 2.56 pm.
The officials left the meeting at 3.09 pm.
Members considered their response to the OFMDFM Departmental Position Report.
A draft composite reply for the members to agree at the next meeting will be prepared.
Action: Clerk
7. European Affairs Sub-Committee
The Committee considered the Clerk's paper about the establishment and operation of a EU Affairs Committee.
Agreed and noted: The EU Affairs Sub-Committee will oversee the implementation of the Committee of the Centre EU Inquiry report recommendations and consider the remit workload membership etc of a Standing Committee on EU Affairs and report by January 2003.
The Sub-Committee will not take any decisions on behalf of its parent Committee (ie Committee of the Centre).
Membership of the Sub-Committee will be one place for each of the main parties and one place for each of the two smaller parties.
A Convenor of the Sub-Committee will be elected whenever all the party nominations for the Sub-Committee are known.
The quorum for the Sub-Committee will be three.
The EU Affairs Sub-Committee will report on a monthly basis to the Committee of the Centre.
It is envisaged the Sub-Committee will, initially, meet every two weeks but this may be more or less often according to business needs.
The day, timing and venue for the meetings will be arranged by the Clerk to suit the membership of the Sub-Committee.
Information papers will be issued to Sub-Committee members only, 3 days before each meeting. These papers will be issued to other Committee of the Centre members on request.
Each Sub-Committee meeting will be minuted and the call for witnesses will be exercised through the Committee of the Centre.
The Sub-Committee meetings will normally be held in public session unless otherwise determined.
Where the Sub-Committee cannot reach consensus on a particular issue - the issue will be referred to the Committee of the Centre.
The Sub-Committee can select a member to act as Convenor whenever the appointed Convenor is unavailable.
Action: Clerk
8. OFMDFM Forward Work Programme
The Forward Work Programme was considered and discussed.
Agreed: Junior Ministers to be invited to brief the Committee on the OFMDFM Corporate and Business Plan. The briefing should incorporate other related documents eg Programme for Government, PSAs and SDAs etc.
OFMDFM officials to be invited to brief members on e-business and e-government issues prior to the Committee's USA visit in May 2002.
OFMDFM to advise the Committee on how it will be consulted on issues arising from the Future of Europe debate and how the Department intends to respond to the UK Government on the debate.
The Committee will keep a watching brief on the PPP/PFI review.
Dr McDonnell left the meeting at 3.34 pm.
The Committee would like to be advised of the arrangements for the operation and management of the Children's Fund before they are agreed by the Executive Committee.
The First and Deputy First Minister has been invited to brief the Committee on the Review of Public Administration in early May 2002.
OFMDFM officials to be invited to brief the Committee on the New TSN Evaluation, Quality and Social Need Research Strategy and PSI Future Priorities at the same time as the brief on the New TSN Action Plan.
OFMDFM to be requested to provide written updates on the work of the Equality Unit, the review and management of the Civic Forum, Equality Bill, and the slippage of Disability Discrimination legislation.
The Belfast Women's Information Network to be invited to brief the Committee on women's issues on 8 May 2002.
The impact of the Victims' Strategy to be assessed in due course.
An indicative timetable for the Forward Work Programme to be provided for members.
Action: Clerk
Mr Maskey left the meeting at 3.42 pm.
9. Any other business
None.
10. Date and time of next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday 24 April at 2.00 pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.44 pm.
OLIVER GIBSON MLA
Deputy Chairperson, Committee of the Centre
24 April 2002