COMMITTEE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND LEARNING
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY, 16TH MAY 2007
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Ms Sue Ramsey MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Jimmy Spratt MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Alex Attwood MLA
Mr Paul Butler MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Mr David McClarty MLA
Mr Basil McCrea MLA
Mr Robin Newton MLA
In Attendance: Mr John Torney (Principal Clerk)
Mr Rab McConaghy (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Trevor Allen (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Collan Cree (Clerical Supervisor)
Miss Jessica Dougan (Clerical Officer)
Dr Robert Barry, Ms Yan Liu and Mr Peter McClenaghan (Assembly Research and Library Services)
Apologies: Mr Nelson McCausland MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
Mr Jim Wells MLA
The meeting opened at 10.35am in public session.
Chairperson’s Introductions
The Chairperson welcomed Members to the first meeting of the newly established Committee for Employment and Learning and discussed the meeting agenda. The Chairperson also welcomed members of the press and visitors to the Committee.
1. Committee Membership
Members noted and agreed details of the Committee’s composition.
2. Committee Staff Contact Details
Members noted details of the secretariat staff supporting the Committee.
3. Departmental Briefing
The Chairperson welcomed Sir Reg Empey, Minister for Employment and Learning; Dr Aideen McGinley, Permanent Secretary to the Department; and Mr Greg McConnell and Mrs Catherine Bell, Deputy Secretaries.
The Minister discussed the major issues facing the Department including:
- The ongoing college lecturers pay dispute. The Minister will meet with officials on 17th May in relation to this issue and will report to the Committee on the outcomes of this meeting;
- Reduction in the number of FE colleges from 16 to 6;
- The Welfare Reform Bill being introduced by the Department for Social Development;
- High levels of innumeracy and illiteracy in school leavers;
- Introduction of joint jobs and benefits centres and their ongoing modernisation; and
- Invest NI, DETI and DEL’s close collaboration to ensure that people are re-skilled to provide the skills that employers require.
The Minister also discussed other issues that are of importance including:
- Departmental budgets;The Innovation Fund proposed by the Chancellor; and
- The Review of Public Administration.
Dr Aideen McGinley gave a presentation focusing on the work of the Department with particular emphasis on key Departmental priorities and issues.
The Minister and Dr McGinley’s presentations were followed by a question and answer session. The Chairperson thanked the Minister and officials for their attendance before the Committee.
11.15 am Mr Attwood joined the meeting.
11.32 am Mr McClarty left the meeting.
Mr McCrea declared a remunerated interest in the Northern Ireland Manufacturers Focus Group.
Mr Butler declared an interest as a lecturer at the Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education.
11.41 am Mr McClarty returned to the meeting.
11.45 am Ms Lo left the meeting.
Dr McGinley agreed to provide the Committee with a report on how the Committee’s Inquiry into Education and Training for Industry, conducted during the previous mandate, has been taken forward by the Department.
Agreed: Following the Departmental briefing the Committee agreed that its next meeting should concentrate on the information provided by the department and a number of briefing papers to be provided by the Clerk in order to inform decisions on the Committee’s future work programme.
4. Procedural Issues
12.11 pm Mr McClarty left the meeting.
The Chairperson referred Members to the “Guide to the powers and operations of a statutory committee” and in particular Members’ obligation to declare any interests that are relevant to the debate or proceedings and the issue of privilege and sub-judice.
Members were reminded that under Standing Order 64 (4), ‘Before taking part in any debate or proceeding of the Assembly or its Committees, a member shall declare any interest, financial or otherwise, which is relevant to that debate or proceeding, where such interest is held by the Member or an immediate relative.’ They were also advised that ‘proceeding’ of the Assembly includes meetings of this Committee.
Members noted the declarations of interest received. The finalised interests register is appended to this minute.
Mr Spratt declared interests as a member of the Board of Governors of Lisnasharragh High School, Knockbreda High School and Moneyreagh Primary School.
The Chairperson further reminded Members that “under section 50 of the NI Act 1998, for the purposes of the law of defamation, absolute privilege applies equally to –
- the making of a statement in proceedings of the Assembly; and
- the publication of a statement under the Assembly’s authority.
