Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

COMMITTEE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND LEARNING

Minutes of Proceedings

Wednesday, 27 th JUNE 2007
Room 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present: Mr Jimmy Spratt MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Alex Attwood MLA
Mr Paul Butler MLA
Mr David McClarty MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
Mr Alastair Ross 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)

Apologies: Ms Sue Ramsey MLA (Chairperson)
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Mr Nelson McCausland MLA
Mr Basil McCrea MLA
Mr Robin Newton MLA

The meeting opened at 10.35am in public session.

Apologies.

Apologies are detailed above.

  1. Minutes of the meeting held on 20 th June 2007.

Agreed: The draft minutes were agreed.

  1. Matters Arising.

Agreed: Members agreed that the Deputy Chairperson write to the Minister for Employment and Learning asking for information on recent correspondence received from HM Treasury regarding the FE lecturers pay dispute.

Agreed: Members noted a paper from the Clerk on the Queen’s University of Belfast and the University of Ulster’s potential contribution to the Republic of Ireland’s Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation. The Committee agreed that this matter should be further discussed at its next meeting, following the departmental briefing on Further Education policy.

  1. Chairperson’s Business.

Agreed: Members noted a paper from the Department updating the Committee on the Statutory Rule Under Education (Student Support) (NI) Order 1998 and the financial implications of the Rule and agreed that the Clerk write to the Department indicating the Committee’s contentment with the Department’s response.

The Committee noted a letter from the Deputy Chairperson’s to the Minister in relation to the Department for Employment and Learning and the Department of Education’s joint approach to tackling the issue of poor numeracy and literacy in Northern Ireland.

Members noted a letter from Danny Kennedy MLA, Chairperson to the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, relating to emerging priorities for the Executive’s Programme for Government 2008-11.

Members also noted a letter received from the Construction Employers Federation highlighting issues with respect to construction industry apprenticeships.

  1. Draft Submission to the Review of the Role of Tax Policy in Support of Growth and Investment in Northern Ireland by Sir David Varney.

Agreed: Members noted a draft paper, prepared by the Clerk, for submission to the Review of the Role of Tax Policy in Support of Growth and Investment in Northern Ireland. The Committee agreed that the paper form the basis of correspondence from the Deputy Chairperson that will be circulated to both the Committee for Finance and Personnel and the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment prior to being submitted to the Varney Review.

  1. Briefing from the University of Ulster.

The Committee received an overview briefing from the University of Ulster representatives Professor Richard Barnett, Professor Norman Black, Professor Denise McAlister and Professor Bernie Hannigan. The briefing was followed with a question and answer session.

11.15am Mr Butler joined the meeting

  1. Department for Employment and Learning – Briefing on the new European Social Fund Programme.

11.32am Mr McClarty left the meeting
11.44am Mr McClarty returned to the meeting

The Committee received a briefing from Departmental officials Mr Greg McConnell, Mr Trevor Connolly, Mr John Neill and Rosemary Mulholland on the European Social Fund Programme. The briefing was followed with a question and answer session.

  1. Department for Employment and Learning – Briefing on Statutory and Employment Rights Division and a further briefing on holiday leave entitlement subordinate legislation.

The Committee received a briefing from Departmental officials Mr Greg McConnell, Mr David McAuley and Ms Lynne Taylor on work of the Statutory and Employment Rights Division and on potential primary legislation and imminent subordinate legislation including the legislation to increase holiday leave entitlement. The briefing was followed with a question and answer session.

12.35pm Mrs McGill left the meeting

  1. Any Other Business.

Agreed: Mr Attwood raised the issue of the Committee meeting during the summer recess and the Committee agreed to address this issue at its next meeting.

  1. Date, time and place of next meeting.

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 4 th July 2007 at 10.30am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.39pm.

Ms Sue Ramsey
Chairperson, Committee for Employment & Learning.
4 July 2007.

20 June 07 / Menu / 4 July 07