Present:
Mrs Dolores Kelly MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Jonathan Bell MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Sydney Anderson MLA
Mr Paul Butler MLA
Rev Dr Robert Coulter MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
Mr Chris Lyttle MLA
Mr Pat Ramsey MLA
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA
Mr Peter Weir MLA

In Attendance:
Mr Peter Hall (Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Sheila Mawhinney (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Miss Pauline Devlin (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Bill Kinnear (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
Mr David McClarty MLA

The meeting opened in public session at 10. 05 am.

Apologies

Apologies are detailed above. 

The Chairperson welcomed the new members, Mr Sydney Anderson and Mr Chris Lyttle, and thanked previous members, Mr William Irwin and Ms Anna Lo, for their contribution to the work of the Committee.

1. Minutes of the meeting held on 8 September 2010

Agreed: The minutes were agreed.

2. Briefing from Departmental officials in relation to Programme Led Apprenticeships

Nuala Kerr, Director of Skills and Industry Division, and Des Lyness , Skills and Industry Division, provided the Committee with an update on the amendments to the Programme Led Apprenticeships scheme. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Department would provide respond in writing to a number of questions raised by members

3. Matters Arising

US-Ireland Research and Development Partnership

Members considered the update provided by the Department on the progress which has been made to date with respect to the US-Ireland R&D Partnership and commended the value of the scheme

4. Briefing from NICVA on the current Budget review

The Committee received a briefing from Seamus McAleavey, Chief Executive, NICVA, Laura McCartney, Disability Action, Employment and Training Support Manager, andEleanor Jordan, Joint Co-ordinator, Windsor Women’s Centre on the participation of the voluntary and community sector in the DEL decision-making process regarding budget savings. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

11.19 am Mr Pat Ramsey left the meeting

Agreed: Members agreed that Mr McAleavey would provide further information on minimising the effect of budget cuts on the community and voluntary sector

11.28 am Mr Peter Weir left the meeting

5. Correspondence

Members noted an item of correspondence and agreed a response. 

11.29 am The meeting was suspended for a short break

11.35 am The meeting resumed

11.35 am Mr Pat Ramsey rejoined the meeting

6. Briefing from Assembly Legal Services on the Student Loans (Amendment) Bill

The Committee was briefed by Angela Kelly, Assembly Legal Advisor, on the differences between Bankruptcy and Individual Voluntary Arrangements, with reference to the repayment of Student Loans. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

11.37 am Mr Peter Weir rejoined the meeting

7. Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson provided a brief outline of her attendance at forthcoming meetings and events, and drew members’ attention to various invitations.

11.50 am Mr Pat Ramsey left the meeting

8. Departmental Press Notices

Members noted a number of recent Departmental press notices

9. Any Other Business

• CBI Report on the Education and Skills Survey 2010

Members noted the above report

• EQIA on the Justice Bill

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would respond to issues referred to it by the Committee for Justice on the EQIA, as per accepted protocol

• Private Recruitment Sector

Members noted the second Departmental inspection report into private sector recruitment agencies

• Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration (CSI)

Agreed: Members agreed to defer further consideration of the Departmental responses to the Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration, forwarded by the OFMDFM Committee

• FE Colleges’ Annual Reports

Members noted the annual financial Reports of the six Colleges of Further Education

• Forward Work Programme – for information
• Members noted the Committee’s Forward Work Programme for September and October 2010.

10. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday, 22 September 2010 in Room 29 Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.02 pm

Mrs Dolores Kelly
Chairperson, Committee for Employment & Learning
22 September 2010

08 September 10 / Menu