COMMITTEE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND LEARNING
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY, 9TH JANUARY 2008
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Ms Sue Ramsey MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Jimmy Spratt MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Alex Attwood MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Mr Nelson McCausland MLA
Mr David McClarty MLA
Mr Basil McCrea MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
Mr Alastair Ross MLA
In Attendance: Mr Rab McConaghy (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Trevor Allen (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Collan Cree (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Jessica Dougan (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: Mr Paul Butler MLA
Mr Robin Newton MLA
The meeting opened at 10:33am in public session.
Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
1. Minutes of the meeting held on 28th November 2007
Agreed: The draft minutes were agreed.
2. Matters Arising
Members noted a paper on The Working Time (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2007 (S.R. 2007/340) that is subject to confirmatory resolution and will be debated in the Assembly on Monday 14th January.
Agreed: That the Chairperson responds on behalf of the Committee in support of confirming the Regulations.
Members noted the Committee’s response to the Draft Programme for Government and the Draft Budget have been submitted to the Committees for OFMDFM and Finance & Personnel for inclusion in their respective reports.
10:37am Mr McCausland joined the meeting
3. Chairperson’s Business
Members noted a large number of items of correspondence and agreed the proposed responses.
4. Update on Committee Visit to USEL – 5th December 2007
Members noted a paper outlining the issues discussed during the Committee’s visit to Ulster Supporter Employment Ltd on 5th December 2007.
Agreed: That the Chairperson writes to the Minister in relation to a number of these issues.
10:41am Mr McCrea joined the meeting
5. Update on DEL Corporate Planning Event – 11th & 12th December 2007
Members were updated on the Department’s Corporate Planning event that was held at the Cultra Manor on 11th and 12th December. Mr Attwood, Mr McCrea and Mrs McGill attended the event on behalf of the Committee.
6. Subordinate Legislation – SL1 issued
Members noted and were content with the following item of subordinate legislation: Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008.
7. Legislative Consent Motion
Member noted a number of papers from the Minister on the Legislative Consent Motion seeking to amend Section 24 of the Education Act 2007. Members also received a briefing from Departmental Officials Bernie O’Hare, Director of Further Education Division, and Marion Cree, Learning and Curriculum Policy Branch. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
Agreed: Following discussion, the Committee agreed to support the motion when the Minister brings it before the Assembly at a later date.
8. Departmental Consultations
The Committee received an initial briefing from Departmental Officials Bernie O’Hare, Director of Further Education Division, Daryl Young, Further Education Programme Branch, and Marion Cree, Learning and Curriculum Policy Branch, on the Department’s joint public consultation on “Further Education Means Business: Policy Proposals”. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session. The Officials agreed to provide the Committee with a further full briefing on its analysis of the consultation responses and how the Department proposes to take the policy proposals forward.
The Committee also received an initial briefing from Departmental Officials Fergus Devitt, Head of Higher Education Division, and Pat Morrison, Higher Education Policy & Strategic Development Branch, on the Department’s joint public consultation on “Review of Higher Education in Further Education, including foundation degrees”. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session. The Officials agreed to provide the Committee with a further full briefing on its analysis of the consultation responses and how the Department proposes to take the policy proposals forward.
11:36am Mr McClarty left the meeting
11:54am Mr McClarty joined the meeting
12:24pm Mr McCrea left the meeting
The Committee also received a briefing from Departmental Officials David McAuley, Director of Strategy and Employment Right Division, and Valerie Reilly, Employment Rights Branch, on the Department’s consultation on “Changes to Recruitment Industry Law and Related Guidance” and its related legislation “The Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008”. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
Agreed: That the Chairperson responds on behalf of the Committee in support of affirming the Regulations.
12:27pm Mr Spratt left the meeting
12:28pm Mr Attwood left the meeting
9. Departmental Press Notices
Members noted a number of Departmental press notices issued recently.
10. Any Other Business
Agreed: Members noted correspondence from the Construction Employers Federation (CEF) with respect to the Training for Success Programme and agreed to invite the CEF to brief the Committee on 23rd January.
11. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 16th January 2008 at 10.30am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
12.42pm The meeting moved into closed session.
12. Forward Work Planning – Discussion Paper
Agreed: Members discussed and approved a paper on the issues pertaining to the Committee’s Forward Work Programme and agreed that the Committee Office take forward the proposed work-streams.
12:46pm Mr McCrea returned to the meeting
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12:57pm.