COMMITTEE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND LEARNING
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY, 24TH SEPTEMBER 2008
ROOM 161, ST. MARY’S UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
Present: Ms Sue Ramsey MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Alex Attwood MLA
Mr Paul Butler MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mr David Hilditch MLA
Mr William Irwin MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
In Attendance: Mrs Nuala Dunwoody (Clerk Assistant)
Mr Peter Hall (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Trevor Allen (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mr Collan Cree (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Jessica Dougan (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: Mr Robin Newton MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Rev Dr Robert Coulter MLA
Mr David McClarty MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
The meeting opened at 10:33am in public session.
Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
1. Minutes of the meeting held on 17th September 2008
Agreed: The minutes were agreed.
2. Briefing from St. Mary’s University College on the Review of Teacher Education
The Committee received a briefing from representatives of the St. Mary’s University College: Mr Peter Finn, Principal, and Mr Brian McFall, Director of Finance and Administration, on the Review of Teacher Education. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Chairperson write to the Minister to ascertain the current position on this issue.
3. Matters Arising
Agreed: Members noted correspondence from People 1st relating to its Sector Skills Agreement and Project Spinnaker and agreed that People 1st be invited to brief the Committee.
Members noted that the Minister has agreed to forward to the Committee the business case on the proposed merger of Stranmillis University College with the Queen’s University of Belfast when it is made available.
Agreed: the Committee agreed that the Chairperson should write to Stranmillis University College and the Queen’s University of Belfast to determine if they propose to complete the proposed merger in September 2009, in the light of the questions to the Minister in the Assembly on Monday 22nd September.
4. Chairperson’s Business
Members noted a number of items of correspondence and agreed responses.
5. Departmental Press Notices
Members noted a number of Departmental press notices issued recently.
6. Any Other Business
Members noted a paper on the strategic stocktake of the Budget position for 2009-10 and 2010-11.
Agreed: Members noted an SL1 from the Department for Social Development entitled “The Employment and Support Allowance (Consequential Provisions No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008” and agreed that the Committee seeks the views of relevant disability organisations on the content of the proposed rule.
The Committee noted that the Chairperson has requested to meet with the Minister in relation to contracting issues relating to the Steps to Work Programme and that an update on this meeting will be provided in due course.
7. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 1st October 2008 at 10.30am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12:02pm.
The meeting was followed by a tour of the facilities at St. Mary’s University College.