COMMITTEE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND LEARNING
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Wednesday, 9th April 2008
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Jimmy Spratt MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Paul Butler MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Mr Basil McCrea MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
Mr Robin Newton 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 Alex Attwood MLA
Mr Nelson McCausland MLA
Mr David McClarty MLA
The meeting opened at 10:35am in public session.
Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
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Minutes of the meeting held on 19 th March 2008
Agreed: The draft minutes were agreed.
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Matters Arising
Agreed: Members noted correspondence from Transport Training Services Limited and the Ford Motor Company in relation to the provision of training. The Committee agreed that a Chairperson’s meeting should be organised with relevant stakeholders.Members received an update on the Committee’s recent study visit to the Coleraine Campus of the University of Ulster.
10:38am Anna Lo joined the meeting.
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Background briefing from the Central Procurement Directorate of the Departmental of Finance and Personnel
The Committee received a briefing from Officials of the Central Procurement Directorate: David Orr, Director, Roy Bell, Director of Supplies and Services, and Brendan O’Neill, Director of Policy, on general procurement processes. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
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Departmental briefing on the contractual process for the Steps to Work Programme
The Committee received a briefing from Departmental Officials: Patricia McAuley, Director of Preparation for Work Division, Sheila McNeill, Head of Programme and Product Management and Development Branch, and Michael Watson, Central Procurement Directorate of DFP, on the Department’s contractual processes in relation to the Steps to Work Programme. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
Agreed: The Committee to return to this topic following reporting of pilot projects end of May beginning of June.
11.58am Basil McCrea and Robin Newton left the meeting.
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Subordinate Legislation
Members noted and were content with the following item of subordinate legislation: Education (Student Support) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008.
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Chairperson’s Business
Members noted a number of items of correspondence and agreed the proposed responses.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that a Chairperson’s meeting be organised with representatives of the University and College Union on the issue of the Further Education lecturers’ ongoing pay dispute.
The Chairperson updated Members on meetings with the Workers Educational Association on 3 rd April and the Construction Employers Federation on 9 th April.
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Departmental Press Notices
Members noted a number of Departmental press notices issued recently.
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Any Other Business
Members discussed cross-cutting issues with other committees, including the Literacy and Numeracy Strategy, and European Social Fund matched funding.
Agreed: Chair and Deputy Chair to take forward specific cross – cutting issues with Chairs and Deputy Chairs of Education and Social Development Committees.
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Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 16 th April 2008 at 10.30am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12:38pm.