Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

COMMITTEE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND LEARNING

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY, 16th SEPTEMBER 2009
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Paul Butler MLA
Mr Trevor Clarke MLA
Rev Dr Robert Coulter MLA
Mr David Hilditch MLA
Mr William Irwin MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Mr David McClarty 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:
Mrs Claire McGill MLA

The meeting opened at 10.03am in public session

Members welcomed Mr Trevor Clarke to the Committee.

Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

1. Minutes of the meetings held on 9th September 2009

Agreed: The minutes were agreed.

2. Matter Arising

Agreed: Members noted papers from the Social Development Committee on the Welfare Reform Bill 2009 and agreed to write to affected stakeholders seeking their views on the proposals.

Agreed: Members discussed and agreed the wording of the Committee’s motion to the Assembly on access to childcare for students in Further and Higher Education. The motion is as follows:

Members noted a number of items of correspondence from the Department in relation to the Northern Ireland Education Bill.

Agreed: Members noted correspondence from the NUS-USI on its campaign to end violence against women and agreed to receive a briefing on the issue. Members also agreed that consideration be given to attending an awareness raising event at a later date and a possible Committee motion to the Assembly on the issue.

Members noted an amended item of correspondence from the Department in relation to the Northern Ireland Education Bill.

Members noted a number of Departmental consultations and did not raise any issues of concern.

3. Chairperson’s Business

Members noted a number of items of correspondence received.

4. Briefing from Include Youth on the “Give and Take” Scheme

The Committee received a briefing from representatives of Include Youth: Paddy Mooney, John McComb, Gail McKee and Danny Ferguson on the “Give and Take” scheme and the need for its participants to have access to the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA). The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

Agreed: Members agreed that the issue be raised at the next meeting of the Committee to consider how the issues raised can be addressed.

5. Departmental briefing on Programme-Led Apprenticeships

The Committee received a briefing from Departmental Officials: Nuala Kerr, Director of Skills and Industry Division, and Des Lyness of Training Programmes / IFI Branch, on Programme-Led Apprenticeships. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

Agreed: Members agreed that the issue be raised at the next meeting of the Committee to consider how the issues raised can be addressed.

11:43am The Chairperson adjourned the meeting
11:53am The meeting resumed in public session

6. Primary Legislation – Employment Bill

Members noted a revised timeline for the Committee Stage of the Employment Bill.

Agreed: Members discussed and agreed the wording of the Committee’s motion to extend time for completion of the Committee Stage of the Bill. The motion is as follows:

“That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 9th November 2009, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Employment Bill (NIA Bill 9/08) .”

11.55am Mr Butler returned to the meeting
11.58am Mr Hilditch returned to the meeting

The Committee commenced formal clause-by-clause consideration of the Employment Bill.

Clause 1 (Employment agencies: mode of trial and penalties for certain offences)

Question: That the Committee is content with the clause, put and agreed to.

11.59am Mr Irwin returned to the meeting

Clause 2 (Employment agencies: powers of enforcement)

Question: That the Committee is content with the clause, put and agreed to.

Clause 3 (Membership of the Industrial Court)

Question: That the Committee is content with the clause, put and agreed to.

Clause 4 (Legal representation before the Industrial Court)

Question: That the Committee is content with the clause, put and agreed to.

Clause 5 (Employment agencies and national minimum wage: information)

Question: That the Committee is content with the clause, put and agreed to.

Clause 6 (Minor and consequential amendments and repeals)

Question: That the Committee is content with the clause, put and agreed to.

Clause 7 (Commencement)

Question: That the Committee is content with the clause, put and agreed to.

Clause 8 (Short title)

Question: That the Committee is content with the clause, put and agreed to.

Agreed: Members agreed that the clauses, agreed above, be reconsidered in conjunction with the proposed amendments to the Bill at the Committee meeting on 23rd September.

Agreed: Members noted a paper from Assembly Research and Library Services and agreed that the paper be included in the Committee’s report to the Assembly.

7. Departmental Press Notices

Members noted a number of Departmental press notice issued recently.

8. Any Other Business

Members noted the declaration of interest from Mr Clarke.

Agreed: Members expressed concerns at the proposed privatisation of services at the University of Ulster and agreed to receive a briefing from the unions of those employees affected by the proposals.

Members noted the Committee’s Forward Work Programme for the period of September to December 2009.

9. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday, 23 rd September at 10.00am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12:12pm.

Ms Sue Ramsey
Chairperson, Committee for Employment & Learning
23rd September 2009

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