COMMITTEE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND LEARNING
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY, 1ST JULY 2009
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Paul Butler MLA
Rev Dr Robert Coulter MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mr David Hilditch MLA
Mr William Irwin MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
Mr Pat Ramsey MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Peter Hall (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Trevor Allen (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mr Andy Cooper (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Bill Kinnear (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Robin Newton MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Mr David McClarty MLA
The meeting opened at 10.30am in public session
The Chairperson, on behalf of the Committee, offered condolences to Mr Easton on the death of his mother-in-law.
The Chairperson was joined by other Members of the Committee in condemning the recent attacks on Ms Anna Lo.
The Chairperson, on behalf of the Members, welcomed Mr Pat Ramsey to the Committee and also thanked Messrs Newton and Attwood for their contributions to the work of the Committee.
Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
1. Minutes of the meetings held on 24th June 2009
Agreed: The minutes were agreed.
2. Briefing on the work of the NI Adviser on Employment and Skills
10.09am Mr Hilditch joined the meeting
10.20am Mr Irwin joined the meeting
10.23am Mr Butler joined the meeting
The Committee received a briefing from Mr Bill McGinnis, NI Adviser on Employment and Skills, on his work and the remit of his office. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
3. Subordinate Legislation
The Committee noted and was content with the following item of subordinate legislation:
- Education (Student Support) Regulations (No.2) (Northern Ireland) 2009
4. Matter Arising
- Proposals for Tribunal Reform – briefing papers to OFMdFM Committee
The Committee noted a paper from the OFMdFM Committee on proposals to transfer responsibility for administrative support for Tribunals sponsored by Northern Ireland Departments to the Northern Ireland Court Service as part of the reform of the tribunal system.
Agreed: Member agreed to consider the issue further at its meeting on 9th September.
- Reforming the Medical Statement – Consultation on Draft Regulations
Members noted the above document and agreed to defer the matter to the Committee meeting on 9th September.
5. Chairperson’s Business
Members noted a number of items of correspondence and agreed responses. The Committee received updates on a number of recent events attended by the Chairperson.
6. Briefing from the Prince’s Trust
11.05am Mr Hilditch left the meeting
11.05am Ms Ramsey left the meeting, Mr Easton took the Chair
The Committee received a briefing from representatives of the Prince’s Trust: Ian Jeffers, Director, and Aodhan Connolly, Head of Commercial Development, on the work of the Prince’s Trust in Northern Ireland. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
11.19am Ms Ramsey returned to the meeting and resumed the Chair
11.20am Mr Easton left the meeting
11.20am Mr Butler left the meeting
11.27am Mr Ramsey left the meeting
7. Briefing on the work of Workforce Development Forums
The Committee received a briefing from Graham Whitehurst, Chairperson of the Northern Region Workforce Development Forum, and Bro McFerran, Chairperson of the Belfast Region Workforce Development Forum, on the work of the Workforce Development Forums. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
11.46am Rev Dr Coulter left the meeting
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11:47am due to a loss of quorum.