This privilege also extends to meetings of the committee. Members noted however that privilege does not extend to press conferences or statements made to the press.
Sub-judice falls under Standing Order 68 of the Standing Orders for the NI Assembly prepared by the Secretary of State in accordance with paragraph 5(4) of Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006. Sub-judice applies from when a criminal charge (or charges) is brought, or from when notice of an appeal is lodged to the time that the verdict and sentence have been announced, or from when a civil action is listed for trial until judgement is given. In such cases, the matter awaiting adjudication should not be prejudiced by comment in a public session of a committee meeting.”
Members also noted the “Guide to the role of the Committee Chairperson” and the “Guide to the role and functions of the Committee office”.
The Chairperson referred Members to the “Guide to the NI Assembly’s Research Services” and introduced Dr Robert Barry, Ms Yan Liu and Mr Peter McClenaghan of Assembly Research and Library Services. Dr Barry discussed the services available to Members and the protocols for dealing with Research Services.
5. Subordinate Legislation
Agreed: The Committee discussed its statutory role in the scrutiny of secondary legislation and agreed that the technical scrutiny of subordinate legislation (Statutory Rules) be delegated to the Assembly’s Examiner of Statutory Rules. The Committee agreed:
“That the Committee for Employment and Learning resolves, under Standing Order 41 to delegate to the Examiner of Statutory Rules the technical scrutiny of statutory rules referred to the Committee under the above mentioned Standing Order.
The Committee further resolves that in carrying out this function the Examiner shall be authorised to report his technical findings on each statutory rule to the Assembly, through the Business Office, and to the relevant Department, as well as to the Committee itself and to publish his report.”
6. Pre-restoration and Forthcoming Meetings
The Chairperson discussed the key points arising from a number of meetings that she and/or the Deputy Chairperson had attended. These included meetings with the Minister for Employment and Learning, Disability Action, the University and College Union, and the NI Council for Ethnic Minorities. Members also noted forthcoming meetings with Queen’s University Belfast and Age Concern and an invitation to attend DEL’s Further Education Centenary Dinner.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson continue to hold key stakeholder meetings on an informal (non-committee) basis with all members invited to attend.
7. Correspondence Received by Chairperson
Members noted a number of items of correspondence received by the Chairperson.
8. Draft Press Release
Agreed: Members considered a draft joint press release and agreed that it be issued.
9. Any Other business
Agreed: Members agreed that the Chairperson write to Queen’s University Belfast offering congratulations on joining the Russell Group of Universities.
Mr McCrea discussed forthcoming events to be hosted in Parliament Buildings in relation to skills training and offered to provide further information when available.
10. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 23rd May 2007 at 10.30am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.34pm.
Ms Sue Ramsey
Chairperson, Committee for Employment and Learning
23 May 2007
COMMITTEE FOR EMPLOYMENT & LEARNING
SUMMARY OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS
| Name |
Interests Declared |
|---|---|
| Sue Ramsey |
|
| Jimmy Spratt |
Remunerated employment, office, profession, etc
Land & property
Unremunerated interests
|
| Alex Attwood |
Directorships
|
| Paul Butler |
Remunerated employment, office, profession, etc
Unremunerated interests
|
| Anna Lo |
Remunerated employment, office, profession, etc
Unremunerated interests
|
| Nelson McCausland |
Remunerated employment, office, profession, etc
Unremunerated interests
|
| David McClarty |
Remunerated employment, office, profession, etc
Gifts, Benefits and hospitality (UK)
Unremunerated interests
|
| Basil McCrea |
Remunerated employment, office, profession, etc
Unremunerated interests
|
| Claire McGill |
Remunerated employment, office, profession, etc
Unremunerated interests
|
| Robin Newton |
Directorships
Remunerated employment, office, profession, etc
Land and property
Unremunerated interests
|
| Jim Wells |
Directorships
Remunerated employment, office, profession, etc
Overseas Visits
Land and property
Shareholdings
Unremunerated interests
|