COMMITTEE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND LEARNING
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY, 29TH APRIL 2009
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Alex Attwood MLA
Rev Dr Robert Coulter MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mr David Hilditch MLA
Mr David McClarty MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Peter Hall (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Trevor Allen (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mr Andy Cooper (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Richard Keating (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Bill Kinnear (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Robin Newton MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Paul Butler MLA
Mr William Irwin MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
The meeting opened at 10:10am in public session
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above. Ms Lo was not in attendance as she was representing the Committee at the Learning and Skills Development Agency’s Annual Conference 2009.
2. Minutes of the meetings held on 25th March 2009
Agreed: The minutes were agreed.
3. Subordinate Legislation
The Committee noted the following Statutory Rule and the report of the Assembly’s Examiner of Statutory Rules:
The Education (Student Loans) (Repayment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (SR 2009/128). The Committee raised no objection to the Rule.
Question put and agreed:
“That the Committee for Employment and Learning has considered the Education (Student Loans) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (SR 2009/128) and has no objection to the rule.”
4. Briefing from Age Concern / Help the Aged
The Committee received a briefing from representatives of Age Concern/Help the Aged: Tony Banerji, Grassroots Lobbying Office, Dorothy McAlinden and Gerry Power, addressing concerns relating to access to further education for older people. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Committee hosts a future event to raise awareness of problems faced by older people accessing courses at FE colleges. Members also agreed to issue a Committee press release on the issue.
5. Matter Arising
Update on the situation regarding INTO-Universities Partnerships
Agreed: Members agreed that the issue be deferred to the meeting on 6th May.
Update on the work of Workforce Development Forums
Agreed: Members noted a Departmental update paper on the work of Workforce Development Forums (WDF) and agreed to request a briefing from the Chairpersons of the WDFs.
ETI’s Annual Report to DEL’s Senior Management Team
Members noted the Education and Training Inspectorate’s Annual Report to DEL’s Senior Management Team.
QPA follow-up information – “Report on the development of a National Diploma in Civil Engineering with Extractives Specialism at South West College”
Agreed: Members noted the above report and agreed that it be included in the Committee’s report on its Inquiry into the Way Forward for Apprenticeships.
Update on Committee study visit to the Cedar Foundation – 1st April
Members received an update on the Committee’s study visit to the Cedar Foundation on 1st April 2009.
6. Chairperson’s Business
10:45am Mr Hilditch joined the meeting
Members noted a number of items of correspondence and agreed responses.
7. Briefing from the Northern Ireland Committee, Irish Congress of Trade Unions (NIC-ICTU) on Workplace Dispute Resolution
The Committee received a briefing from representatives of the Northern Ireland Committee, Irish Congress of Trade Unions (NIC-ICTU): Peter Bunting, Assistant General Secretary, and Eugene McGlone, Deputy Regional Secretary of UNITE Union, on Workplace Dispute Resolution. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Committee should meet with the Republic of Ireland’s Rights Commissioner.
8. Departmental Press Notices
Members noted a number of Departmental press notice issued recently.
9. Any Other Business
Departmental Apprenticeships Update
Members noted a Departmental update on the situation regarding occupancy and leavers of apprenticeship programmes.
Research report – “Management Matters in Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland”
Members noted the above research paper.
Arrangements for Committee meeting – 3rd June 2009
Agreed: Members agreed that, given the forthcoming European Elections, the Committee meeting on 3rd June should be cancelled.
ETI Committee visit to Irwin’s Bakery and Almac on 19th March
Agreed: Members noted an update from the ETI Committee on its visit to Irwin’s Bakery and Almac on 19th March and agreed that the matter be deferred until the meeting on 6th May.
Correspondence and Assembly Questions regarding the Director of North West Regional College
Agreed: Members noted the above correspondence and Assembly Questions and agreed that the information be forwarded to the Minister, the University and College Union (UCU) and the Chairperson of the Governing Body of the College for comment.
Daily Telegraph article – “Employers face ‘simpler’ workplace dispute rules”
Members noted the above newspaper article, published in the Daily Telegraph on 31st March 2009.
Correspondence from the Audit Committee on International Financial Reporting Standards
Agreed: Members noted the above correspondence and agreed that the matter be deferred until the meeting on 6th May.
Revised Forward Work Programme
Member noted the Committee’s revised Forward Work Programme.
Correspondence from Mr Alastair Ross MLA
Members noted correspondence from Mr Ross MLA relating to jobs losses at FG Wilson (Engineering) Ltd. and agreed that the correspondence be forwarded to the Minister for comment.
Other items raised
Mr McClarty thanked the Committee Clerk and Assistant Clerk for organising the Committee’s visit to the United States from 19th to 24th April.
Mr Attwood raised the need for the Minister to inform the Committee of any future announcement on wage subsidies.
10. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday, 6th May 2009 at 10.00am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11:27am.