COMMITTEE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND LEARNING
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Wednesday, 28th NOVEMBER 2007
SENATE CHAMBER, 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
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
Mr Alastair Ross MLA
Mr Robin Newton MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Rab McConaghy (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Collan Cree (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Jessica Dougan (Clerical Officer)
Mr Jonathan Young (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr David McClarty MLA
Mr Basil McCrea MLA
The meeting opened at 10.32am in public session.
Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
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Minutes of the meeting held on 21 st November 2007
Agreed: The draft minutes were agreed.
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Matters Arising
Members noted a response from the Department for Employment and Learning the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety’s Inquiry into the Prevention of Suicide and Self Harm.
The Committee noted a press release from the Department on the success of Jonathan Lloyd at the WorldSkills 2007 competition in Tokyo. The Deputy Chairperson updated Members on the event.
Members also noted a paper from the Department on university research funding.
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Arrangements for Committee Study Visit to USEL
Members noted the arrangements for the proposed study visit to Ulster Supported Employment Ltd (USEL) on 5 th December.
10:38am Mr Attwood joined the meeting
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Arrangements for DEL Corporate Planning Event
Members noted the arrangements for the Department’s corporate planning event on 11th and 12th December.
10.56am Mrs McGill joined the meeting
10.59am Mr Butler joined the meeting
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First Departmental Monitoring Report on Training for Success
The Committee received a briefing from Departmental officials Catherine Bell, Deputy Secretary, and Des Lyness, Training Programmes / IFI Branch, on the Department’s roll-out of the Training for Success Programme. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
Agreed: The Committee to receive a further Departmental update in mid – January 2008.
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Departmental Statement on the Commission for Skills & Employment
The Committee received a briefing from Departmental officials Catherine Bell, Deputy Secretary, and Tim Devine, Skills & Industry Division, on the establishment of a Commission for Skills & Employment. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
Agreed: The Committee to receive Departmental information on costings and further update at appropriate time.
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Departmental Briefing on the Draft Budget
The Committee received a briefing from the Minister, Sir Reg Empey, and Departmental officials Dr Aideen McGinley, Permanent Secretary and Greg McConnell, Deputy Secretary, and Trevor Connolly, Finance and European Division on the draft budget. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
1:00pm Ms Ramsey left the meeting, Mr Spratt took the Chair
1:18pm Ms Ramsey rejoined the meeting and resumed the Chair
1.52pm The meeting moved into closed session.
Agreed: The Committee discussed and agreed, subject to amendment, a submission to the Committee for Finance and Personnel on the Draft Budget.
Agreed: The Committee further discussed and agreed, subject to amendment, a submission to the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister on the Programme for Government (PfG).
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Date, time and place of next meeting
The Committee will be visiting Ulster Supported Employment Ltd (USEL) on 5 th December.
The Committee will be attending the Departmental corporate planning events on the 11th and 12th December.
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 9th January 2008 at 10.30am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 2:02pm.