COMMITTEE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND LEARNING
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Wednesday, 17th September 2008
Room 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Robin Newton MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Alex Attwood MLA
Rev Dr Robert Coulter MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mr David Hilditch MLA
Mr William Irwin MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Mr David McClarty MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Rab McConaghy (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Peter Hall (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Trevor Allen (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mr Collan Cree (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Jessica Dougan (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Paul Butler MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
The meeting opened at 10:33am in public session.
Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
The Chairperson welcomed Rev Dr Robert Coulter, Mr Alex Easton, Mr David Hilditch and Mr William Irwin to the Committee.
1. Minutes of the meeting held on 10th September 2008
Agreed: The minutes were agreed.
2. Briefing from the Institution of Engineering and Technology
10:48am Mr Attwood joined the meeting
The Committee received a briefing from representatives of the Institution of Engineering and Technology: Mr Stephen Lusty, Professor Roger Woods, and Mr David Hatton on the subject of STEM from an academic and vocational perspective. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
3. Departmental update briefing on the European Social Fund, the September Monitoring Round and the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy
The Committee received an update briefing from Departmental officials: Greg McConnell, Deputy Secretary, and Trevor Connolly, Director of Finance and European Division, on the European Social Fund and the September Monitoring Round. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
11:48am Mr McClarty and Rev Dr Coulter left the meeting
The Committee also received a briefing from Departmental officials: Greg McConnell, Deputy Secretary, Jan Harvey, Strategy and Equality Unit, and Dave Rodgers, Research and Evaluation Branch, on the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Committee receive a further briefing on this issue at a later date.
4. Matters Arising
Members noted that correspondence has been forwarded to the Department of Finance and Personnel requesting a briefing from the Central Procurement Directorate.
Members noted a Departmental paper outlining the “Membership of the Project Board set up to consider the universities’ joint paper to the Innovation Subgroup of the Economic Development Forum”.
The Committee noted the Department’s Quarterly Research Review Paper.
Agreed: Members noted a Departmental paper on “sustainable development in the Department for Employment and Learning” and agreed that the paper be forwarded to the Committee for the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister.
Agreed: The Committee noted a Departmental paper on “the European Works Council Directive: The Transnational Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 1999” and agreed that the Department brief the Committee following the consultation period.
Agreed: Members agreed that a copy of the minute of the Department’s meeting with Stranmillis University College on 6 th December 2007 be requested from the Department.
5. Chairperson’s Business
Members noted a number of items of correspondence and agreed responses.
6. Subordinate Legislation
The Committee noted the following Statutory Rules that are subject to negative resolution and the report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules:
- Student Awards (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008 – SR 2008/254
- Education (Student Loans) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008 – SR 2008/255
- Education (Student Support) Regulations (NI) 2008 – SR 2008/250
- The Industry Training Levy (Construction Industry) Order (NI) 2008
- SR 2008/294 - The Further Education (Student Support) (Eligibility) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 – SR 2008/324
The Committee raised no objection to the Rules.
Question put and agreed:
“That the Committee for Employment and Learning has considered the above listed Statutory Rules and has no objection to the rules.”
The Committee further noted the following Statutory Rule that is subject to affirmative resolution and the report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules:
- The Fixed-term Employees (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008
The Committee raised no objection to the Rule.
Question put and agreed:
“That the Committee for Employment and Learning has considered the Fixed-term Employees (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 and recommends that it be affirmed by the Assembly .”
7. Departmental Press Notices
Members noted a number of Departmental press notices issued recently.
8. Any Other Business
Agreed: Members agreed that the transcript of the Assembly Debate of 23 June 2008 on Teacher Training form part of the Committee’s report on the Review of Teacher Education.
Members noted the following SL1 from the Department for Social Development:
- The Social Security (Incapacity Benefit Work-Focused Interviews) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008
Agreed: Member agreed that the Committee seeks the views of relevant disability organisations on the content of the proposed rule.
9. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 24 th September 2008 at 10.30am in Room 161, St. Mary’s University College, Belfast.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12:27pm.