COMMITTEE OF THE CENTRE
EU AFFAIRS SUB COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS:
TUESDAY 11 JUNE 2002
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr Edwin Poots MLA (Convenor)
Dr Alasdair McDonnell MLA
Mr Barry McElduff MLA
Apologies: Mrs Eileen Bell MLA
Mr David Ervine MLA
In Attendance: Ms Stella McArdle (Committee Clerk)
Mrs Gillian Lewis
The meeting opened at 10.22am in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are listed above.
2. Convenor's business
Members considered the difficulties experienced in holding the meetings of the EU Affairs Sub Committee, namely that the first meeting had to be postponed as a quorum could not be achieved. Members agreed to ask the Committee of the Centre to consider at its next meeting (i) a change of time from 10.00am to 11.00am, (ii) the quorum should be two members instead of three, (iii) to ask the parties to reconsider their nominations; and (iv) to dissolve the Sub Committee and bring the remit back to the Committee of the Centre.
3. Remit and Procedures
The remit and procedures were agreed.
4. Implementation of EU Report recommendations
The members considered the way forward regarding the implementation of the Committee of the Centre EU Report recommendations. A number of recommendations relate to OFMDFM and a response has been requested from the department by 10 June 2002. The Committee considered the way forward regarding further recommendations relating to other organisations and agreed as follows:
Recommendation 14
The Sub Committee to write to the Assembly Commission asking them to consider the benefits and costs of setting up an Assembly "information desk" in Brussels.
Recommendation 16
The Sub Committee to write to the Assembly Commission asking them to consider or pass on to another appropriate forum (i.e. Chairpersons' Liaison Group) EU familiarisation training for members.
Recommendation 15
The Sub Committee to write to the Assembly Research and Library Services asking them to consider developing their specialised services to Assembly Committees on EU policies and legislation.
Recommendations 29, 32 and 33
The Sub Committee to write to Northern Ireland Centre in Europe to inquire the action which has been taken by OFMDFM to re-open communication.
Recommendation 6
The Sub Committee to write to each Departmental Assembly Committee to ask that it considers regular briefings from its department on the status of implementation of directives.
Recommendation 8
The Sub Committee to write to each Departmental Assembly Committee to ask that it be pro-active in ensuring that structures are put within the department to engage at an early stage with the Committee in areas where there is a distinct policy need, and the position for Northern Ireland is under consideration.
Recommendation 12
The Sub Committee to write to each Departmental Assembly Committee to ask that its Department has a contact point for the Committee and other interested parties where advice and guidance on all aspects of EU affairs can be obtained.
5. Any other business
None.
6. Date and time of next meeting
To be arranged.
The Convenor adjourned the meeting at 10.34am.
COUNCILLOR EDWIN POOTS MLA
Convenor, EU Affairs Sub Committee, Committee of the Centre
25 June 2002