COMMITTEE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND LEARNING
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY, 19TH SEPTEMBER 2007
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr Jimmy Spratt MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Nelson McCausland MLA
Mr Basil McCrea MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
Mr Robin Newton 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)
Mr Jonathan Young (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: Ms Sue Ramsey MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Alex Attwood MLA
Mr Paul Butler MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Mr David McClarty MLA
The meeting opened at 10.31am in public session.
Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
1. Minutes of the meeting held on 12th September 2007
Agreed: The draft minutes were agreed.
2. Matters Arising
Members noted a further paper from the Minister updating the Committee on the further education lecturers’ pay dispute. The paper updated Members on a meeting that the Minister had held with the trade union side on 14th September. Members also noted an email from Lynas Reid, an FE lecturer, in relation to the pay dispute.
Agreed: Members agreed that the matter be further discussed at the Committee’s meeting on 26th September.
3. Chairperson’s Business
Agreed: Members noted and agreed the proposed responses to a number of pieces of correspondence received by the Chairperson.
Members also noted an out-of-committee meeting that the Deputy Chairperson held with South Belfast Malecare on 19th September.
10.48am Mr McCausland left the meeting
10.54am Mr McCausland returned to the meeting
4. Departmental Briefing on Training for Success – Procurement of Training Contracts
The Committee received a briefing from Departmental officials Catherine Bell, Deputy Secretary, and Mrs Nuala Kerr, Director of Skills and Industry Division, on the procurement of Training for Success contracts. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA) Briefing on Training for Success
The Committee received a further briefing on Training for Success from NIPSA officials Dooley Harte and Alison Millar. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
5. Subordinate Legislation
Agreed: Members agreed to raise any issues with the Committee Clerk relating to the subordinate legislation laid in the Assembly during the summer recess in advance of the Committee formally considering the Statutory Rules.
6. Additional Paternity Leave & Pay – Consultation
Members noted the consultation documents from the Department relating to Additional Paternity Leave and Pay.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Department be asked to brief the Committee on the proposed policy following the Department’s analyses of the public consultation responses.
7. Departmental Press Notices
Members noted a number of Departmental press notices recently issued.
8. Any Other Business
Agreed: Members agreed to discuss the Committee’s approach to further consideration of the Training for Success programme at its meeting on the 26th September.
9. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 26th September 2007 at 10.30am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.30pm.