MEETING OF THE CHAIRPERSONS' LIAISON GROUP
TUESDAY 22 MAY 2010
Present:
Mrs Dolores Kelly MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
The Lord Browne MLA
Mr Simon Hamilton MLA
Ms Jennifer McCann MLA
Mr Barry McElduff MLA
Mr Alban Maginness MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Trevor Reaney, Director General/Clerk to the Assembly
Mr Hugh Widdis, Director of Legal Services (Agenda item 5 only)
Ms Nuala Dunwoody, Clerk Assistant
Mr Damien Martin, Clerk Assistant
Mr Hugh Farren, Clerk to the Liaison Group
Ms Marie Austin, Assistant Clerk
Mr George McClelland, Clerical Supervisor
Mr Oliver Bellew, Clerical Officer
Apologies:
Mr Danny Kennedy MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Cathal Boylan MLA
Mr Fred Cobain MLA
Mr Paul Maskey MLA
The Lord Morrow MLA
Mr Pat Ramsey MLA
Mr Jimmy Spratt MLA
Mr Peter Weir MLA
Mr Jim Wells MLA
12.38 p.m. The meeting opened in closed session
1. Election of Temporary Chairperson
The Committee Clerk took the Chair for the election of a chairperson to the Chairpersons’ Liaison Group.
Motion: That Simon Hamilton does take the Chair of the Committee.
Proposer: Mr Alban Maginness
Seconder: The Lord Browne.
No further nominees - motion passed.
2. Chairperson’s introduction
The Chairperson welcomed all to the meeting.
3. Minutes of the meeting of 18 May 2010
The minutes of the meeting of 18 May 2010 were agreed.
4. Matters arising
Proposed modifications to the Senate table
The Liaison Group considered proposed modifications to the Senate table and the views expressed by those chairpersons who had viewed the mock-up. The modifications are intended to make the Senate a more suitable venue for committee meetings by bringing committee members and witnesses closer together at the meeting table. No objections to the modifications were raised.
5. Ombudsman’s reports to the Northern Ireland Assembly
The Chairperson welcomed Mr Tom Frawley, Assembly Ombudsman and Mr John McQuarrie, Director for Standards and Special Projects to the meeting and invited them to brief the group on the Ombudsman’s reports to the Northern Ireland Assembly. This was followed by a question and answer session.
The Liaison Group noted the reports currently produced by the Ombudsman and welcomed the proposal by Mr Frawley to produce further reports that would: provide an insight to the level of service delivery experienced by individual citizens; demonstrate areas in which there was scope for particular public service improvement; and, highlight areas of good practice. In particular, the Liaison Group welcomed the proposal to report to individual Assembly Committees on a quarterly basis.
Agreed: The Liaison Group agreed that the Ombudsman should prepare a programme for engagement with individual committees for consideration at a future meeting.
6. Reviewing the effectiveness of committees
The Chairperson welcomed Mr Trevor Rainey, Director General/Clerk and Mr Hugh Widdis, Director of Legal Services to the meeting and invited them to brief the Liaison Group on proposals for assessing the effectiveness of the Assembly. The Liaison Group noted that the Commission had agreed to work towards supporting the Assembly in assessing its effectiveness and had established a working group to consider the matter and prepare a draft methodology. The Commission had asked for the draft methodology to be presented to the Liaison Group for discussion and comment. Issues covered included:
- What is meant by ‘effectiveness as a legislature’;
- How other legislatures assess effectiveness;
- Ways to measure current effectiveness; and
- Ways to increase future effectiveness.
The issue of time management/work balance for Assembly Members was raised. Trevor Rainey, Clerk/Director General informed the Liaison Group that this matter was being considered by the Commission as a separate issue.
Agreed: The Liaison Group agreed that it was content with the proposed methodology.
1.10 p.m. Mrs Dolores Kelly joined the meeting and assumed the Chair.
1.11 p.m. Mrs Jennifer McCann left the meeting.
7. Update on the legislative programme
Damien Martin, Clerk Assistant updated members on the legislative programme. The update incorporated information received from departments on bills that were likely to be introduced during the remainder of this mandate, including legislation relevant to the Review of Public Administration (RPA).
Agreed: The Liaison Group agreed that committee clerks should seek clarification from departments on whether the absence of RPA legislation would have any effect on the timetabling of bills.
8. Update on the procurement of video link/video conferencing facilities
The Liaison Group considered information on the procurement of video link/video conferencing facilities for Parliament Buildings. A cross-directorate group had been established to look at the requirements for video conferencing in Parliament Buildings. The group, which included a representative from the Committee Office, had met to discuss the issue and had identified specific requirements for business/corporate meetings and committee meetings and other Assembly business. The Liaison Group noted that a portable video conferencing unit would be procured for standard business/corporate meetings. However, it was recognised that the solution required for committee meetings and other Assembly business would be more complex.
Agreed: The Liaison Group agreed that Assembly Broadcasting should be allowed more time to thoroughly research and scope plans for how committee rooms would need to be re-engineered to accommodate video conferencing facilities and the costs associated with the work. It was also agreed that a further update should be provided to the Liaison Group in the autumn.
9. Correspondence
- The Liaison Group considered the Executive Summary of the Assembly Research Paper, Resources for Budget Scrutiny forwarded by the Clerk to the Committee for Finance and Personnel.
Agreed : The Liaison Group agreed to note the correspondence.
- The Liaison Group considered the Executive Summary and Recommendations of the Department of Finance and Personnel’s report, Review of Northern Ireland Executive Budget 2008-11 Process forwarded by the Clerk to the Committee for Finance and Personnel.
Agreed: The Liaison Group agreed to note the correspondence.
- The Liaison Group considered correspondence from the Clerk to the Committee for the Environment in relation to the 30-day Committee Stage for Bills.
Agreed : The Liaison Group agreed that discussion on this matter should be deferred until the Liaison Group meeting in September. In the meantime, the following should be sought: 1) information on what constitutes the Committee Stage of a bill; 2) information on the number of bills that required an extension to Committee Stage during this mandate; 3) information on the number of committees considering more than one bill at a time during this mandate; 4) comparative research with relevant legislatures.
10. Forward Work Programme
The Liaison Group considered a draft forward work programme for the period June 2010 to October 2010.
Agreed : Chairpersons were content with the proposed work programme.
Agreed: Chairpersons would advise the clerk of any other items for inclusion in the work programme.
11. Arrangements for chairing meetings of the Liaison Group
The Chairperson reminded members that it had been agreed at the first meeting of the Liaison Group that the positions of chairperson and deputy chairperson should be rotated annually on the basis of party strength. The positions were therefore due to be rotated at the beginning of July 2010.
Agreed: The SDLP should be invited to nominate a chairperson to assume the role from 1 July 2010.
Agreed: The DUP should be invited to nominate a deputy chairperson to assume the role from 1 July 2010.
12. Any other business
None.
13. Date, time and venue of next meeting
The next meeting of the Liaison Group will take place on Tuesday 21 September 2010 at 12.30 p.m. in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.
1.40p.m. The Chairperson adjourned the meeting.