MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE FOURTH MEETING OF THE
HIGHER AND FURTHER EDUCATION,
TRAINING & EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE
IN ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
ON THURSDAY 27 JANUARY 2000

Present:
Dr E Birnie (Chairman)
Mr M Carrick (Deputy Chairman)
Mr R Beggs (Jnr)
Mr J Byrne
Mr J Dallat
Mr W Hay
Mr R Hutchinson
Mr J Kelly
Ms M McWilliams
Mrs M Nelis

In Attendance: Mrs E Sung, Mrs C Darrah, Ms A Colville, Mr N Dunseith

1. Apologies: Rev R Coulter.

2. Minutes of Previous Meeting

The minutes of the Committee meeting of 20 January were agreed.

3. Matters Arising

(i) Agreed:
Press Releases would be available for members’ consideration one meeting in advance. Once agreed they would be issued with a 6am embargo on the morning of the relevant Committee meeting in order to maximise coverage. The Chairman confirmed that the agreed press release had been issued in advance of the meeting of today.

(ii) Agreed:
The Clerk will raise the issue of suitable rooms being made available for Committee meetings with the Keeper of the House.

(iii) Members were provided with a detailed record of the Question and Answer session with departmental officials on 13 January and a transcript of the meeting with the Minister, Dr Farren, on 20 January.

(iv) The Chairman asked members to give consideration to the Minister’s invitation for proposals for an alternative name for the Department of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment, which would be more succinct but maintain a reference to its key areas of responsibility.

4. Presentation by Representatives from the Northern Ireland Economic Council (NIEC)

The Chairman welcomed Dr Paul Gorecki the Director of the Northern Ireland Economic Council, Mrs Janet Trewsdale, Chairperson and Dr Peter Wylie, Senior Economist on behalf of the Committee. They gave a presentation on the NIEC’S recent research paper "Publicly Funded R&D and Economic Development in Northern Ireland" highlighting the organisation, funding and targeting of the Research and Development effort. Following the presentation there was a detailed question and answer session. The Chairman thanked the representatives for a very worthwhile and informative presentation.

5. Chairman’s Business

(i) Agreed:
The Committee will hold an additional meeting on Tuesday 8 February from 12 noon to 2.30 pm.

(ii) Agreed:
Members will submit their responses on the new Targeting Social Need Report and the Department of Education’s "Learning for Tomorrow’s World" consultation paper to the Committee Clerk by 3 February. A summary of members’ views and comments will be provided for consideration at a meeting on Tuesday 8 February. Subject to agreement of a Committee position, it is planned that the Chairman will then make a formal submission on "Learning for Tomorrow’s World" to the Department of Education, and a decision will be taken on how to proceed in respect of the new TSN Report.

(iii) The Chairman informed members that the Department had started the consultation process on the "Fairness at Work" paper concerning part-time workers.

Agreed:
A press notice will be issued inviting submissions in relation to the implementation of the European Directive on part-time work from relevant interested parties by 11 February. Officials from the Department will be asked to provide a briefing to the Committee on the consultation paper on Thursday17 February. The Committee will then provide a response to the Department by 27 February.

(iv) Agreed:
The Clerk will arrange for the visit to Magee College on 10 February to start at the earlier time of 10 am and request more time in the programme for questions and answers and the three sectoral presentations. A map will be provided for Members. Mrs Nelis has registered a clash with an event which the Minister is attending, in her role as vice chairperson of the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee.

(v) Agreed:
The Clerk will request details of East Antrim Institute’s recent selection for a pilot scheme.

(vi) The Chairman informed Members that he had received two letters from the Chairman of the Enterprise, Trade and Industry Committee, Mr Pat Doherty relating to areas which overlapped with this Committee’s responsibility. The first area of concern was the question of funding of university research and the second was the number of university places available locally.

Agreed:
The Chairman will inform Mr Doherty that the Higher and Further Education Training and Employment Committee shares his concerns regarding Funding for University Research and the issue is likely to be the subject of a Committee enquiry in due course.

Agreed:
Regarding the second issue the Chairman will inform Mr Doherty that the Higher and Further Education Committee has concerns regarding the capping of University places, however at present the Committee cannot adopt the policy set out in his letter.

(vii) The Chairman informed members that he and the Deputy Chairman would be meeting the Permanent Secretary and officials for lunch on Friday 28 January.

(viii) The Chairman advised that the Minister had given him a verbal assurance in relation to press releases of particular constituency revelance, his office will contact the Member concerned the day before. In relation to major announcements, prior briefing will be given to the Chairman.

6. Any Other Business

Agreed:
The Committee agreed to meet with a delegation of representatives of New Deal providers at a date to be arranged in March.

7. Date of Next Meeting

The Committee will meet on Thursday 3 February at 2 pm in Room 152, Parliament Buildings, when the National Union of Students/University Students of Ireland and the Association of University Teachers will give a presentation. This will be an open session.

Esmond Birnie