COMMITTEE OF THE CENTRE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS:
WEDNESDAY 5 JUNE 2002
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Edwin Poots MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Oliver Gibson MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs Jnr MLA
Dr Esmond Birnie MLA
Mr Duncan Shipley Dalton MLA
Mr Danny Kennedy MLA
Mr Barry McElduff MLA
Mr Eugene McMenamin MLA
Mr Ken Robinson MLA
Mr Jim Shannon MLA
Apologies:
Mrs Eileen Bell MLA
Ms Patricia Lewsley MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Hugh Farren (Committee Clerk)
Ms Stella McArdle (Committee Clerk)
Mrs Gillian Lewis
Ms Victoria Surplus
Ms Laurie Roberts
The meeting opened at 2.02pm in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are listed above.
2. Chairperson's business
None.
3. Approval of draft minutes
The minutes from the previous meeting held on 29 May 2002 were agreed and signed by the Chairperson.
4. Matters arising
- Correspondence from OFMDFM updating the Committee on the Review of the Civic Forum: Members considered the correspondence and agreed to await the consultation on the Review before considering a response.
- Correspondence from OFMDFM regarding the Executive Programme Funds bid in respect of the European Year of People with Disabilities: Members considered and agreed to support this bid.
- Report on the Committee Visit to USA: Members agreed to consider the report at next week's meeting. The Committee also agreed that the report would be published and made available on the Assembly website in due course.
Mr Shipley Dalton joined the meeting at 2.04pm.
Mr Robinson joined the meeting at 2.04pm.
Action: Clerk
Mr Kennedy joined the meeting at 2.05pm.
Action: Clerk
5. Correspondence
(a) Response from OFMDFM regarding the Emergency Planning provisions in relation to Belfast City Airport: Members noted response.
(b) Copy of letter sent from the Social Development Committee to the Committee for Finance and Personnel in relation to the Reinvestment and Reform Initiative: Members noted the correspondence.
(c) Copies of briefing for UK members of the European Parliament: The members noted the briefing information and that it falls outside the remit of this Committee.
- Letter from OFMDFM regarding the Working Group Review of Public Private Partnerships: Members noted the letter and that officials from OFMDFM will brief the Committee at a future meeting. Members also requested a written update on the progress of the Reinvestment and Reform Initiative and noted that the First Minister and Deputy First Minister will brief the Committee on a date to be agreed.
- EU information: Members noted the information from other EU Committees. Members also requested a copy of the Report on the Future of the European Union' - published by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Affairs.
Action: Clerk
Action: Clerk
6. Review of Public Administration
Members considered and discussed the proposed way forward in relation to the Review of Public Administration, and agreed to defer their decision until after the debate in the Assembly.
Mr Robinson left the meeting at 2.21pm.
Dr Birnie joined the meeting at 2.21pm.
Mr McMenamin joined the meeting at 2.24pm.
Action: Clerk
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 2.26pm.
7. Commissioner for Children and Young People Draft Bill
Evidence by the Junior Ministers
The evidence session began at 2.27pm. Evidence on the Commissioner for Children and Young People Draft Bill was taken from Mr Denis Haughey MLA and Mr James Leslie MLA, Junior Ministers, who outlined the scope of the Draft Bill. Mr Chris Stewart, Head of Community Relations, Human Rights and Victims then briefed members on the provisions of the Draft Bill.
Mr Beggs left the meeting at 2.40pm.
Mr Shannon rejoined the meeting at 2.44pm.
Dr Birnie left the meeting at 2.54pm.
Mr Beggs rejoined the meeting at 3.02pm.
Mr McMenamin left the meeting at 3.08pm.
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 3.20pm.
Mr Gibson left the meeting at 3.20pm.
Mr McMenamin rejoined the meeting at 3.25pm.
Mr Kennedy left the meeting at 3.31pm.
The Junior Ministers left the meeting at 3.32pm.
Mr Gibson rejoined the meeting at 3.34pm.
8. Any other business
None.
CLOSED SESSION
9. Briefing by the Bill Office on the Legislative Process
Mr McMenamin left the meeting at 3.35pm.
Mr Martin Wilson, Principal Clerk and Mr Kevin Shiels, Clerk, in the Assembly Bill Office, briefed members on the legislative process, particularly in handling the Committee Stage of the proposed Commissioner for Children and Young People Draft Bill.
10. Date and time of next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday 12 June 2002 at 2.00pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.11pm.
COUNCILLOR EDWIN POOTS MLA
Chairperson, Committee of the Centre
12 June 2002